Abstract: A control valve (10) for a fluid circulation circuit comprises a body (12) which is equipped with a fluid inlet (18) and at least two fluid outlets (20, 22 and 24) and which delimits a cylindrical housing for an adjusting member (26) able to rotate about an axis of rotation (XX) and to adopt various angular positions in order to control the distribution of fluid through the outlets. The body (12) comprises an end wall (14) into which the fluid inlet (18) opens and a cylindrical side wall (16) into which the fluid outlets open at axial heights and at angular positions that are chosen with respect to the axis of rotation (XX). The rotary member (26) comprises a truncated end (38) facing toward the end wall (14), this making it possible to have control over the fluid outlets using a law defined as a function of the angular position of the rotary member in the valve body.

Abstract: An expansion device, intended for installation in an air conditioning system with a supercritical refrigerant fluid (FR), is described. The expansion device (12) comprises a body (120) through which refrigerant fluid passes, equipped with an inlet chamber (1210) into which the refrigerant fluid arrives and an outlet chamber (1230) through which the refrigerant fluid departs. The expansion device further comprises a set of expansion means to allow the refrigerant fluid to pass from the inlet chamber (1210) to the outlet chamber (1230), comprising a variable expansion means (1212) comprising a first orifice (34) and an adjusting screw (134) suitable for adjusting the flow section of the first orifice (34); and, a fixed expansion means comprising a second orifice (35) with a fixed flow section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control panel, in particular for a motor vehicle, provided with at least one rotary button (10) for adjusting a parameter relating to an air stream propelled by a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning apparatus, characterised in that the said adjusting button (10) is an optical encoder with selective light emission and reception, and comprising a rotatable part (20) protruding from the control panel, and a fixed part (30) co-operating with the moving part (20) for emitting and receiving the light. This control panel is adapted to adjust, for example, the temperature, flow rate or distribution of the said air stream.

Abstract: The energy-absorbing case (2) comprises a casing consisting of a hollow section piece which has a first end attached to the bumper beam (2) and a second end able to be fixed to the end of a longitudinal longeron (6) of the motor vehicle. The casing is filled with a metal foam with energy-absorption properties, the density of which is between 0.1 g/cm3 and 0.4 g/cm3. Application to motor vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of automotive heat exchangers, and, in particular, to ribbed heat exchanger tanks. This invention uses ribs that are oriented perpendicular to the local wall bending axes, and, therefore, not necessarily perpendicular to or parallel with the plane of the header to improve resistance to thereby reduce wall deflection and reduce stress concentration in or near the ribs.

Abstract: Electric heating device comprising an electric radiator (10) for heating the air passing through it, said radiator comprising a casing (12), at least one resistive element mounted in the casing and constituted by at least one zigzag metal strip (22) which is disposed so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, and a circuit (30) for controlling the electrical supply of the resistive element or elements connected to a power supply. The electric radiator (10) comprises a set of individual heating modules (20) disposed parallel to one another in the casing (12) and so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, each heating module (20) comprising a pleated or corrugated metal strip (22) and an electronic switch controlled by the control circuit (30) intended to selectively inhibit the electrical supply of the metal strip (22).

Abstract: In preferred aspects of the present invention, at least one rib is provided can be molded to an internal dividing wall in the interior of a water separator in an automotive HVAC unit. In more preferred aspects, a plurality of ribs is provided that are molded to or with the wall, and, the plurality of ribs form a pattern, in a way that allows them to ‘direct’ or to ‘channel’ water from an air flow.

Abstract: A control valve suitable for forming part of a cooling circuit comprising a first branch which contains a radiator and a second branch that constitutes a bypass of a radiator is described. The control valve has a third branch, which, in a motor vehicle combustion engine cooling circuit, has at least one unit heater for heating the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a heat transfer fluid circuit comprising ducts for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid, which are inserted between an inlet and an outlet, is described. Cavities designed to contain a heat storage fluid adjacent to the cooling fluid circulation ducts and associated with heat-exchanger surfaces, so that heat storage fluid is capable of exchanging heat with the air flow, if the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is stopped, are also described.

Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system, including a housing (10) with an elongated tubular wall (12). The accumulator also includes an internal heat exchanger fitted in the housing (10). The internal heat exchanger has a tubular structure (40) with radially protruding ribs (40, 42) arranged coaxially with the housing wall (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a keypad (10) for a control panel, in particular for a motor vehicle instrument system, comprising a front (30) provided with openings (32) through which a number of push-buttons (20) are placed, each positioned facing a contactor (14) fixed to a card (12), characterized in that the buttons (20) are linked together at least in groups of two to form a unitary set (22) and are placed with respect to one another on the keypad (10) such that each button (20) can be moved individually and pushing thereof causes solely actuation of the contactor (14) assigned to said button, without any effect on the contactors of the other buttons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle ventilation system, and, in particular, a heating and air-conditioning assembly and method of making such an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises a multi-portion HVAC housing and an alignment feature. The alignment feature preferably follows the contours of the housing portions of the HVAC. Preferably, the alignment feature is a baffle, or, in particular, a cross flow baffle, that serves an air directing as well as bridge function between housing portions of the HVAC, reducing packaging space for the HVAC unit while providing ease of assembly and reduced tool complexity for multi-piece HVAC housings.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for exchange of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid comprises a stack of pockets (1) mutually aligned in a longitudinal direction and having two header boxes (16, 17) that are mutually juxtaposed in a lateral direction. The first fluid is injected into an upstream connecting channel (12) by a longitudinal nozzle (22) passing through a heat exchanger end face (5) remote from the upstream connecting channel, and at least one other connecting channel (14). This longitudinal nozzle has a cross section of oblong general shape, whose greatest dimension is parallel to the greatest dimension of the pockets. The heat exchanger may be produced particularly in the form of an evaporator for an air-conditioning device for the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for controlling the speed of a motor (1) of an electric fan unit comprising a field-effect transistor (3) that controls the motor (1) using pulse-width modulation, the field-effect transistor (3) being connected to a circuit (5) comprising a voltage source (7) and a resistive element (9) in series, the circuit (5) is connected between the gate (G) of the field-effect transistor (3) and a second source (S2) that is connected to a first source (S1) of the field-effect transistor (3), via an inductor (11) in order to allow a reduction in the slope of the current as the field-effect transistor (3) switches.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for protecting an electric source adapted to power an electric member comprising a test unit (6) adapted to deliver a signal (8) representing the availability of the electric source (2), to a control unit (10). The unit (10) determines an operating mode of the electric member (4) wherein the power consumption of the electric member is a function of the availability signal (8) received from the test unit (6). The electric source (2) can power directly the electric member (4) and the control unit (10) can act on the electric member itself. The control unit (10) can also be interposed between the electric source (2) and the electric member (4) to modify at least one characteristic of the current powering the electric member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a front panel of a motor vehicle comprising a bumper beam and at least one heat exchanger. This heat exchanger (5) is located below the bumper beam (3) with a substantially vertical orientation and comprises, in a horizontal plane, an upper face having a shape similar to the shape of the bumper beam (3) such that the upper face is covered by the bumper beam (3).

Abstract: The invention proposes an air conditioning installation furnished with an injection computer (42), with an air conditioning apparatus and with an electronic control device (401). The installation furthermore comprises measurement facilities making it possible to establish values relating to the temperature of the external air stream at the inlet of the condenser, to the pressure at the outlet of the compressor (123), and to the pressure at the inlet of the compressor (122). The electronic control device (401) implements the solving of a linear equation, relating the mass flow rate of the refrigerant to the values measured by the measurement facilities so as to calculate an estimate of a quantity relating to the refrigerant. On the basis of this quantity, the electronic device can estimate the power absorbed by the compressor (14).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for passenger vehicles, including light and heavy truck, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, particularly HVAC systems, using oxidants to reduce contaminants and increase passenger comfort levels in such vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat exchanger for an automotive vehicle. The heat exchanger includes a first end tank divided into a first portion and a second portion by a baffle, the first end tank including a through-hole. The baffle system includes a baffle or baffles with a central portion and at least one flanged peripheral portion, the flanged peripheral portion having a peripheral channel. Additionally, the baffle preferably is disposed within the end tank so that the peripheral channel is substantially juxtaposed with the through-hole in the end tank for providing a visual leak indicator.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger, and, particularly, for an automotive vehicle, is disclosed. The heat exchanger typically includes at least one end tank; and a plurality of spaced apart metal tubes with fins between the spaced tubes. The heat exchanger may be single or multi-pass. In preferred embodiments, the heat exchanger is arranged to be single pass or two-pass and has tubes or tube arrangements to improve heat transfer efficiency.