Vehicle heating ventilation and air-conditioning module for improved heating and defrosting performance
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorJohn Lawrence Pawlak, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An air distribution module for a vehicle heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system receives a layered air-flow of an upper and lower layer for delivery to a vehicle interior. The air distribution module includes a housing defining a central plenum and an air inlet at an upstream side thereof for receiving the layered air-flow of first and second layers. At least a first arcuate duct is coupled to the housing and defines an inner passage wherein the arcuate duct further includes an inlet coupled to a downstream side of the housing and in fluidic communication with the plenum. The duct further includes an inversion loop for inverting the air-flow layers and an outlet for discharging the air into the vehicle interior.
Claims22
An air distribution module for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, wherein said module receives a layered air-flow of a first upper layer and a second lower layer, said module comprising:
- a housing defining a central plenum and an inlet at an upstream side thereof for receiving the layered air-flow of first and second layers;
- and
- at least a first arcuate duct coupled to said housing and defining an inner passage, said at least first arcuate duct including:
- an inlet coupled to a downstream side of said housing, said inlet in fluidic communication with said plenum for receiving the layered air-flow;
- at least one arcuate segment for inverting the layered air flow;
- and
- an outlet.
An arcuate air duct for use in a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system of the type that delivers a temperature layered air-flow to a distribution housing, said arcuate air duct comprising:
- an inlet for coupling to a downstream side of the distribution housing, said inlet in fluidic communication with the housing for receiving the layered air-flow;
- at least one arcuate segment for inverting the air-flow layers;
- and
- an outlet.
A method of inverting and delivering a temperature layered air-flow from a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system to the vehicle interior to selectively direct a desired temperature layer to a selected system outlet, said method including the steps:
- providing a housing defining a plenum for receiving the layered air-flow at an upstream side;
- directing a first layer of cooler air to an upper portion of the housing plenum;
- directing a second layer of warmer air to a lower portion of the housing plenum;
- affixing at least one arcuate duct in fluidic communication to a downstream side of the housing;
- providing an arcuate segment in the arcuate duct wherein the shape of the arcuate segment is such to invert the layers of the layered air-flow;
- and
- directing the layered air-flow through the arcuate segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.