Abstract:
An actuator retainer according to the present disclosure includes a platform with a first latch projecting upward, a second latch spaced from the first latch and a locating projection projecting upward from the platform.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/033,390 filed Aug. 5, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Modern vehicles include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for improving passenger comfort. 
         [0003]    In general, vehicle air conditioning systems include an evaporator heat exchanger in communication with a compressor and a condenser. A compressor receives heated refrigerant from the evaporator and compresses it into a high pressure gas for communication to the condenser. The condenser then cools the gaseous refrigerant into a cool liquid refrigerant for communication back to the evaporator. A blower forces air across the evaporator, providing cooled air into the engine compartment. 
         [0004]    A vehicle heating system includes a heater core that receives hot engine coolant from the engine. A blower forces air across the heater core, providing heated air to the passenger compartment. 
         [0005]    Advancements in the field of vehicle HVAC system design and manufacturing are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An actuator retainer according to the present disclosure includes a platform with a first latch projecting upward, a second latch spaced from the first latch and a locating projection projecting upward from the platform. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch and the second latch are configured to engage upper platforms in an actuator to retain the actuator against the platform in a vertical direction. 
         [0008]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch and the second latch limit movement of the actuator in a first direction along the platform and a second direction along the platform. 
         [0009]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch and the second latch limit movement of the actuator in a second direction along the platform, the second direction opposite the first direction. 
         [0010]    A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments includes a second projection projecting upward from the platform and configured to limit movement of the actuator in the direction along the platform. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the second projection is opposite the actuator from the locating projection. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the second projection is opposite the actuator from the locating projection. 
         [0013]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the locating projection is configured to be received in an opening in an actuator and to prevent the actuator from moving in a direction along the platform. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the second latch is opposite the first latch. 
         [0015]    A heat exchange system according to an example of the present disclosure includes a door for controlling fluid flow, an actuator for controlling the door, and a retainer for securing the actuator. The retainer includes a platform, a first latch projecting upward from the platform, and a second latch projecting upward from the platform. The second latch is spaced from the first latch and a locating projection projecting upward from the platform. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments the actuator includes an opening configured to receive the locating projection. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the actuator is secured to the retainer free of fasteners. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the actuator includes a first platform configured to be engaged by the first latch and a second platform configured to be engaged by the second latch. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch and the second latch limit movement of the actuator in a first direction along the platform. 
         [0020]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch and the second latch limit movement of the actuator in a second direction along the platform. The first direction is opposite the second direction. 
         [0021]    A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments includes a second projection extending from the platform. The locating projection is disposed at a first side of the actuator and the second projection is disposed at a second side of the actuator opposite the first side. 
         [0022]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the platform includes a planar upper surface configured to abut a lower surface of the actuator. 
         [0023]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the first latch is opposite the actuator from the second latch. 
         [0024]    In a further embodiment of any of the forgoing embodiments, the retainer is mounted to an HVAC module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The drawings can be briefly described as follows: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a vehicle HVAC system. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing for an actuator. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an actuator retainer. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the actuator retainer of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the actuator retainer mounted to the HVAC system. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a top-perspective view of the actuator retainer of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a second example actuator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically a vehicle  10  having an HVAC system  12  located in a passenger cabin area  15  for communicating heated or cooled air to the cabin area  15 . For example, the HVAC system  12  may be mounted in the instrument panel or dashboard of vehicle  10 , remotely in the rear of a vehicle  10  such as a van or truck, or even in the center console. The example HVAC module  16  of the HVAC system  12  includes an evaporator core  18  for the air conditioning system and a heater core  20  for the heating system. 
         [0034]    The evaporator core  18  communicates heated refrigerant gas to the compressor  22 , which compresses the refrigerant into a high pressure gas to be communicated to the condenser  23 . The condenser  23  condenses the refrigerant into a cooled liquid refrigerant for communication back to the evaporator  18 . 
         [0035]    The heater core  20  is in communication with the engine  25  for communicating heated liquid to the heater core  20  and cool liquid back to the engine  25 . The compressor  22 , condenser  23 , and engine  25  are located in the engine bay area  14 . 
         [0036]    The HVAC system  12  may include one or more actuator assemblies M for opening and closing doors (i.e., valves) that are internal to the module  16  to control airflow, such as the flow of fluid across evaporator  18  and/or heater core  20  and/or flow to specific areas of the vehicle cabin area  15 . An example of such an actuator assembly  24  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The example actuator assembly  24  includes a housing  26 , having one or more parts, supporting an actuator  28  ( FIG. 3 ). One of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would realize that other actuator assembly applications may be used. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example actuator retainer  30  according to this disclosure. It should be understood that the actuator retainer  30  may be formed integrally, as one plastic piece. The actuator retainer  30  need not be plastic, however. 
         [0038]    The actuator retainer  30  includes, in this example, three mounting flanges  32 ,  34 ,  36  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6 ) for mounting the retainer  30  to the HVAC module  16 , for example. Alternatively, the retainer  30  may be integrally formed with the HVAC module  16 . The example actuator drives doors  29  internal to the HVAC module  16 , shown schematically. The doors  29 , for example, may control temperature (hot and cold air), modes (defrost, vent, floor), dual zone (driver and passenger), or tri-zone (driver, passenger, rear) options or fresh air intake of the HVAC system  12 . 
         [0039]    The retainer  30  includes an actuator retention platform  38  between the mounting flanges  32 ,  34 ,  36 . In this example, the retention platform  38  is elevated, in the direction D 1 , relative to the mounting flanges  32 ,  34 ,  36 . In the example, when the retainer  30  is mounted, the direction D 1  is substantially horizontal. Further, the retention platform  38  includes an upper surface  40 , which is relatively planar, and is configured to directly contact a lowermost surface of the actuator  28 . In this example, a pair of latches  42 ,  44  extend upward from the upper surface  40 . A locating projection  46  may also extend upward from the upper surface  40 . In one example, when the retainer  30  is mounted, the platform  38  extends along a vertically oriented plane (see  FIG. 5 ). Thus, features denoted herein as extending “upward” from the platform  38  will extend horizontally when mounted. Of course, other mounting orientations are contemplated. 
         [0040]    In this example, the actuator  28  has three mounting openings  48 ,  50 ,  52 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the actuator  28  is mounted relative to the retainer  30  such that the locating projection  46  is received in the mounting opening  50 . Only one locating projection  46  is used to properly position the actuator  28  relative to the retainer  30 . Although the locating projection  46  is received in the opening  50  in this example, the locating projection  46  could be received in one of the other openings  48  or  52 . The locating projection  46  prevents unwanted movement of the actuator  28  in the directions D 2  and D 3 , for example. Alternatively, the actuator  28  may not include any openings for receiving projections. 
         [0041]    The latches  42 ,  44  engage respective platforms  52 ,  54  formed in the upper surface of the actuator  28  to retain the actuator  28  against the retainer  30  in the direction D 1 . The latches  42 ,  44  also limit movement of the actuator  28  in the directions D 2 . In this example, movement of the actuator  28  relative to the retainer  30  in the directions D 2  is further restricted by another projection  56 , which projects upwardly from the upper surface  40  and is arranged generally on an opposite side of the actuator  28  as the projection  46 . The projection  56  is not required in all examples. Alternatively, more than one additional projection  56  may be used. 
         [0042]    The latches  42 ,  44  in the example are located opposite the actuator  28  from one another, but other orientations are contemplated. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the latch  44  may be oriented 90 degrees from the latch  42 . Moreover, one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure would recognize that more or fewer than two latches may be used. 
         [0043]    This disclosure provides an effective actuator retainer that does not require fasteners between the actuator  28  and the retainer  30 . The snap fitting created by the latches  42 ,  44  does not require any fasteners for actuator retention. Since no fasteners are required, assembly time is reduced. 
         [0044]    Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. 
         [0045]    One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.