Having Dashboard Air Distributor (e.g., For Windshield, Etc.) Patents (Class 454/127)
  • Patent number: 11878567
    Abstract: An interior trim of a vehicle includes a trim panel disposed in an interior space of the vehicle and including a plurality of cells configured to be respectively opened or closed. The plurality of cells define openings facing towards the interior space of the vehicle during an opening operation of the plurality of cells. The openings are arranged so that sound, light or air is discharged through the openings to the interior space of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 11840126
    Abstract: A front defroster nozzle includes a connecting portion connected to an air conditioner at a lower side of a central portion in a vehicle width direction of a front windshield, a nozzle lower portion provided at an upper side of the connecting portion, and a nozzle upper portion provided at an upper side of the nozzle lower portion, so as to slope towards a vehicle rear side, the nozzle upper portion having a blower aperture portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and opens at an upper end portion of the nozzle upper portion and at an instrument panel, and, when viewed in a cross-section taken along a vehicle front-rear direction, a blow-out angle formed between the nozzle upper portion and the front windshield is set such that the blow-out angle at both end portions in the vehicle width direction is larger than the blow-out angle at the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Vinh Long Phan
  • Patent number: 11766994
    Abstract: In a defroster structure, a first guide member is provided further toward a vehicle front side than a front-rear partitioning wall and at a vehicle transverse direction outer side, at an interior of a blow-out port. A second guide member is provided further toward a vehicle rear side than the front-rear partitioning wall and at the vehicle transverse direction outer side, at the interior of the blow-out port. The first guide member and the second guide member respectively extend toward the vehicle transverse direction outer side from a vehicle lower side toward a vehicle upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiko Iida, Motomi Hirano
  • Patent number: 11648820
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument panel structure is provided including a blower outlet and a guide member. The blower outlet is provided between a meter section on an instrument panel provided at a front section of a vehicle cabin and an interior member of a vehicle door, and is capable of blowing an airflow substantially toward a vehicle rear side. The guide member is provided at the vehicle rear side of the blower outlet so as to block the blower outlet from view of an occupant sitting in a vehicle seat provided inside the vehicle cabin, and extends at an angle toward the vehicle rear side on progression from a location corresponding to the blower outlet toward a vehicle width direction outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Madoka Doi
  • Patent number: 11648823
    Abstract: A nozzle to output air onto an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle is includes: a housing including: a first opening configured to receive air output by a blower; a second opening to output air toward the interior surface of the windshield; N sets of tracks formed in the housing, where N is an integer greater than 1; N vanes that are flexible and that each slide along a respective one of the N sets of tracks; and an actuator that is coupled to each of the N vanes and that is configured to slide along the N vanes along the N sets of tracks, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Enrique Gomez Bravo Manzo, Gerard A. Brinas
  • Patent number: 11485194
    Abstract: An HVAC system for a power machine can include a housing configured to be supported on a front frame member of the power machine forward of an operator enclosure. A ductwork section can be connected to the housing and direct air from the housing to a front opening in the operator enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Binstock, Mitchell Pence
  • Patent number: 11390142
    Abstract: An air handling system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of a motor vehicle includes a conduit configured to convey air from the air handling system to a vent of the air handling system. A control door is rotatably disposed in the conduit. The control door selectively rotates between a first position and a second position. The first position blocks passage of the air flowing through the conduit. The second position blocks passage of the air flowing through a first portion of the conduit and allows the air to flow through a second portion of the conduit. A control feature is disposed in the second portion of the conduit to control at least one of a volumetric flow rate and a pressure of the air flowing through the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Eric Haupt, Jayanthi R. Iyer
  • Patent number: 11255551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner including a main outlet and a plurality of fine outlets provided in a main body, wherein at least one discharge guide for guiding air discharged by a blowing fan to one of the main outlet and the fine outlets is disposed in the inside of the main body to cool indoor space in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Gyun Kim, Chang-woo Jung, Weon Seok Choi
  • Patent number: 11052875
    Abstract: A unitary defroster system for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an instrument panel substrate, an HVAC supply source, and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the HVAC supply source and terminating in a plurality of individually configured defroster nozzle ducts conjoined with the instrument panel substrate and aligned in a substantially linear row parallel to and proximate an interior surface of the windshield. The unitary defroster system is formed by an additive manufacturing process and at least two of the ducts are configured and arranged to deliver a different air flow to the interior surface of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Mitali Chakrabarti, Anthony Ligi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11021040
    Abstract: An air deflector bar extends parallel to an upper edge of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle. The air deflector bar includes an air deflection channel that extends along its length. The air deflection channel is concavely delimited in cross section by means of a first side that butts against the front windscreen and a second side that is connected to the first side and is at a distance from the first side. The inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar is oriented toward an edge of a dashboard of the motor vehicle, which edge delimits the dashboard toward a passenger interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Saliger
  • Patent number: 10913323
    Abstract: A heater duct can be coupled to an instrument panel of a vehicle, and comprises a base, a nozzle, and a neck. The base is sealingly coupled to the instrument panel and includes an inlet opening to receive air from a heater. The nozzle includes an outlet opening and is fluidly connected to the base. The nozzle deflects the air through the outlet opening and toward a predetermined region of a windshield. The neck extends between and is sealingly coupled to the base and nozzle. The base, nozzle, and neck cooperate to at least partially define an interior volume. The heater duct is positioned in an orthogonal coordinate system comprising an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis. Air flowing from the inlet opening through the interior volume toward the outlet opening follows a path sequentially extending in substantially a negative z-direction, substantially a negative y-direction, and substantially a positive z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Mahindra N.A. Tech Center
    Inventors: John P. Pacella, Richard Haas, Kevin D. Bargon, Lowell F. Kiester, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10703165
    Abstract: An air blowing device has a first blowing portion, a duct, and an airflow causing member. The first blowing portion has a guide surface and is provided with a first blowing outlet that blows air from a blower unit into a vehicle compartment. The airflow causing member defines at least one of a first passage and a second passage located on one side and an other side of the airflow causing member in a front-rear direction of a vehicle respectively in the duct. The airflow causing member sets a first condition in which a high-velocity airflow flows in the first passage and a low-velocity airflow flows in the second passage by decreasing a sectional area of the first passage to be smaller than a sectional area of the second passage. The high-velocity airflow flows along the guide surface and is blown into the vehicle compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohisa Motomura
  • Patent number: 10688970
    Abstract: An air-handling system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of a vehicle includes a main housing comprising a conditioning section, a mixing section, and a delivery section having a flow of air passing therethrough. The delivery section includes a conduit branching into a windshield defrost pathway and a demist pathway, the windshield defrost pathway leading to windshield defrost vents of a passenger compartment of the vehicle and the demist pathway leading to side window defrost vents of the passenger compartment. A control door rotatably disposed in the conduit is adjustable through a range of rotational positions wherein a flow area through the windshield defrost pathway is variably restricted while the demist pathway remains unobstructed. The control door is further adjustable to a position wherein the windshield defrost pathway and the demist pathway are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Jayanthi R. Iyer, Eric Haupt, Dennis Vermette, Jim Nolta, Shankar Patil, Mark Douglas Conley
  • Patent number: 9457637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crash pad upper mounting bracket which is installed between an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) to which a connecting duct of a vehicle is connected, and a crash pad, the crash pad upper mounting bracket including: a base which is installed at a lower side of the crash pad; and a mounting portion which protrudes from the base so as to press one region of the connecting duct. Accordingly, the crash pad upper mounting bracket presses the connecting duct so as to maintain airtightness between the HVAC and the connecting duct, thereby preventing deterioration in air conditioning performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 9375997
    Abstract: A sun visor for a vehicle configured to be engaged with a support section provided in a compartment of the vehicle has a sun visor main body that shields light, a supplementary body slidably attached to the sun visor main body and slidable from a first position where the supplementary body overlaps the sun visor main body to a second position where the supplementary body is drawn out of the sun visor main body to shield the light in a wider area, projections standing on peripheries of the through-holes, and a plurality of through-holes penetrating the supplementary body so as to have incident light partly pass through the through-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Kasni Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tamuraya, Shoichiro Obara, Hiroaki Wakisaka, Mitsuru Akiyama, Hiroyuki Takeda, Minoru Tagami, Yutaka Okazaki, Yoshiaki Kazama
  • Patent number: 9308943
    Abstract: Supporting members are provided between an instrument panel reinforcement and a display, and the supporting members and a duct are set so as to overlap as seen in side view. Further, at the duct, a through-hole through which the supporting member passes is formed in a duct portion, and a through-hole through which the supporting member passes is formed in a duct portion. Therefore, due to the supporting members, that support the display, being passed-through the duct portion, the supporting members are provided so as to overlap the duct as seen in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromi Nagai
  • Patent number: 9278605
    Abstract: An air distribution arrangement for distributing a flow of air produced by an HVAC system of a vehicle includes, but is not limited to, a body having an upper surface and a lower surface. The body is configured for attachment to the vehicle downstream of the flow of air. The arrangement further includes a channel associated with the upper surface disposed to receive a first portion of the flow of air and configured to guide the first portion along a length of the upper surface. The arrangement further includes a duct associated with the lower surface and extending along a path corresponding with the length. The duct is disposed to receive a second portion of the flow of air and configured to guide the second portion along the path. The duct is in fluid communication with the channel at a plurality of locations along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Vander Sluis, Anthony D'Alessandro, Kyle Paulsen
  • Patent number: 8997838
    Abstract: In a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a pair of covers are provided on the respective sides of the casing that is constituted by respective air passages. The covers rotatably support a pivot shaft for a defroster damper and a pivot shaft for a sub-defroster damper. The sub-defroster damper is disposed in a passage directly connecting the heater core with the defroster blow-out port, and is disposed on an upstream side of the defroster damper. First and second blower units supply air into the casing. The sub-defroster damper is disposed so as to face a passage which is disposed even inside the casing. Thus, the flowing direction and the amount of air is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Seto, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 8926413
    Abstract: A vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning system includes a plurality of ducts for providing conditioned air to an interior of a vehicle. The plurality of ducts includes a window defrost duct and a floor duct. The system includes a mixing chamber upstream of the window defrost and floor duct. A damper is selectively controllable to distribute the conditioned air to one or more of the plurality of ducts. The damper is configured so that when in a floor only mode position, the damper directs conditioned air in the mixing chamber only to the floor duct. A bypass conduit is configured to direct air from the floor duct to the window defrost duct when the damper is in the floor-only mode position. The conditioned air directed through the bypass conduit attenuates noise generated in the mixing chamber from emanating to the window defrost duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: James Hurd, John Kolodziej, Grant Holajter
  • Patent number: 8821225
    Abstract: Condensation is suppressed from developing on a front face of an instrument panel main body. A instrument panel of the present invention is configured including: an instrument panel main body formed with a center air conditioning outlet and a center defroster outlet; a first panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a top side wall section that configures the vehicle top-bottom direction top side of a center air conditioning duct and a first wall section that configures part of a center defroster duct; and a second panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a bottom side wall section that configures the center air conditioning duct in combination with the top side wall section and a second wall section that configures the center defroster duct in combination with the first wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Yasunobu Yamazaki, Toru Kondo
  • Patent number: 8795042
    Abstract: Provided is a defroster nozzle 4 which blows out air to an inner surface of a windshield 2 of a vehicle 1. The defroster nozzle 4 includes center-duct 45 forming member 41 and two end-portion-duct forming members 50. The center-duct 45 forming member 41 forms a center duct through which the air circulates, and has a center ventilation outlet 47 through which the air in the center duct is blown out to the inner surface of the windshield 2. The two end-portion-duct 54 forming members 50 are coupled respectively to two joint end portions 42, on outer sides in the vehicle width direction, of the center-duct forming member 41. Each end-portion-duct forming member 50 forms an end-portion duct which communicates with the center duct, and each end-portion-duct forming member 50 has an end-portion ventilation outlet 55 through which the air in the end-portion duct is blown out to the inner surface of the windshield 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ueda, Tadahiro Matsumoto, Takehiko Iwamura
  • Publication number: 20140213165
    Abstract: A defrost system for a motor vehicle is disclosed, the defrost system including ducting in fluid communication with a top of a windshield of the motor vehicle and/or at least one side of the windshield of the motor vehicle. In certain embodiments, the ducting has at least a portion disposed in an A-pillar of the motor vehicle, and in other embodiments the ducting has at least a portion disposed in a B-pillar of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka, Eric Keith Haupt, Heidi Crandall
  • Publication number: 20140194047
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle, including: an air conditioning case including a rear console vent through which introduced air is discharged toward a rear console, a defrost vent through which air is discharged toward a front window, a face vent through which air is discharged in a direction of a front passenger, and a foot vent through which air is discharged in a foot direction of front and rear seats; a door unit including a defrost door, a face door, and a foot door that are rotatably disposed in the air conditioning case and adjust a degree of openness of each of the defrost vent, the face vent, and the foot vent; and a door driving unit that individually drives and controls the defrost door, the face door, and the foot door and establishes an air conditioning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Byung Guk AN, Joon Hong Choi
  • Publication number: 20140151354
    Abstract: An electrical heater for vehicle windshields and windows includes a heating chamber having heat reflective interior walls and at least one electrically driven heater element so as to produce heat from the element when energized, wherein the heater circuit wiring is adapted to only be electrically connected to a conventional DC electrical system of a vehicle, and wherein the heating chamber is adapted to be mounted under the windshield vents of the vehicle to thereby direct airflow flowing over the heater elements as forced by the vehicle's heater core fan through the vehicle ducting and out from the vehicle's windshield vents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Egon Schauble
  • Publication number: 20140134937
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes an air conditioning housing and a mode door. The air conditioning housing has a discharge chamber through which conditioned air is discharged out of the air conditioning housing. The discharge chamber includes a defrost vent, a main vent, floor vents and a rear seat vent. The floor vents are formed on opposite sides of a rear portion of the air conditioning housing. The rear seat vent is formed between the floor vents. The mode door has a front opening hole which is formed in a front portion of the mode door, a pair of main opening holes which are formed in a rear portion of the mode door at positions spaced apart from each other, and a rear-end opening hole which is formed behind a first portion provided between the main opening holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Myung Hoe KIM, Jae Min YANG, Seung Wook KIM, Jong Heon LEE, Hyung Joo KIM, Sang Chul BYON
  • Publication number: 20140087647
    Abstract: Vehicle cab windscreen air distribution system for a windscreen (1) provided with an external windscreen wiper (5) and a windscreen wiper motor (2a) mounted on the inside of the windscreen. The distribution system comprises an air distribution housing (3) which at least partially surrounds the wiper motor (2, 2a), the housing defining a passage (3a) for the supply of air onto the windscreen (1a) in the vicinity of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Geiss, Alexander Zeller, Andreas Stieglitz, Patrick Hoerting
  • Patent number: 8651533
    Abstract: A duct mating assembly includes first and second ducts having side surfaces connected along their edges to define an interior air space. A coupling portion is formed on one of the first or second ends of the ducts. The coupling portion of the first duct includes first and second sections joined by side sections. The first section of the first duct includes a fifth portion that extends to a sixth portion. A transition portion is positioned between the fifth and sixth portions. The transition portion steps downward and extends forward and then steps back up relative to the fifth portion for preventing air leakage between the first and second ducts. The second section of the first duct includes a first snap feature formed thereon and the fourth section of the second duct including a second snap feature formed thereon, the first and second snap features are operative to connect the second and fourth sections of the first and second ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Samaneh Shahidehpour, Atsushi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140045416
    Abstract: An arrangement of air outlets on a motor vehicle air conditioning unit, wherein side window outlets, side occupant air outlets, and center occupant or additional vent air outlets are configured as pairs and the side occupant air outlets and the center occupant or additional vent air outlets are arranged in one tier, wherein from outside to inside are, first, the center occupant or additional vent air outlets and then the side occupant air outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Mario Opiela, Johannes Stausberg
  • Patent number: 8641489
    Abstract: A distribution housing including an upstream portion and a widened downstream portion along the transverse axis relative to the upstream portion, in which an air inlet formed in the upstream portion is adapted to correspond to an outlet of an air conditioning apparatus, first and second outlets formed in the downstream portion are respectively adapted to correspond with a duct network for distributing blown air towards a de-icing board and side louvers, first pipes connect the inlet to the first outlets and extend between separation walls of the ducts and side walls of the housing, and a second pipe connects the inlet to the second outlet and extends at least partially between the duct separation walls. The second pipe opens, on the air inlet side, at the center of the air inlet, and the first pipes open on both sides of the first pipe. The housing has a different profile along the plane between the first and second pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Flavien Dubief, Cyrille Pateyron
  • Patent number: 8591299
    Abstract: An air duct system may employ an HVAC case having an exit air duct and a return air duct, a windshield with an interior surface, an approximately vertical duct, and a horizontal duct. Ducts mount to the windshield and each define an interior passageway with the interior surface of the windshield and a second, return air, passageway. The interior passageway may receive air from the exit air duct and the second passageway may return air to the return air duct. End chambers of each duct reverse air direction 180 degrees. Air of each interior passageway may warm an adjacent area of the windshield that forms part of each interior passageway and a windshield wiper. The first air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a maximum non-park wiper position and the second air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a wiper park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph DiGasbarro
  • Patent number: 8550886
    Abstract: A ventilation device is for ventilating a motor vehicle interior. The ventilation device comprises an air supply channel and an outflow region. The outflow region is provided with a first component and a second component which can be brought into at least one first state of displacement and a second state of displacement in relation to each other, in order to generate a first air flow and a different second air flow. The first component and the second component have a first lamella structure and a second lamella structure, according to the state of displacement, for producing a first air flow and a second air flow with different opening angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Kogler, Younes Chlyeh
  • Publication number: 20130196586
    Abstract: A vehicle's front windshield's defrost airflow control system regulates the pattern of defrost airflow over the front windshield, and partially directs the defrost air towards rear portions of the vehicle. A number of suction ports provided over the front windshield's periphery, suck the defrost air discharged over the front windshield. A conduit communicates directs the sucked defrost air over the top of the front side glass, the rear side glass, and the rear windshield of the vehicle. A suction blower positioned within the conduit, enables suction of the defrost air through the suction ports, and guides the sucked air through a number of discharge ports mounted over the front side glass, the rear side glass and the rear windshield. The system enables defrost effect over the side glass and the rear windshield of the vehicle, and prevents penetration of defrost air into the eyes of the front occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Bryan Hoke, Mark M. Doroudian, Clay Wesley Maranville, David H. Ervin
  • Publication number: 20130183894
    Abstract: Provided is an anti-fog and HVAC system (30, 30A, 30B) for an electric vehicle, which is configured to dehumidify air inside the electric vehicle, the anti-fog and HVAC system including: a unit casing (1K) formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a hollow interior, the unit casing (1K) containing a dehumidifying unit (1) removably storing a dehumidifying cassette (3) containing a dehumidifying member (2); an inlet duct (7) for guiding the air inside the electric vehicle to an input side of the unit casing (1K); and a ventilation duct (5) for discharging, into the electric vehicle, dehumidified air from an output side of the unit casing (1K).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: Takumasa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8408980
    Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning apparatus includes a casing constituted by respective air passages. The casing has a vent opening and a defroster opening at an upper portion thereof. The vent opening is disposed on a forward side of a vehicle with respect to the defroster opening. A pair of defroster ducts extend in lateral directions respectively from side portions of the defroster opening, and center vent ducts are disposed in a straight line fashion from the vent opening and oriented rearwardly of the vehicle between the pair of the defroster ducts. The center vent ducts open only in the vehicle compartment. In a bi-level mode, a third front passage on the downstream side of the evaporator extends upwardly in a straight line fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Keihin Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyosuke Nanaumi, Junichi Kanemaru, Shinji Kakizaki
  • Publication number: 20130059522
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes an electric heater arranged downstream of a heat exchanger in an air flow direction, a defroster air outlet, a driver-foot air outlet through which air is blown toward a foot area of a driver, a knee air outlet through which air is blown toward a knee area of the driver, a door device which controls an air amount blown into a vehicle compartment by opening or closing the air outlets. When an immediate heating operation is performed by an operation of an immediate heating switch, the door device opens the defroster air outlet and at least one of the driver-foot air outlet and the knee air outlet, and the electric heater heats a total amount of air that is to be blown through the at least one of the driver-foot air outlet and the knee air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ota, Manabu Maeda, Yuji Kawazoe, Shinji Iwama
  • Publication number: 20130045670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle that includes: a mode door having a thin plate member, solidly operating inside an air-conditioning case to control the degree of opening of a defrost vent, a face vent and floor vents, and a gear shaft, engaged with the thin plate member for its operating; and constant discharging means disposed at a rail portion of the thin plate member and at a guide part of an air-conditioning case overlapped with the rail portion, so that air of a fixed quantity is discharged to side vents of the face vent, thereby providing a simple structure and reducing manufacturing costs because the gear holes of the rail portion and the cut portions of the guide portion serve as the constant discharging means, without a need for additional structure to constantly discharge air toward the side vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Seongseok HAN, Hyungjoo KIM, Dongmin KAM, Seonghyun KIM, Donggyun KIM
  • Publication number: 20130023192
    Abstract: Condensation is suppressed from developing on a front face of an instrument panel main body. A instrument panel of the present invention is configured including: an instrument panel main body formed with a center air conditioning outlet and a center defroster outlet; a first panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a top side wall section that configures the vehicle top-bottom direction top side of a center air conditioning duct and a first wall section that configures part of a center defroster duct; and a second panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a bottom side wall section that configures the center air conditioning duct in combination with the top side wall section and a second wall section that configures the center defroster duct in combination with the first wall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Yasunobu Yamazaki, Totu Kondo
  • Patent number: 8313134
    Abstract: An integrated structural system for a vehicle is provided, the integrated structural system having: a structural member; a first beam component secured to the structural member by a molding process, the first beam component being molded from a first amount of thermoplastic material, wherein the configuration of the first beam component is defined by the molding process; and a second beam component secured directly and only to the first beam component by a vibration weld, the second beam component being separately molded from a second amount of thermoplastic material, the second beam component having a configuration different from the first beam component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Inteva Products, LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Wenzel, Robert Van Jaarsveld, Ronald Widin, Joseph A. Bertucci, Gregory J. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 8302669
    Abstract: A louver for an air-conduction housing of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another to facilitate air stratification and are subdivided by partitions which are part of the louver. At least one of the regions is configured as a drum-type louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ronny Kiel, Wolfgang Dieksander, Erich Litwing
  • Patent number: 8292704
    Abstract: A dashboard for a motor vehicle is prearranged in such a way that the air for ventilation of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle that exits from a top opening of the dashboard is deviated, by the Coanda effect, along the top surface of the dashboard and beyond the dashboard in the direction of the occupants of the passenger compartment. The dashboard is moreover provided with at least one flow-perturbing element, which can be brought into an active position thereof, in which it projects above the top surface of the dashboard, in an area immediately downstream of the aforesaid top opening, with reference to the direction of the flow of air coming out of the top opening. In the active position of the flow-perturbing element, the flow of air coming out of the top opening is deviated towards the windscreen of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Angelo Storgato, Giovanni Boreanaz, Giorgio Masoero
  • Publication number: 20120252342
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air mixing and distribution apparatus (32) and to a vehicle heating or air-conditioning system (10) having an air distribution chamber (30), into which a cold air duct (16) opens with a cold air opening (26) and a warm air duct (20) opens with a warm air opening (28). The warm air opening (28) is formed by the outlet of a heat exchanger (22), the cold and warm air openings (26, 28) lie next to one another and in the same plane (34), and the cold air which flows through the cold air opening (26) and the warm air which flows through the warm air opening (28) flow into the air distribution chamber (30). The air distribution chamber (30) has a mixed air outlet (42) for the windscreen and a mixed air outlet (44) for a front diffuser, the mixed air outlets (42, 44) being spaced apart from one another. The apparatus (32) also includes a first air deflection element (52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas STANG, Albert GWOSDEK
  • Patent number: 8157627
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a passenger compartment of a road vehicle; the air conditioning system has an elongated upper air inlet, which comes out through a top surface of a dashboard of the passenger compartment, close to a windscreen, extends substantially along the whole of the top surface of the dashboard, and is directed towards the passenger compartment to direct airflow tangent to the top surface of the dashboard and over the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Stefani
  • Patent number: 8109812
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a panel member, a first conduit, a second conduit and a gasket disposed between the first and second conduit. The panel member has a vent for directing air toward a window in the vehicle. The first conduit has a first end that provides air to the vent and a second end with a peripheral wall forming an inlet. The second conduit has an outlet that provides air to the inlet and a flange that extends outwardly from the outlet and includes a support surface that supports a gasket for sealing an interface between the outlet and the inlet. The second conduit has a lip that extends outwardly from the support surface of the flange and supports the gasket to prevent deformation of the gasket during assembly of the first conduit and second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Chopra, Chae Hon An
  • Publication number: 20110244777
    Abstract: An air duct system may employ an HVAC case having an exit air duct and a return air duct, a windshield with an interior surface, an approximately vertical duct, and a horizontal duct. Ducts mount to the windshield and each define an interior passageway with the interior surface of the windshield and a second, return air, passageway. The interior passageway may receive air from the exit air duct and the second passageway may return air to the return air duct. End chambers of each duct reverse air direction 180 degrees. Air of each interior passageway may warm an adjacent area of the windshield that forms part of each interior passageway and a windshield wiper. The first air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a maximum non-park wiper position and the second air duct interior passageway may warm a windshield area coincident with a wiper park position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel J. DiGasbarro
  • Publication number: 20110183596
    Abstract: A control device for a climate control system of a motor vehicle has a temperature control for selecting the temperature of the ventilation air supplied by the system. The temperature control is operatively connected with a switch controlling an additional operating function of the climate control system, such that actuation of the temperature control to a demist temperature position actuates the additional operating function to a windshield demist mode. The demist temperature position may advantageously be the full-hot position. The windshield demist mode may include setting an air recirculation function to off, setting an air conditioning function to full cold, setting a blower speed function to maximum output, setting an air distribution function to direct a majority of ventilation air toward a vehicle windshield, and/or setting a rear window heat/defrost function to heat a rear window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dietmar Fischer, Stefan Becker, Stefan Wolter, Joern Grabke, Andreas Ostendorf, Eero Laansoo
  • Patent number: 7909684
    Abstract: A molded plastic garnish assembly (10) for a front post of an automotive vehicle, the garnish assembly having a duct portion (16) integrally molded with an overlying portion (18) that has a vent opening (14) therein. The duct portion and the overlying portion are molded together in alignment and are subsequently brought into overlying relationship by bending them relative to one another about a molded-in hinge (20). The duct portion and the overlying portion are secured to one another by engagement of a hook portion (22) at the end of a finger (24) that depends from the overlying portion into an opening (26) in a finger (28) that depends from the duct portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Gillay
  • Patent number: 7891409
    Abstract: Noise occurring in an upright air-conditioning unit is greatly reduced. An upright air-conditioning unit 1 is disposed under a steering member support part 23, a vent opening 15 and a vent outlet port 20 are made to communicate with each other via a vent duct 25, a defrost opening 16 and a defrost outlet port 21 are made to communicate with each other via a defrost duct 26. The vent opening 15 assumes a position further frontward than the steering member support part 23 along the frontward/rearward direction relative to the vehicle body whereas the defrost opening 16 assumes a position further rearward than the steering member support part 23 along the frontward/rearward direction relative to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Thermal Systems Japan Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Araki, Hiroshi Tsuzuki, Yoshihiro Sekiya, Keisuke Hara
  • Publication number: 20100178861
    Abstract: Defroster ducts (12R, 12L) includes a right defroster duct (12R) extending from a left side of a temperature control unit (11) toward a right side of a front window (FW) and a left defroster duct (12L) extending from a right side of the temperature control unit (11) toward a left side of the front window (FW). The right and left defroster ducts (12R, 12L) are arranged crossing each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Masahiro Sano
  • Patent number: 7731261
    Abstract: A method for forming an integrated structural system for a vehicle is provided. The method including the steps of: securing a first beam component to a structural member by a molding process, the first beam component being molded from a first amount of thermoplastic material, the structural member being formed from a material different than the first amount of thermoplastic material; and securing a second beam component to the first beam component, the second beam component being separately molded from a second amount of thermoplastic material, the second beam component having a configuration different from the first beam component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Inteva Products LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Wenzel, Robert Van Jaarsveld, Ronald Widin, Joseph A. Bertucci, Gregory J. Kowalski
  • Publication number: 20100035533
    Abstract: A distribution housing including an upstream portion and a widened downstream portion along the transverse axis relative to the upstream portion, in which an air inlet formed in the upstream portion is adapted to correspond to an outlet of an air conditioning apparatus, first and second outlets formed in the downstream portion are respectively adapted to correspond with a duct network for distributing blown air towards a de-icing board and side louvers, first pipes connect the inlet to the first outlets and extend between separation walls of the ducts and side walls of the housing, and a second pipe connects the inlet to the second outlet and extends at least partially between the duct separation walls. The second pipe opens, on the air inlet side, at the center of the air inlet, and the first pipes open on both sides of the first pipe. The housing has a different profile along the plane between the first and second pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Flavien Dubief, Cyrille Pateyron