Seal and drain structure for a front and rear integrated HVAC system

A dual-integrated HVAC system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

• a housing;
• a front HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a front blower and a front airflow path directed to a front portion of the vehicle for cooling or heating the front portion of a vehicle cabin;
• a rear HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a rear blower and a rear airflow path directed to a rear portion of the vehicle for cooling or heating the rear portion of the vehicle cabin;
• a separating wall separating the front airflow path from the rear airflow path;
• an evaporator having a first portion in the front airflow path, a second portion in the rear airflow path, and a seal situated between the first portion and the second portion, the seal adapted to direct water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator to flow toward the rear airflow path;
• a heating core having a first portion in the front airflow path and a second portion in the rear airflow path;
• a drain housing fixed to the housing adjacent to the rear airflow path and the seal;
• and
• a first-rear drain opening defined between the drain housing and the housing,
• wherein water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator drains into the first-rear drain opening.

A method for draining water condensation generated by a dual-integrated HVAC system for a vehicle including a housing, a front HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a front blower and a front airflow path for cooling or heating a front portion of a vehicle cabin, a rear HVAC unit housed in the housing and having a rear blower and a rear airflow path for cooling or heating a rear portion of the vehicle cabin, and an evaporator having a first portion in the front airflow path and a second portion in the rear airflow path, the method comprising:

• directing the front airflow path to the front portion of the vehicle cabin;
• directing the rear airflow path to the rear portion of the vehicle cabin via the rear blower extending into a front portion of a center console;
• providing a barrier located between the first portion and the second portion of the evaporator;
• directing water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator via the barrier towards a first inlet adjacent to the barrier;
• directing water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator towards a second inlet in the rear airflow path;
• and
• draining the water condensation from the first and second inlets to a rear drain opening, the rear drain opening defined between the housing and a rear drain housing fixed to the housing adjacent to the rear airflow path.