Multi-zone HVAC system with an air bypass for individual flow control
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsKenneth P. Adasek, James C. Ostrand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive heater and air conditioning system has multiple zones each supplied by a separate air flow passage serviced by a common blower and common heat exchangers. One of the passages has an adjustable air flow mechanism which bypasses some air from the passage without disturbing the air flow in other passages. A bypass port in the one passage at a point near the blower outlet is controlled by an adjustable door which is pivotally mounted in the passage at the downstream edge of the port. An induction housing receives air from the bypass port and returned it to the intake if the blower.
Claims8
An automotive temperature control system for supplying air to different zones of a vehicle compartment comprising:
- a blower having an intake and an outlet;
- a plurality of air passages each separately communicating air from said blower outlet to a discharge vent in a different zone of a vehicle compartment;
- heat exchange means in the passages for affecting the temperature of air passing to each discharge vent;
- and
- bypass means in at least one passage for controlling the volume of air flow in that one passage across a range of air flows across a range of air flows while having the air flow in the other passages substantially unaffected comprising a bypass opening adjacent the blower outlet, means for connecting the bypass opening to the blower intake to thereby draw air from the one passage to the intake, and valve means for controllably adjusting the air flow through the opening.
An automotive.temperature control system for supplying heated and/or cooled air to different zones of a vehicle compartment comprising:
- a blower having an intake and an outlet;
- an induction housing covering the blower intake and including port means for selectively admitting fresh air and recirculating air to the blower intake;
- a plurality of air passages separately communicating air from said blower outlet to respective discharge vents in different zones of said vehicle compartment, each passage extending between its respective discharge vent and the blower outlet;
- heat exchange means in the passages for affecting the temperature of air passing to each discharge vent;
- and
- means in at least one passage for controlling the volume of air flow in that one passage across a range of air flows while leaving the air flow in the other passages substantially unaffected comprising a bypass adjacent the blower outlet and connected to the induction housing for air flow from the one passage through the bypass to the intake, and valve means operatively associated with the bypass for controllably adjusting the air flow through the bypass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.