Patent ID: 6427770
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B60H,F28D

Abstract:
A unit for conditioning air for a motor vehicle compartment having four zones, a front driver side zone, a front passenger side zone, a rear left passenger side zone, and a rear right passenger side zone, the unit comprising:an air cooling unit that cools air; a heater unit arranged downstream of the air cooling unit and having an upper left portion, an upper right portion, a lower left portion, and a lower right portion adapted to heat respectively the front driver side, the front passenger side, the rear left passenger side, and the rear right passenger side zones; first, second, third, and fourth ventilation ducts adapted to convey cooled, ambient, or heated air respectively to the front driver side, the front passenger side, the rear left side, and the rear right side; first, second, third, and fourth foot ducts adapted to convey at least heated air from the heater unit respectively to the front driver side, the front passenger side, the rear left side, and the rear right side; first and second defroster ducts adapted to convey cooled, ambient, or heated air respectively to the front driver side and the front passenger side; wherein the heater unit comprising: a first heater core segment through which air is passed and directed to the first defroster duct and the first foot duct; a second heater core segment through which air is passed and directed to the second defroster duct and the second foot duct; a third heater core segment through which air is passed and directed to the third foot duct; and a fourth heater core segment through which air is passed and directed to the fourth foot duct; a plurality of air valves positioned adjacent to and downstream of the heater unit for setting the temperature in each of the four zones independently of one another, wherein the plurality of valves include: a first air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting part of cooled or ambient air to the first defroster duct and part of heated air from the heater unit to the first ventilation duct; a second air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting part of cooled or ambient air to the second defroster duct and part of heated air from the heater unit to the second ventilation duct; a third air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting part of cooled or ambient air to the third foot duct and part of heated air from the heater unit to the third ventilation duct; and a fourth air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting part of cooled or ambient air to the fourth foot duct and part of heated air from the heater unit to the fourth ventilation duct, first, second, third, and fourth liquid valves for controlling liquid flow respectively through the first, second, third, and fourth heater core segments; wherein the first liquid valve sets the temperature of the conditioned air in the first foot duct, the second liquid valve sets the temperature of the conditioned air in the second foot duct, the third liquid valve and the third air valve set the temperature of the conditioned air in the third foot duct, the fourth liquid valve and the fourth air valve set the temperature of the conditioned air in the fourth foot duct, the first liquid valve and the first air valve set the temperature of the conditioned air in the first defroster duct, the second liquid valve and the second air valve set the temperature of the conditioned air in the second defroster duct.