Patent ID: 7228895
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: B60H

Abstract:
1. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle comprising: an air conditioning case defining a first housing portion and a second housing portion, said second housing portion being disposed at a location downstream of said first housing portion in an air flow direction; a heating heat exchanger disposed in said first housing portion for heating air; and a blow-mode changing door pivotably housed in a door-housing portion defined by said second housing portion, wherein said second housing portion defines a first air inlet and a second air inlet which communicate with said first housing portion, said second air inlet is disposed higher than said first air inlet, said first air inlet permits cool air to enter said second housing portion from said first housing portion, and said second air inlet permits hot air having passed through said heating heat exchanger to enter said second housing portion from said first housing portion, said second housing portion further defines a foot opening and a face opening disposed downstream of said first air inlet and said second air inlet, said face opening is disposed higher than said foot opening, said blow-mode changing door is a butterfly door movable to a first position where said foot opening is fully closed and said face opening is open, a second position where said foot opening is open and said face opening is closed, and a third position where said foot opening and said face opening are open, wherein in a bi-level mode in which said blow mode changing door is at said third position, a bi-level mode bypass passageway for introducing cool air from said first air inlet into said face opening is defined between an extremity of said blow mode-changing door and an inner wall surface of said door-housing portion.