Hvac heat exchanger air seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016297282-A1
Application number	US-201514683704-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An HVAC module includes an evaporator and a heater core housed in a HVAC casing. The HVAC casing has an opening wherein a heat exchanger is inserted into the opening. The case may have a tongue portion extending external of the case. The heat exchanger may have an insert with grooves that engage the tongue portions to act as an air seal for the heat exchanger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle HVAC module, comprising:
a HVAC case; a heat exchanger, installable inside the HVAC case through an opening in a sidewall of the HVAC case; a plurality of grooves extending from the heat exchanger; and a plurality of tongue portions extending from an external surface of the sidewall wherein the tongue portion internally engages the grooves.

2 . A vehicle HVAC module according to claim 1 wherein the opening and the heat exchanger are generally rectangular in shape.

3 . A vehicle HVAC module according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of tongue portions extend perpendicular to the sidewall and parallel to the rectangular opening.

4 . A vehicle HVAC module according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of grooves span the length of the rectangular heat exchanger.

5 . A vehicle HVAC module according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an insert, the insert extending beyond the width of the opening in the sidewall, the plurality of grooves extending from the insert.

6 . A vehicle HVAC module according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves further comprise a channel that spans the length of the groove, the plurality of tongue portions further comprise a lip wherein the channel is configured to engage the lip as a locking feature.

7 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module comprising:
an HVAC module having an external surface and an interior surface defining a channel for air to flow therethrough; a heat exchanger disposed in said channel of the HVAC module; and a plurality of tongue portions extending perpendicular from the external surface for sealing the heat exchanger to the HVAC module wherein the heat exchanger further comprises an insert with a plurality of grooves configured to engage the tongue portions.

8 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 7 wherein the opening and the heat exchanger are generally rectangular in shape and the insert is generally wider than the opening.

9 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of tongue portions span parallel to the rectangular opening.

10 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 9 wherein the groove portions span the length of the heat exchanger.

11 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 7 wherein the heat exchanger is a heater core configured to heat air passing through the HVAC module.

12 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 11 wherein the heater core is generally rectangular in shape and has an inlet on one end and an outlet on the opposite end and the insert spans between the inlet and outlet.

13 . A seal for a heat exchanger in an HVAC module according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of grooves further comprise a channel that spans the length of the groove, the plurality of tongue portions further comprise a lip wherein the channel is configured to engage the lip as a locking feature.

14 . A HVAC module comprising;
a HVAC case with a rectangular opening in a sidewall of the case; a rectangular heat exchanger inserted into the opening, an end plate assembled to the heat exchanger remaining external to the opening with groove portions generally extending beyond the width of the opening; and a plurality of tongue portions extending from the sidewall spanning parallel of the length of the opening; wherein the tongue portions insertably engage the groove portions of the heat exchanger end plate.

15 . A HVAC module according to claim 14 wherein the tongue portions are integrally molded into the HVAC case.

16 . A HVAC module according to claim 15 wherein the plurality of tongue portions further comprises a lip that is molded into the tongue portion s and the grooves further comprise a channel that spans the length of the groove, wherein the channel is configured to engage the lip as a locking feature.

17 . A HVAC module according to claim 14 wherein the exchanger is a heater core that has an inlet on one end and an outlet on the opposite end and the insert spans between the inlet and outlet.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Morris William

Classifications

• B60H1/00557 Primary

  Details of ducts or cables · CPC title

• B60H1/00528 Primary

  Connections between housing parts · CPC title

• B60H1/00521

  Mounting or fastening of components in housings, e.g. heat exchangers, fans, electronic regulators · CPC title