System and method for clearing a clogged HVAC drain tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10442270-B2
Application number	US-201715601194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2017
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle system is provided. The vehicle system may include a tube configured to provide an outlet for condensate collected within a plenum that connects a cabin duct to a ventilation manifold arrangement. The vehicle system may also include a clearing duct that bypasses the plenum and connects the tube and arrangement, and a controller configured to block passageways between the plenum and cabin duct, and to activate a blower of the arrangement to build pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for clearing a tube configured to provide an outlet for condensate collected within a plenum of a vehicle, comprising:
by a controller,
blocking passageways between the plenum and a cabin duct; and
activating a blower of a ventilation arrangement to build pressure within the plenum, and a clearing duct that bypasses the plenum and connects the tube and arrangement, to clear the tube connected to the plenum.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blocking is initiated in response to a predetermined number of engine starts.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blocking includes closing a defroster door disposed between the plenum and the cabin duct.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before the activating, opening a fresh air circulation door connected to the ventilation arrangement to draw air that is external to the vehicle to the plenum and the clearing duct.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the activating, closing the fresh air circulation door to block a passageway between the ventilation arrangement and an air inlet duct to further build pressure within the clearing duct and plenum.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising closing a mode door disposed between the plenum and the cabin duct to block air from escaping the plenum to further build pressure within the plenum.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the activating, closing a clearing duct door disposed within the clearing duct to block air from passing through the clearing duct and the tube.

8. A vehicle HVAC apparatus, comprising:
a tube configured to provide an outlet for condensate collected within a plenum that connects a cabin duct to a ventilation manifold arrangement;
a clearing duct that bypasses the plenum and connects the tube and arrangement; and
a blower of the arrangement configured to build pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a defroster door connected between the plenum and the cabin duct, and moveable between an open position and a closed position to facilitate an accumulation of pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a mode door connected between the plenum and the cabin duct, and moveable between an open position and a closed position to facilitate an accumulation of pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a fresh air door connected to the ventilation manifold arrangement configured to, when open, facilitate a flow of air from the ventilation manifold arrangement to the plenum and the clearing duct.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fresh air door is further configured to, when closed, block a passageway between the ventilation manifold arrangement and an air inlet duct to further build pressure within the clearing duct and plenum.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a clearing duct door disposed within the clearing duct to block air from passing through the clearing duct and the tube.

14. A vehicle system comprising:
a tube configured to provide an outlet for condensate collected within a plenum that connects a cabin duct to a ventilation manifold arrangement;
a clearing duct that bypasses the plenum and connects the tube and arrangement; and
a controller configured to block passageways between the plenum and cabin duct, and activate a blower of the arrangement to build pressure within the plenum and clearing duct to clear the tube.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform the blocking and activating responsive to occurrence of a number of key-on events.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to close a defroster door disposed between the plenum and the cabin duct to block air from escaping the plenum to further build pressure within the plenum.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to open a fresh air circulation door connected to the ventilation manifold arrangement, wherein the open fresh air circulation door is configured to facilitate a drawing of air external to the vehicle to the plenum and clearing duct.

18. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to, after activating the blower, close the fresh air circulation door to block a passageway between the ventilation manifold arrangement and the air inlet duct to further build pressure within the clearing duct and plenum.

19. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to close a mode door disposed between the plenum and the cabin duct to block air from escaping the plenum to further build pressure within the plenum.

20. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the blocking and activating is responsive to a number of engine start events.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kumar Mukesh
• Sawyer Robert Steven

Classifications

• B60H1/00507 Primary

  Details, e.g. mounting arrangements, desaeration devices (B60H1/32 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title

• Y10T137/4245

  Cleaning or steam sterilizing · CPC title

• B60H1/00864

  Ventilators and damper doors · CPC title

• B60H1/3233

  characterised by condensed liquid drainage means · CPC title