# US 8,997,837 B2 · Seal and drain structure for a front and rear integrated HVAC system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,997,837 B2 - Document ID: US8997837B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/431,422 - Filed: 2009-04-28 - Published: 2010-10-28 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-28 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Shinji Kakizaki; Junichi Kanemaru - Inventors: Shinji Kakizaki; Junichi Kanemaru - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8997837B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00064: {for sending air streams of different temperatures into the passenger compartment} - B60H 1/3233: {characterised by condensed liquid drainage means} - B60H 2001/00099: {comprising additional ventilating means} - B60H 2001/00135: {Deviding walls for separate air flows} - B60H 2001/002: {to front and rear part of passenger compartment} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract A dual-integrated HVAC system for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes a housing, a front HVAC unit with a front blower, and rear HVAC unit with a rear blower whereby both the front and rear HVAC units are housed in the housing. The front blower generates an airflow through a front airflow path and the rear blower generates an airflow through a rear airflow path. A separating wall separates the front airflow path from the rear airflow path. The HVAC system further includes an evaporator with 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 to prevent airflow from crossing from the first portion to the second portion and from the second portion to the first portion; and a heating core having a first portion in the front airflow path and a second portion in the rear airflow path; wherein the rear blower extends into a front portion of a center console thereby directing the rear airflow path to the rear portion of the vehicle cabin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 1, wherein the separating wall and the seal both prevent airflow from the front airflow path from crossing into the rear airflow path and airflow from the rear airflow path from crossing into the front airflow path. ### Claim 3 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 3 further comprising a second-rear drain opening defined in the housing at a bottom of the rear airflow path, wherein water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator drains into the second-rear drain opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 4, wherein the drain housing includes an upper drain housing affixed to the housing adjacent to the rear airflow path and a lower drain housing affixed to the housing at the bottom of the rear airflow path, wherein the upper drain housing and the lower drain housing form a rear-exit drain, and wherein the upper drain housing directs the water condensation exiting through the first-rear drain opening to the rear-exit drain and the lower drain housing directs the water condensation exiting through the second-rear drain opening to the rear-exit drain. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 5, wherein the seal prevents airflow from the front airflow path from crossing into the rear airflow path and airflow from the rear airflow path from crossing into the front airflow path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 3 further comprising a water trap inserted in the rear airflow path below the second portion of the evaporator, wherein the water trap directs the water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator into the first-rear drain opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 7 further comprising a lower drain housing affixed to the bottom of the housing, wherein the upper drain housing and the lower drain housing form a rear-exit drain, and wherein the upper drain housing and the lower drain housing direct the water condensation exiting the first-rear drain opening to the rear-exit drain. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 1, further comprising a first conduit defined by the housing and a front drain housing affixed to a bottom of the housing, the first conduit having an inlet adjacent to the seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the seal creates a barrier that directs water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator towards the inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 9, further comprising a second conduit defined by the housing in the rear airflow path and adjacent to a rear drain housing affixed to the bottom of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the first conduit has a first outlet defined by the front drain housing and the housing and the second conduit has a second outlet defined in the housing at a bottom of the rear air flow path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 12, further comprising a rear exit drain defined between the front drain housing and the rear drain housing, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet direct water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator to the rear exit drain. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The dual-integrated HVAC system of claim 12, further comprising a water trap inserted in the rear airflow path below the second portion of the evaporator, wherein the water trap directs the water condensation generated by the second portion of the evaporator to the second outlet. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the barrier prevents airflow from crossing between the first portion and the second portion of the evaporator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein draining the water condensation from the first inlet further comprises directing the water condensation through a first outlet defined by a front drain housing fixed to the housing and the rear drain housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein draining the water condensation from the second inlet further comprises directing the water condensation through a second outlet defined in the housing at a bottom of the rear air flow path. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet direct water condensation to the rear drain opening.