AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR AIR-CONDITIONING A SPACE

Abstract

An air-conditioning system may include at least one outlet for discharging an air current into the space, first and second distribution elements for adjusting differing first and second parameters of the system, the first and second distribution elements adjustable over first and second adjusting ranges, respectively, and a cam plate for adjusting the distribution elements and featuring first and second guide structure for adjusting the first and second distribution elements, respectively. The guide structures may be configured such that the first distribution element remains in a predefined position over a predefined first angular range of rotation of the cam plate, and the second distribution element may be adjusted in dependence on a rotational angle of the cam plate in the first angular range of rotation. The first distribution element may be adjusted when the second distribution element is in a predefined position at an end of the second adjusting range.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system for air-conditioning a space, comprising: at least one outlet for discharging an air current into the space; a first distribution element and a second distribution element for adjusting at least one parameter of the air-conditioning system, the first distribution element adjustable over a first adjusting range, and the second distribution element adjustable over a second adjusting range; a cam plate for adjusting the first distribution element and the second distribution element; wherein the cam plate features a first guide structure for adjusting the first distribution element and a second guide structure for adjusting the second distribution element; wherein the guide structures are configured such that the first distribution element remains in a predefined position over a predefined first angular range of rotation of the cam plate, and the second distribution element is adjusted in dependence on a rotational angle of the cam plate in the first angular range of rotation; wherein the first distribution element is adjusted when the second distribution element is in a predefined position at an end of the second adjusting range; and wherein the first distribution element is designed for adjusting a first parameter of the air-conditioning system, and the second distribution element is designed for adjusting a second parameter of the air-conditioning system that differs from the first parameter.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the distribution elements is designed for adjusting an air distribution between two outlets.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the distribution elements is designed for adjusting a temperature of the air current.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the guide structures are configured such that the first distribution element is adjusted in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate over a predefined second angular range of rotation of the cam plate, and the second distribution element remains in a predefined position in the second angular range of rotation.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the guide structures are configured such that at least one additional angular range of rotation is provided, wherein one of the distribution elements remains in a predefined position in the respective angular range of rotation, and the other distribution element is adjusted in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate.

6. The air-conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein angular ranges of rotation with the predefined position of the first distribution element and angular ranges of rotation with the predefined position of the second distribution element are provided alternately.

7. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution element being adjusted over its entire adjusting range in at least one angular range of rotation.

8. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first guide structure and the second guide structure are arranged on opposite sides of the cam plate.

9. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first guide structure and the second guide structure are arranged on the same side of the cam plate.

10. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a drive unit for rotating the cam plate.

11. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the angular ranges of rotation extends over an angle of 10°.

12. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the distribution elements is a flap or features a flap.

13. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the angular ranges of rotation extend over the same angle.

14. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the guide structures is a groove.

15. A method for operating an air-conditioning system according to claim 1, comprising: adjusting, via the second distribution element a temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system into different zones of the space; and adjusting, via the first distribution element, an air distribution of the air-conditioning system into different zones of the space.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: setting the first distribution element such that the air distribution is directed into one of a first zone and a second zone when the second distribution element is being adjusted from a position in which the temperature is at a maximum value to a position in which the temperature is at a minimum value; and setting the first distribution element such that the air distribution is directed into the first zone and the second zone when the second distribution element is being adjusted from the position in which the temperature is at the minimum value to the position in which the temperature is at the maximum value.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: adjusting the air distribution into a first zone of the space in the first angular range of rotation, a temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system being varied in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate; acting upon the space with a substantially constant temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system in the second angular range of rotation, which directly follows the first angular range of rotation, the air distribution being varied between a distribution into the first zone and a uniform distribution into the first zone and a second zone of the space in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate; uniformly adjusting the air distribution into the first zone and into the second zone in a third angular range of rotation, which directly follows the second angular range of rotation, the temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system being varied in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate; maintaining the temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system to be substantially constant in a fourth angular range of rotation, which directly follows the third angular range of rotation, the air distribution being varied between the uniform distribution into the first zone and the second zone and a distribution into the second zone in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate; and adjusting the air distribution into the second zone in a fifth angular range of rotation, which directly follows the fourth angular range of rotation, the temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system being varied in dependence on the rotational angle of the cam plate.

18. A motor vehicle comprising an interior and an air-conditioning system for air-conditioning the interior, the air-conditioning system having: at least one outlet for discharging an air current into the space; a first distribution element and a second distribution element for adjusting at least one parameter of the air-conditioning system, the first distribution element adjustable over a first adjusting range, and the second distribution element adjustable over a second adjusting range; a cam plate for adjusting the first distribution element and the second distribution element; wherein the cam plate features a first guide structure for adjusting the first distribution element and a second guide structure for adjusting the second distribution element; wherein the guide structures are configured such that the first distribution element remains in a predefined position over a predefined first angular range of rotation of the cam plate, and the second distribution element is adjusted in dependence on a rotational angle of the cam plate in the first angular range of rotation; wherein the first distribution element is adjusted when the second distribution element is in a predefined position at an end of the second adjusting range; and wherein the first distribution element is designed for adjusting a first parameter of the air-conditioning system, and the second distribution element is designed for adjusting a second parameter of the air-conditioning system that differs from the first parameter.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising a control device configured to: adjust, via the second distribution element, a temperature of the air current of the air-conditioning system into different zones of the space; and adjust, via the first distribution element, an air distribution of the air-conditioning system into different zones of the space.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the distribution elements are designed for air-conditioning a rear region of the interior.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] In the respectively schematic drawings,

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a section through a motor vehicle,

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a section through an air-conditioning system of the motor vehicle,

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of part of the air-conditioning system,

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a cam plate of the air-conditioning system,

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the cam plate,

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the cam plate according to another exemplary embodiment,

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the cam plate according to FIG. 6, and

[0071] FIGS. 8 and 9 show diagrams for elucidating the operation of the air-conditioning system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 in the form of a schematic and highly simplified illustration. The motor vehicle 1 respectively features a space 2 or interior 3. At least one front seat 5 for the driver of the motor vehicle 1 is arranged in a front region 4 of the interior 3. At least one rear seat 7, e.g., for a passenger is arranged in a rear region 6.

[0073] The motor vehicle 1 is equipped with an air-conditioning system 8 for air-conditioning the interior 3 as indicated in FIG. 1. In this case, the interior 3 is air-conditioned by feeding an air current into the interior 3. Different inlets 9 are provided in the interior 3 in order to discharge the air current into the interior 3. In the region of an instrument panel 10, for example, at least one such inlet 9, 9′ is assigned to a front windshield 11 of the motor vehicle 1 and at least one such inlet 9, 9″ is assigned to at least one of the passengers of the motor vehicle 1 seated in the front region 4. It would also be conceivable to provide at least one additional inlet 9 that is assigned to a foot region. Another inlet 9, 9′ of this type is provided in the rear region 6 and assigned to at least one passenger seated in the rear region. Furthermore, at least one additional inlet 9, 9″ is provided for the foot region of at least one passenger seated in the rear region 6. The respective inlet 9 is therefore assigned to an associated zone 27 of the interior 3. The air-conditioning system 8 is fluidically connected to at least two such inlets 9 in order to feed the air current into the interior 3. The motor vehicle 1 furthermore features a control device 12 for controlling the air-conditioning system 8, wherein the control device 12 may form part of the air-conditioning system 8.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a section through the air-conditioning system 8. The air-conditioning system 8 features at least one outlet 13, wherein the air-conditioning system 8 features two such outlets 13 in the example shown. The respective outlet 13 serves for feeding the air current into the interior 3 or the space 2 and therefore is fluidically connected to at least one such inlet 9 or forms such an inlet 9. For example, the outlet 13, 13′ respectively may be fluidically connected to or correspond to the inlet 9′ while the outlet 13″ may respectively correspond to the inlet 9″ or be fluidically connected to the inlet 9″. Analogously, the outlet 13′ may be fluidically connected to the inlet 9′″ or correspond to the inlet 9′″ while the outlet 13″ corresponds to the inlet 9″ or is fluidically connected to the inlet 9″. The respective outlet 13 of the air-conditioning system is accordingly also assigned to such a zone 27.

[0075] The air-conditioning system 8 features a first distribution element 14 for the air distribution between the outlets 13′, 13″, wherein this first distribution element can be continuously adjusted between a first position 15 illustrated with a broken line and a second position 16 illustrated with a dot-dash line. The first position 15 and the second position 16 therefore define an adjusting range 17 or a first adjusting range 17 of the first distribution element 14. In this case, the first distribution element 14 closes the outlet 13″ and opens the outlet 13′ in the first position 15 while the first distribution element 14 closes the outlet 13′ and opens the outlet 13″ in the second position 16. In FIG. 2, the first distribution element 14 is illustrated with a continuous line in an intermediate position 53, in which a uniform air distribution between the outlets 13 is adjusted. Consequently, a parameter 50 of the air-conditioning system 8 in the form of the air distribution 50 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) is adjusted with the aid of the first distribution element 14.

[0076] A tempering device 18 for tempering the air current is provided upstream of the outlets 13. The tempering device 18 may be realized, in particular, in the form of a heat exchanger 18′ and respectively serve for heating or cooling the air current and thereby air-conditioning the interior 3. A second distribution element 19 of the air-conditioning system 8 is arranged upstream of the tempering device 18. The second distribution element 19 can be continuously adjusted between a first position 20 illustrated with a broken line and a second position 21 illustrated with a dot-dash line. The first position 20 and the second position 21 therefore respectively define an adjusting range 22 of the second distribution element 19 or a second adjusting range 22. In the first position 20 of the second distribution element 19, the flow of the air current through the tempering device 18 is prevented by closing a flow-through channel 23, in which the tempering device 18 is arranged, wherein a bypass channel 24 extending around the tempering device 18 is opened in the first position 20 such that the entire air current flows through the bypass channel 24. In the second position 21 of the second distribution element 19, the bypass channel 24 is completely closed such that the entire air current flows through the tempering channel 23 and therefore passes through the tempering device 18 in order to be tempered. In the intermediate position 54 of the second distribution element 19 that is illustrated with a continuous line, the air current is uniformly distributed between the tempering channel 23 and the bypass channel 24. The second distribution element 19 therefore serves for adjusting a temperature 47 of the air current (see FIGS. 8 and 8).

[0077] The first distribution element 14 and the second distribution element 19 therefore respectively consist of air distribution elements 25 or are designed for distributing the air current and may be respectively realized, in particular, in the form of a flap 26 or feature such a flap 26.

[0078] FIG. 3 shows part of the air-conditioning system 8 that is partially illustrated in the form of an exploded view. This figure particularly shows a cam plate 28 and a housing 29, in which a drive unit 30 (see FIG. 5) for rotating the cam plate 28 may be arranged.

[0079] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the cam plate 28 and FIG. 5 shows a side view of the cam plate 28. The cam plate 28 is connected in a rotationally rigid fashion to a shaft 31 turned by the drive unit 30, which may particularly consist of an electric drive unit 30′, in order to correspondingly rotate the cam plate 28. The drive unit 30 therefore rotates the cam plate 28 between different rotational angles 45 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The cam plate 28 features a first guide structure 32 and a second guide structure 33, wherein the first guide structure 32 serves for adjusting the first distribution element 14 while the second guide structure 33 serves for adjusting the second distribution element 19. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide structures 32, 33 are respectively realized in the form of a groove 34 in the cam plate 28. The respective distribution element 14, 19 is functionally connected to the associated guide structure 32, 33 in order to adjust the corresponding distribution element 14, 19. This means that at least one first connecting means 35, 35′ functionally connects the first distribution element 14 to the first guide structure 32 while at least one second connecting means 35″ functionally connects the second distribution element 19 to the second guide structure 33. In FIGS. 4 and 5, such a first connecting means 35′ and such a second connecting means 35″ are respectively illustrated in the form of a lever 36 that forms part of the functional connection and is respectively guided in the associated guide structure 32, 33, wherein the configuration and the design of the guide structures 32, 33 leads to a corresponding adjustment of the associated distribution element 14, 19. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first guide structure 32 and the second guide structure 33 are provided on a visible front side 37 and therefore on the same side 37 of the cam plate 28. This means that a rear side 38 (see FIG. 7) of the cam plate 28, which faces away from the front side 37, does not contain any such guide structures 32, 33 for adjusting the first distribution element 14 or the second distribution element 19.

[0080] FIG. 5, in particular, also shows that both levers 36 protrude from the cam plate 28 on the front side 37.

[0081] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another exemplary embodiment of the cam plate 28 or the air-conditioning system 8, respectively. In this exemplary embodiment, the guide structures 32, 33 are arranged on opposite sides of the cam plate 28. In the example shown, the first guide structure 32 is provided on the front side 37 while the second guide structure 33 is provided on the opposite rear side 38. FIG. 6, in particular, shows that both levers 36 also protrude from the front side 37 of the cam plate 28 in this exemplary embodiment.

[0082] The drive unit 30 therefore rotates the cam plate 28 in order to adjust a rotational angle of the cam plate 28. In this case, the guide structures 32, 33 are realized in such a way that one of the distribution elements 14, 19 remains in a predefined position in at least one angular range of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 of the cam plate 28 and the other distribution element 14, 19 is adjusted in dependence on the rotational angle 45 of the cam plate 28 within this angular range of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. Five such angular ranges of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 are provided in the exemplary embodiment shown.

[0083] An exemplary functionality or an exemplary operating mode of the air-conditioning system 8 is elucidated below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively show a diagram, in which the x-axis 44 shows the rotational angle 45. The x-axes in FIGS. 8 and 9 correspond to one another. The angular ranges of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 are indicated along the x-axis 44, wherein these angular ranges of rotation consists of a first angular range of rotation 39, a second angular range of rotation 40 that directly follows the first angular range of rotation 39, a third angular range of rotation 41 that directly follows the second angular range of rotation 40, a fourth angular range of rotation 42 that directly follows the third angular range of rotation 41 and a fifth angular range of rotation 43 that directly follows the fourth angular range of rotation 42. In FIG. 8, the temperature 47 of the air current of the air-conditioning system 8 is plotted on the y-axis 46, wherein the temperature 47 of the air current of the air-conditioning system 8 can be adjusted between a maximum temperature 48 and a minimum temperature 49. The temperature 47 of the air current is adjusted by means of the second distribution element 19 as described above. The y-axis 46 in FIG. 9 respectively shows the distribution of the air current between the outlets 13 or the air distribution 50 of the air-conditioning system 8, wherein the air distribution 50 is realized by means of the first distribution element 14 as described above and can be adjusted between a distribution into a first zone 27, 27′ only and a distribution into a second zone 27, 27″ only. The adjustment of the temperature 47 between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature 49 therefore corresponds to the second adjusting range 22 of the second distribution element 19 while the adjustable distribution between the zones 27, 27″ corresponds to the first adjusting range 17 of the first distribution element 14.

[0084] In the example shown, the angular ranges of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 are respectively chosen identically, i.e. the angular ranges of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 respectively extend over the same angle, wherein this angle lies at approximately 70° in the exemplary embodiment shown such that the sum of all angular ranges of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 amounts to approximately 350°.

[0085] The first angular range of rotation 39 therefore extends between a rotational angle 45 of 0° to 70°, the second angular range of rotation 40 extends between a rotational angle 45 of 70° to 140°, etc., wherein the fifth angular range of rotation 43 ultimately extends from 280° to 350°.

[0086] According to FIGS. 8 and 9, the temperature 47 uniformly decreases from the maximum temperature 48 to the minimum temperature within the first angular range of rotation 39. This variation of the temperature 47 is caused by an adjustment of the second distribution element 19 for adjusting the temperature 47 of the air current from the first position 20, in which the entire air current is conveyed around the tempering device 8 through the bypass channel 24, into the second position 21, in which the entire air current flows through the tempering device 18, within the first angular range of rotation 39. In this case, it is assumed that the tempering device 18 cools the air current. If the tempering device 18 serves for heating the air current, the adjustment of the second distribution element 19 is reversed, i.e. the second distribution element 19 is adjusted from the second position 21 into the first position 20. The temperature profile or the march of temperature 47 is respectively illustrated with a continuous line 51 in FIG. 8 while the air distribution profile is illustrated with a continuous line 52 in FIG. 9.

[0087] According to FIG. 9, only the first zone 27′ is acted upon with the air current of the air-conditioning system 8 in the first angular range of rotation 39. This means that the first distribution element 14 for adjusting the air distribution 50 remains in the first position 15, which therefore corresponds to a predefined position 15, in the first angular range of rotation 39. Consequently, the second distribution element 19 is adjusted in dependence on the rotational angle 45 of the cam plate 28 in the first angular range of rotation 39 while the first distribution element 14 remains in the predefined position 15.

[0088] In the second angular range of rotation 40, which directly follows the first angular range of rotation 39, the temperature 47 of the air current remains at the minimum temperature 49. The second distribution element 19 therefore remains in the second position 21, which corresponds to a predefined position 21 of the second distribution element 21, in the second angular range of rotation 40. According to FIG. 9, the air distribution 50 is within the second angular range of rotation 40 adjusted from a distribution into the first zone 27′ only to a uniform distribution into the first zone 27′ and the second zone 27″. This means that the first distribution element 14 for adjusting the air distribution 50 is in the second angular range of rotation 40 adjusted from the first position 15 into the intermediate position 53, in which the air current is uniformly distributed between the outlets 13. In this case, the change of the air distribution 50 in the second angular range of rotation 40 takes place uniformly. The first distribution element 14 therefore is adjusted in dependence on the rotational angle 45 of the cam plate 28 in the second angular range of rotation 40 while the second distribution element 19 remains in the predefined position 21.

[0089] In the third angular range of rotation 41, which directly follows the second angular range of rotation 40, the temperature 47 of the air current is increased from the minimum temperature 49 to the maximum temperature 48 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the change of the temperature 47 in the third angular range of rotation 41 takes place uniformly. This means that the second distribution element 19 is adjusted from the second position 21 into the first position 20 in the third angular range of rotation 41. According to FIG. 9, the air distribution 50 remains at the uniform distribution into the first zone 27′ and the second zone 27″ in the third angular range of rotation 41. This means that the first distribution element 14 for adjusting the air distribution 50 remains in the intermediate position 53 representing the predefined position 53 in the third angular range of rotation 41.

[0090] In the fourth angular range of rotation 42, which directly follows the third angular range of rotation 41, the temperature 47 of the air current remains at the maximum temperature 48 as shown in FIG. 8. This means that the second distribution element 19 for adjusting the temperature 47 of the air current remains in the first position 20, in which the entire air current is conveyed around the tempering device 18 through the bypass channel 24. In the third angular range of rotation 41, the first position 20 therefore is a predefined position, in which the second distribution element 19 remains. According to FIG. 9, the air distribution is uniformly adjusted from a uniform distribution into the first zone 27′ and into the second zone 27″ to a distribution into the second zone 27″ only in the third angular range of rotation 42. This means that the first distribution element 14 is adjusted from the intermediate position 53 into the second position 16, in which the outlet 13′ is closed and the outlet 13″ is completely open, in dependence on the rotational angle 45 of the cam plate 28 within the fourth angular range of rotation 42.

[0091] In the fifth angular range of rotation 43, which directly follows the fourth angular range of rotation 42, the temperature 47 is uniformly adjusted from the maximum temperature 48 to the minimum temperature 49 as shown in FIG. 8. This means that the second distribution element 19 for adjusting the temperature 47 of the air current is adjusted from the second position 21 into the first position 20 in dependence on the rotational angle 45 in the fifth angular range of rotation 43. According to FIG. 9, the air distribution 50 in the fifth angular range of rotation 43 remains at a distribution into the second zone 27″ only such that the first distribution element 14 for adjusting the air distribution 50 remains in the second position 16 representing the predefined position.

[0092] It is therefore possible to adjust one of the distribution elements 14, 19 independently of the other distribution element 14, 19 in the respective angular range of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and to thereby adjust the corresponding parameters, in this case the air distribution 50 and the temperature 47, independently of one another. The inventive solution therefore makes it possible to adjust one of the parameters 47, 50 independently of the other parameter 47, 50 by means of a single cam plate 28 within at least one such angular range of rotation 39, 40, 41, 52, 43.

[0093] Due to the inventive solution, the overall temperature 47 for all adjustable air distributions 50 therefore can be adjusted with one and the same cam plate.

[0094] It is naturally conceivable to predefine other positions for the respective distribution elements 14, 19, in which the distribution elements remain in the respective angular range of rotation 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. This means that any position between the first position 15 and the second position 16 of the first distribution element 14 may serve as such a predefined position of the first distribution element 14 while any position between the first position 20 and the second position 21 of the second distribution element 19 may serve as such a predefined position of the second distribution element 19.

[0095] As mentioned above, the rotation of the cam plate 28 and therefore the adjustment of the respective distribution element 14, 19 is realized by means of the control device 12. To this end, the control device 12 may operate automatically based on corresponding stored specifications and/or be manually prompted to carry out a corresponding adjustment of the temperature 47 and the air distribution 50.