Abstract:
A motor vehicle air conditioning system including a Coanda effect air distributor device and mixing means which allow to vary the temperature of the air available to the different outlet conduits of the distributor device for the same setting of the means for regulating the temperature of the system. In this way, for a same setting of the temperature regulating means, the air conveyed to the outlets situated at the base of the windshield is at a higher temperature than the air conveyed to the other outlets and in particular to those adjacent to the floor of the motor vehicle passenger compartment. Preferably, a third, still lower temperature level is available to the outlets situated in the front part of the dashboard of the motor vehicle in the direction of the motor vehicle occupants.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a motor vehicle air conditioning system comprising an air distributor device including a structure defining a main conduit and a plurality of outlet conduits communicated to the main conduit and to be connected to a plurality of outlets for delivering air into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and distributor means exploiting the Coanda effect, which are mounted in the structure of the distributor device and movable in a plurality of operative positions, each causing deviation by the Coanda effect of the flow of air from the main conduit into a selected outlet conduit. 
   An air distributor device exploiting the Coanda effect, of the type indicated above, was disclosed in prior Italian Patent Application no. T02001A000223, filed on 12 Mar. 2001 by the same Applicant, as well in corresponding International (PCT) Patent Application WO02072371. In a typical case, the main conduit branches off into three outlet conduits which are to be connected to respective air outlets for delivering air into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The outlets are located at the base of the windshield (“defroster” function), as well as on the front part of the dashboard, to direct air towards the driver and the passenger occupying the front seat (“ventilation” function) and also below, adjacent to the floor of the motor vehicle passenger compartment (“heating” function). Also according to a typical configuration, the system comprises a plurality of (typically four) main conduits each branching off into three outlet conduits, to serve outlets situated at the centre of conduits, to serve outlets situated at the centre of the passenger compartment or adjacent to a side of the motor vehicle, respectively for the driver side and for the passenger side. 
   On the other hand, in air heating and cooling systems for motor vehicles there is the need to obtain that the air exiting the outlets located respectively adjacent to the windshield, on the front side of the dashboard and adjacent to the floor is at a different temperature for a same setting of the air temperature regulating device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to propose a new air heating and cooling system with an air distributor device exploiting the Coanda effect, having the characteristics already proposed in the Applicant&#39;s previous patent application which has been identified above, and which also allows to meet the aforesaid need for a differentiation in temperature of the air flowing out of the different outlet conduits of the distributor device. 
   In view of achieving this object, the invention relates to an air heating and cooling system for motor vehicles, comprising:
         an air distributor device including:
           a structure defining a main conduit and a plurality of outlet conduits communicating with the main conduit and to be connected to a plurality of outlets for delivering air into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle,   distributor means exploiting the Coanda effect, mounted in the structure of the distributor device and able to be moved in a plurality of operative positions, each causing the deviation, by the Coanda effect, of the air flowing through the main conduit into a selected outlet conduit,   
           characterised in that said device further comprises:
           a radiating mass positioned upstream of the main conduit, in such a way as to be traversed by the flow which reaches the main conduit from an inlet conduit of the distributor device, to heat said flow of air,
               a by-pass conduit which directly connects the inlet conduit with the main conduit, in parallel with the portion of conduit in which the radiating mass is positioned,   means for throttling said by-pass conduit, for variably obstructing said by-pass conduit depending upon the various positions of the aforesaid Coanda effect distributor means which cause deviation of the air flow from the main conduit into a selected outlet conduit,   so that the temperature of the air flowing out of the distributor device has a different value depending upon which is the selected outlet conduit into which the air from the main conduit is directed.   
               
               

   Therefore, in the device according to the invention, the positioning of the aforesaid Coanda effect distributor means in different operative positions not only causes the deviation of the air flow from the main conduit into a selected one of the outlet conduits, but, in addition thereto, it also causes a different positioning of the means for throttling the by-pass conduit. The air flowing out of the selected outlet conduit will have a temperature that depends on the mixing of the air flow through the main conduit (which for the most part has passed through the heating radiating mass) with the air flow coming from the by pass conduit. Therefore, it is possible, for a same setting of the temperature regulating means of the system, to cause the air flowing out of the distributor device to have different temperatures, depending on whether said air is directed towards the windshield, or frontally against the occupants of the motor vehicle, or below in the direction of the floor. 
   The most desirable case is that providing less warm air on the outlets positioned frontally on the dashboard of the motor vehicle, a slightly warmer air at the feet and even warmer air on the windshield. In the ideal case, therefore, three different temperature levels are obtained. 
   Naturally, as indicated, said differentiation in air temperature is achieved for a same setting of the air temperature regulating system. Said regulating system can naturally be constructed in any known fashion. 
   In a typical case, the air temperature regulating system comprises a pivotable shutter which controls an opening that places the inlet conduit of the air distributor device in direct communication with the aforesaid main conduit, thereby allowing part of the flow of cold air coming from the inlet to pass directly into the main conduit, without flowing through the radiating mass. According to the prior art, the pivotable shutter can be moved between a first operative position, in which it completely obstructs the opening, thus providing a condition of maximum temperature of the air flowing out of the distributor device, and a second operative position, in which the opening is fully open, whilst the passage through the radiating mass is obstructed, so that a minimum temperature condition is provided, with the entire air mass entering into the distributor device which arrives at the main conduit without passing through the radiating mass. 
   Obviously, if the temperature regulating system exploits an opening of this kind, with the above described pivotable shutter, the by-pass conduit of the system according to the invention, which is controlled by the aforesaid throttling means in synchronism with the Coanda effect distributor means, represents a second by-pass (with a much smaller cross section), in addition to the by-pass constituted by the aforesaid opening controlled by the pivotable shutter of the temperature regulating system. 
   Also possible is the case in which the temperature regulating system does not have an opening of the type described above, with the associated pivotable shutter, but simply exploits a regulation of the temperature of the radiating mass, obtained by regulating the flow rate of the heating fluid which circulates in the plates of the radiating mass. 
   Lastly, it is necessary to consider that, although the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for obtaining, for a same setting of the temperature regulating system, three different temperature levels at the three outlet conduits of the distributor device, a simplified solution is also possible, comprising only two different temperature levels, i.e. a higher temperature exploited both for the “defroster” function (windshield), and for the heating function (floor) and a lower temperature for the ventilation function (front outlets of the dashboard). 
   Naturally, as mentioned above, the distributor device may comprise a plurality of main conduits (preferably four, two for the driver side and two for the passenger side, each pair including a conduit communicating with the outlets at the centre of the dashboard and a conduit communicating with the outlets on the respective side thereof) each main conduit being provided with the Coanda effect distributor means and with a respective by-pass conduit with the aforesaid throttling means associated therewith. It is thus possible, for a same setting of the temperature regulating system, to send air simultaneously to the windshield, to the passengers and to the floor at differentiated temperatures in the manner described above. 
   Also in the case of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid Coanda effect distributing means comprise at least a flow perturbating member having at least two different operative positions to cause the deviation, by Coanda effect, of the air flow which traverses the main conduit at least into a first or into a second outlet conduit. In this case the aforesaid means for throttling the by-pass conduit are constituted by a shutter, mechanically connected to the aforesaid flow perturbating member. Also preferably, the flow perturbating member is a rocker arm member having two operative ends situated in correspondence with two openings formed in a wall of the main conduit, said flow perturbating member having a first operative position in which a first end protrudes from the respective opening inside the main conduit, a second operative position in which its opposite end protrudes from the respective opening inside the main conduit, and a third operative position, intermediate between the previous ones, in which neither of the two ends protrudes from the respective openings. In correspondence with the aforesaid three operative positions, one obtains the deviation of the flow coming from the main conduit respectively into a first, into a second or into a third outlet conduits communicating with the outlets at the floor, with the outlets at the front side of the dashboard, and with the outlets at the base of the windshield of the motor vehicle. 
   Also in the case of the aforesaid preferred embodiment, the aforesaid throttling means are constituted by a shutter, mechanically connected to the aforesaid flow perturbating rocker arm member. For example, the shutter can be a part of a single structure incorporating the aforesaid rocker arm member. In the case of the ideal solution which obtains three different temperature levels at the three different outlet conduits of the distributor device, the structure constituting the rocker arm member and the shutter of the by-pass conduit is constructed in such a way that in the intermediate operative position of the rocker arm member (the one in which the two ends of the rocker arm do not protrude from the respective openings) the air flow in the main conduit is deviated in the direction of the outlet conduit communicating with the outlets at the floor. At the same time, the shutter partially obstructs the by-pass conduit thereby generating a temperature of the out-flow of air of an intermediate level, obtained by mixing the main flow which traverses the radiating mass with a small flow of cold air which traverses the by-pass conduit. 
   When the rocker arm member is in its first end position, in which one of its ends protrudes inside the main conduit of the respective opening, the air flow of the main conduit is deviated towards the outlet conduit communicating with the outlets situated on the front side of the dashboard. In this case, the shutter leaves the by-pass conduit completely unobstructed, thereby providing a lower temperature of the air flowing out of the aforesaid front outlets, as a result of the mixing of the air which traverses the radiating mass with a flow of air which travels through the by-pass conduit, which in this condition is left completely unobstructed. 
   Lastly, when the rocker arm member is in its other end position, in which its other end protrudes from the respective opening inside the main conduit, the flow of air in the main conduit is deviated towards the outlet conduit communicating with the outlets at the base of the windshield of the motor vehicle. In this case the shutter completely obstructs the by-pass conduit, thereby determining an exit of air at the maximum temperature. 
   Naturally, as indicated above, this description holds true for any determined setting condition of the temperature regulating system of the air heating and conditioning system. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the invention shall become more readily apparent from the description that follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non limiting example, in which: 
       FIGS. 1-3  show a diagrammatic sectional view of an air distributor and mixer device according to the invention in three different operative conditions, 
       FIG. 4  shows a variant of the solution shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective and partially sectioned view of a distributor assembly according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the number  1  generally designates an air distributor and mixer device comprising a structure  2 , which for instance is constituted by elements made of plastic material connected to each other in any known fashion and defining a main conduit  3  and three outlet conduits  4 ,  5 ,  6  communicating with the main conduit  3  and to be connected by means of conduits (not shown) to respective outlets (not shown) for the outflow of air into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The outlet conduit  4  is connected to the outlets that convey the air towards the floor of the motor vehicle passenger compartment, whilst the outlet conduit  5  is connected to the outlets situated on the front side of the dashboard of the motor vehicle and the outlet conduit  6  is connected to the outlets situated at the base of the windshield of the motor vehicle. The main conduit  3  receives the air that enters into the air distributor device through an incoming conduit  7  directed orthogonally to the plane of  FIG. 1 . The air that enters through the conduit  7  into the distributor device  1  reaches the main conduit  3  passing through a chamber  8  and a communication conduit  9 . In the chamber  8  is positioned a radiating mass  10  constituted by an air heating radiator, which is traversed for this purpose by heating fluid, coming from the cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. 
   It should be considered that the invention is applicable, in principle, to a device simply having the structure shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , with a single main conduit  3  which branches off into three outlet conduits  4 ,  5 ,  6 . In practice, however, normally there are multiple main conduits  3 , set side by side, each of which branches off into three outlet conduits and to each of which is associated the distribution and mixing system to be described hereafter. As already mentioned, a typical solution is the one comprising four main conduits, two for the driver side and two for the passenger side, with the two main conduits of each pair serving the purpose respectively of feeding air to the outlets situated towards the centre of the dashboard of the motor vehicle and of feeding air to the outlets situated adjacent to the respective side of the motor vehicle. In this regard,  FIG. 5 , which shall be described in further detail hereinafter, shows a perspective view of an example of one half of a distributor assembly comprising the two main conduits provided on the driver side with two respective sets of three outlet conduits. 
   Returning to the simplified theoretical case shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the distributor device comprises a system for regulating the air temperature, which may be of any known kind. In the illustrated case, a temperature regulating system is provided with exploits a mixing controlling shutter  11  pivotably mounted around an axis  12  in the structure of the device  2 , in order to throttle an opening  13  which places the inlet of the device in direct communication with the main conduit  3 , by-passing the radiating mass  10 . The mixing controlling shutter  11  can be moved between a first operative position (shown with undotted line in the drawings), in which it completely obstructs the by-pass opening  13 , and a second operative position (shown with dotted lines), in which it leaves the opening  13  completely unobstructed, while completely obstructing an opening  14  which places the inlet of the device in communication with the chamber  8 , in which the radiating mass is located. In the first position described above, all the air flowing into the device reaches the main conduit  3  after traversing the radiating mass  10 , so that the temperature of the air in the main conduit  3  reaches its maximum value, whilst in the second operative position described above, all the cold air entering the device passes in the main conduit  3  through the opening  13  without traversing the radiating mass  10 , so that the air temperature in the main conduit  3  is at its minimum level. Naturally, if the air conditioning system also comprises an air cooling system, upstream of the inlet  7  there will be an evaporator device capable of refrigerating the air flowing towards the device  2 . 
   As indicated, at any rate the air temperature regulating system can be of any kind. For example, another known system can also be adopted, which does not include the by-pass opening  13  and the related mixing controlling shutter  11 , but only a system for regulating the temperature of the heating water that flows through the radiating mass  10 . As indicated, the invention is applicable whatever is the kind of the air temperature regulating system. 
   With reference to the solution illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the system comprises a second by-pass conduit  15  which places the inlet  7  of the device in direct communication with the main conduit  3 , in parallel with respect to the opening  13  and also in parallel with respect to the path through the radiating mass  10 . 
   The air distributor device of the invention comprises Coanda effect distributor means which are capable of deviating the flow that traverses the main conduit  3  into one of the three outlet conduits  4 ,  5  or  6  by means of the Coanda effect. In the case of the illustrated example, said distributor means are constituted by a single flow perturbating member  16  of the kind disclosed in the prior Italian patent application No. TO2002A000617 of 16 Jul. 2002 by the same Applicant, still secret as of the priority date of the present application. The flow perturbating member  16  is a rocker arm member pivotally mounted on the structure  2  of the distributor device about an axis  17  and having two operative ends  18 , 19  situated in correspondence with two openings  20 , 21  obtained in a lateral wall  3   a  of the main conduit  3 . 
   The Coanda effect has long been known and studied, and it has been exploited in several applications, for the purpose of obtaining the deviation of a flow of air without making use of mechanical deviating elements which always entail the drawback of interfering with the characteristics of the main flow of air when it is deviated. The Coanda effect causes a flow of air coming from an outlet and flowing into a widened chamber to adhere to the wall of said chamber which is closest to the outlet. 
   For instance, in the case of the solution illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the main conduit  3  has a narrowed section  3   b  which ends in a widened chamber  3   c  having the aforementioned lateral wall  3   a  positioned immediately next to the outflow section  3   b , and an opposite wall  3   d  more spaced therefrom. By effect of said geometry, when the flow perturbating member  16  is in an intermediate position in which both ends  18 , 19  are retracted in the respective openings  20 , 21  and do not protrude inside the main conduit  3 , the flow of air coming from the main conduit  3  remains adherent to the lateral wall  3   a , so that it is entirely deviated into the outlet conduit  4 . The aforesaid condition is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When the flow perturbating member  16  is rotated counter-clockwise (with reference to the drawings) from the intermediate condition shown in  FIG. 2 , in such a way as to be in the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the end  19  acts as a flow perturbating member causing the detachment of the air flow from the wall  3   a . In this condition, again due to the Coanda effect, the air flow is attracted by the nearest lateral wall, which in this case is the wall  3   d , so that the flow is deviated in the outlet conduit  6 . Lastly, when the flow perturbating member  16  is in its other end position, shown in  FIG. 1 , the end  18  also causes the detachment of the flow of air from the wall  3   a , but in a position situated downstream of the intake of the conduit  6 , so that the air flow is directed towards the outlet conduit  5 . 
   The accompanying drawings do not show the means used to actuate the oscillation of the flow perturbating rocker arm member  16  about the axis  17 . Said means can be constructed in any known fashion. In the illustrated case, the flow perturbating member  16  comprises an arm  16   a  with an actuating end to be connected to a mechanical actuating transmission (not shown herein) for example a cam transmission. In any case, it is readily apparent to those versed in the art that a variety of different actuator devices, with related mechanical transmissions, can be applied to actuate the rocker arm member  16 . 
   According to the invention, the rocker arm member  16  is part of a structure that also incorporates a shutter  22  for throttling the by-pass conduit  15 . By effect of this arrangement, the degree of throttling of the by-pass conduit  15  is different according to the operative position of the rocker arm member  16 . In particular, in the condition of  FIG. 1  (deviation towards the outlet conduit  5  communicating with the outlets located on the front side of the dashboard), the shutter  22  leaves the by-pass conduit  15  fully opened, so that, once the air temperature regulating system is set (the drawing shows, for example, the mixing controlling shutter  11  in the position corresponding to the maximum temperature) the flow coming from the radiating mass  10  in the main conduit  3  is mixed with a flow of cold air which traverses the entire section of the by-pass conduit  15 , so that the temperature obtained is at the lowest level achievable for a same position of the shutter  11 . In the condition of  FIG. 2  (deviation to the outlet conduit  4  communicating with the outlets near the floor), the throttling of the by-pass conduit is intermediate, so that the temperature reaches an intermediate value, whereas in the case of  FIG. 3  (deviation towards the outlets adjacent to the windshield) the shutter  22  completely obstructs the by-pass conduit  15 , so that the temperature of the out-flowing air reaches its maximum level. 
   As already indicated, a practical embodiment may comprise a plurality of devices of the type schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  set side by side in such a way that one of them can be used to convey very warm air towards the windshield whilst the other one can be used to send less warm air to the feet or still less warm air on the front outlets of the dashboard, without requiring a different temperature regulation setting. Naturally, in the aforementioned case of multiple systems of conduits set side by side, the means for actuating the various flow perturbating members  16  and the related shutters  22  are comprised in a common actuation device, as already illustrated in the Applicant&#39;s aforementioned prior patent application WO02072371. 
   If only two temperature levels are required, instead of three different levels, it will be sufficient to shape the shutter  22  in such a way that it produces a total obstruction of the by-pass conduit  15  already in the condition of  FIG. 2 , in which case it will naturally be necessary to allow, in the condition shown in  FIG. 3 , the shutter  22  to move in a further advanced position, without interfering with the walls of the conduit  15 . 
   As has been indicated, in order to simultaneously provide two different distribution configurations, the air heating and cooling assembly in its entirety shall be constituted by a minimum of two distributors for conditioning systems of the so-called “mono-zone” type or by a minimum of four distributors for conditioning systems of the so-called “bi-zone” type: in this case each distributor shall be associated to a by-pass conduit and to a mixing chamber whilst there shall be one mixing controlling shutter  11  in the “mono-zone” system and two shutters in the “bi-zone” system. 
     FIG. 4  shows a variant in which the different temperature levels are obtained only provided the mixing controlling shutter  11  is not in the condition of maximum temperature. In this condition, the shutter has an appendage  11   a  which obstructs the by-pass conduit  15  to assure that when the temperature regulating system is set to the maximum temperature, maximum heating is always accomplished, regardless of the selected distribution configuration. 
   As has also been indicated previously, the solution described above also applies if the air temperature regulation system exploits only the regulation of the temperature of the heating liquid in the radiator  10 . In this case there is no mixing controlling shutter  11  nor an associated by-pass opening  13 . The by-pass conduit  15  allows to bleed off a quantity of cold air and to inject it directly downstream of the radiating mass. 
   According to another possible configuration, each Coanda effect distributor of the type of distributor  2  has a respective mixing controlling shutter  11 , independently of the shutters of the distributor devices set side by side thereto. The shutter  11  can be operatively connected (mechanically or electrically) to the flow perturbating rocker arm member  16  in such a way as to determine different outflow temperatures of the air according to the distribution configuration selected for each distributor. In the case of this solution, the by-pass conduit  15  is therefore no longer necessary, nor is there any related shutter system  22 . In other words, in this variation the opening  13  is used as a by-pass conduit and the shutter  11  as a means for throttling the by-pass conduit. 
   As has been indicated previously,  FIG. 5  shows one half of a distributor assembly of the bi-zone type comprising two main conduits for the driver side and two main conduits for the passenger side. The part shown in the figure is the one corresponding to the driver side, with a set of three outlet conduits to serve the outlets positioned on the left side of the dashboard of the motor vehicle, and a set of three outlet conduits to serve the outlets situated at the centre of the dashboard of the motor vehicle. 
   Obviously, an identical and symmetrical structure is provided for the other half of the group which serves the passenger side. In the whole assembly thus described, the two central distributors allow to select, respectively for the driver side and for the passenger side, the “floor”, “windshield” and “central” outlets, whilst the lateral distributors allow to select the same outlets for the left side and for the right side of the dashboard. In this case, there are two mixing controlling shutters, one for the driver side and the other one for the passenger side. According to an additional preferred feature, each shutter has a discontinuity in the passage from the central distributor to the lateral one, so that, in the intermediate positions, it favours the passage of cold air towards the central distributor. Substantially, it is as if each shutter  11  were constituted by two shutters, each facing the respective distributor, angularly offset by an angle A ( FIG. 5 ), but rigidly connected. Also the end stop abutments corresponding to the “max cold” and “max heat” positions are angularly offset to assure the limit thermal performance for each distribution configuration. Since, in intermediate mixing configurations, more cool air will always reach the central distributor than the lateral distributor, the so-called “bi-level” function, i.e. with two different temperature levels depending on the selected outlet, is obtained by sending cooler air to the central outlets and warmer air to the floor. Similarly, if the central distributor sends the air to the floor and the lateral distributor to the windshield, two temperature levels are obtained for this configuration as well (in particular the air flowing out at the windshield will be warmer than the air flowing out at the floor). In theory therefore, the solution with discontinuous shutter illustrated in  FIG. 5  could even be used independently from the use of the above described system with a by-pass conduit  15  and a shutter  22  associated to the flow perturbating rocker arm member  16 . 
   Naturally, without altering the principle of the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may by widely varied from what is described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.