Including Duct Extending Along Floor Patents (Class 454/144)
  • Patent number: 11919361
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment. The passenger compartment includes an upper region and a lower region. The passenger compartment also includes a floor. A plurality of track assemblies are positioned on the floor and extend along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each of the plurality of track assemblies includes a first rail assembly and a second rail assembly. Ductwork is positioned between adjacent track assemblies of the plurality of track assemblies. The plurality of track assemblies and the ductwork are coupled together as a floor panel such that installation of the floor panel within the passenger compartment results in a simultaneous installation of the plurality of track assemblies and the ductwork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Scott Culver Anderson, Clay Mastin, Justin D. Sorum, Albert Kim, Abbas Ghamlouche
  • Patent number: 11034209
    Abstract: An apparatus allows for the distribution of air over a wider range of area. That apparatus includes a telescoping duct assembly, having an inner duct section received for sliding movement in an outer duct section, a receiver in the inner duct section, an elongated port in the outer duct section and an air register held in the receiver and projecting through the elongated port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dejvi Cano, Michael Murphy McElroy, Nitish Kannan Nagarajan, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • Patent number: 10752084
    Abstract: An air ducting system is provided for ducting an air flow emerging from an air vent, which serves to introduce an air flow directly into a passenger compartment of a vehicle, to a measuring device for measuring of at least one parameter of the air flow. The measuring device includes at least one collector unit for collecting the air flow emerging from the air vent, which can be arranged on the air vent in such a way that a contact face of the collector unit completely encloses at least one outlet aperture of the air vent. In order to improve a measurement of at least one parameter of the air flow, the air ducting system comprises at least two air duct units of different design, either of which can be connected to and non-destructively detached from the collector unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sree Ram Gopal Reddy Thodeme, Bernd Dienhart, Gautam Maiya Manoor
  • Patent number: 10173497
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes a primary loop coupled to an air-conditioner that cools a refrigerant in the primary cooling loop for delivery to a primary heat exchanger, a secondary cooling loop in communication with the primary heat exchanger, wherein cooling from the refrigerant is transferred to a coolant in the secondary cooling loop and a secondary heat exchanger for transferring cooling from the coolant to air delivered to a rear of a vehicular passenger cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Steven Sawyer, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 9840130
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system is provided. The vehicle air conditioning system includes a first vapor compression refrigeration loop. The first vapor compression refrigeration loop includes a first refrigerant compressor and a first evaporator. The vehicle air conditioning system further includes a tank for holding a compressed fluid, an outlet configured to carry expanded fluid from the tank, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first vapor compression refrigeration loop and to the outlet. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from refrigerant carried by the first vapor compression refrigeration loop to fluid carried by the outlet, where the temperature of the fluid carried by the outlet has been reduced as a result of expansion of the fluid upon exiting the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bergstrom Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Sean Connell
  • Patent number: 9610823
    Abstract: A vehicle having an HVAC system with a particular ventilation housing design and method for making the same are described. The ventilation housing has a common mode door for defrost and floor panels and allows efficient use of components to provide effective operation in bi-level and other modes. In bi-level mode, the mode doors can be operated to form flow path such that floor outlet is virtually on the upstream side of the panel outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Mingyang Jia, Yang Chen, Frederic Guilbaud, Robert Levander, Gunnar Schlinke
  • Patent number: 9493050
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes an air conditioning unit mounted in a front side of the vehicle to condition air in a front seat area, a rear air outlet, a rear duct to connect the air conditioning unit and the rear air outlet, a rear fan provided near the rear air outlet to draw air from the air conditioning unit via the rear duct so that the air is blown from the rear air outlet, an air inlet provided in the rear duct to draw air from a cabin of the vehicle into the rear duct, and a door structure provided at the air inlet to adjust an opening level of either or both of the air inlet and the rear duct so as to adjust an air intake amount from the air conditioning unit and an air intake amount from the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Fukutomi, Ryousuke Muraki, Tsuneaki Odai
  • Patent number: 8997837
    Abstract: A dual-integrated HVAC system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes a housing, a front HVAC unit with a front blower, and rear HVAC unit with a rear blower whereby both the front and rear HVAC units are housed in the housing. The front blower generates an airflow through a front airflow path and the rear blower generates an airflow through a rear airflow path. A separating wall separates the front airflow path from the rear airflow path. The HVAC system further includes an evaporator with a first portion in the front airflow path, a second portion in the rear airflow path, and a seal situated between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kakizaki, Junichi Kanemaru
  • Patent number: 8690650
    Abstract: An air-conditioner for a vehicle, may include a casing having an upper outlet and a lower outlet, with an air flow space defined in the casing and including an upper space and a lower space to guide air to the upper outlet and/or the lower outlet, an evaporator installed in the casing and selectively communicating with the upper outlet through the upper space, and a distributing partition wall to partition the lower space into a receiving space to receive a heating member therein and selectively communicate with the upper space and at least a partitioned space to communicate the heating member with the lower outlet, thus guiding the air to a side portion of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Moo Yong Kim, Tae Han Kim, Hun Soo Kim, Hee Jun Jeong, Chun Shik Jeong, Seong Seok Han
  • Patent number: 8632382
    Abstract: An air system assembly for a vehicle includes a carpet module and an HVAC unit above the carpet module. A floor aircap assembly is associated with the carpet module and has a vertical portion extending upwardly above the carpet module and a horizontal portion extending below the carpet module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Debby S. Chen
  • Patent number: 8616619
    Abstract: A suction duct (19) provided in a floor member (9) comprises an internal air duct portion (20) connected to the internal air inlet port (10A3), an external air duct portion (21) connected to an external air inlet port (10E3), and a common duct portion (22) for connecting the internal air duct portion (20) and the external air duct portion (21) to a blower fan 18B suction side of an air conditioner unit (18). The suction duct is constructed to form a hollow column (23) having a hollow closed section structure with the internal air duct portion and the common duct portion formed integrally in the upper and lower directions. Therefore, the hollow column formed of the hollow closed section structure can increase strength of the floor member as a strong column while circulating internal air between the internal air inlet port and the air conditioner unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shougo Kimura, Hajime Ishii, Hiroshi Tabeta
  • Patent number: 8608532
    Abstract: A climate control duct architecture having partitions to provide effective distribution of air immediately as it exits the HVAC. By strategic positioning and configuring of the partitions the duct architecture may be tuned to provide maximum console airflow and desired system airflow distribution with a minimum amount of interference to the airflow due to turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mukesh Kumar, Paul Hoke, Mark Doroudian
  • Publication number: 20130252529
    Abstract: A vehicle loading floor includes: a first rail having a retention groove; and a second rail adjacent the first rail and having ventilation orifices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Lothar Baldsiefen, Dino Valter, René A. Huth
  • Patent number: 8459727
    Abstract: A tractor cab has a floor (12) at least part of which is of a double layer construction having an upper layer (12a) and a lower layer (12b) spaced vertically below the upper layer to define a cavity (29,30) between the layers. The cavity being used for a) the passage of air associated with heating, ventilating, demisting or air conditioning the cab and/or b) the passage of electrical wiring or hydraulic pipes and hoses and/or c) the storage of fluids or other materials or equipment. Part of the floor supports an HVAC unit (11) whose output is directed between the upper and lower layers. The upper layer (12a) includes output apertures (27a, 28a) through which air from the HVAC unit can be discharged or recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Mayr, Roland Pest, Hermann Geiss, Andreas Stieglitz
  • Patent number: 8302669
    Abstract: A louver for an air-conduction housing of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system includes a plurality of regions. The plurality of regions are arranged directly adjacent to one another to facilitate air stratification and are subdivided by partitions which are part of the louver. At least one of the regions is configured as a drum-type louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ronny Kiel, Wolfgang Dieksander, Erich Litwing
  • Publication number: 20110021131
    Abstract: An air system assembly for a vehicle includes a carpet module and an HVAC unit above the carpet module. A floor aircap assembly is associated with the carpet module and has a vertical portion extending upwardly above the carpet module and a horizontal portion extending below the carpet module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Debby S. Chen
  • Publication number: 20100116568
    Abstract: The invention provides an electric vehicle which can cool a power unit by cold airstreams without causing dew drops and a temperature rise in a vehicle interior. The electric vehicle travels by operating a motor, and includes a duct having one end joined to the air conditioning unit and the other end joined to the power unit and serving as an airstream flow path via which cold airstreams are guided from an air conditioning unit to the power unit. The duct is shaped in accordance with a shape of a vehicle interior near a front passenger's seat, and being positioned under a floor at the front passenger's seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki
    Inventor: Masaru KADOI
  • Publication number: 20090291626
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has lower and upper air duct sections (4, 8) arranged within the motor vehicle in series in a throughflow direction, with a vent for conveying and discharging air for air conditioning the vehicle interior space. The lower air duct section (4) is arranged in the region of an inner floor of the vehicle and is fixed to the bodyshell. The upper air duct section (8) is part of a lining (9) for the B pillar (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Reder
  • Publication number: 20090038774
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning unit for generating conditioned air, first and second roof outlets for blowing the air toward heads of passengers on second and third seat rows, rear face outlets for blowing the air toward an upper body of the passenger on the second seat row, a first rear foot outlet for blowing the air toward feet of the passenger on the second seat row, a second rear foot outlet for blowing the air toward calves of the passenger on the second seat row, a third rear foot outlet for blowing the air toward feet of the passenger on the third seat row, first and second pillar outlets for blowing the air toward side window glasses on sides of the second and third seat rows, and a rear side outlet for blowing the air toward upper legs of the passenger on the second seat row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Ogiso, Hayato Kamigashima, Yasuhiro Akahori, Takahiro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7169036
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system which includes: an air conditioning unit for generating air-conditioned air, which is provided with a ventilation opening and a defroster opening; a ventilation duct connected to the air conditioning unit at the ventilation opening, which conducts the air-conditioned air to a ventilation outlet; a defroster duct connected to the air conditioning unit at the defroster opening, which conducts the air-conditioned air to a defroster outlet; and an additional duct branching off from the defroster duct, which conducts the air-conditioned air from the defroster duct to an additional outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Tanoi
  • Patent number: 7001264
    Abstract: An air conditioning duct arrangement for a vehicle includes an air conditioning unit disposed near a rear wheelwell of the vehicle, a floor panel including a lower section, a rise rising from the lower section, and an upper section extending backward from the rise, and a duct which extends from the air conditioning unit in the right-and-left direction of the vehicle in an area behind the rise, and which is formed so as to open forward into a compartment of the vehicle through the rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Hayashi, Teruki Komura
  • Patent number: 6942564
    Abstract: An HVAC assembly including an HVAC case disposed in a passenger compartment of a vehicle for delivering air at a passenger side foot well includes a duct coupled to an opening on the HVAC case. The duct is configured to deliver air from the HVAC case to the passenger foot well. The passenger foot well is defined by a front boundary, a lower boundary and two side boundaries. The duct includes an input coupled to the opening on the HVAC case and accepting air into an upstream portion having a single passage. The upstream portion directs air in a generally upward direction away from the lower boundary of the passenger side foot well. The duct further includes an intermediate portion whereby the single passage divides into a first and second passage. A first and second outlet is coupled to and downstream of the first and second passage and dispense air at the passenger side foot well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Roland, Glenn Crocker
  • Patent number: 6857955
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a ventilation extension addition to a vehicle 12 and is attached to the existing ventilation duct 14 located mid-way under the front seats 16 of the vehicle. The location of the existing ventilation duct 14 restricts any air or heat from getting to the rear seat 18 occupants. The present invention 10 comprises a flexible hose 20 attached at one distal end to an adjustable vent 22 and attached at the other distal end by means of a sleeve 24 to the existing air duct 14 located under the front seat 16 of the vehicle 12. The air vent 22 of the present invention 10 is secured in place by means of hook and loop fasteners 26 attached to the top portion of the vent and its counter part attached to the bottom rear portion of the seat 16. The flexible hose 20 allows the seat 16 to move backward and forward without disconnection of the present invention 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventor: Steven M Held
  • Patent number: 6793572
    Abstract: The invention described herein is a passive air ventilation system for automobile interior heat. The passenger compartment interfaces with short air ducts which open when the interior reaches a certain threshold temperature. The other end of the ducts interfaces with the exterior in places which are not susceptible to rainwater seepage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: James Allen Kodak
  • Patent number: 6773340
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning duct 1 has an oblong cross-sectional configuration. The air-conditioning duct 1 has a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18 and side walls 12, 14 enclosing an interior space and at least one constriction 22, 24 formed by a projection protruding from at least one of the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 18 into the air-conditioning duct 1 so as to connect the top wall 16 with the bottom wall 18. The constriction 22, 24 continuously extends in an air flow direction so that cross-sectional areas of the constriction 22, 24 are constant in the air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuya Nakagawa, Hajime Izumi, Tetsuo Tominaga, Toshihisa Kondo
  • Patent number: 6709328
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for busses achieve improved air distribution by the use of ducts to distribute the air throughout the passenger compartment. The ducts have a varying cross sectional area so that the impedance to air flow appears constant at all points along the duct. The quantity of air distributed from each of a plurality of vents is substantially even is effectively equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sunil K. Jain, Aaron D. Lindsey, Kenneth J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030176159
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning duct 1 according to the present invention has an oblong cross-sectional configuration. The air-conditioning duct 1 comprises a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18 and side walls 12, 14 enclosing an interior space and at least one constriction 22, 24 formed by a projection protruding from at least one of the top wall 16 and the bottom wall 18 into the air-conditioning duct 1 so as to connect the top wall 16 with the bottom wall 18. The constriction 22, 24 continuously extends in an air flow direction so that cross-sectional areas of the constriction 22, 24 are constant in the air flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuya Nakagawa, Hajime Izumi, Tetsuo Tominaga, Toshihisa Kondo
  • Patent number: 6616522
    Abstract: A ventilating, heating, and air conditioning device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment which includes air intake orifices and an associated air intake conduit which supplies at least one fan which forces an intake air stream through two heat exchangers towards a distributor. Outlets are connected by discharge pipes to associated orifices distributed inside the passenger compartment. The fan, heat exchanger, and distributor are controlled to selectively diffuse air streams inside the passenger compartment with variable flow rate and temperature. The distributor is transversely arranged in a central position and longitudinally behind a row of seats, and the distributor outlets are at the vehicle floor level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Renault
    Inventor: Andre Colinet
  • Patent number: 6554695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for air-conditioning a cabin (3) of a motor vehicle, comprising an air-conditioning unit (5) installed in front of the dashboard (2), able to be supplied with external air and/or with recycled air taken from the cabin and passing through a recycling pipe (9) arranged in the dashboard (1), and able to deliver a flow of conditioned air to an air delivery pipe (18) connecting said unit (5) to the rear region (19) of the cabin (3), wherein there is provided, in the dashboard (1), a branch pipe (21) connecting said recycling pipe (9) to said delivery pipe (18), said branch pipe (21) dividing the delivery pipe (18) into an upstream portion (18b) situated between the unit (5) and the junction (23) with the branch pipe (21), and into a downstream portion (18a) situated between said junction (23) and the vent and, in said junction (23), a rear recycling shutter (22) able to adopt at least two positions, a first position (P1) in which it closes off the entrance (24) to the branch pipe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Gilles Elliot
  • Patent number: 6532682
    Abstract: A ventilated foot rest for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger vehicle, has a housing which contains at least one air-inlet opening and at least one air-outlet opening, and which has a foot-depositing board on its upper side. In order to better utilize this foot rest, it is proposed to form a storage space and at least two flow paths which are independent of each other in the housing. A first flow path ventilates the storage space, while a second flow path bypasses the storage space and ventilates the foot-depositing board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Futschik, Peter Pfeiffer, Norbert Weber
  • Patent number: 6530831
    Abstract: A ventilating, heating, and air conditioning device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment which includes air intake orifices and an associated air intake conduit which supplies at least one fan which forces an intake air stream through two heat exchangers towards a distributor. Outlets are connected by discharge pipes to associated orifices distributed inside the passenger compartment. The fan, heat exchanger, and distributor are controlled to selectively diffuse air streams inside the passenger compartment with variable flow rate and temperature. The distributor is transversely arranged in a central position and longitudinally behind a row of seats, and the distributor outlets are at the vehicle floor level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Renault
    Inventor: Andre Colinet
  • Patent number: 6497275
    Abstract: A fan causes a flow of cold air and warm air into the internal space of the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Air extraction channels connected to corresponding extraction vents are distributed at different locations in the passenger compartment. Controllable flaps selectively apportion and control the distribution of the extracted airflow between the different extraction channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Gilles Elliot
  • Patent number: 6425818
    Abstract: An enclosure for treating air (1) of a passenger compartment, especially of a motor vehicle, comprises an inlet (2) which supplies cool air to a mixing chamber (4) and a heating chamber (5) supplying the mixing chamber with heated air. It further comprises a front channel (12) supplied from the mixing chamber with treated air intended for a front area of the passenger compartment, and a rear channel (15) supplied from the mixing chamber (4) with treated air intended for a rear area of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Michel Auvity, Michel Grellier, Giancarlo Giordano
  • Patent number: 6415851
    Abstract: A multi-zone temperature control system for an HVAC air-handling assembly in a climate control system on a vehicle includes a cold air supply duct and a hot air supply duct operatively coupled to the cold air supply duct. The multi-zone temperature control system also includes a rear air duct operatively coupled to the hot air supply duct and a temperature blend door disposed within the hot air supply duct to adjust a temperature of air flowing through the rear air duct into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hall, James Fantin
  • Publication number: 20020058472
    Abstract: A ventilated foot rest for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger vehicle, has a housing which contains at least one air-inlet opening and at least one air-outlet opening, and which has a foot-depositing board on its upper side. In order to better utilize this foot rest, it is proposed to form a storage space and at least two flow paths which are independent of each other in the housing. A first flow path ventilates the storage space, while a second flow path bypasses the storage space and ventilates the foot-depositing board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Futschik, Peter Pfeiffer, Norbert Weber
  • Patent number: 6332330
    Abstract: A heating and/or air conditioning device for a motor-vehicle passenger compartment has an air-inlet chamber and a blower for installation in a rear part of the vehicle, a treatment and distribution device for installation in a front part of the passenger compartment), and a connecting duct for connecting the blower to the treatment and distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Didier Loup, Carine Paumier, Naji Said, Pascale Petitjean
  • Patent number: 6332497
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle having an engine that serves as a drive source for a compressor arranged in a rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioner includes the compressor, and further includes an air intake unit having an inside air intake, an outside air intake, an inside air/outside air changeover damper, and a blower disposed on a downstream side of the inside air/outside air changeover damper. The air conditioner includes an air conditioning unit into which air is introduced from the air intake unit, provided along an introduced air distribution path with a cooling apparatus heat exchanger fluidly connected to the compressor and configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and air outside the cabin interior, where the cooling apparatus heat exchanger is located in the rear part of the vehicle. The air conditioning unit also include an engine heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the introduced air and an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Niwa, Ryosaku Akimoto, Kenji Matsuda, Gregory A. Major, Xin Zeng
  • Patent number: 6129627
    Abstract: An air outlet assembly is used to direct airflow of a climate control system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet assembly is used by the passengers sitting on a back seat in a passenger compartment. The air outlet assembly includes first and second doors which are used to open and close an outlet thereof. The doors also direct the air flowing therethrough. An actuator moves the doors between their respective open and closed positions. The actuator moves the second door from its open position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its closed position as it moves the first door from an intermediate position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its open position. This allows the doors to act in unison, after the first door passes the intermediate position, by moving in parallel form, to affect the direction of airflow. The actuator includes a single gear and rack for the first door and a pair of gears and a single rack for the second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ireneusz Jankowski, Derrick Wayban Chow, Robert Ronald Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6126539
    Abstract: A pilot valve mounting system for lift arm control of a work machine having an operator's cab compartment includes a shroud for the pilot valve mounting. Utilizing the pilot valve mounting system as a hot air duct for bringing hot air to the machine operator's feet and the machine windshield reduces the need for additional components and maximizes usage of space within the operator's cab compartment. A cab heater motor/blower exhausts heated air into the pilot valve mounting shroud whereby the hot air is delivered through directionally movable louvered grills into the operator's cab compartment to direct the heated air where desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Miller, John Robert Beaton
  • Patent number: 6120370
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus, provided in a vehicle where plural rows of seats are arrayed in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, comprises a cooler duct for guiding cool air from a cooler unit of an air conditioning unit to a portion above and between a first rear seat positioned on a second row of seats from a vehicle front and a second rear seat positioned behind the first rear seat. The cooler duct has a first outlet for ejecting cool air to the first rear seat side and a second outlet for ejecting cool air to the second rear seat side, and the first outlet is arranged in a position away from a seated portion of the first rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Asou, Katsumi Sakane, Shintaro Hosoda
  • Patent number: 6048263
    Abstract: An automobile heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning case permitting the flow of interior air, an evaporator core disposed in the case for taking heat from the interior air to produce cool air, a heater core disposed in the case downstream of the evaporator core for adding heat to the cool air to produce warm air, an air mix chamber defined in the case for blending the cool air with the warm air, an air mix door disposed between the evaporator core and the heater core for controlling the percentage of the cool air and the warm air being fed into the air mix chamber, depending on the position of the air mix door, and a foot-vent communication passage defined in the case by partitioning the rear end of the air mix chamber by a partition wall extending substantially vertically along the inner wall of the case, so that the foot-vent communication passage communicates with the downstream end of the air mix chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Uchida, Toshiyuki Yoshida, Katsuaki Koshida, Katsuhiro Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 5984774
    Abstract: A portable self-contained air distribution unit, and system incorporating same, are useful in assisting in the distribution of air within a vehicle. The unit comprises an elongate conduit having an inlet, an outlet and a top portion spaced from a bottom portion. A chamber is within the elongate conduit in airflow communication with the inlet and the outlet. A front flap is joined to the inlet of the conduit. The front flap is moveable between an open position and a retracted position and when the front flap is in the open position air flows into the inlet through the chamber and exits the at least one outlet. Various additional features may be combined as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen P. Upham, III
  • Patent number: 5902181
    Abstract: An air flow diverter valve assembly that includes a housing provided with an air inlet opening and at least a pair of air outlet openings one of which is located in the upper wall of the housing and in which a diverter valve is rotatably supported in the housing for movement between positions which allow the air to flow through one or the other of the air outlet openings. The diverter valve includes a pair of laterally spaced end walls each of which has the general shape of a triangle and has first and second angularly spaced and intersecting edges interconnected by a peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Bain
  • Patent number: 5839293
    Abstract: An air distribution system for conditioning air and selectably forcing the air into a passenger compartment or a trunk compartment of a vehicle is provided. The air may be pre-cooled or pre-heated before being forced by a ventilator to particular vents. This is particularly useful on a warm day when the top is down on a convertible. By cooling the trunk, specifically, groceries or perishables can be kept relatively cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventors: Neil Teitelbaum, Gordon Freedman
  • Patent number: 5511842
    Abstract: Modularized vehicle security mounting system for converting a conventional four-door motor vehicle into a safely and well-equipped security vehicle having full conventional vehicular safety features while isolating passengers in the rear seating area and also while providing for running of wire harnesses from trunk to dashboard and for providing rear seating area climate control and sanitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: John A. Dillon
  • Patent number: 5308279
    Abstract: The air circulatory system (32) utilizes a first and second air passageways (46) for communicating ambient air into the cab and an inlet (73) to introduce air that is circulating within the cab into the system through passageways (48,50,70,34) that create very little restriction for the air flowing therethrough. A pair of ducts (76) is utilized to discharge to air back into the cab (10) that also creates very little restriction for the air flow. This results in a very small drop in air pressure between the air being introduced into the blower assembly (40) and the air exiting the blower assembly (40). Subsequently, the requirements of the blower assembly (40) and the noise created by its operation kept at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Grinberg
  • Patent number: 5307645
    Abstract: An air conditioning system is disclosed employing a common plenum in which an evaporator airflow passage is formed through an inner side wall and out through a top wall and a condenser airflow passage is formed through a bottom wall and out through an outer side wall. Dual stage operation is provided by a pair of evaporator coils which are interleaved about a common evaporator core, and by a pair of condenser coils which are interleaved about a common condenser core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Bobby L. Pannell
  • Patent number: 5211604
    Abstract: An air conditioner suited for use in an automotive vehicle has a plurality of emission modes in which appropriately regulated air is directed to a plurality of locations on the front side of a passenger compartment defined in the automotive vehicle. The air conditioner includes a blower unit for introducing external air into the passenger compartment or circulating internal air and an air chamber formed on the downstream side of the blower unit in the direction of air flow. A rear duct is branched and extends rearwardly from the air chamber so that air from the blower unit may be fed to a rear portion of the passenger compartment through the rear duct. A damper or a blower is mounted in the rear duct to restrict the air volume to be fed to the rear portion of the passenger compartment when the temperature of external air is less than a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Fujiki
  • Patent number: 5167129
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system is disclosed which is incorporated with a known automatic air conditioner installed in a motor vehicle. The air conditioning system has first, second and third operation modes which are automatically selected. When the system assumes the first operation mode, air in upper and lower portions of the passenger cabin is discharged to outside of the vehicle through upper and lower ducts. When the system assumes the second operation mode, air in the lower portion of is sucked into an air conditioning unit through the lower duct and cooled and blown into the upper portion of the passenger cabin through the upper duct. When the system assumes the third operation mode, air in the upper portion of the passenger cabin is enforcedly discharded to outside of the vehicle through the upper duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Akasaka