Abstract: An improved, more efficient method of operation for a vehicle heating and air conditioning system electrically positions a temperature control actuator in accordance with a first temperature control schedule for coordinated control of compressor capacity and re-heating of the discharge air when air conditioning is enabled, in accordance with a second temperature control schedule when air conditioning is disabled. Both first and second temperature control schedules position the temperature control actuator as a function of the setting of the driver-manipulated temperature selector.

Abstract: An improved vehicle heating and air conditioning system includes a driver-manipulated temperature selector that is physically coupled to a discharge temperature control mechanism. The selector is operable in a normal mode in which movement of the selector away from a full cold setting produces a corresponding movement of the temperature control mechanism that increases the discharge air temperature by re-heating or a high fuel efficiency mode in which movement of the temperature selector away from the full cold setting allows the temperature control mechanism to remain in a full cold position for a limited range of selector movement while the discharge air temperature is increased by capacity reduction of the refrigerant compressor. The temperature selector is in the form of a rotary knob that is axially shiftable to change modes when the selector is positioned at the full cold setting and spring-biased so that the normal mode is established as the default mode.

Abstract: An improved control method for a vehicle air conditioning system including a refrigerant compressor and a condenser cooling fan adjusts the power consumption of the condenser cooling fan in a manner to minimize the combined power consumption of compressor and the condenser cooling fan while maintaining adequate cooling of the condensed refrigerant. When the air conditioning system is operating at less than full capacity, the combined power consumption of the compressor and the condenser cooling fan is determined for each of a series of operating intervals. The change in the combined power consumption from one operating interval to the next is computed to determine the effect of a prior cooling fan power adjustment, and the power level of the cooling fan is incrementally adjusted in the same direction as the prior adjustment so long as the prior adjustment resulted in at least a specified reduction of the combined power consumption.

Abstract: An improved vehicle heating and air conditioning system includes a driver-manipulated temperature selector that is physically coupled to a discharge temperature control mechanism. The selector is operable in a normal mode in which movement of the selector away from a full cold setting produces a corresponding movement of the temperature control mechanism that increases the discharge air temperature by re-heating or a high fuel efficiency mode in which movement of the temperature selector away from the full cold setting allows the temperature control mechanism to remain in a full cold position for a limited range of selector movement while the discharge air temperature is increased by capacity reduction of the refrigerant compressor. The temperature selector is in the form of a rotary knob that is axially shiftable to change modes when the selector is positioned at the full cold setting and spring-biased so that the normal mode is established as the default mode.

Abstract: An improved, more efficient method of operation for a vehicle heating and air conditioning system electrically positions a temperature control actuator in accordance with a first temperature control schedule for coordinated control of compressor capacity and re-heating of the discharge air when air conditioning is enabled, in accordance with a second temperature control schedule when air conditioning is disabled. Both first and second temperature control schedules position the temperature control actuator as a function of the setting of the driver-manipulated temperature selector.

Abstract: A vehicle heater of the type that uses diverted engine coolant is provided with an accelerated warm up process that takes the coolant to a temperature suitable for passenger space heating more quickly. The fan that normally pulls outside air through the front end grill is, after vehicle start up, run in reverse, so as to actually retard the flow of air through the grill. The net effect of a separate structure that physically blocks air flow is achieved merely by using existing components in a new way.

Abstract: An improved method of operation for a vehicle air conditioning system controls an inlet air blower motor and an air inlet mixing device to reduce compressor and blower motor power consumption and achieve performance improvements associated with cabin air recirculation while maintaining a predefined level of outside air flow and a predetermined humidity level in the inlet air mixture of the system. The overall air flow is determined by the speed of the blower motor and the speed of the vehicle, and the speed of the blower motor and the position of the inlet air mixing device are adjusted as a function of both the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed so that the predefined level of outside air flow is preserved regardless of the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed.

Abstract: An improved method of operation for a vehicle air conditioning system controls an inlet air blower motor and an air inlet mixing device to reduce compressor and blower motor power consumption and achieve performance improvements associated with cabin air recirculation while maintaining a predefined level of outside air flow and a predetermined humidity level in the inlet air mixture of the system. The overall air flow is determined by the speed of the blower motor and the speed of the vehicle, and the speed of the blower motor and the position of the inlet air mixing device are adjusted as a function of both the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed so that the predefined level of outside air flow is preserved regardless of the vehicle speed and the selected blower motor speed.

Abstract: An improved method for controlling inlet air mixing in a vehicle air conditioning system having an air inlet mixing device, wherein the mixing device is controlled under predefined operating conditions to improve vehicle fuel economy and achieve performance improvements associated with cabin air recirculation while maintaining a predefined level of outside air flow in the inlet air mixture of the system. The overall air flow is determined by the speed of an inlet air blower motor, and the control is enabled under high thermal loading to adjust the inlet air mixing device as a function of the blower motor speed so that the predetermined level of outside air flow is preserved regardless of the blower motor speed.

Abstract: An improved vehicle climate control system in which the passenger compartment temperature and humidity are controlled without requiring a humidity sensor. The control is based on the recognition that the air temperature at the evaporator outlet represents the dew point of the air supplied to the passenger compartment, and may be specified based on the desired passenger compartment air temperature to achieve a desired relative humidity in the vehicle once the desired passenger compartment temperature has been achieved. In a first mechanization, the desired relative humidity is predetermined, and the corresponding values of evaporator outlet air temperature are determined as a function of the desired passenger compartment temperature.

Abstract: A compact HVAC module housing (30) incorporates a novel temperature valve belt (74) and support frame therefore (60) that fit between an evaporator (56) and heater (58). This allows the entire housing (30) to be very compact, and to be more easily integrated into a vehicle body structural cross beam (32). The temperature valve and its location, as well as a reversed air stream through the heater (58), together allow the mixing area for the cold and not air streams to be well within a minimal space envelope of the housing (30), rather than outside of it.

Abstract: An improved film type air temperature control valve for an automotive HVAC assembly has a flexible, apertured belt that wraps closely around both faces of a heater core case internal to the HVAC housing. Winding and unwinding of the belt around the heater core case, and across a heater core bypass passage, simultaneously opens up more of the bypass passage as it closes off more of the heater core faces, and vice versa. Because of the close conformance of the belt to and across the heater core faces, both faces of the always hot heater core can be completely closed to direct or indirect air flow, preventing any undesired incidental heating of the air flow.

Abstract: An air inlet assembly for the scroll housing of an automotive air conditioning and ventilation system is specially structurally matched to the scroll housing so as to be more compact and efficient. An inlet housing is fashioned coaxial to the scroll housing and blower, within which a coaxial, partially cylindrical door rotates around the central axis so as to open or close one of a pair of diametrically opposed air openings. An annular filter fits within the rotating door. Regardless of which air inlet is open, air that is pulled in by the blower is forced into a radial space between the filter and the door, three hundred and sixty degrees around, and is forced radially through the filter before entering the scroll housing. Because of the coaxial, matching relationship between inlet housing a scroll housing, the entire assembly is very compact and low in profile, as measured along the vertical co axis.