Apparatus and method to enhance heating performance of a vehicle ventilation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016061237-A1
Application number	US-201414472474-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle ventilation system includes an airflow circuit providing a flow pathway between a blower, an evaporator core, a heater core and an airflow restrictor. The airflow restrictor is provided downstream from the heat or cold and functions to increase the residence time of the air in the heater core to enhance heating performance of the vehicle ventilation system.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A vehicle ventilation system, comprising:
an air flow conduit providing a flow pathway between; (a) a blower; (b) an evaporator core for cooling and dehumidifying air forced through said conduit by said blower; (c) a heater core for warming said air forced through said conduit by said blower; and (d) an air flow restrictor downstream from said heater core that increases residence time of said air in said heater core to enhance heating performance of said vehicle ventilation system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said heater core includes a cover defining an air manifold between said heater core and said cover.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein said cover includes a slot and said air flow restrictor is mounted in said slot of said cover.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said air flow restrictor comprises a plate including a plurality of apertures.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said plurality of apertures have a diameter of between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein a total air flow area of said plurality of apertures is between 35% and 75% of a total air flow section area of said ventilation system.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said plurality of apertures are of uniform diameter.

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein said air flow restrictor includes a mounting base having a surface for abutting said cover, said plate projecting from said surface.

9 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said air flow restrictor comprises a frame forming a grid including a plurality of openings.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a mesh extends across said openings in said grid.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein said mesh is made from a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene fiber, glass fiber and combinations thereof having a hole size range of between about 0.3 mm and 1.0 mm.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said air flow restrictor includes a mounting base having a surface for abutting said cover, said frame projecting from said surface.

13 . An air flow restrictor for a vehicle ventilation system, comprising:
a body including a mounting base and a plate projecting from said mounting base.

14 . The air flow restrictor of claim 13 , wherein said plate includes a plurality of apertures.

15 . The air flow restrictor of claim 14 , wherein said plurality of apertures have a diameter of between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm.

16 . The air flow restrictor of claim 13 , wherein said plate forms a grid including a plurality of openings.

17 . The air flow restrictor of claim 16 , wherein a mesh extends across said openings in said grid.

18 . The air flow restrictor of claim 17 , wherein said mesh is made from a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene fiber, glass fiber and combinations thereof.

19 . A method of improving heating performance of a vehicle ventilation system including an air flow circuit and a heater core comprising:
providing an air flow restrictor in said air flow circuit downstream from said heater core.

20 . The method of claim 19 , including mounting said air flow restrictor to a cover of said heater core.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Koberstein Manfred
• Madhavan Ranganathan
• Wingert Kurt Francis
• O'Shannessy Denis Gerard
• Mullen Gary D
• Li Harold
• Xing Hai Feng

Classifications

• B60H1/02

  the heat being derived from the propulsion plant · CPC title

• F15D1/025 Primary

  by means of orifice or throttle elements · CPC title

• B60H2001/00092

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

• B60H1/0005 Primary

  the air being firstly cooled and subsequently heated or vice versa · CPC title

• B60H1/00457 Primary

  Ventilation unit, e.g. combined with a radiator (control systems for ventilators B60H1/00828) · CPC title