Having Air Handling Patents (Class 296/190.09)
  • Publication number: 20090174221
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first component, a second component and a frame. The first component has a first aperture. The second component has a second aperture. The frame has a main wall. The frame includes a generally cylindrical boss extending outwardly from the main wall. The boss has an outer surface. The boss has a bore aligned with the first aperture of the first component to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the first component to the frame. The boss extends through the second aperture of the second component such that the outer surface locates the second component relative to the frame along a plane generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the boss. The second component is disposed between the first component and the frame so as to be constrained along the longitudinal axis of the boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Chopra, Chae H. An, Benjamin W. Penner
  • Patent number: 7537074
    Abstract: A washer tank is integrally formed with a front air duct, and the washer tank and the front air duct are installed within a cab. Thus, the washer tank can be installed within the cab by the use of spaces around the air duct. This arrangement makes it possible to install the washer tank within the cab in an unintrusive way and in the vicinity of a washer liquid spout nozzle without necessitating to provide an installation space exclusively for the washer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Ishii, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Shogo Kimura
  • Patent number: 7484793
    Abstract: A roof of a cab comprising a load-bearing structure made of plastic material, and a heat exchange assembly for treating an airflow, the heat exchange assembly being borne by the structure made of plastic material and comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one ventilation unit. The load bearing structure comprises a central section in which is housed the heat exchange assembly and in which is defined a chamber for collecting the treated airflow. The load bearing structure further comprises a central section for the distribution of the treated airflow towards the interior of the cab, the annular channel surrounding the central section and communicating with the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Thermal Systems SPA
    Inventors: Sergio Baro, Silvano Bertaglia
  • Publication number: 20080207107
    Abstract: A vehicle efficacious constituents supply apparatus 10 includes a main unit 13 including an air gun and a subunit 15 including an air gun. A curling ring V1 of air containing aromatic constituents is projected from the main unit 13 towards an efficacious area A, while a curling ring V2 of air is projected from the subunit 15 towards the efficacious area A. A control unit for controlling projection timings of curling rings V1, V2 includes an alarming mode in which a projection interval at which curling rings v1 are projected is set shorter than a projection interval at which curling rings V2 are projected, and by executing this alarming mode, curling rings V2 can be applied to an occupant without causing the curling rings V2 so projected to disappear in the efficacious area A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Matsuo, Takashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 7401848
    Abstract: A work machine includes a machine cab and a machine work body. The work body includes an HVAC unit mounted below a floor of the machine cab. The machine cab includes an HVAC duct system configured to move with the machine cab and seal with the HVAC unit of the work body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Tinoy Haboon, Sidney Keith Scott, Matthew J. Harrenstein
  • Patent number: 7377848
    Abstract: A variable air circulation system for the cab enclosure of an off-highway vehicle is disclosed and described. The system provides for adjustment of the ratio between fresh air circulation and recirculation of cab air. Fresh air is introduced into the cab through a fresh air inlet having a fresh air filter therein. The air inlet leads to a circulation conduit. When a cab door is opened, a valve to the conduit is opened. When the door is closed, the air pulse created in the cab is effective, through the valve, to dislodge dust and dirt from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Richard Voit, II, Robert D. Doescher, Alan G. Leupold, Marvin D. Pepper
  • Patent number: 7338357
    Abstract: A fixed air circulation system for the cab enclosure of an off-highway vehicle is disclosed. Fresh air is introduced into the cab through a fresh air inlet having a fresh air filter therein. The air inlet leads, through a manifold or fresh air duct, to the inside of the operator's compartment. When a cab door is opened, a bypass valve to the conduit is opened. When the door is closed, the air pulse created in the cab is effective, through the bypass valve or normal openings with the blower off, to dislodge dust and dirt from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Hugh Richard Voit, II, Robert D. Doescher, Alan G Leupold, Marvin D. Pepper
  • Patent number: 7334834
    Abstract: A tractor cab roof with integral HVAC air ducts includes an upper roof member and a lower roof member. The upper roof member includes a top panel, downwardly depending side edges, and a downwardly depending rear edge. The lower roof member includes a central panel, left and right side panels below the central panel, a rear panel below the central panel, sloping side walls, and a sloping rear wall. Conditioned air ducts are between the upper roof member and the left and right side panels, with conditioned air outlet apertures in the sloping side walls. An evaporator/heater core is mounted on the rear panel, with an air mixing chamber to the rear and a conditioned air discharge cavity in front. Recirculating air intake apertures are provided where the sloping rear wall joins the rear panel. A pair of blowers move conditioned air from the conditioned air chamber into the conditioned air ducts. The flow of conditioned air crosses over the recirculating air in a figure eight pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas Chilton Hill, Paul Michael Elhardt, Michael David Caudill
  • Patent number: 7044537
    Abstract: A duct assembly for a vehicle. The duct assembly includes a trim panel and an air duct. A seal having multiple seal portions is disposed on the air duct to inhibit air leakage. The seal portions are integrally connected and formed from a common material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Schoemann, John D. Youngs, Glenn A. Cowelchuk, Randy S. Reed
  • Patent number: 6973724
    Abstract: A method for making a tubular element, in particular a motor vehicle front cross member (1), for forming at least an air conduit (2,3,4) including at least two half-shells (5,6) assembled on two outer longitudinal edges (5a, 6a–5b, 6b), facing each other, with punctiform mechanical bond elements (7). The method further comprises the production of sealing elements (8) for the tubular element (1) consisting of at least a continuous convex or concave deformation simultaneously produced on each of the outer longitudinal edges (5a, 6a–5b, 6b) facing the two half-shells (5 and 6), in the proximity of the mechanical bond elements (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignees: Valeo, Visteon Systemes Interieurs
    Inventor: Ghislain Passebecq
  • Patent number: 6877787
    Abstract: A strength member, for vehicle use, extending in the vehicle width direction inside an instrument panel of a vehicle has a reinforcing bar in which a closed space is formed, and the reinforcing bar has a driver's seat side region, a central region and an assistant driver's seat side region, the reinforcing bar being composed of a metallic member arranged in the driver's seat side region and a resin member or a resin and metallic member arranged in the central region and the assistant driver's seat side region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Ito, Mikio Hirano, Masafumi Kawashima, Hironori Suzuki, Dai Matsui, Kazushi Shikata, Mitsugu Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6705672
    Abstract: An air-conditioning duct structure is included in a vehicular dash beam member. Material for the duct is made of a heat insulating and sound absorbing material and is adhered onto the surface of a sheet material for the beam member which is then bent into a semi-tubular shape so that the material for the duct is positioned inside thereby forming beam member bodies. Beam member bodies are combined by joining their joining surfaces that face each other to thereby form a tubular closed sectional shape. Achieving vibration attenuation, noise absorption and the heat insulating functions with an inner surface sheet member of an air conditioning duct is achievable. An air conditioning duct extending across a vehicle's width is formed by joining a metal reinforcing member and a resin cover. The sheet member is put between the reinforcing member and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushi Shikata, Tomohiro Kamiya, Koichi Ito, Takahiro Yoshida, Mikio Hirano, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6644722
    Abstract: A molded article, e.g., a cross car beam (3), which includes a rigid support (a) having a plurality of perforations, e.g., rigid support (12), and a rigid hollow thermoplastic member (b), e.g., an air duct (15), attached thereto is described. A portion of the thermoplastic material of rigid hollow member (b) extends through at least some of the perforations of rigid support (a), embedding the edges of the perforations therein. The thermoplastic material extending through the perforations forms an attachment element, e.g., an attachment head (24), that serves to fixedly attach rigid hollow member (b) to rigid support (a). Also described is a method of preparing the molded article of the present invention, in which the rigid hollow member (b) is fixedly attached to the rigid support (a) during the blow mold fabrication of rigid hollow member (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Cooper
  • Patent number: 6398294
    Abstract: The operator's station of an off road work vehicle comprises an operator's compartement having a control console. The operators compartment defining an interior space in which the operator is positioned. A HVAC module is located in the operator's compartment along the rear wall. The rear wall of the operator's compartment is provided with an access opening through which the major components of the HVAC module can be serviced and removed. The access opening is provided with an access door that is hingedly coupled to the operator's compartment about a transverse hinge axis. The control console is provided with a console wall having a finished exterior surface that is exposed to the interior space. The HVAC module is also provided with an exterior wall having a finished exterior surface that is also exposed to the interior space and adjoins the console wall. The finished exterior surface of the console walls matches the exterior finished surface of the exterior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Edward Bollweg, David Joseph Klas, Mark Wayne Stender, Martin Lavern Ruhter
  • Patent number: 6382712
    Abstract: A single piece injection molded air distribution member carried by the steering wheel support structure forms three sides of an air duct with the fourth side of the air duct left open. The open side is positioned adjacent to the vehicle windshield where the windshield forms the fourth side of the air duct. Since the distribution member does not form an enclosed air duct, the distribution member can be made as a single piece injection molded component. The distribution member is placed in contact with the glass or slightly spaced from the glass. If spaced from the glass, a continuous layer of air flows from the distribution member over the surface of the glass. The distribution member has vanes that divide the duct into multiple air channels, each terminating in an air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Bruss
  • Patent number: 6354655
    Abstract: In the operation of work machines, it has been a problem providing a dashboard with sufficient durability to withstand the oftentimes rigorous operating environments and which does not require the use of metal brackets for support. The present invention provides for a dashboard which has a front portion and a reinforcing structure attached to the front portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Stanley G. Kuhns
  • Patent number: 6309012
    Abstract: A one piece rotational molded roof for a vehicle cab is provided in which separate inlet and outlet air ducts are molded in the roof. The ducts are formed by molding upper and lower panels that are widely spaced to form the ducts and which are closely spaced about the periphery of the ducts. After a solid surface layer is molded, a second resin charge containing a foaming agent is dropped in the mold. This resin coats interior of the solid surface layer and later foams. The foam expands and extends completely between the closely spaced upper and lower panels of the solid surface layer to seal between the inlet and outlet air ducts. The foam is rigid to strengthen the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bruce Kevin Fryk, Dean Arden Boyce, Shawn Michael Bartz
  • Patent number: 6290286
    Abstract: A construction machine comprising a floor plate, an air conditioning unit mounted at the rear of an upper surface of the floor plate, an operator's seat mounted in a central portion of the upper surface of the floor plate, a cab installed on the floor plate from top and provided with a front window and a front air conditioning blowing opening at the front part, and a front duct for connecting between the air conditioning unit and the front air conditioning blowing opening and being divided into at least two detachably connected parts, one out of the divided front ducts being connected to the air conditioning unit, the other being connected to the front air conditioning blowing opening. The front duct for connecting between the air conditioning unit and the front air conditioning blowing opening is divided into at least two parts, and the divided front ducts are respectively connected to the air conditioning unit and the front air conditioning blowing opening, respectively, in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Murakami, Makoto Okada, Tomoo Ishihara, Masaaki Murakami
  • Publication number: 20010011834
    Abstract: The roof structure of a work vehicle cab is provided with a roof panel having a top surface exposed to the outside and a bottom surface facing the interior of the cab. A sound insulating foam liner is located under the roof panel and secured thereto by adhesives. The bottom surface of the foam liner is provided with ventilating channels. The ventilating channels have two sidewalls and a top wall extending between the sidewalls. A headliner is located below the foam liner and encloses the ventilating channels formed in the foam liner thereby forming ventilating ducts. A headliner mounting structure is also disclosed in which upstanding flanges around the perimeter of the headliner have slots that receive inward extending tabs on the frame to support the headliner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Applicant: Deere & Company,
    Inventors: Dean Arden Boyce, Bernard Eugene Schreyer, Daniel Joseph Mueller
  • Patent number: 6223807
    Abstract: An air handling system for the cab of a skid steer loader has an airflow housing mounted on the exterior of the cab and on a rear wall thereof. The housing is within the profile of the loader, that is, below the upper wall of the cab and within the side frame members. The housing has an air inlet above the engine compartment, and includes a heater core and an air conditioning evaporator, both of which act as heat exchangers mounted in a plenum chamber in which two fans are mounted. Ducts lead from the plenum chamber to the interior of the cab. The ducts connected to the air handling housing open through ports in the rear wall of the cab into the interior, and interior or the cab ducts carry the air from the plenum chamber to desired locations of the operator's cab for heating, air conditioning or ventilating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: James E. Asche, Jeffrey A. Dahl, Laura A. Marstad, Jeffrey A. Abel