Patent ID: 8109108
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. An automotive ventilation apparatus comprising: an air-conditioning fan; an inside air intake port configured to take in an inside air and located upwind of the air-conditioning fan when the air-conditioning fan operates; an outside air intake port configured to take in an outside air and located upwind of the inside air intake port when the air-conditioning fan operates; an air-conditioning flow path forming member that forms an air-conditioning flow path through which the inside air via the inside air intake port or the outside air via the outside air intake port is taken in and guided to an outlet directly facing a space inside a cabin when the air-conditioning fan operates, the outlet being located downwind of the air-conditioning fan when the air-conditioning fan operates; a first switching member configured to switch between a first state in which the inside air taken in via the inside air intake port is led to the air-conditioning flow path and a second state in which the outside air taken in via the outside air intake port is led to the air-conditioning flow path; a communication port located on the air-conditioning flow path forming member upwind of the air-conditioning fan and between the inside air intake port and the outside air intake port when the air-conditioning fan operates, and directly facing an internal space behind an instrument panel, the instrument panel comprising external surfaces facing towards the cabin and internal surfaces opposing the external surfaces, the internal space comprising a volume being bordered by the internal surfaces and fluidly communicating directly with the air-conditioning flow path by the communication port; an open/close member configured to open and close the communication port; an air discharge flow path forming member that forms an air discharge flow path branching from the air-conditioning flow path located downwind of the air-conditioning fan when the air-conditioning fan operates and extends to outside of the cabin; and a second switching member configured to switch between a third state in which an air flow located downwind of the air-conditioning fan when the air-conditioning fan operates is led to the air discharge flow path and a fourth state in which the air flow located downwind of the air-conditioning fan when the air-conditioning fan operates is led to an air passage extending from the air-conditioning fan to the outlet, wherein, in a ventilation mode, the communication port is configured to be opened by the open/close member and the second switching member is configured to be in the third state, wherein, in a mode other than the ventilation mode, the communication port is configured to be closed by the open/close member and the second switching member is configured to be in the fourth state.