HVAC FLOW CONTROL FOR MICRO-ZONE SYSTEM

Abstract

A ventilation system for use in a vehicle that provides individual control of micro-zones in the vehicle and the system includes a blower for pushing air through the ventilation system, an evaporator for conditioning the air being pushed by the blower, a first duct for supplying air to a first micro-zone and a second duct for supplying air to a second micro-zone, the second duct partitioned form the first duct, the first and second ducts receiving air once it has been blown through the evaporator and a flow diverter for selectively opening the partition wall and connecting the first duct and second duct so that air continues to flow through the evaporator even when one microzone is completely closed and no air flows through the related duct.

Description

BACKGROUND

Current heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for automotive use with multi-zone cooling may include a common evaporator system. When one zone is off, the portion of the evaporator may have little to no airflow through it and it may begin to accumulate ice or condensation. This can lead to undesirable liquids in the HVAC system and associated ducts. In addition to possibly damaging the evaporator, the water may lead to undesirable smells when the HVAC system is used. Moreover, the current systems for HVAC are inefficient for energy consumption with a single occupant in the vehicle. Additionally, the current systems may lead to increased warranty claims and/or unpleasant odors in the vehicle HVAC systems.

Therefore, to support reduced energy consumption in vehicles with a single occupant or with un-occupied seats in the vehicle, there is a need to reduce or eliminate active heating or cooling to that region of the vehicle.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC flow control system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary diverter having a pivoting door in a first position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an exemplary diverter having a pivoting door in a second position.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an alternative diverter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow diverter having a sliding hole pattern in a fully closed position.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a fully open position.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a partially open position.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the system diverting flow through the pivoting door system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the system diverting flow through the sliding hole system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to support reduced energy consumption in vehicles with a single occupant or with un-occupied seats in the vehicle, a segmented airflow system can selectively reduce or eliminate active heating or cooling to a region of the vehicle. This can reduce load on an evaporator and thus, the compressor. This may also reduce vehicle fuel or electrical usage, which may in turn improve fuel economy and/or extend electric range.

In an example, the system may close passages, ducts or outlets in the HVAC or associated ducting and distribution system. In a dual or multi-zone system this may cause a non-uniform airflow distribution across the evaporator core. This can lead to degraded performance of the evaporator and/or regions of evaporator icing. Evaporator icing can lead to warranty or customer complaints due to ice formation damaging the evaporator or causing a wet odor being detected by the customer. Single zone HVAC systems (without independent occupant mode/temperature controls) often have a divider plate in the center of the HVAC for structure and commonality in design. Base HVAC performance is ensured by directing uniformity coverage of the evaporator; micro-zone concepts may significantly compromise the uniformity of coverage.

System Overview

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC flow control system. The HVAC system 100 includes a blower 110, and a manifold duct 120. An evaporator 120, as part of the air conditioning system, selectively cools the air as it passes through it to a driver side primary duct 140A and a passenger side primary duct 140B. The driver side primary duct 140A and passenger side primary duct 140B are separated by a partition wall 140C. The air blown there through may then pass through a heater core 150 before passing to a driver side secondary duct 160A and passenger side secondary duct 160B. Moreover, each secondary duct may also include duct closeoffs 170A and 170B, respectively.

The partition wall 140C provides for separation of the airflow after the evaporator 120 for zone controlled functions. As discussed herein, exemplary embodiments of flow diverters (discussed below) may be located along partition wall 140C to provide for cross-flow of air after the evaporator 120.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary diverter 200 having a moveable (pivoting) door 220 in a first position. The pivoting door 220 may include a pivot point 210 engaged with a controllable actuator. When the door 220 is open, partition wall 140C will have an opening 230 there through allowing flow of air from driver side primary duct 140A to/from passenger side primary duct 140B. Such an arrangement allows for air to flow through evaporator 130, while controlling the amount of air passing through to the driver side secondary duct 160A and passenger side secondary duct 160B.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of exemplary diverter 200 having a pivoting door 220 in a second position. Here, pivoting door 220 opens into driver side primary duct 140A and is not in a fully opened position. This provides a controllable size of the opening 230.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an alternative diverter having a dual flap arrangement. A first flap 410 may be opened independently or along with a second flap 420. This may allow for control of the air flowing there through. It may also provide for various control mechanisms that close between the opening 230, rather than at the extents of the opening.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow diverter having a sliding hole pattern in a fully closed position. As an alternative to pivoting door 220 (see FIG. 2), the sliding diverter may be placed along partition wall 140C to allow flow between (when open), or to substantially prevent flow between (when closed). A first sliding diverter portion 510 includes two holes there through 510A. A second sliding diverter portion 520 includes two holes there through 520A. When overlaid as shown in FIG. 5, the holes 520A, 520B do not align. Therefore, there should be substantially no flow there through. The partitions, when operating, may be moved by a linear actuator to allow them to slide along one another to align or not align holes 520A, 520B.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a fully open position. Here, first sliding diverter portion 510 and second sliding diverter portion 520 are moved so that holes 510A, 520B are aligned and air may flow through partition wall 140C, effectively connecting driver side primary duct 140A to passenger side primary duct 140B.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a partially open position. When first sliding diverter portion 510 and second sliding diverter portion 520 are moved to partially align holes 510A, 520B then air may flow through partition wall 140C at a rate decided amount by the of the opening and the pressure of air provided.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the system 800 diverting flow through the pivoting door system. In this example, pivoting door system (see FIG. 2) is used to fully open opening 230 and fully close off passenger side primary duct 140B from air reaching passenger side secondary duct 160B. Flow is diverted 810 entirely to driver side 170.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the system 900 diverting flow through the sliding hole system. When sliding hole system 500 is open (see FIG. 6) and a passenger side duct closeoff 170B is closed 920, air will flow through evaporator 130 and be redirected into the driver's side conduit 140A, 160A.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the airflow 820 continues to flow through both the driver side and passenger side of the evaporator 130. Even with airflow cutoff to passenger side secondary duct 160B, the evaporator 130 will not accumulate ice or otherwise collect condensation. In this way, the pivoting door 220 may be used to provide airflow through the evaporator while not providing air to the passenger side. Similarly, by using passenger side duct closeoff 170B, air flows through evaporator 130 and through sliding hole system 500.

It is understood that while current descriptions include shutting off, or reducing flow, to the passenger side vents, the same may be done with the driver's side. Alternatively, the system may be applied to multi-zone systems that may include many vents. For example, the driver's side may include separate foot vents, dash vents, and windshield vents, among others. Moreover, the system may be applied to first, second, and third row venting systems.

Conclusion

It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same elements. Further, some or all of these elements could be changed. With regard to the mechanisms, processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claimed invention.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary in made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a blower for pushing air through the ventilation system;

an evaporator for conditioning the air;

a first duct and a second duct having a partition wall there between, the first and second duct receiving air blown through the evaporator; and

a flow diverter for selectively creating an opening in the partition wall and connecting the first duct and second duct.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow diverter includes a selectively movable actuator for positioning the flow diverter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the flow diverter comprises a pivoting door.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the flow diverter comprises a sliding hole system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a third duct connected to the first duct, positioned downstream of the flow diverter, and a duct closeoff positioned within the third duct.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the evaporator includes a first side and a second side, connected with the first duct and second duct, respectively.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a control system to selectively open the flow diverter to maintain flow through first side and second side of the evaporator.

8. A ventilation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a blower for pushing air through the ventilation system;

an evaporator for cooling the air having a first portion exit and a second portion exit;

a first duct connected to the first portion exit;

a second duct connected to the second portion exit;

a partition wall between the first duct and second duct; and

a flow diverter for selectively connecting the first duct and second duct.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the blower selectively pushes air through the evaporator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow diverter selectively opens and closes to create an opening in the partition wall between the first and second duct.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow diverter may substantially close off flow through the second duct and route the air to the first duct.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow diverter does not close off flow through the second duct.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a duct closeoff positioned after the flow diverter within the second duct.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein duct closeoff prevents the flow of air out of the second duct and forces the air through the diverter to the first duct.

15. A ventilation system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a blower for pushing air through the ventilation system;

an in-line evaporator;

a first duct and a second duct having a partition wall there between, the first and second duct receiving air blown through the in-line evaporator, the in-line evaporator having a first evaporator portion connected to the first duct and a second evaporator portion connected to the second duct; and

a flow diverter for selectively creating an opening in the partition wall and connecting the first duct and second duct.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a control system controllably moves the flow diverter for maintaining air flowing through the in-line evaporator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the control system substantially prevents portions of the in-line evaporator having no airflow.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control system controllably opens flow pathway between the first duct and second duct to maintain air flowing through the first evaporator portion and the second evaporator portion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the flow diverter comprises a pivoting door.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the flow diverter comprises a sliding opening arrangement.