SPEED ENHANCEMENT FOR HVAC MODE KINEMATICS

Abstract

A system and method for air distribution in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, the system including flow paths with air outlets toward the windshield, in the dashboard, and toward the footwell, along with a central gear mechanism having an adjustment element and damper controls for air dampers, for the purpose of opening and closing the air outlets. The adjustment element is arranged to be steplessly movable between a first end position and a second end position. With the system, in particular by moving the adjustment element, the settings windshield damper open, footwell damper open and dashboard damper open may be selected. The central gear mechanism having the adjustment element and the damper controls is configured such that the windshield damper open setting may be selected at either of the end positions of the adjustment element.

Claims

1. A system for air distribution in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, the system comprising flow paths with air outlets toward a windshield, in a dashboard, and toward a footwell; a central gear mechanism having an adjustment element and damper controls for dampers for opening and closing the air outlets, wherein the adjustment element is steplessly movable between a first end position and a second end position, wherein settings windshield damper open, footwell damper open, and dashboard damper open may be selected, and wherein the central gear mechanism is configured such that the windshield damper open setting may be selected at both of the first end position and the second end position of the adjustment element.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the central gear mechanism is configured such that the settings only windshield damper open or windshield and footwell dampers open or footwell damper open or all dampers open or dashboard and footwell dampers open or only dashboard damper open or dashboard and windshield dampers open may be selected.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element is a cam disk with a plurality of integrated cam tracks, each of the cam tracks having a first end point and a second end point, wherein a damper control is assigned to each of the cam tracks.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the cam disk is rotatable around a rotational axis between the first end position and the second end position of the adjustment element.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the damper control of each of the cam tracks includes at least one engagement element engaging one of the cam tracks of the cam disk and moves with rotation of the cam disk.

6. The system according to any of claim 3, wherein the damper control of each of the cam tracks is a lever or a gear element rotatably coupled to one another, and wherein at least one gear element of the damper control of each of the cam tracks is rotatable in a direction of rotation around a rotational axis in such a way that the dampers are moved to open or close the air outlets.

7. A method for operating a system the method comprising the steps of: providing a central gear mechanism having an adjustment element and damper controls for dampers for opening and closing air outlets, wherein the adjustment element is steplessly movable between a first end position and a second end position, wherein settings may be selected in movement of the adjustment element between the two end positions: windshield damper open, windshield and footwell dampers open, footwell damper open, all dampers open, dashboard and footwell dampers open, dashboard damper open, dashboard and windshield dampers open, and windshield damper open.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment element is a cam disk with integrated cam tracks, wherein the cam disk is rotated around a rotational axis when moved from the first end position to the second end position.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cam disk is rotated within an angle range of about 0 to 288 when moved from the first end position to the second end position.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein regardless of an initial position of the cam disk, the cam disk passes through an angle range of about 140, before reaching the windshield damper open setting.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein regardless of the initial position of the cam disk, the cam disk passes through the footwell damper open setting or the dashboard damper open setting before reaching the windshield damper open setting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Additional details, features and advantages of embodiments of the invention are provided in the following description of embodiment examples, with reference to the accompanying set of drawings. The drawings show:

[0064] FIG. 1: the sequence of positions of the dampers and the air distribution settings based on the damper angle, as a function of the position of a cam disk in a traditional air distribution system which has a maximum adjustment time to reach the windshield damper open setting;

[0065] FIG. 2: the sequence of positions of the dampers and the air distribution settings based on the damper angle, as a function of the position of a cam disk in the air distribution system which has maximum adjustment times to reach a windshield damper open setting; and

[0066] FIG. 3: an air distribution system for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle having a central gear mechanism with a cam disk which has integrated cam tracks and damper controls.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a graph illustrating the sequence of positions of the dampers and the air distribution settings based on the damper angle, as a function of the position of a cam disk of the air distribution system that has maximum adjustment times to reach the windshield damper open setting.

[0068] As in FIG. 1, the angles of each of the dampers of the air outlets toward the windshield, in the dashboard and into the footwell are plotted using individual characteristic curves as a function of the angle of the cam disk being adjusted.

[0069] As compared with the air distribution setting according to FIG. 1, the cam disk is rotatable within an angle range of 0 to 288. The expansion of the angle range from 230 to 288 enables the creation of a second windshield damper open setting. The flow path to the air outlets toward the windshield is therefore open at a cam disk angle of around 0, at a cam disk angle of around 230 in a blended setting with the flow path toward the air outlets in the dashboard, and at a cam disk angle in the range of 230 or more.

[0070] In addition to the first windshield damper open setting at the start of the adjustment path for the cam disk at 0, a second windshield damper open setting is formed at the end of the adjustment path for the cam disk in an angle range beyond 270, and thus at the other end of the sequence of air damper positions. In this case only the flow path to the air outlets toward the windshield is open, while the flow paths to the other air outlets are largely closed, at least within an angle range for the cam disk of approximately 270 to 288.

[0071] The maximum adjustment time required to reach the windshield damper open setting is thereby decreased by about one-half as compared with the traditional arrangement of the air distribution system settings according to FIG. 1, and the probability of passing through unexpected and undesired air distribution settings is decreased.

[0072] In the worst case, that is to say, at the dashboard and footwell dampers open setting, with the cam disk at an angle of approximately 140, an angle range of 140, in other words between 140 and 0 or between 140 and 280, must be swept through in order to reach one of the windshield damper open settings at the beginning or the end of the sequence of positions of the air dampers. Assuming an adjustment rate of 24/second, an adjustment time of approximately 6 seconds is required to sweep through an angle range of 140.

[0073] In this process, a passing through of other main settings of the air distribution system is not avoided entirely. However, the system passes through only the main settings footwell damper open or dashboard damper open. Starting the rotation of the cam disk at an angle of 140, and the resulting sequence of air damper positions and air distribution settings also results in less irritation and fewer changes to the air distribution settings, since the initial cam disk angle setting of 140 already has fractions of the air flow mass passing through the relevant footwell and dashboard air outlets.

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a system 1 for air distribution in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, which is embodied as a central gear mechanism having a cam disk 2 with integrated cam tracks 6, 7, 8 and damper controls 3, 4, 5 for various air outlets into the passenger compartment.

[0075] The air flow mass that is conditioned as it flows through the air conditioning system can be divided, for example, among three different flow paths proceeding from a blending chamber. At the ends of the flow paths that are distant from the blending chamber are air outlets that can be closed off by dampers. The air is conducted through the air outlets toward the windshield, out of the dashboard toward the vehicle passengers, and into the footwell.

[0076] The dampers of the air outlets are interconnected and can be adjusted together via the central gear mechanism or the central drive having the adjustment element embodied as cam disk 2 and damper controls 3, 4, 5. The damper controls 3, 4, 5 are embodied as levers and/or gear elements that are rotatably coupled to one another.

[0077] The cam disk 2 can be rotated by the driver of the motor vehicle in a direction of rotation 9 around a rotational axis 10, for example via a control element embodied as a rotary knob. The control element, not shown, has a transmitting element, for example a Bowden cable, for transmitting the rotational movement of the control element to the cam disk 2.

[0078] The control element can be adjusted within an angle range of 0 to 288 and can be equipped with symbols for the air distribution settings, in particular the opened air outlets for the windshield, the dashboard and the footwell. When the control element is set to the respective symbols, the air outlets associated with those symbols are opened. When the control element is positioned in the areas between the symbols, the air dampers are adjusted to intermediate positions.

[0079] According to FIG. 2, when the control element, and thus the cam disk 2, is located in the region around 0, only the air outlets toward the windshield are opened. When the control element is rotated further, the flow cross-sections of the air outlets toward the windshield are decreased, while the air outlets toward the footwell are opened, so that when the cam disk 2 is at an angle of around 20, the air outlets toward the windshield and toward the footwell are opened in a blended setting. The air outlets to the footwell are opened to their maximum at an angle of approximately 130. The flow cross-sections of the air outlets to the footwell are decreased constantly as the cam disk 2 is adjusted between 130 and 170, and are closed beyond an angle of the cam disk 2 of 170. At the same time, the air outlets in the dashboard are opened within an angle range of between 60 and 170, beginning at approximately 70, and are opened to their maximum in an angle range of 170 to 230. Beyond a cam disk angle of 230 the flow cross-sections of the air outlets in the dashboard begin to decrease, and they are closed off beyond an angle of approximately 280.

[0080] When the cam disk 2 is adjusted to the range of 60 to 90, the air outlets toward the windshield begin to open wider again, so that at an angle of approximately 90 all air outlets are open. Beyond an angle of the cam disk 2 of 90, the flow cross-sections of the air outlets toward the windshield are decreased. Within the range of 120 to 180, the air outlets toward the windshield are closed off, and as the angle increases beyond 180, they are opened constantly. Thus, in an angle range of approximately 130, only the air outlets in the dashboard and toward the footwell are opened, in a blended setting. In an angle range of 230 to 288, the air outlets toward the windshield are completely open. In the range around 230, the air outlets in the dashboard and toward the windshield are opened in a blended setting, whereas with further rotation of the cam disk 2, the flow cross-sections of the air outlets in the dashboard are decreased, and beyond an angle of approximately 270, only the air outlets toward the windshield are open.

[0081] Thus, the air outlets toward the windshield are the only air outlets in the air conditioning system that are open into the passenger compartment when the cam disk 2 is at an angle of around 0 and at an angle greater than 270. The flow cross-section of the air outlets toward the windshield has the maximum value.

[0082] The central gear mechanism is embodied such that the dampers of the various air outlets can be opened and closed in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise directions, and such that air outlets remain opened and/or closed while other air outlets are being opened and/or closed.

[0083] The cam disk 2 is embodied as a connecting element for interconnecting the damper controls 3, 4, 5 of the various air outlets, and also as an adjustment element for moving the damper controls 3, 4, 5, and thus the dampers of the air outlets, together. The damper controls 3, 4, 5 are embodied as having engagement elements 17, 18, 19, each of which engages with one of the cam tracks 6, 7, 8 of the cam disk 2.

[0084] By rotating the cam disk 2, the positions of the engagement element 17 of damper control 3 for the air outlets of the footwell within the cam track 6, of the engagement element 18 of the damper control 4 for the air outlets in the dashboard within the cam track 7, and of the engagement element 18 of the damper control 5 for the air outlets toward the windshield within the cam track 8 are changed relative to one another. FIG. 3 shows an end position of the cam disk 2, in which each of the engagement elements 17, 18, 19 of the damper controls 3, 4, 5 is situated at the end of a respective one of the cam tracks 6, 7, 8.

[0085] By rotating the cam disk 2 in the direction of rotation 9 around the rotational axis 10, and thereby changing the positions of the engagement elements 17, 18, 19 within the cam tracks 6, 7, 8, the damper controls 3, 4, 5 are moved, and the air outlets are closed or opened according to the sequence specified above. In this process, one element of each of the damper controls 3, 4, 5 is rotated in a direction of rotation 11, 13, 15 around a rotational axis 12, 14, 16, which in turn effects a rotation and a change in the position of the dampers of the air outlets.

[0086] The cam tracks 6, 7, 8 of the cam disk 2 each have a first end point 6a, 7a, 8a and a second end point 6b, 7b, 8b.

[0087] The cam track 8 of the damper control 5 for the air outlets toward the windshield is configured in the region of the second end point 8b such that when the cam disk 2 is rotated within an angle range of 230 to 288, resulting in a relative movement of the engagement element 19 within the cam track 8, the damper control 5 is not moved, or is moved in such a way that the air dampers of the air outlets toward the windshield remain in a constant open setting, in particular within a damper angle of around 80. Thus, when the cam disk 2 is in the end position, in an angle range of 270 to 288, the windshield damper open setting is achieved and maintained.

[0088] The cam track 7 of the damper control 4 for the air outlets in the dashboard is configured in the region of second end point 8b in such a way that when the cam disk 2 is rotated within an angle range of 230 to 288, resulting in a relative movement of the engagement element 18 within the cam track 7, the damper control 4 is moved in such a way that the flow cross-sections of the air outlets in the dashboard are decreased constantly, or the air outlets are closed.

[0089] The configuration of the cam disk 2, particularly the configuration of the second end points 7b, 8b of the cam tracks 7, 8 and the configuration of the damper controls 4, 5 for the air outlets in the dashboard and toward the windshield, enables the first windshield damper open setting, but also the second windshield damper open setting, and enables the air dampers for the air outlets in the dashboard and toward the footwell to remain closed in either case. The windshield damper open settings, in which only the air outlets toward the windshield are opened, are reached at the respective ends of the potential angular adjustment range for the cam disk 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0090] 1 air distribution system [0091] 2 cam disk [0092] 3 footwell damper control [0093] 4 dashboard damper control [0094] 5 windshield damper control [0095] 6 cam track for footwell damper control 3 [0096] 6a first end point of cam track 6 for footwell damper control 3 [0097] 6b second end point of cam track 6 for footwell damper control 3 [0098] 7 cam track for dashboard damper control 4 [0099] 7a first end point of cam track 7 for dashboard damper control 4 [0100] 7b second end point of cam track 7 for dashboard damper control 4 [0101] 8 cam track for windshield damper control 5 [0102] 8a first end point of cam track 8 for windshield damper control 5 [0103] 8b second end point of cam track 8 for windshield damper control 5 [0104] 9 direction of rotation of cam disk 2 [0105] 10 rotational axis of cam disk 2 [0106] 11 direction of rotation of footwell damper control 3 [0107] 12 rotational axis of footwell damper control 3 [0108] 13 direction of rotation of dashboard damper control 4 [0109] 14 rotational axis of dashboard damper control 4 [0110] 15 direction of rotation of windshield damper control 5 [0111] 16 rotational axis of windshield damper control 5 [0112] 17 engagement element of footwell damper control 3 [0113] 18 engagement element of dashboard damper control 4 [0114] 19 engagement element of windshield damper control 5