HVAC driver-focus mode operation mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049121-B2
Application number	US-202117333806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2021
Priority date	Nov 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) airflow distribution module including a passenger side face outlet and a passenger center face outlet both defined by the module. A passenger face door sub assembly within the module includes a passenger side face door (outer portion) at the passenger side face outlet and movable to control airflow through the passenger side face outlet. A passenger center face door (inner portion) is at the passenger center face outlet and is movable to control airflow through the passenger center face outlet. The passenger side face door and the passenger center face door are movable independent of one another to independently control airflow through the passenger side face outlet and the passenger center face outlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) airflow distribution module comprising:
a passenger side face outlet defined by the module;
a passenger center face outlet defined by the module;
a passenger face door sub-assembly including: a passenger side face door at the passenger side face outlet and movable to control airflow through the passenger side face outlet; and a passenger center face door at the passenger center face outlet and movable to control airflow through the passenger center face outlet;
a driver face outlet defined by the module; and
a driver face door movable to control airflow through the driver face outlet, the driver face door is coupled to the passenger center face door;
wherein the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door are movable independent of one another to independently control airflow through the passenger side face outlet and the passenger center face outlet.

2. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 1 , wherein one of the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door includes a support rod extending therefrom; and
wherein another one of the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door defines a receptacle configured to receive the support rod.

3. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 1 , wherein the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door rotate co-axially.

4. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 1 , wherein the driver face door is coupled to the passenger center face door such that the driver face door and the passenger center face door rotate together.

5. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 4 , wherein the driver face door is rotatable independent of the passenger side face door.

6. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 1 , further comprising a passenger front foot outlet defined by the module; and
a passenger front foot door movable to control airflow through the passenger front foot outlet, the passenger front foot door is movable independent the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door.

7. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 6 , further comprising a rear foot outlet defined by the module; and
a rear foot door movable to control airflow through the rear foot outlet, the rear foot door is movable independent of the passenger front foot door, the passenger side face door, and the passenger center face door.

8. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 7 , further comprising a driver front foot outlet defined by the module; and
a driver front foot door movable to control airflow through the driver front foot outlet, the driver front foot door is movable independent of the passenger front foot door, the passenger side face door, the passenger center face door, and the rear foot door.

9. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) airflow distribution module for a vehicle comprising:
a passenger front foot outlet defined by the module;
a passenger rear foot outlet defined by the module;
a driver front foot outlet defined by the module;
a driver rear foot outlet defined by the module; and
a foot door sub assembly including:
a main foot door movable to control airflow through the driver front foot outlet, the driver rear foot outlet, and the passenger rear foot outlet; and
a passenger front foot door movable to control airflow through the passenger front foot outlet;

wherein the main foot door and the passenger front foot door are separately movable to control airflow through the passenger front foot outlet independent of each of the driver front foot outlet, the passenger rear foot outlet, and the driver rear foot outlet.

10. The HVAC module of claim 9 , further comprising:
a passenger side face outlet defined by the module;
a passenger center face outlet defined by the module; and
a passenger face door sub assembly including: a passenger side face door at the passenger side face outlet and movable to control airflow through the passenger side face outlet; and a passenger center face door at the passenger center face outlet and movable to control airflow through the passenger center face outlet;
wherein the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door are movable independent of one another to independently control airflow through the passenger side face outlet and the passenger center face outlet.

11. The HVAC module of claim 10 , wherein one of the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door includes a support rod extending therefrom; and
wherein another one of the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door defines a receptacle configured to receive the support rod.

12. The HVAC airflow distribution module of claim 10 , wherein the passenger side face door and the passenger center face door rotate co-axially.

13. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) airflow distribution module comprising:
a passenger side face outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module;
a passenger center face outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module;
a passenger face door sub assembly movable to independently control airflow through the passenger side face outlet and the passenger center face outlet;
a passenger front foot outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module;
a driver front foot outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module;
a driver rear foot outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module;
a passenger rear foot outlet defined by the HVAC airflow distribution module; and
a foot door sub assembly including:
a main foot door movable to control airflow through the driver front foot outlet, the driver rear foot outlet, and the passenger rear foot outlet; and
a passenger front foot door movable to control airflow through the passenger front foot outlet;

wherein the main foot door and the passenger front foot door are separately movable to control airflow through the passenger front foot outlet independent of each of the driver front foot outlet, the passenger rear foot outlet, and the driver rear foot outlet.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Chen Siyue
• Belanger Brian

Classifications

• B60H1/00064 Primary

  for sending air streams of different temperatures into the passenger compartment · CPC title

• B60H2001/00192

  to left and right part of passenger compartment · CPC title

• B60H1/00678

  the axis of rotation being in the door plane, e.g. butterfly doors · CPC title

• B60H2001/00092

  of air deflecting or air directing means inside the device · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title