Abstract: An air conditioner includes an evaporator and a heater core. A first partition is positioned between the evaporator and the heater core, and provided with a first blowing opening for allowing air to detour the heater core and a second blowing opening for blowing air to the heater core. A temperature regulating door is supported on sidewalls of the air conditioner housing by two side support arms. A heater chamber containing the heater core is open at its bottom and communicates with the second blowing opening. A pair of side blowing passages communicate the heater chamber and a mixing chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying the surface of a heat exchanger in a vehicle of moisture accumulating as a result of its use as an evaporator in an air conditioning system. Air is first heated by the heater core in the air conditioning system and then directed through the heat exchanger. Because of the reduced humidity of such air, any residual moisture in the heat exchanger is evaporated and is discharged to the environment. Where the system is used in a vehicle, it prevents the discharge of moist air onto the windows and/or windshield of the vehicle and thus minimizes or eliminates fogging of the windshield.

Abstract: An air conditioner for vehicles is disclosed. This air conditioner feeds recirculation and fresh air in a separate air feeding or a mixed air feeding using a single intake duct and a single intake control door, thus improving its heating and defrosting efficiency during a heating mode operation, and preventing an undesired discharging of white fogging from the vents during a cooling mode operation by changing its air feeding mode from a recirculation air mode to a fresh air mode. This air conditioner also has a simple construction and is reduced in its production cost.

Abstract: An air conditioning system mountable in the rear of a vehicle having a vent mode and a foot mode is disclosed. The air conditioning system comprises a casing, an evaporator mounted at an upper front portion within the casing, a heater core mounted below the evaporator such that the evaporator and the heater core are not superposed when seen in a vehicle front-to-rear direction. A temperature controlling damper is provided for controlling rate of air which is directed toward the heater core so as to attain a selected final temperature of the air which is discharged into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. Vent and foot outlets are also provided.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system mounted on a vehicle whose roof is openable and closable, adjustment of the air volume from the blower is made based on whether the roof is open or closed. When it is determined that the roof is open, the air volume from the blower is increased according to an increase in a vehicle speed. As such, when the vehicle speed is increased, and airflow entrapped from rearward to frontward becomes strong while the roof is open, adjustment to the air volume is made.

Abstract: An automotive HVAC unit includes a housing defining a first outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a first temperature zone, a second outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a second temperature zone, a third outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a third temperature zone, and a fourth rear outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a fourth temperature zone within the vehicle. The HVAC unit further includes an evaporator adapted to cool air passing therethrough, a heater core adapted to heat air passing therethrough, a blower adapted to force air through the evaporator and the heater core, and a modular insert mounted within the housing and being adapted to control the flow of conditioned air to the first, second, third and fourth outlets.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) controls the temperature of air flow from a temperature control system (10) The apparatus (100) includes a blend door (150), an output gear (140), and a biasing mechanism (124) The biasing mechanism (124) facilitates rotation of the output gear (140) in a first rotation direction (136) and impedes rotation of the output gear (140) in a second rotation direction (138) opposite the first rotation direction (136) This results in the torque necessary to rotate the output gear (140) in the first rotation direction (136) being substantially equal to the torque necessary to rotate the output gear (140) in the second rotation direction (138).

Abstract: A casing for a heat exchange system defines a blower compartment (18), an evaporator compartment (20), and a diffuser (22). The diffuser (22) defines an exit (28) and an entry area in a cutoff plane (30). A vane wall (38) curves inwardly from the diffuser (22) and includes a plurality of parallel vanes (46), (48), (50), and (52). The plurality of vanes (46), (48), (50), and (52) include a first vane (46) and a second vane (48).

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle uses a hybrid compressor (4) including a first compression mechanism driven by a first drive source (2) and a second compression mechanism driven by a second drive source (5), and a single discharge port connected to the first and the second compression mechanisms. The operation of the hybrid compressor is controlled by a controller (15) in accordance with a control mode. The controller has a first operation mode in which the first compression mechanism alone is driven, a second operation mode in which the second compression mechanism alone is driven, a third operation mode in which the first and the second compression mechanisms are simultaneously driven, and a fourth operation mode in which the first and the second compression mechanisms are simultaneously stopped. Depending upon various conditions, the controller selects, as the control mode, one of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth operation modes.

Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a passenger cell of a vehicle includes an evaporator, for cooling an air stream, arranged in succession with a heat exchanger for heating the air stream. The heat exchanger has a heating medium flowing through it permanently. At least one air-mixing space is directly adjacent to the heat exchanger and has a warm-air inlet, covering at least part of the air outlet surface of the heat exchanger, and a cold-air inlet, forming the mouth of a cold-air duct bypassing the heat exchanger. Control members set the opening cross sections of the inlets.

Abstract: An air partitioning device for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system to divide a hot air stream into separate portions comprises an L-shaped front portion including a base leg and a dividing leg, and also comprises a tail portion extending from a back of the front portion, the tail portion oriented angularly to the dividing leg.

Abstract: A heating/cooling control system that can effectively control the temperature of the air discharged at the rear interior of the motor vehicle. The heating/cooling control system includes a front control and a rear control. The front control is capable of operating within a predetermined temperature range. The temperature range of the rear control is determined by the set point of the front control.

Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a compressor driven by a first drive source or a second drive source, or a combination thereof, and an evaporator operationally connected to the compressor via a refrigerant circuit. The system also includes a blower for dispensing air into an interior of the vehicle via the evaporator. The blower is driven by the first drive source or the second drive source, or a combination thereof. Moreover, the system includes a controller for controlling the first drive source and the second drive source. Specifically, when a temperature of air dispensed from the evaporator is greater than a predetermined temperature and a speed of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined speed, the first drive source drives the compressor and the blower.

Abstract: A device for climate control of a vehicle is provided which includes a coolant circuit in which coolant flows through a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; a heat transfer medium circuit in which heat transfer medium flows through a heat source and a heat exchanger; and a heat/cold reservoir in which the evaporator and the heat exchanger are located. The device of the present invention provides an improved and comparatively economical approach to climate control in the area of a driver's bed in a motor vehicle interior by, at least in part, using a heating/cooling surface for a driver's bed and/or vehicle interior wall, which is integrated into the heat transfer medium circuit such that the heat transfer medium can flow selectively through the heating/cooling surface, or the heat transfer medium which is conveyed by the heat source can flow through the heating/cooling surface.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a foot door is rotatably supported for opening and closing a foot opening and an air port communicating with defrost and face openings. The foot door has a guide plate. The guide plate functions as a heated air guide portion for directing a heated air heated by a heating device to merge with a cooled air that bypasses the heating device when the foot door is at a defrost/face mode position. The guide plate functions as a cooled air guide portion for directing the cooled air to merge with the heated air when the foot door is at a foot mode position. Accordingly, the heated air and the cooled air are sufficiently mixed to each other. Because the guide plate is moved for switching the defrost/face mode position and the foot mode position, the flow of air is not blocked by the guide plate.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system has an interior unit in which a width dimension, that is, a dimension parallel to the width of the vehicle, is smaller than competing devices. A blower unit, an evaporator as a cooling heat exchanger, and a heater core as a heating heat exchanger are integrally disposed inside a casing for blowing air toward a vehicle compartment. A face passage is formed above the heater core such that the temperature-controlled air passes through the heater core and is lead to a face opening by the face passage. A foot passage is formed inside the casing and above the heater core so as to protrude from the rear face of the casing toward the face passage. A foot door for opening and closing a foot opening of the foot passage is disposed inside the face passage.

Abstract: In the air conditioner of the present invention, both the normal cooling mode operation, in which refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is made to flow in the condenser 2, and the heating mode operation conducted by the hot gas bypass, in which refrigerant is made to bypass the condenser and directly flow in the evaporator 4 via the throttle 17, can be conducted. Before this heating mode operation, after the compressor is turned on for a predetermined period of time in the cooling mode, the compressor is turned off for a predetermined period of time, so that refrigerant residing in the condenser can be recovered into the hot gas cycle, and then a hot gas operation, which is the heating mode, is conducted.

Abstract: A heat exchanger unit includes a first heat exchanger for flowing internal fluid therein and cooling the internal fluid, and a second heat exchanger disposed downstream of the internal fluid from the first heat exchanger. The first and second heat exchangers are made of first and second materials, respectively. The first material is different from the second material. Each material composing each heat exchanger can be selected individually according to each temperature of the internal fluid flowing into each heat exchanger. Therefore, the heat resistance of the heat exchanger unit is improved without increasing the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: This invention provides an auxiliary heating and cooling circuit for an automobile interior compartment. The auxiliary circuit uses a circulated liquid heat transfer fluid such as the same liquid used for the vehicle engine system. In a cooling mode, the liquid is circulated through a heat exchanger within the vehicles air-conditioning circuit. The cooled fluid flows to an auxiliary heat exchanger where cooled air is made available. In a heating mode, the auxiliary system is connected directly with the engines cooling system where the hot engine coolant flows through the auxiliary heat exchanger for interior compartment heating.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a plurality of air paths, an evaporated installed at an entrance of the air paths and a heater core installed at the rear side of the evaporator. A first variable wall in installed between the evaporator and the heater core to separate the air paths into upper and lower portions, or connect the separated air paths, and open or close a heated air path of the heater core. A temp door is installed at the upper portion of the first variable wall to adjust a degree of opening or closing of a cooled air path bypassing the heater core. A second variable wall is installed at the rear side of the heater core to separate the air passing through the heater core into upper and lower portions or connect the separated air paths. The first variable wall and the temp door are independently controlled.

Abstract: An air conditioning system mountable in the rear of a vehicle having a vent mode and a foot mode is disclosed. The air conditioning system comprises a casing, an evaporator mounted at an upper front portion within the casing, a heater core mounted below the evaporator such that the evaporator and the heater core are not superposed when seen in a vehicle front-to-rear direction. A temperature controlling damper is provided for controlling rate of air which is directed toward the heater core so as to attain a selected final temperature of the air which is discharged into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. Vent and foot outlets are also provided.

Abstract: A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin, respectively. The dual evaporator air conditioning system also includes a control system having cooling and non-cooling modes for each of the HVAC units. The control system automatically activates a heating element near the auxiliary evaporator in response to the auxiliary HVAC unit being in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode. The heating element heats the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in the non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in the cooling mode.

Abstract: An air-outlet mode selecting device includes first and second rotary doors. Each of the first and second rotary doors has rotary shafts separated from each other in an axial direction of the rotary shafts, an outer peripheral door surface that is provided at a position separated radial outward from the center line of the rotary shafts and is turned with the rotary shafts, and left and right side plates for connecting both ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface and the rotary shafts. One of the first and second rotary doors opens and closes a specified opening among three openings and other rotary door opens and closes the remaining two openings among the three openings. Accordingly, door operation force and air flow resistance can be effectively reduced, and the size of the air-outlet mode selecting device can be effectively reduced.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes a main blower and a sub-blower for blowing air into a passenger compartment. A heat exchange unit for performing a heat exchange with air blown by the main blower is disposed in a case, and the case is provided with a front air passage and a rear air passage. A rear air duct through which air in the rear air passage is introduced to a rear area in the passenger compartment is connected to the case, so that an air flow resistance in the rear air passage becomes larger as compared with the air flow resistance in the front air passage. Further, the sub-blower is disposed integrally with the case for blowing air in the rear air passage to the rear area in the passenger compartment. Accordingly, it can effectively prevent a shortage of an air conditioning capacity in the rear area of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, two foot openings are provided in right and left wall portions of a case, and are opened and closed by two foot doors, respectively. Each door surface of the foot doors is moved along a surface of the right and left wall portions for opening and closing the foot openings. A face opening is provided in a top wall part of the case to be opened an closed by a face door. An operation locus of the foot doors is overlapped with that of the face door when being viewed from a direction perpendicular to the door surface of the foot door, while the face door is operated between the foot doors to have a clearance between the face door and each foot door.

Abstract: Vehicle floor coverings are provided with tubular air ducts therewithin that are configured to deliver air from air sources upwardly through a porous structure of the floor covering and into a vehicle compartment. Vehicle floor coverings are provided with electrical wiring harnesses therewithin that can facilitate the interconnection of various vehicle electronic components. Vehicle floor coverings are provided with optical fibers therewithin that are configured to deliver light from a light source to one or more locations within a vehicle and/or to provide special effects and customization of vehicle interiors.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, air having passed through a heat exchanger of an air conditioner unit is introduced to a plurality of wall outlet portions formed on walls of a compartment and blown off into the compartment. The air conditioner unit includes a plurality of temperature control means for independently controlling at least one of volume and temperature of the air flowing into the compartment through the respective wall outlet portions.

Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle having a passenger compartment has an electric-powered hot water pump in addition to a mechanical hot water pump driven by an engine mounted on the vehicle. The electric-powered hot water pump is activated while the engine is stopped. However, the electric-powered hot water pump is kept in a non-activation state while an air mix door is positioned in a low temperature side as compared to a predetermined value and an elapsed time after the engine is stopped is within a predetermined time so that power consumption by the electric-powered hot water pump can be decreased suitable for a hybrid vehicle having a driving motor in addition to the engine.

Abstract: A heating, venting, and air conditioning system utilizes a reformer to provide supplemental heat to a passenger compartment and to improve start-up emissions of an engine of a vehicle or power system. A pump circulates a fluid through the engine and throughout the system. A radiator and heater core transfer heat from the fluid. A first circuit cools the fluid upon circulation through the radiator after circulation through the engine to cool the engine, and a second circuit heats the passenger compartment and cools the fluid upon circulation through the heater core after circulation through the engine to cool the engine. The reformer, which converts a hydrocarbon or alcohol fuel into a reformate, generates heat. A third circuit, defined between the reformer and the pump and interconnected with the heater core, provides the supplemental heat from the reformer to the passenger compartment through the heater core and also to the engine.

Abstract: The invention recites a multi-zone temperature control system operable to control the temperature within a plurality of compartments. The system includes a scroll compressor operable at a speed to compress a flow of fluid and a condenser, operable to cool the flow of fluid. The system also includes a plurality of heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger is associated with one of the plurality of compartments and is operable to maintain the temperature of the compartment within a desired range. A plurality of valves are operable to direct and vary the amount of the flow of fluid from the compressor to the condenser and the plurality of heat exchangers. The valves are configurable to allow each of the heat exchangers to heat or cool their associated compartment. The system also includes a controller operable to control the valves to maintain the temperature of each compartment within its desired range.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner includes an air conditioning case, a blower fan for blowing conditioned air into a passenger compartment, and an evaporator disposed in the air conditioning case. The air conditioning case has a cooling opening upstream from the evaporator, so that at least inside air is blown by the blower fan to vehicle electronic units through the cooling opening. Thus, heat radiation of the electronic units can be facilitated by air blown from the blower fan. Further, because at least inside air, without being cooled by the evaporator, is blown to the electronic units, the electronic units can be prevented from being excessively cooled. Accordingly, it can restrict the surface temperature of the electronic units from reducing less than a dew point, thereby effectively reducing condensed water on the electronic units.

Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.

Abstract: An air treatment module, in particular for thermal treatment of air to be introduced into the vehicle interior of a vehicle, includes a support arrangement to be fixed to a vehicle, a fan arrangement supported by the support arrangement, a first heat exchanger arrangement, supported on the support arrangement, for thermal treatment of air forwarded by the fan arrangement, further including a heating device and a second heat exchanger arrangement receiving heat from the heating device, the heating device and the second heat exchanger arrangement being supported on the support arrangement.

Abstract: An on-vehicle air conditioner for air conditioning, comprising a refrigerating circuit having a refrigerant outside heat exchanger installed so as to perform a heat exchange with outside air and usable for both cooling and heating, a coolant circuit having a coolant outside heat exchanger installed so as to perform a heat exchange with the outside air and allowing the coolant of an engine to circulate therein, and at least one opening/closing duct for inflow air regulation installed on the forward outside and/or rearward inside of the refrigerant outside heat exchanger, wherein the opening and closing of the duct can be controlled properly according to the situations, whereby cabin cooling, cabin heating, and defrosting can be performed efficiently and sufficiently even if, for example, CO2 refrigerant is used in the cars such as hybrid cars using electricity and gasoline as energy sources and idle stop-capable cars.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning case in which a rotary door is provided in an intersection between a cooled and a heated air passage, and a face and a foot blow-out opening. The communicating area ratio(s) between an inlet-side opening of the rotary door and the cooled air passage, the heated air passage, or both the cooled and heated air passages can change by rotating the rotary door, so that the rotary door serves as an air-mix door. In addition, the communicating area ratio(s) between an outlet-side opening and the face opening, the foot opening, or both the face and foot openings can change, so that the rotary door serves as a mode switching door. The conditioned air can be prevented from being blown out through the face and foot openings by rotating the rotary door to a predetermined position.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner with an automatic air-conditioning control, when a change operation of a set temperature is not performed by a passenger while air conditioning control is performed based on the set temperature in one region of environment condition, it is determined that the one region is a region corresponding to a passenger's preference. Accordingly, even if the change operation of the set temperature is not performed, when the region is stored once for the air conditioning control, the region is used as a learned region. Further, when the change operation of the set temperature is performed in an another region, a correction of the set temperature of the learned region is restricted. Thus, it can restrict the set temperature of a region, which is satisfied by the passenger from being changed.

Abstract: The air heating capability of an indoor heat exchanger is limited to set the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger to a first predetermined temperature Tel or lower during heating. Thereby, fogging is prevented through re-evaporation of the condensed water in the indoor heat exchanger during heating within an air-conditioning apparatus with a hot water heater core using hot water as the heat source and the heating circuit.

Abstract: A system with an internal combustion engine which has a heat transfer circuit, a fuel cell and a climate control unit which is accommodated in the heat transfer circuit of the internal combustion engine. The system has a heat transfer arrangement for transferring the exhaust heat of the fuel cell to the heat transfer circuit and a bypass for bridging a segment of the heat transfer circuit which runs through the internal combustion engine so that, in the bypassed operating state, an isolated circuit is formed. In stationary operation, this enables an optimized operating mode since the internal combustion engine is no longer heated and the exhaust heat of the fuel cell is fully available for heating purposes.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a heating apparatus (1), in particular, an auxiliary heater and/or a parking heater for a motor vehicle, with a one-piece or one-part housing (2) that contains a combustion chamber shaft (3), in which a heat transfer casing (8) is arranged, wherein the inner side (9) of said heat transfer casing encloses a combustion chamber (5) and is subjected to hot exhaust gases during the operation of the heating apparatus (1), wherein the outer side (11) of the heat transfer casing forms the inner envelope of a cooling fluid space (10), through which a cooling fluid flows during the operation of the heating apparatus (1), wherein the outer envelope of said cooling fluid space is formed by the inner side of the combustion chamber shaft (3), and wherein the housing (2) also contains a catalyst shaft (4), in which at least one catalytic element (15) is arranged through which hot exhaust gases flow during the operation of the heating apparatus (1).

Abstract: The current invention relates to an apparatus for cooling and/or heating a motor vehicle, with at least one coolant pump (30, 32) for circulating a coolant in a cooling and heating system, with a main cooler segment (10), which has a main cooler inlet (11) and a main cooler outlet (12), wherein the main cooler inlet (11) is at least intermittently connected to at least one coolant outlet (24, 224, 225, 229) of an engine to be cooled (20), in particular an internal combustion engine, of the vehicle, and its main cooler outlet (12) is connected to at least one coolant inlet (23) of the engine (22), and with at least one other, secondary cooler segment (15, 215, 315, 415, 515) provided in addition to the main cooler segment (10) and at least one other unit to be cooled (60, 61, 70, 80, 90, 97, 170, 186), which is connected to the cooling and heating system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a serpentine heat exchanger having a first serpentine tube block (12a) comprising one or more adjacent first serpentine tube sections with parallel through-flow and a second serpentine tube block (12b) disposed behind the first and comprising one or more adjacent second serpentine tube sections with parallel through-flow. According to the invention, at least one of the second serpentine tube sections is connected in series for flow purposes via a diversion section (10, 11) to a first serpentine tube section lying adjacent thereto.

Abstract: In a left and right temperature independent control-type air conditioning unit for a vehicle, a case is constructed of a first case and a second case. An air passage in the case is divided into a first air passage through which air flows toward a right region of a compartment and a second air passage through which air flows toward a left region of the compartment by a partition wall. The first and second cases are connected by engaging a first case end surfaces with a second case end surface. Pin contact portions are formed on the first and second cases adjacent to the case end surface. The pin contact portions are disposed to oppose each other between the first case and the second case. The partition wall is fixed by interposing its periphery between the pin contact portions of the first and the second cases.

Abstract: There are provided an air mixing door, a plurality of outlets for blowing air into respective portions in a vehicle compartment, outlet mode doors for switching a outlet mode by closing and opening the plurality of outlets, and one motor actuator for driving the air mixing door and the outlet mode doors. The outlet mode doors and the air-mixing door are alternately driven through a change of an operation angle of the motor actuator.

Abstract: An auxiliary motor vehicle heater (10) is provided with a control device (22) which has a connection (30) for a voltage supply line (32) which leads from the battery (34) of the motor vehicle to the control device (22). In order to especially more easily determine information for an auxiliary motor vehicle heater (10) about the operating state of the engine (36) of the motor vehicle, the control device (22) is set up to detect the voltage characteristic on the connection (30) and to determine the information “starting of the engine (36) of the motor vehicle is completed” depending on the voltage characteristic.

Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a heat transfer passage in the vicinity of a source of dissipated heat on a satellite to collect heat dissipated by the source and a fluid loop including an evaporator having over part of its path a maximum surface area of its external walls in contact with external walls of the heat transfer passage.

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: A vehicular lockup clutch-equipped transmission control apparatus is applied to a vehicle that includes a heater apparatus for heating a cabin by heat from an engine, a transmission that transfers power between the engine and a wheel, and a heat exchanger that conducts heat exchange between the engine and the transmission. The control apparatus controls a lockup clutch that is disposed between the engine and the transmission and that mechanically connects and disconnects a path of power, in accordance with a state of operation of the vehicle. The control apparatus includes a controller that determines whether a heating capability requested of the heater apparatus is at least a first predetermined level based on parameter related to a temperature inside the cabin. If it is determined that the heating capability requested of the heater apparatus is at least the first predetermined level, the controller restricts engagement of the lockup clutch.

Abstract: An automotive HVAC unit includes a housing defining a first outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a first temperature zone, a second outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a second temperature zone, a third outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a third temperature zone, and a fourth rear outlet adapted to connect to HVAC ductwork to provide conditioned air to a fourth temperature zone within the vehicle. The HVAC unit further includes an evaporator adapted to cool air passing therethrough, a heater core adapted to heat air passing therethrough, a blower adapted to force air through the evaporator and the heater core, and a modular insert mounted within the housing and being adapted to control the flow of conditioned air to the first, second, third and fourth outlets.

Abstract: An environmentally controlled sleeper area of a vehicle that is contained within a bunk area (that is in turn adjacent to a cab area of the vehicle). The bunk area has an end wall and a pair of side walls extending generally perpendicular to the end wall. The side walls and the end wall encompass or surround three sides of a bed. Along the remaining open side of the bed, the vehicle operator can maneuver in and out of the bed. An extendible and retractable thermal barrier is provided along the remaining open side of the bed. The thermal barrier rises above the top surface of the bed and thermally separates the sleeping area from a remainder of the bunk area. An environmental control unit provides thermally conditioned air that becomes trapped between the back wall and thermal barrier by virtue of the thermal barrier.