Automotive HVAC device

Abstract

The invention provides a device for heating, ventilating and air conditioning in vehicles and includes a temperature flap arranged rotatable in the region of a hot air channel and a cold air channel. The temperature flap is designed to largely reduce the temperature dip of the mixed air in an outlet channel, with reference to an associated temperature/rotational position curve. The temperature flap includes a rotational plate with at least one flap opening and at least one dosing element assigned to the flap opening. In the region of the closing element, an opening mechanism, dependent on the rotational position of the temperature flap, actuates the dosing element and opens the flap opening.

1 . A device for heating, ventilating and air conditioning a vehicle comprising: 
 a casing;    a fan coupled to the casing and being operable to provide air into and through the casing;    a heat exchanger located within the casing;    an air passageway defined through the casing, the air passageway having an inlet channel dividing into a cold air channel and a hot air channel and converging into an air outlet channel;    a temperature flap located in the region of the converging of the hot and cold air channels, the flap rotatably mounted in the casing for movement between positions alternately closing the hot and cold air channels and providing temperature dependent air flow distribution in the air outlet channel, the flap including a base plate with a flap opening defined therein and including a closing element selectively movable between a position covering the flap opening and a position uncovering the flap opening depending on the rotational position of the flap.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising an opening mechanism coupled to the dosing element, the opening mechanism moving the dosing element between the positions covering and uncovering the flap opening depending on the rotational position of the flap.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the opening mechanism includes portions attached to the casing.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the opening mechanism is a mechanical linkage.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein, depending on the rotational position of the flap, the flap opening is sized such that the temperature of the air in the air outlet channel generally follows an approximately linear temperature/rotational curve profile.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flap opening is uncovered by the closing element.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising holding elements extending from side portions of the base plate and being offset from an edge of the base plate, the holding elements including pivots extending outwardly therefrom defining a common axis, the pivots engaging pivot openings defined in the casing.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the holding elements extend from a first portion of the base plate and the flap opening is defined in a second portion of the base plate.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the flap opening is oriented generally parallel to the rotational axis and transverse to air flow across the base plate.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the base plate, the flap opening and closing element are generally rectangular.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the dosing element covers the flap opening in both 0% and 100% rotational positions of the flap.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the dosing element at least partially uncovers the flap opening in the range of 25% to 50% rotational positions of the flap.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the closing element covers the flap opening in a 75% rotational position of the flap.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the dosing element includes a covering plate of an area at least as large as the flap opening, the dosing element further including side strips on opposing sides, said side strips having spring area ending in portions attached to side edge regions of a base plate.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the closing element includes a covering plate of an area at least as large as the flap opening, the dosing element further including side strips on opposing sides, said side strips having spring area ending in portions attached to side edge regions of a base plate.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising an opening mechanism including two projections attached to the casing at a level corresponding to the spring arcs whereby upon rotation of the flap the projections depress the spring arcs causing sliding motion of the covering plate to uncover the flap opening.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the projections are cams.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the cams have a profile varying the rate at which the covering plate is moved to uncover the flap opening.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the cams have a bell-shaped profile that contacts the spring arcs.  
     
     
         20 . A method for the air conditioning of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cold air stream;    providing a hot air stream;    merging the cold air stream with the hot air stream to produce an outlet air stream;    before merging, diverting a partial hot air stream into the cold air stream to pretemper the cold air stream so that the temperature of the outlet air stream is adapted to a generally linear temperature/rotational position curve of a temperature flap;    wherein said diverting step diverts the partial hot air stream through an opening defined in a temperature flap, the size of the opening being dependent on the rotational position of the temperature flap between positions closing either the hot or cold air stream.