초록 ▼

A motorized valve assembly for use in a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning module comprises a valve having at least one flap and is pivotable about a pivot axis. A drive unit is affixed to the valve, and a drive interface is operably connected to the drive unit for inducing a pivotin

A motorized valve assembly for use in a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning module comprises a valve having at least one flap and is pivotable about a pivot axis. A drive unit is affixed to the valve, and a drive interface is operably connected to the drive unit for inducing a pivoting force about the pivot axis.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A motorized valve assembly for use in a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning module, said motorized valve assembly comprising: a valve having at least one flap and an integral motor housing having a cover hinged thereto for covering said motor, said flap being pivotable about a pivo

1. A motorized valve assembly for use in a vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning module, said motorized valve assembly comprising: a valve having at least one flap and an integral motor housing having a cover hinged thereto for covering said motor, said flap being pivotable about a pivot axis; an electric drive motor with a center affixed to said valve and disposed in said motor housing substantially coaxial with said pivot axis; and a drive interface operably connected to said drive unit for inducing a pivoting force about said pivot axis. 2. A motorized valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drive interface is a pinion gear for interengagement with a rack. 3. A motorized valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drive unit further comprises a reduction gear assembly interposed between said electric motor and said drive interface. 4. A motorized valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein said drive interface is a shaft having a non-circular cross-section. 5. A motorized valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein said drive interface is a pinion gear for interengagement with a rack. 6. An improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module for a vehicle, said module being of the type having a housing defining at least one air outlet therefrom, and first and second pivot recesses on opposite sides of said at least one air outlet, and at least one motorized valve assembly pivotally mounted for opening and closing said at least one air outlet, the improvement comprising: said motorized valve assembly comprises a flap pivotable about a pivot axis, a first pivot positioned at a first end of said flap and received in said first pivot recess, and a second pivot positioned at a second end of said flap and received in said second pivot recess, said first pivot and said second pivot aligned along said pivot axis, an electric motor affixed to said flap for movement therewith about said pivot axis, and a drive interface operably reacting between said motor and said housing for inducing a pivoting force about said pivot axis to pivot said flap and said motor together between an open and a closed position. 7. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said pivot recesses is enclosed to prevent air from flowing from an interior of said module to an exterior thereof. 8. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 6 wherein said drive interface is a shaft having a non-circular cross section and said drive recess receives said shaft therein is a non-rotatable manner to prevent said shaft from rotating with respect to said module housing to effect said reaction between said motor and said housing. 9. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 8 wherein said drive unit further includes a reduction gear assembly interposed between said electric motor and said shaft. 10. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 6 wherein said drive interface is a pinion gear, and further wherein said housing defines an arcuate rack that receives said pinion gear thereon, such that rotation of said pinion gear by said electric motor causes said pinion gear to traverse along said arcuate rack and thereby pivot said valve assembly with respect to said module housing. 11. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 10 wherein said drive further includes a gear reduction assembly operably interposed between said electric motor and said pinion gear. 12. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 11 wherein said electric motor is positioned at said pivot axis. 13. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 6 further including an electric connection to said electric motor and extending along said pivot axis to said housing to deliver el ectric power to said electric motor. 14. The improved heating ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 13 wherein said electric connection interfaces with an electrical connector at said one of said first and second pivots. 15. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 13 wherein said one of said first and second pivots further comprises said electrical connection. 16. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 6 wherein said flap further includes an integral motor housing, and further wherein said motor is received in said integral motor housing. 17. The improved heating, ventilation, and air conditioning module according to claim 16 wherein said integral motor housing includes a cover hinged thereto and further wherein said motor is enclosed within said covered integral motor housing.