Airflow diverter box and control methods therefor
OwnerKevin Cheung, Trevor F. Burns +2inventors
InventorsKevin Cheung, Trevor F. Burns, Clayton M. Duval, Jason C. D. Chuang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vehicle climate control systems and methods of airflow control within a vehicle are provided. The systems include front and rear blower assemblies. The front blower assembly directed heated airflow to a front of the vehicle cabin through primary front vents. The rear blower assembly is selectively transitionable between a first configuration, in which heated airflow is directed to a rear of the vehicle cabin, and a second configuration, in which heated airflow is directed to the front of the vehicle cabin through secondary front vents, using an airflow diverter box.
Claims20
A vehicle cabin climate control system of a vehicle, the vehicle cabin climate control system comprising:
- a front blower assembly comprising a plurality of front ducts in fluid communication between a front blower and a plurality of primary front vents arranged within a front portion of a cabin of the vehicle;
- and
- a rear blower assembly comprising:
- a plurality of rear ducts in fluid communication between a rear blower and a plurality of rear vents arranged within a rear portion of the cabin;
- a plurality of redirection ducts in fluid communication between the rear blower and a plurality of secondary front vents arranged within the front portion of the cabin;
- and
- an airflow diverter box selectively transitionable between a first configuration, in which airflow is permitted to flow to the plurality of rear vents, and a second configuration, in which airflow is permitted to flow to the plurality of secondary front vents and not to the plurality of rear vents.
A vehicle cabin climate control system for a vehicle, the vehicle cabin climate control system comprising:
- a plurality of primary front vents arranged within a front portion of a cabin of the vehicle;
- a front blower assembly comprising:
- a front blower;
- and
- a plurality of front ducts in fluid communication between the front blower and the plurality of primary front vents;
- a plurality of secondary front vents arranged within the front portion of the cabin;
- a plurality of rear vents arranged within a rear portion of the cabin;
- a rear blower assembly comprising:
- a rear blower;
- a plurality of rear ducts in fluid communication between the rear blower and the plurality of rear vents;
- a plurality of redirection ducts in fluid communication between the rear blower and the plurality of secondary front vents;
- and
- an airflow diverter box selectively transitionable between a first configuration, in which airflow is permitted to flow to the plurality of rear vents, and a second configuration, in which airflow is permitted to flow to the plurality of secondary front vents and not to the plurality of rear vents.
A method of airflow control within a cabin of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- operating a front blower assembly to generate a first heated airflow for a front portion of the cabin, the first heated airflow directed to a plurality of primary front vents arranged in the front portion of the cabin;
- selectively operating a rear blower assembly to generate a second heated airflow while in a first configuration, the second heated airflow directed to a plurality of rear vents arranged in a rear portion of the cabin;
- and
- selectively operating the rear blower assembly to generate the second heated airflow while in a second configuration, the second heated airflow directed to a plurality of secondary front vents arranged in the front portion of the cabin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.