Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system having improved air warm-up

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system being operable in a fresh air mode and a recirculation mode for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a front and a back and having a dashboard located in the front of the passenger compartment, said system comprising:

• a blower for circulating air from outside the vehicle into and through the passenger compartment in the fresh air mode and for recirculating air within the passenger compartment in the recirculation mode;
• a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module in fluid communication with said blower for warming and cooling the air to be circulated through the passenger compartment in both the fresh air mode and the recirculation mode;
• a first inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower for drawing ambient air from outside of the passenger compartment and through said blower and said HVAC module in the fresh air mode;
• a second inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower and adapted to be located below the dashboard for drawing air from below the dashboard in the passenger compartment and through said blower and said HVAC module in the recirculation mode;
• and
• a third inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower and adapted to be located above the dashboard for drawing air from above the dashboard in the passenger compartment and through said blower and said HVAC module in the recirculation mode.

A vehicle having a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system being operable in a fresh air mode and a recirculation mode, said vehicle comprising:

• a passenger compartment having a front and a back;
• a dashboard located in said front of said passenger compartment;
• a blower in fluid communication with said passenger compartment for circulating air from outside said vehicle into and through said passenger compartment in the fresh air mode and for recirculating air from within said passenger compartment in the recirculation mode;
• a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module in fluid communication with and downstream of said blower for warming and cooling the air to be circulated through said passenger compartment in both the fresh air mode and the recirculation mode;
• a first inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower for drawing ambient air from outside of said passenger compartment and through said blower and said HVAC module in the fresh air mode;
• a second inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower and located below said dashboard for drawing air from said passenger compartment below said dashboard and through said blower and said HVAC module in recirculation mode;
• and
• a third inlet duct in fluid communication with and upstream of said blower and located above said dashboard for drawing air from said passenger compartment above said dashboard and through said blower and said HVAC module in recirculation mode.