Integrated HVAC case and pipe retention feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783021-B2
Application number	US-201213724074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) assembly including a blower subassembly and an HVAC subassembly. The blower subassembly includes a first heater core pipe retention member. The HVAC subassembly includes a second heater core pipe retention member. The first and the second heater core pipe retention members are configured to secure at least one heater core pipe therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) assembly comprising:
a blower subassembly including a first heater core pipe retention member; and
an HVAC subassembly including a second heater core pipe retention member;
wherein:
the blower subassembly includes a first coupling member and the HVAC subassembly includes a second coupling member configured to pivotally couple with the first coupling member at a hinge point to pivotally couple the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly together;
pivoting the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly together at the hinge point pivots the first heater core pipe retention member and the second heater core pipe retention member together; and
the first and the second heater core pipe retention members are configured to secure at least one heater core pipe therebetween at a point distal to where the at least one heater core pipe exits the HVAC subassembly.

2. The HVAC assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first heater core pipe retention member includes a flange extending from the blower subassembly.

3. The HVAC assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flange defines a recess configured to partially receive the heater core pipe therein.

4. The HVAC assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second heater core pipe retention member defines a recess configured to receive the heater core pipe therein.

5. The HVAC assembly of claim 1 , wherein the HVAC subassembly includes a heater core with two heater core pipes extending therefrom.

6. A heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) assembly comprising:
a blower subassembly;
an HVAC subassembly configured to couple with the blower subassembly;
a heater core with a first pipe and a second pipe extending therefrom;
a first retention member included with the blower subassembly; and
a second retention member included with the HVAC subassembly;
wherein:
the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly are pivotally coupled together at a hinge point;
pivoting the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly together at the hinge point pivots the first retention member and the second retention member together;
when pivotally moved together the first retention member and the second retention member define different portions of a first aperture to receive the first pipe and different portions of a second aperture to receive the second pipe; and
the first retention member and the second retention member are configured to secure the first pipe and the second pipe between the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly at points distal to where the first pipe and the second pipe exit the HVAC subassembly.

7. The HVAC assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a duct extending between the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly to direct airflow from the blower subassembly to the HVAC subassembly.

8. The HVAC assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member and the second retention member are configured to secure the first pipe and the second pipe therebetween.

9. The HVAC assembly of claim 8 , wherein portions of the first pipe and the second pipe between the first and the second retention members include an external sleeve member.

10. The HVAC assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first retention member is opposite to the second retention member when the blower subassembly and the HVAC subassembly are locked together.

11. A heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) assembly comprising:
a blower subassembly including a first pipe retention member; and
an HVAC subassembly configured to be coupled with the blower subassembly, the HVAC subassembly including an evaporator, a second pipe retention member opposite to the first pipe retention member, and a heater core with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe extending therefrom;
wherein the first pipe retention member and the second pipe retention member together define a first aperture configured to receive the inlet pipe and a second aperture configured to receive the outlet pipe; and
the blower subassembly includes a retention clip configured to cooperate with a clip flange of the HVAC subassembly to lock the blower subassembly to the HVAC subassembly.

12. The HVAC assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first pipe retention member includes a flange extending from the blower subassembly.

13. The HVAC assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second pipe retention member defines a first recess that only partially receives the inlet pipe and a second recess that only partially receives the outlet pipe.

14. The HVAC assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first pipe retention member includes a third recess opposite to the first recess to define the first aperture therebetween, and a fourth recess opposite to the second recess to define the second aperture therebetween.

15. The HVAC assembly of claim 11 , wherein the HVAC assembly is a motor vehicle HVAC assembly.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Kehimkar Simon
• Peard Thomas

Classifications

• B60H1/00571

  of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants · CPC title

• B60H1/00528

  Connections between housing parts · CPC title

• B60H1/00542 Primary

  Modular assemblies · CPC title