Heating or air-conditioning system and method of operating same

A vehicle air-conditioning system comprising:

• a heat exchanger operable to heat air flowing therethrough,
• an air mixing chamber disposed downstream of the heat exchanger,
• a first air inflow opening communicating hot air from the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber,
• a second air inflow opening communicating cool air to the mixing chamber which bypasses the heat exchanger,
• a first outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a first passenger space region,
• a second outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a second passenger space region,
• an air mixing device controlling the first and second inflow openings,
• a first outflow opening control member operable to control an opening cross section of the first outflow opening, and
• a coupling member connecting the air mixing device and first outflow opening control member such that the opening cross section of the first outflow opening is maximally restricted when the first air inflow opening is maximally enlarged and is maximally enlarged when the first air inflow opening is maximally restricted.

A method of operating a vehicle air-conditioning system which includes:

• a heat exchanger operable to heat air flowing therethrough,
• an air mixing chamber disposed downstream of the heat exchanger,
• a first air inflow opening communicating hot air from the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber,
• a second air inflow opening communicating cool air to the mixing chamber which bypasses the heat exchanger,
• a first outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a first passenger space region,
• a second outflow opening communicating air from the mixing chamber to a second passenger space region,
• an air mixing device controlling the first and second inflow openings, and
• a first outflow opening control member operable to control an opening cross section of the first outflow opening,
• said method comprising:
• controlling the opening cross section of the first outflow opening by mechanically coupling the air mixing device and first outflow opening such that the opening cross section of the first outflow opening is maximally restricted when the first air inflow opening is maximally enlarged and is maximally enlarged when the first air inflow opening is maximally restricted.