Having Outlet Airway Patents (Class 454/162)
  • Patent number: 6132308
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a forced ventilation apparatus (1) for equalizing a pressure difference between a passenger compartment and surroundings of a motor vehicle. The apparatus (1) includes a frame (2) made of hard plastics and delimiting an aperture (3), and a flat ventilation flap (7) made of an elastomer material and secured to the frame (2). A resilient restoring force counteracts opening movement of the ventilation flap (7) from a closed position in which the ventilation flap (7) rests on the frame (2) and closes the aperture (3) in the frame. The method comprises the step of injection-molding the ventilation flap (7) to the frame (2) in an opened position. To this end, the elastomer material is pressed from a free end of the ventilation flap (7) into a common contact area (8) of the ventilation flap (7) with the frame (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Wegu-und Kunststoffwerke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Dietz, Thorsten Hildebrand, Joachim Heidel
  • Patent number: 6102791
    Abstract: The cooling-air outlet of a vehicle comprises a grill and a frame which encloses said grill and is provided on an outside wall of the vehicle. In order to render the grill, as far as possible, invisible in a thermal-imaging environment, the frame projects beyond the grill to the outside and comprises a hollow profile which forms a flow channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a difference in pressure prevailing between inlet opening and outlet opening. This difference in pressure may be produced by an external or internal blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Skoff
  • Patent number: 6086474
    Abstract: A ventilating device (1) for a motor vehicle, having a ventilation opening (5) arranged in the central region of an instrument panel (2) and/or a ventilation opening (5) arranged in a center, console which can be connected optionally to a suction side or a pressure side of a fan having an air filter. Ventilation openings arranged in a lateral region of the instrument panel (2) can be connected to the pressure side of the fan. This makes it possible for air which has been used, for example, by a smoker in the front region of the motor vehicle to be cleaned particularly quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Klaus Dohring
  • Patent number: 6071591
    Abstract: A motor vehicle dashboard including a body made of injection-molded plastic form, and at least one air duct integrally molded with the dashboard body. The air duct is produced by means of an at least partially absorbable removable insert, particularly an inflatable balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Uwe Dausch
  • Patent number: 6068551
    Abstract: Disclosed is a trunk ventilating device that operates to elevate or reduce the temperature of the vehicle trunk or trunk-like area. The device will accommodate a conventional rear deck of an automobile and provides a sealing aspect between the occupant area and the trunk area with the use of louvers that are made operational upon demand by the vehicle operator. The vehicle operator may initiate a dash mounted control switch that operates a high speed fan capable of drawing air from the occupants seating area into the otherwise sealed trunk area providing the proposed temperature elevation or reduction. Louvers are gravity or spring biased. It includes an aperture covering so as to prevent items from entering the trunk or engaging the rotating fan. A separate embodiment encompasses the use of a remotely located fan for areas lacking a definable trunk area for the purpose of transferring conditioned air from one part of the vehicle to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: George Alan Oremland
  • Patent number: 6030285
    Abstract: A device for dissipating heat from a car and having discharge ports the angle of which is adjustable. The device includes a body, an air discharge rotary cylinder having discharge ports, a fan blade shaft, and a securing device. The body is comprised of left and right casings that together define upper and lower cylindrical receiving chambers for receiving the rotary cylinder and the fan blade shaft respectively. The securing device includes a wedge-shaped insert plate and an elastic clamp plate. The insert plate extends downwardly from the bottom of the body and is adapted to insert into a gap between a window glass pane and a window frame of a car, with the clamp plate clamping against the car door. The body is connected via a main body to a car window drive circuit. Before the driver enters the car, the window can be lowered using a remote controller and the fan blade shaft in the body can be actuated to begin drawing out the hot air inside the car to thereby lower the temperature inside the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Chin-Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 5904618
    Abstract: A flap-type pressure relief valve particularly intended for relieving overpressure conditions in a vehicle passenger compartment includes a frame having an integral peripheral sealing gasket that is formed on the frame by being injection molded directly thereto. The frame is molded from a relatively rigid plastic and the gasket is molded from a plastic that is significantly more resilient and flexible but selected to permanently bond to the plastic of the frame when brought into contact therewith under injection molding conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5842503
    Abstract: A region in a thin plastic sheet is formed to include a series of corrugations. These corrugations are include alternating peaks or crests and roots or valleys. The plastic sheet is to be installed on a workpiece intermediate areas or zones periodically exposed to differential air pressures. Slit areas incorporated into adjacent crests of the corrugations to extend along a longitudinal portion thereof allow air flow passage therethrough in one direction while preventing air flow in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: The Excello Specialty Company
    Inventor: Dennis D. Foley
  • Patent number: 5823870
    Abstract: An apparatus used with a vehicle one way ventilation exhaust valve with a plurality of flexible flaps is provided comprising a retainer with a frame and a plurality of flap retention members connected across U-shaped members attached to the frame such that when the apparatus is positioned proximate the valve, the retention members bias the flaps in the closed direction to prevent excessive movement of the flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Sandy J. Emerling, Keith Potter
  • Patent number: 5759097
    Abstract: An air extraction valve and grill assembly for mounting in an opening in the bodywork of the passenger compartment of a vehicle body, and for enabling the extraction of stale air from the passenger compartment, is molded from the rigid thermoplastic material and defines two air extraction apertures. Each aperture is controllably closed off by a valve flap. Each valve flap is molded from rigid thermoplastics material, or produced from other similar rigid material. Onto each valve flap are over-molded two strips of thermoplastic material. One of these strips forms a hinge for supporting the valve flap in the aperture and biassing it into a position where the other over-molded strip acts as a seal with the rigid body of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Draftex Industries Limited
    Inventors: Jean Claude Bernoville, Frederic Jacq, Thierry LeBras, Jean Payerne, Alain Peyrie, Fabrice Roche
  • Patent number: 5733190
    Abstract: An apparatus reduces the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke when a person smoking tobacco and a non-smoking person occupy the interior of a motor vehicle. The apparatus has three components. The first component is a transparent plastic curtain that divides the interior of the motor vehicle into one area containing a smoking person and one area containing the non-smoking person. The second component is an electric exhaust fan that is hung in the area of the interior containing the smoking person. The third component is a tube running from the exhaust end of the fan to a location outside the interior of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Riyad M. Wahab
  • Patent number: 5727999
    Abstract: A one-way flap-type vehicle ventilation valve comprises a generally planar molded plastic sealing flap for overlying a flow opening formed through a vehicle body panel. The flap is formed in a two shot molding process to have a rigid plastic main body with a resilient plastic seal lip about its periphery. A plastic support shaft is molded integrally with the main body and is spaced therefrom by integral support webs. A plastic support is pivotally joined to the support shaft by connecting portions of the bracket that are molded about the ends of the support shaft. Fasteners extend from the bracket for joining the valve to the vehicle body panel. The fasteners include end portions for passing through holes formed through the vehicle body panel adjacent the flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5609515
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a profiler device having a linear drive mechanism with enhanced tool holder support to effectively guide the substantially linear reciprocating movement of the tool holder so to maintain accuracy during machining operations and to extend the life of the tool and the device. The linear drive mechanism includes a reciprocating sleeve guided for substantially linear movement in a main guide sleeve, which is fixed to a profiler housing. The main guide sleeve includes a square socket formed in one end for receiving a square end of the tool holder. The surfaces of the square socket and the square end slidably engage one another for guiding and supporting the tool holder. The square end of the tool holder also includes a central bore which receives with a friction fit one end of reciprocating sleeve for being driven linearly with the reciprocating sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas G. Takach
  • Patent number: 5601117
    Abstract: A flap-type pressure relief valve includes a frame defining a flow opening therethrough with a flexible flap valve element positioned adjacent the frame to overlie the opening and allow fluid flow in a first direction through the opening while preventing flow in the opposite direction. A retainer assembly for joining a peripheral edge portion of the flap valve element to the frame comprises an elongated retainer bar integrally joined to the frame at one edge and connected to the frame at the other edge along a side of the flow opening in overlying relationship to a peripheral edge of the flap valve element. The retainer bar has a retainer surface spaced from the frame a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the flap valve element. Retainer pins extend from the frame through openings in the flap valve element. The assembly thus supports the flap valve element in a freely floating manner without forming air leakage openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Lewis, James F. Fleck
  • Patent number: 5509852
    Abstract: A system for ventilating the cabin of an overheated vehicle which takes advantage of convection and evaporation as methods of cooling. The system is voice controlled. The invention places a fan, separate from the vehicle's air conditioning and heating system, near the rear of the cabin. The fan directly connects the interior cabin air to outside air. Upon the opening of the driver's door, the driver's window rolls down and the fan turns on, drawing hot air out of the cabin to the outside, through the rear duct and across the driver's perspiring face and body. After the temperature inside the cabin drops to a predetermined comfortable temperature, a chime sounds to alert the driver to turn the ventilating system off. Alternatively, the system may shut off automatically after a preset time period. Voice control allows the driver to winterize the system, to turn off the chime, or to run the system for demonstration purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Darrell Clark
  • Patent number: 5492505
    Abstract: A flap type vehicle ventilation valve improves sealing, while still preventing flap blowthrough, by insetting the surface of the blowthrough prevention valves from the plane of the vent opening. Therefore, under normal negative pressure, the flap can bulge inwardly from the plane of the vent opening, but not hit the webs, so that puckering of the flap and the consequent backflow leakage is prevented. The webs still hit the flap in response to high negative pressures, to avoid flap blowthrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Clark D. Bell, James C. Ostrand
  • Patent number: 5419739
    Abstract: A flap type pressure relief valve comprises a frame having an opening therethrough controlled by a valve flap in the form of a flexible sheet of material mounted to the frame along a first side of the opening to overlie the opening. The flexible sheet is joined to the frame by a connection comprising slots through the frame adapted to receive and retain tabs on the valve flap that extend through the apertures. The tabs are formed of resilient and compressible elastomeric material and have enlarged first and second retaining ribs extending closely adjacent the respective slot on both side faces of the frame with a necked connecting portion disposed between the first and second ribs. The connecting portion of each tab is seated within the respective aperture and is under compression and completely fills the aperture and compressively engages the frame. The retaining ribs hold the valve flap in its assembled location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5344361
    Abstract: A portable auxiliary fan unit that can be installed into the sunroof of an automobile and exhaust the air from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The fan unit includes a panel assembly which has a passage that provides fluid communication between the passenger compartment and the outside of the car. Within the passage is a fan which can induce air flow from the interior of the vehicle to the ambient. The fan is powered by a plurality of solar cells located beneath a transparent top panel member. The fan unit is installed into an opening of the roof that is created by fully retracting the sliding roof panel of the car. The unit has a pair of levers at opposite edges of the transparent panel. The levers are inserted into grooves that normally guide the sliding roof panel, to secure the panel and fan to the roof of the car. Once installed, the solar cells power the fan, which causes air to flow from the passenger compartment to the outside of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Jan H. Matthias
  • Patent number: 5263895
    Abstract: A return air blocking device (1) in the nature of a check valve for use in the ventilation system for the interior of a motor vehicle. The device comprises a housing or main frame (2) attachable in a vehicle support panel by insertion into a panel aperture. A flap-type valve element is directly connected with housing (2). Preferably, housing (2) includes a grating structure against which the flap-type valve element rests while in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: TRW United-Carr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Willibald Kraus, Hans-Werner Ruckwardt
  • Patent number: 5261856
    Abstract: An air circulation device for moving air within an automotive vehicle passenger compartment having a temperature conditioning system, a blower, and an intake air circulation duct, the intake air circulation duct having walls which are pierced by an outlet orifice, a first intake orifice, and a second intake orifice, the first and second intake orifices being selectively sealed by a primary valve assembly containing one or more directional flow control valves through which interior passenger compartment air may flow via the first intake orifice to the outside, thereby relieving unwanted positive air pressure within the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Anthony R. Walser
  • Patent number: 5261855
    Abstract: A smoke removal system for a vehicle includes a primary smoke exit vent and a secondary smoke exit vent associated with passenger locations inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle. Each exit vent is individually, selectively operable such that only the smokers inside the passenger compartment need actuate the smoke exit vents to maintain the passenger compartment substantially smoke free. The primary exit vent may be included on an articulated arm which may be positioned proximate the smoker's head to create a capture zone that will directly remove residual or exhaust smoke exhaled by the smoker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Inventors: Herbert C. Law, Edward L. McIlvaine
  • Patent number: 5194038
    Abstract: A one-way air valve for relieving pressure within the passenger compartment of an automobile includes a plastic frame having an air passage therethrough with a flap integrally molded with the frame but of more elastic material and connected to the frame by a living hinge. The flap is molded in a position extending through the passageway and the living hinge is spring loaded by swinging the flap back through the passageway to overlie the outside of the frame over the passageway, thereby biasing the flap against the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Huron Plastics Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime L. Klomhaus, Scott M. Bell, Richard J. Barton
  • Patent number: 5120271
    Abstract: A ventilating system for a car includes an exhaust fan, a carbon monoxide detector, and tubes for evacuating air from the interior of the car if carbon monoxide is present in it. The system can be provided also with a manual fan-operating switch, and formed as a unit which is easily mountable in a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Julio Shtanko
  • Patent number: 5105849
    Abstract: A valve for use in ventilation of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises a housing defining a plurality of through flow passages with separate flap valve elements pivotally mounted adjacent each through flow passage. The valve elements are adapted in a first position to overlie the associated through flow passage for blocking flow, but when pivoted toward a second position, they open to permit flow. The flap valve elements are each pivotally mounted by separate hinges which act to bias the valve elements toward the first position with a preselected force. The hinges on separate ones of the flap valve elements are arranged to provide different preselected biasing forces such that the number of valve elements moving toward the open position at any point in time depends upon the then current level of pressure of fluid on the upstream side of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Melvyn J. L. Clough
  • Patent number: 5081912
    Abstract: A vehicle vent (12) for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment includes a float valve (32) that prevents water that enters an outlet (24) of the vent from passing into the vehicle through the vent inlet (20) but which has a drain passage (36) for permitting a limited flow of the water to a drain (38) on the vent inlet side of the float valve (32). The vent (12) preferably includes a fan (40) that is most preferably energized by a solar panel (48). Mounting of the vent (12) can be provided on the vehicle roof, on the roof just forward of a vehicle back window, or as part of a sunroof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Asha Corporation
    Inventor: Alain J-M. Clenet