Abstract: The invention proposes an expansion device, intended for installation in an air conditioning system with a supercritical refrigerant fluid (FR). The expansion device (12) comprises a body (120) through which the refrigerant fluid is to pass, 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). These expansion means comprise: 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 fixed expansion means comprising a second orifice (35) with a fixed flow section.

Abstract: The heat exchanger has a plurality of stacked individual boxes for defining locally an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber for fluid. The heat exchanger includes an insert that comprises an inlet and outlet opening for fluid extended into the chambers by a body arranged for fluid communication of the opening with the first or second chamber. The insert that comprises a common part the body of which is provided with at least two openings capable of communicating with the first and second chambers, and it comprises a separating member for isolating the fluid currents between the opening and the chamber with which the opening must not communicate, the separating member being selected between two different shapes each corresponding to the fluid communication of the opening with one of the chambers.

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 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 apparatus of this invention comprises a casing (10) having an upstream chamber (12) which feeds with cold air an auxiliary duct (40) that supplies at least one first duct (52, 54), which feeds a rear zone (ZAr) of the cabin; a first mixing chamber (20) which supplies processed air to second ducts (30, 32, 34) that feed a front zone (ZAv) of the cabin; and a heating chamber (16) which supplies heated air to the mixing chamber (20) and the first duct or ducts. The device further comprises a second mixing chamber (50) and a single distribution shutter valve (56), having a first control member (60) which is arranged to distribute part of the heated air coming from the heating chamber (16) selectively, either to the first mixing chamber (20) or to the second mixing chamber (50); and a second control member (62) arranged to control distribution of the mixed air from the second mixing chamber through the first duct or ducts (52, 54). Applicable to motor vehicles.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the coaxial connection of a first manifold (12) comprising a protrusion (18) able to be received in a neck (22) on a second manifold (14). The device is produced in the form of an open collar (10) produced from an elastically deformable material and having a bottom (36) extended by two arms (38) having respective ends which define the opening of the collar. The collar is provided with retaining stops (44, 46, 48) and at least one locking member (60) arranged so as to cooperate with an engagement region (34) of at least one of the manifolds in order to prevent any accidental extraction of the open collar once fitted. Application in particular to heat exchangers for motor vehicles.

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: In an installation for heating/air conditioning the cabin of a motor vehicle, comprising a powered fan unit (18) delivering a flow of air in an air distribution conduit (12) in which at least one evaporator (22) is disposed, an electrostatic filtration system (30) is provided, comprising an ionising part and a collecting part, placed upstream of a plasma catalysis system (40) comprising a plasma generating part.

Abstract: The device (10) of the invention comprises a shaped box having a bottom wall (12) connected to a peripheral wall (14) in order to delimit a housing (20) for receiving the enclosure (22) of an electric motor (24) driving a turbine (32), the latter being received in a volute (26). The bottom wall (12) has in it at least two holes (48) at a distance from the rotation axis (XX) defined by the motor shaft so as to allow the passage of a flow of cooling air (F) which passes through the enclosure (22) of the motor and rejoins the volute (36). Application in particular to automobile heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: The invention proposes a pressure-reducing device designed to be installed in an air conditioning circuit operating with cooling fluid (FR) and including a housing suited to be traversed by cooling fluid under the control of a needle valve (134). The pressure-reducing device moreover includes a bulb (200) filled with a control fluid (FC) exerting a control pressure on a membrane (33) as a function of ambient conditions, the aforementioned membrane being suitable for acting on the needle valve as a function of the control pressure. The bulb is placed in the path of cooling fluid between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the pressure-reducing device.

Abstract: Air-diffusion panel for a motor vehicle including at least one air inlet and at least one air duct in communication with the said air inlet and air-distribution means, characterised in that it includes at least one resonant cavity (8) tuned so as at least partially to reduce the airstream noise in the said duct (4, 5, 6).

Abstract: A refrigerant-fluid circuit has a compressor, a condenser serving as heat sink and a first evaporator serving as cold source. The circuit also has a second evaporator and the refrigerant fluid is made to flow either only in the first evaporator, or in the two evaporators, depending on the cooling power required.

Abstract: The invention proposes an air conditioning system for motor vehicles which is fitted with an injection computer and an electronic control device. The system comprises a first measuring member suitable for supplying a value relating to the pressure of the fluid at a first point in the air conditioning circuit which is situated between the outlet of the expansion member and the outlet of the evaporator, and a second measuring member suitable for supplying a value relating to the pressure of the fluid at a second point in the air conditioning circuit which is situated at the inlet to the compressor. The electronic control device makes use of the solution of an equation which relates the mass flow rate of the refrigerant fluid to the difference in pressure between the first point and the second point in order to calculate an estimate of a magnitude relating to the refrigerant fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to tubes for heat exchangers through which a fluid flows, intended to promote heat exchange between an external medium and said fluid, formed by at least two plates connected to each other in order to define a circulation duct. The tube comprises a means for partially blocking the circulation duct intended to keep the passage cross section of said duct substantially constant between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. The heat exchangers have plate based tubes and are used especially as an evaporator in an air conditioning system or radiator in the cooling circuit of a vehicle.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit including an expansion device (4) of the refrigerating fluid loop controlled to set the internal heat exchanger efficiency &eegr;, represented by the equation: &eegr;=TccTsc/TsrTsct, wherein: TccTsc and Tsr are respectively temperatures at the compressor input (1), and at the evaporator output (5) and at the fluid cooler output (2), at a reference value such that the fluid leaves the evaporator in a completely gaseous state and without overheating.

Abstract: Part for supporting an item of equipment, comprising support ribs, and method of molding said part The support part has support ribs for holding an item of equipment, in particular an electric motor for a motor vehicle. A mold consisting of at least two cores is provided. These cores are brought toward one another in a direction (D) such that they are in contact with one another along a parting plane. The mold is filled with a moldable material and the cores are moved apart from one another in the given direction (D). The support ribs are provided on the molded part with an angle of inclination with respect to the given direction (D). The ribs follow the parting plane. A clearance is provided in the region of the parting plane between the cores in order to form the ribs during molding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the blocking of a three-phase stepper motor featuring three coils, characterised in that, with the stepper motor having its coils connected in star mode, with a common terminal (P), it implements a detection of a said blocking of the rotor of the motor, by supplying two of the said coils (A, B) with electricity in such a way that they are traversed by a current, and by measuring the voltage at an end terminal of the third coil (C). A comparison of the measured voltage is carried out with at least one given threshold.

Abstract: A flap to be identified is caused to move over the whole of its angular range of travel. The number of motor steps is counted during this movement, and the number of steps counted is compared with at least one pre-recorded information item corresponding to a particular flap or type of flap. The method is applicable to the checking of the correct fitting of actuator housings in an air-conditioning installation, or to the allocation of addresses to actuators connected to an information bus.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of parameters that are representative of a state associated with an automobile windscreen (1), by optical means. The inventive device comprises a module (20) that is sensitive to at least one of the aforementioned parameters and which is at least partially embedded in a layer (11) of the windscreen. Said windscreen comprises two glass panels (10a, 10b), which are separated by a spacer comprising the part of the module (20) that is embedded.

Abstract: The invention concerns a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning device comprising at least an air distribution channel having a downstream end, and at least an air diffusing element arranged at said one downstream end. The invention is characterized in that the air diffusing element (1) comprises a support (11) provided with through orifices (17) and covered over at least one of its faces with a material (12, 16), having air resistance ranged between 10 N.s.m−3 and 180 N.s.m−3.