Abstract: The control means includes a keypad and display unit which is connected to a processing means which includes a user or input memory, a regulation unit for receiving sensed values of parameters, and an output memory for controlling the means whereby the various working parts of the installation are themselves controlled. Regulation of the installation by the control system can be overridden by operation of a special touch pad which acts on an automatic processing circuit, which delivers a blocking command to the output memory, thus "freezing" the contents of the latter. The automatic processing circuit also operates in this way when the ignition key is turned to energise the installation initially. The frozen or blocked mode can be cancelled by operating any of the touch controls on the keypad.

Abstract: An air conditioning installation for the cabin of a motor vehicle comprises an air treatment and distribution unit, consisting of a trunk containing distribution valves and a mixing valve, together with a heater. The installation treats fresh air, drawn from outside and/or recirculated air and delivered by a blower, and distributes the treated air into the cabin of the vehicle. The installation includes sensors for periodic measurement of the temperature inside the cabin, the outside temperature and the temperature of the engine coolant fluid. It also includes a setting module whereby the demand temperature in the cabin can be set by the user, and control means for measuring a difference between the demand temperature and the prevailing inside temperature.

Abstract: A refrigerant fluid circuit for a motor vehicle air conditioning installation has three branches, with two three-way valves for selectively passing fluid from the first branch into either the second branch to establish a cooling loop, or into the third branch to establish a heating loop. The three-way valves and a second expansion device in the third branch of the circuit, are incorporated in a modular component which comprises a monobloc body; the monobloc body having three body ports for connection in the three branches of the circuit, and further body ports which are arranged to be connected to the inlet and outlet, respectively of the compressor of the circuit.

Abstract: An air flow control device is of the film obturator type, and is in the form of an independent module comprising a support frame on which two rollers are mounted for rotation. A film or blind, having open regions and closed regions for selectively controlling the flow of a stream of air, is wound on the rollers. The support frame comprises a guide frame which lies between the two rollers, for guiding the film and for contact with the film; and a press frame is arranged in facing relationship with the guide frame. The press frame carries springs for pressing the film against the guide frame.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use as an evaporator in a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprises a multiplicity of plates stacked in pairs and defining within each pair a flow chamber for a first fluid. Between each pair of plates and the next is a flow passage for a second fluid. Each plate has a bent-back edge portion or plate foot which extends at right angles to the main part of the plate. Each plate foot abuts against a similar plate foot of an adjacent plate, while leaving an area free to define at least one drain passage through the bottom of the heat exchanger which is formed by the overlapping plate feet. Water condensing from the air passed through the evaporator is drained through these drain passages.

Abstract: A refrigerant fluid circuit for air conditioning a motor vehicle has three branches, including a first branch having an evaporator and a compressor, the three branches having a common junction point. The circuit includes a monobloc component comprising a body having three body ports for connection to the three branches of the circuit respectively. The common junction point is formed within the body of the monobloc component, which also contains an expansion device of the circuit, situated between the second body port and the junction point. The body also includes a direct cross passage which is connected in the first circuit branch between the evaporator and the compressor.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the flow of a stream of air consists of an independent module that comprises a support structure on which two rollers are mounted for rotation. A film, having open regions and closed regions, is wound between the two rollers, so that when the rollers are rotated to displace the film between the rollers, the relative positions of the open and closed regions of the film gives selective control of the flow of an air stream directed on to the film. Thus, when the apparatus is placed across an air flow aperture, this air passes through a window formed in the support structure and overlying the film.

Abstract: A flow control device for controlling the flow of a stream of air through an air passage aperture, such as the open end of a duct in a heating and/or air conditioning apparatus of a motor vehicle, comprises a strip of film, the two ends of which are wound on two rollers spaced apart from each other. The film has an active region extending between the rollers and displaceable across the aperture by rotation of the rollers. The active region has open regions and closed regions for the selective control of the air stream. The device has a case defining two reserve spaces, each surrounding a respective roller, and serving as a magazine for receiving a slack loop of the film resulting from the differences between the overall diameters of the two rollers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle dashboard has a support face. Air ducts are carried by the dashboard for taking air into the cabin of the vehicle. Each duct has a longitudinal slot which is bounded by two adjacent edges, so that the duct has a transverse cross section in the form of an open annulus. The duct has two external engagement faces on either side of the longitudinal slot, and is fixed to the support face of the dashboard by means of these engagement faces. The duct is made by moulding in a suitable deformable material such that it can be stripped from the mould by opening out the slot, after which the slot is closed up again.

Abstract: The compressor (3) of the refrigerating fluid circuit is driven by the thermal engine (1) of the vehicle when the latter is functioning and, when parked, by the alternator (2). The latter, fed with three-phase current from an auxiliary battery (10) so as to function as a motor, and the compressor (3), are then disconnected from the crankshaft (20) by a free-wheel mechanism (7). The preliminary air conditioning of the vehicle when parked is thus provided without a special electric motor for driving the compressor, with reduced expenditure of energy by virtue of the feeding of the alternator with three-phase current, and without any risk of exhaustion of the main battery by virtue of the auxiliary battery (10).

Abstract: The engine cooling radiator and the evaporator of the air conditioning system for a vehicle are combined in a single triple heat exchanger, in which the refrigerant fluid and the engine coolant fluid flow respectively in two sets of flat pockets which are stacked alternately with gaps in which the air to be treated flows. A pocket of one set is directly juxtaposed to a pocket of the other set, to form a pair of pockets, between each gap and the next, to give direct heat transfer between the refrigerant and engine coolant fluids.

Abstract: Two stop valves, associated with bypass ducts containing energy absorbing devices, enable an adjustable fraction of the hot fluid to be diverted past left and right hand heating radiators, so that any change in the adjustment of the fluid flow in either of the radiators has no effect on the fluid flow in the other radiator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for supporting an electric motor driving a turbine. The device having a cage delimiting a housing for receiving the motor casing, this housing including a peripheral wall connected to a front wall, the peripheral wall being interrupted in order to define at least one channel for cooling the motor, the peripheral wall having at least two U-shaped folded lugs directed towards the inside of the housing and able to come into abutment against the casing of the motor.

Abstract: A device for supporting an electric motor driving a turbine, which is particularly applicable for heating and/or air conditioning equipment for a motor vehicle. The device comprises a casing which defines a housing for receiving an enclosure of the motor. The housing comprises a peripheral wall connected to a front wall. The peripheral wall is interrupted so as to define at least one channel for cooling the motor. The cooling channel is defined by two lateral walls, at least one of which is connected to the font wall by an inclined deflecting wall to facilitate the guidance of the flow of air for cooling the motor.

Abstract: A heating apparatus, or heating and air conditioning apparatus, for a motor vehicle has a casing which consists of four elements only, namely a casing body, a complementary housing carried on top of the body, a lower cover, and an end cover, the complementary housing and the two covers being assembled directly on the casing body.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical device with variable resistance circuit serving to control a load. The device comprises a connection (10) for a source of power (12), a connection (14) apt to be connected to a load (16) supplied by the source of power (12), a resistance circuit formed by a plurality of branches (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, . . . B.sub.n) mounted in parallel between the connections (10, 14) and each comprising a resistance (R.sub.1, R.sub.2 . . . R.sub.n) in series with a switch (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.n) possessing an initial contact state and mechanical means comprising a carriage (20) moveable in translation between several predetermined positions, in each of which this carriage (20) is apt to co-operate with at least one of the switches (I.sub.1, I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.n) in order to modify its initial contact state and vary the intensity of the current traversing the load.

Abstract: In a rapid connecting device for coupling a tube member with a connector such as a terminal connector on the end of a pipe, the tube member is of the type having an annular groove. The connecting device comprises a collar piece which is adapted to be mated with the tube member, around the latter, the collar piece having a locking means for engaging in the annular groove of the tube member so as to immobilise the collar piece with respect to the latter. The connector has a socket arranged to receive the end portion of the tube member and the collar piece, with a seal being interposed between the collar piece and the tube member. The collar piece has a further locking means for immobilising the connector with respect to the collar piece. The invention is especially applicable to the coupling of heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet tube connections of a heat exchanger, with external pipes.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan comprises a volute casing having an electric motor, controlled by a control module, coupled to an impeller mounted in the center of the volute, whereby to force air through the volute. In a predetermined zone of the volute, there is at least one deflecting wall or baffle, the curvature of which is substantially the same as that of this zone. The casing carries fastening means which are arranged to retain at least an element of the control module in a position in which this control module element is substantially integrated with the deflecting baffle. The air flowing in the volute can thus pass over the control module element, so as to cool the latter, without the air stream undergoing any significant perturbation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is introduced into a casing in the manner of a drawer, and is retained in a seating within the casing by a fastening device which consists of a pair of matching fastening elements, namely a lug fixed to a header of the heat exchanger, and a further lug which is fixed to the casing. The lugs have holes, which, when the heat exchanger is introduced fully into the casing, are aligned with each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction in which the heat exchanger is introduced into the casing. The fastening device is secured by a cotter pin which is passed through all of these holes. The invention is especially useful in heat exchangers for motor vehicles.

Abstract: A heating/ventilating and/or air conditioning device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment. The device includes a blower element containing a motor-fan unit, a heating element containing a heating radiator, and a duct element between the blower element and the heating element. The three elements together form a modular assembly for use in various kinds of vehicles. the blower element comprises at least one coupling surface engageable by an air inlet element specifically configured according to the vehicle in question, and the heating element comprises at least one coupling surface engageable by at least one air outlet element selected according to the vehicle in question.