초록 ▼

The present invention relates to distribution of conditioned air from automotive HVAC units, in particularly, distribution systems having both front and rear components. In particular, the present invention improves the temperature characteristics of the rear floor area of distribution in the cockpi

The present invention relates to distribution of conditioned air from automotive HVAC units, in particularly, distribution systems having both front and rear components. In particular, the present invention improves the temperature characteristics of the rear floor area of distribution in the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, in a variety of temperature modes. By providing for a valving or closing off means on a rear distribution door, regulation and adjustment of the stratification and temperature of air reaching the rear, and especially, the rear floor area of the cockpit, cab or passenger compartment, is achieved by blocking or closing off a channel between the heater core area of the HVAC and the distribution system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An air distribution system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning purposes for an automotive vehicle having an HVAC unit with at least one air heating device, at least one air cooling device, a heater core area immediately downstream of the at least one air heating dev

What is claimed is: 1. An air distribution system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning purposes for an automotive vehicle having an HVAC unit with at least one air heating device, at least one air cooling device, a heater core area immediately downstream of the at least one air heating device, an evaporator area immediately downstream of the at least one air cooling device, and front and rear distribution areas, the air distribution system comprising: an air duct to convey air downstream from the evaporator area towards the rear distribution area of the HVAC unit; at least one distribution door; and at least one hot channel to divert a portion of a flow of heated air from the heater core area directly to the rear distribution area, the hot channel being located directly between the heater core area and the rear distribution area; wherein the at least one distribution door is located between the air duct downstream of the evaporator area and the hot channel; and wherein the at least one distribution door regulates both the flow of heated air through the hot channel and airflow through the air duct to the rear distribution area. 2. An air distribution system as in claim 1, wherein the distribution door has a valving structure located on, attached to, or integral to the door. 3. An air distribution system as in claim 2, wherein the valving structure is integral to the door. 4. An air distribution system as in claim 2, wherein a mixing baffle is located in the air duct between the evaporator area and rear distribution area of the HVAC unit. 5. An air distribution system as in claim 4, wherein the distribution door is downstream of the mixing baffle. 6. An air distribution system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning purposes for an automotive vehicle having an HVAC unit with at least one air heating device, at least one air cooling device, a heater core area immediately downstream of the at least one air heating device, an evaporator area immediately downstream of the at least one air cooling device, and front and rear distribution areas, the air distribution system comprising: an air duct to convey air downstream from the evaporator area towards the rear distribution area of the HVAC unit; at least one distribution door; and at least one hot channel to divert a portion of a flow of heated air from the heater core area directly to the rear distribution area, the hot channel being located directly between the heater core area and the rear distribution area; wherein the at least one distribution door is located between the air duct downstream of the evaporator area and the hot channel; and wherein the distribution door is located in the air duct toward the rear distribution area of the automotive vehicle such that the valving structure can partially or totally block the passage of air directly or indirectly from the heater core area through the hot channel to the rear distribution area. 7. An air distribution system as in claim 6, wherein the valving structure is a tab, wall, baffle or the like. 8. An air distribution system as in claim 6, wherein the rear distribution area comprises a rear panel cold area and a rear floor warm area. 9. An air distribution system as in claim 8, wherein the distribution door, when allowing air to partially be blocked from the evaporator area to the rear panel cold area, also partially or fully blocks air from entering the rear floor warm area from the heater core area. 10. An air distribution system as in claim 8, wherein the distribution door is spatially situated so to be able to pivot between a panel mode and a floor mode. 11. An air distribution system as in claim 10, wherein in panel mode, essentially no air passes from the heater core area through the hot channel to the rear floor warm area. 12. An air distribution system as in claim 10, wherein in floor mode, baffle controlled air passes from the evaporator area to the rear panel cool area and air passes by the mixing baffle from the heater core area to the rear floor warm area of the vehicle. 13. An air distribution system as in claim 10, wherein in bi-level mode, baffle controlled air passes by the mixing baffle from the heater core region and evaporator region such that a comfortable thermal stratification state exists between front panel and front floor at the same time as it exists between rear panel and rear floor.