Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for preventing ingestion of ambient air contaminated with possibly harmful, toxic, or flammable battery gases into a passenger compartment of a vehicle in the event of a battery failure. If an abnormal state is detected in a battery pack of the vehicle, the vehicle automatically switches the HVAC system to air recirculation mode, thereby preventing any toxic gas emitted from the battery pack from entering the passenger compartment.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to assisting in closing a door of a vehicle by leveraging a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a position of at least one vehicle door, and when the position of the at least one vehicle door is an open position, determining whether to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in a cabin of the vehicle. The method includes, in response to determining to activate the HVAC system, pumping air out of the cabin such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a vehicle door closure is removed from the cabin. The method includes, when the position of the at least one vehicle door has changed from the open position to a closed position, deactivating the HVAC system to stop pumping air out from the cabin.

A grille for a vehicle wall opening may comprise a frame, a pair of first louvers, and a second louver. The frame may be receivable on the vehicle wall in an installed position extending around the opening, and may have an inboard side and an outboard side. The pair of first louvers may be supported on the frame, and may be transversely inclined to an outboard direction at a first angle. The second louver may be located between the first louvers, fixed relative to the first louvers, and inclined to the outboard direction at a second angle different from the first angle.

A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower, a fresh-air valve, a bypass duct, and a bypass valve. The blower is configured to urge air to flow from an inlet to an outlet of the blower. The fresh-air valve is operable to provide a mixture of air drawn from an outside-air duct and a recirculated-air duct to the inlet. The fresh-air valve is operable to a recirculate position where the outside-air duct is substantially blocked from communicating with the inlet. The bypass duct is configured to couple the outlet to the outside-air duct. The bypass valve is located in the bypass duct and is operable to a closed position and an open position. The cabin is ventilated when the fresh-air valve is in the recirculate position, the bypass valve is in the open position, and the blower is operated to blow air out of the outside-air duct.

A method is provided for pressure equalization when shutting a vehicle door or tailgate, wherein the door or tailgate is designed to close an opening into a vehicle interior, in particular to enable loading or unloading or entering or exiting. An airflow can be conveyed into the vehicle interior from outside the motor vehicle interior through an air inlet opening via an air inlet system. The air inlet opening can be closed via a closure device. The method detects a vehicle standstill mode; detects an opened vehicle door or tailgate; controls the closure device of the air inlet opening; and opens the air inlet opening.

A forced-ventilation device ventilates a compartment of a vehicle by forced ventilation by actuating a blower of an air-conditioning device of the vehicle when the compartment is left at a high temperature. When a mode for forced ventilation has been set by the user, when a mobile device approaching the vehicle together with a user enters a predetermined detection area within which the mobile device is detectable by a response signal, and when the response signal is successfully verified, a control portion switches ON an ignition switch of the vehicle, opens one or two or more windows using an opening and closing mechanism, and directs the air-conditioning device to actuate the blower.

A natural ventilator is herein disclosed that is free of moving parts, wind-activated, rain-proof, and free of dust or smog infiltration. It is not only suitable to be a standalone natural ventilator, but is also advantageous to be used as an enhanced exhaust exit in a forced-air ventilation system, for such enclosed spaces or objects as buildings and vehicles needing air relief. The ventilator assembly has rainwater-proof shapes or fixtures that serve to defend the vent system, and the interior space being vented, against rainwater invasion, even if raindrop trajectory becomes highly oblique from vertical as driven by strong winds. It also includes shapes or fixtures to prevent fume condensation from drifting outward and staining the exterior of a building or vehicle, or the like, that is being vented.

A foreign object obstruction device for preventing foreign objects from entering into the vent of a vehicle without completely obstructing the air passage of the vent is provided. The foreign object obstruction device extends between the a rear vehicle bumper and the vehicle body, and includes a rigid panel mounted to the vehicle body, generally beneath the vent so as to present a generally horizontal planar surface. The foreign object obstruction device may also include a stand-off structure extending from the rigid panel to the vehicle body so as to maintain the foreign obstruction device a predetermined distance from the vent, and a resilient pad disposed between the stand-off structure and the vehicle body so as to help absorb the force caused by objects being hurled into the device; and between the rigid panel and the bumper so as to form a seal.

This disclosure relates to a valve assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a pressure relief valve (i.e., an “air extractor”), and a method of using the same. In an example, the valve assembly includes a flap moveable to between an open position and a closed position, a slider moveable along an axis and including an integrally formed arm in contact with the flap, and an electromagnet configured to be selectively activated to move the slider along the axis.

An air conditioning system that includes a casing that has a flow channel connected to an inside of a vehicle to supply or discharge air. A motor is mounted on one side of the casing to generate a normal direction torque and a reverse direction torque and a first fan is disposed on one side of the flow channel to be connected to an output shaft of the motor and to be rotated. A second fan is disposed on one side of the first fan to be fixedly mounted in the shaft and to be rotated. Additionally, a variable connecting unit that connects the first fan to the shaft of the motor is rotated when the motor is rotated in a normal direction and has a torque of the shaft of the motor not to be transmitted to the first fan when the motor is rotated in a reverse direction.