Abstract:
An HVAC assembly includes an HVAC case having a first inlet adapted to accept air in a first configuration suitable for a right hand drive vehicle and a second inlet adapted to accept air in a second configuration suitable for a left hand drive vehicle. The HVAC case includes at least one outlet for delivering air to a vehicle cabin. A deflector plate is adapted to cooperate with the HVAC case in the first configuration whereby the deflector plate allows air to pass through the first inlet and inhibits air passage through the second inlet. The air deflector plate is adapted to cooperate with the HVAC case in the second configuration whereby the deflector plate allows air to pass through the second inlet and inhibits air passage through the first inlet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to HVAC systems in vehicles and more particularly to an HVAC case assembly for use with a right hand drive vehicle in a first configuration and a left hand drive vehicle in a second configuration. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In automotive vehicles, it is common to have a climate control system located within an instrument panel which provides heated or cooled air to occupants through dash panel defrost air outlets, instrument panel venting air outlets and floor directed air outlets. These traditional climate control systems often include a heater core that performs heat exchange between the engine coolant, which is heated by the engine, and the cool air in the cabin/outside environment, in order to provide warm air to the passenger compartment. Some vehicles include an air conditioning system that cooperates with an evaporator for absorbing heat from the air in the vehicle. The heater core and evaporator are typically provided in an HVAC case located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
   In some instances, vehicles are manufactured for both a left hand drive version and a right hand drive version to accommodate global markets. As a result, a number of vehicle modules such as instrument clusters, steering columns and other components must be configured to adapt for use on each side of the vehicle or alternatively be designed entirely or partly as unique components. In general it is expensive for tooling, production, assembly and inventory to provide a first set of components for use on a left hand drive vehicle and a second set of components for use on a right hand drive vehicle. Therefore it is desirable to provide vehicle modules that may be easily adapted for use in a right or left hand drive vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An HVAC assembly includes an HVAC case having a first inlet for accepting air in a first configuration suitable for a right hand drive vehicle, a second inlet for accepting air in a second configuration suitable for a left hand drive vehicle and at least one outlet for delivering air to a vehicle cabin. A deflector plate is adapted to cooperate with the HVAC case in the first configuration whereby the deflector plate allows air to pass through the first inlet and inhibits air passage through the second inlet. The air deflector plate is adapted to cooperate with the HVAC case in the second configuration whereby the deflector plate allows air to pass through the second inlet and inhibits air passage through the first inlet. 
   According to other features, the first and second inlets are symmetrically offset from a midplane defined through the HVAC case. The HVAC case defines a wall extending between the first and second inlets. The deflector plate is adapted to press against the wall and extend toward the second inlet in the first configuration. The deflector plate is adapted to press against the wall and extend toward the first inlet in the second configuration. The deflector plate defines a distal end portion for pressing against the wall and a proximal end portion for inhibiting air from passing through the second inlet in the first configuration and inhibiting air from passing through the first inlet in the second configuration. The deflector plate is adapted to slidaby pass through the second inlet of the HVAC case in the first configuration and slidably pass through the first inlet of the HVAC case in the second configuration. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an HVAC system according to the present invention shown configured for use in a right hand drive vehicle; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an HVAC case according to the present invention shown configured for use in a right hand drive vehicle; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the HVAC case of  FIG. 2  shown with a deflector plate oriented in a first position for use in a right hand drive vehicle; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the HVAC case of  FIG. 2  according to the present invention shown configured for use in a left hand drive vehicle; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the HVAC case of  FIG. 4  shown with the deflector plate oriented in a second position for use in a left hand drive vehicle; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the deflector plate. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a conventional vehicle HVAC system is shown and generally identified at reference  10 . A refrigeration cycle R of the vehicle HVAC system  10  includes an air-cooling system  14 . The air-cooling system  14  includes a compressor  16  which draws, compresses, and discharges a refrigerant. The power of a vehicle engine  20  is transmitted to the compressor  16  through pulleys  22  and a belt  24 . 
   As is well known, the vehicle engine  20  drives not only the air conditioning compressor  16  but also such auxiliaries as a generator, a hydraulic pump for a power steering unit, and a coolant pump via belts and other power transmitting devices. 
   In the refrigeration cycle R, the compressor  16  discharges a superheated gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure, which flows into a condenser  28 . Here, heat exchange is performed with the outside air sent by a cooling fan (not shown), so that the refrigerant is cooled for condensation. The refrigerant condensed in this condenser  28  then flows into a receiver  30 , in which the refrigerant is separated into a gas and a liquid. A redundant liquid refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle R is stored inside the receiver  30 . 
   The liquid refrigerant from the receiver  30  is decompressed by an expansion valve  34  into a gas-liquid double phase state of low pressure refrigerant. The low pressure refrigerant from the expansion valve  34  flows into an evaporator  36  by way of an inlet pipe  38 . The evaporator  36  is arranged inside an HVAC case  42  of the vehicle air conditioning system  14 . The low pressure refrigerant flowing into the evaporator  36  absorbs heat from the air inside the HVAC case  42  for evaporation. An outlet pipe  40  of the evaporator  36  is connected to the suction side of the compressor  16 , so that the cycle components mentioned above constitute a closed circuit. 
   The HVAC case  42  forms a ventilation duct through which air conditioning air is sent into the vehicle cabin or passenger compartment. The HVAC case  42  contains a fan  44  which is arranged on the upstream side of the evaporator  36 . An inside/outside air switch box (not shown) is arranged on the suction side of the fan  44  (left of the fan  44  as viewed from  FIG. 1 ). The air inside the passenger compartment (inside air) or the air outside the passenger compartment (outside air) switched and introduced through the inside/outside air switch box is sent into the HVAC case  42  through an entrance duct  45  by the fan  44 . 
   The HVAC case  42  accommodates, on the downstream side of the evaporator  36 , a hot water heater core (heat exchanger)  46 . The heater core  46  includes an inlet pipe  48  and an outlet pipe  50 . Hot water (coolant) of the vehicle engine  20  is directed to the heater core  46  through the inlet pipe  48  by a water pump  52 . A water valve  54  controls the flow volume of engine coolant supplied to the heater core  46 . A radiator  56  and a thermistor  58  further cooperate to control the temperature of the coolant. 
   A bypass channel  60  is formed beside the hot water heater core  46 . An air mix door  62  is provided to adjust the volume ratio between warm air and cool air that passes through the hot water heater core  46  and the bypass channel  60 , respectively. The air mix door  62  adjusts the temperature of the air blown into the passenger compartment by adjusting the volume ratio between the warm air and cool air. 
   Additionally, a face outlet  64 , a foot outlet  68 , and a defroster outlet  70  are formed at the downstream end of the HVAC case  42 . The face outlet  64  directs air toward the upper body portions of passengers, the foot outlet  68  directs air toward the feet of the passengers, and the defroster outlet  70  directs air toward the internal surface of a windshield. The outlets  64 ,  58  and  70  are opened and closed by outlet mode doors (not shown). The air mix door  62  and the outlet mode doors mentioned above are driven by such electric driving devices such as servo motors via linkages or the like. 
   As will be described in greater detail below, the HVAC case  42  according to the present teachings may be employed in either a right hand drive (RHD) vehicle or a left hand drive (LHD) vehicle. The schematic diagram depicted in  FIG. 1  illustrates the HVAC case  42  configured for use in a RHD vehicle. The HVAC case  42  cooperates with an air deflector plate  80  to direct air from the entrance duct  45  toward the evaporator  36 . As will be discussed herein, the air deflector plate  80  may be inserted into the HVAC case  42  in a first orientation ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) for directing air toward the evaporator  36  in a RHD vehicle or a second orientation ( FIG. 5 ) for directing air toward the evaporator  36  in a LHD vehicle. 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 1  and further reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the HVAC case  42  will be described as configured for use in a RHD vehicle. The HVAC case  42  defines a first opening or inlet  82  and a second opening or inlet  84 . The HVAC case  42  is symmetric with respect to the first and second inlets  82  and  84  such that the deflector plate may be easily accommodated for use in the first or second orientation. The deflector plate  80  is adapted to be positioned in the HVAC case  42  in the first orientation to accept air through the first inlet  82  while inhibiting air from passing through the second inlet  84 . In the first orientation, the deflector plate directs air entering the HVAC case  42  through the first inlet  82  toward the evaporator  36 . The entrance duct  45  is suitably coupled to the HVAC case  42  at the first inlet  82 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the deflector plate  80  is positioned in the HVAC case  42  such that a distal end portion  90  is pressed against a lateral wall  98  of the HVAC case  42  and a proximal end portion  92  extends around a wall  102  ( FIG. 2 ) defining the second inlet  84 . An intermediate portion  108  of the deflector plate  80  extends between the distal end portion  90  and the proximal end portion  92  and is generally angled to direct air toward the evaporator  36 . 
   With reference now to  FIGS. 4 and 5  the HVAC case  42  will be described as configured for use in a LHD vehicle. For a LHD vehicle an entrance duct  45 ′ is used. The entrance duct  45 ′ is symmetric to the entrance duct  45  used for a RHD vehicle ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The deflector plate  80  is adapted to be positioned in the HVAC case  42  in the second orientation to accept air through the second inlet  84  while inhibiting air from passing through the first inlet  82 . In the second orientation, the deflector plate  80  directs air entering the HVAC case  42  through the second inlet  84  toward the evaporator  36 . The entrance duct  45 ′ is suitably coupled to the HVAC case  42  at the second inlet  84 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the deflector plate  80  is positioned in the HVAC case  42  such that the distal end portion  90  is pressed against the lateral wall  98  of the HVAC case  42  and the proximal end portion  92  extends around a wall  112  ( FIG. 4 ) defining the first inlet  82 . 
   With reference now to  FIG. 6 , the deflector plate  80  will be described in greater detail. As explained, the intermediate portion  108  extends between the distal end portion  90  and the proximal end portion  92 . A lip extends at the distal end portion  90  defining a longitudinal wall  120 . A transverse wall  122  is configured at the proximal end portion  92 . The transverse wall  122  is operable to extend between the wall  102  to block the second inlet  84  in the first orientation ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and extend between the wall  112  to block the first inlet  82  in the second orientation ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the HVAC case defines a midplane M through which the first and second inlets  82  and  84  are symmetrically offset. As a result, the deflector plate  80  is accepted securely by the HVAC case  42  in each of the first and second orientation. The deflector plate  80  may comprise a rigid lightweight material such as, but not limited to plastic. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the dimensions and overall shape of the deflector plate  80  is merely exemplary and other shapes may be employed. 
   Configuration of the HVAC case  42  in the first orientation ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) will now be described. As explained, the HVAC case  42  and the deflector plate  80  may be used for the first orientation and the second orientation. For the first orientation, the distal end portion  90  of the deflector plate  80  is slidably inserted through the second opening  84  until the lip  120  engages the lateral wall  98  of the HVAC case  42  ( FIG. 3 ). Once the lip  120  engages the lateral wall  98 , the proximal end portion  92  mates with the wall  102  to form a seal thereat ( FIG. 2 ). The entrance duct  45  is operably coupled to the HVAC case  42  at the first opening  82 . 
   To configure the HVAC case  42  in the second orientation ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the distal end portion  90  of the deflector plate  80  is slidably inserted through the first opening  82  until the lip  120  engages the lateral wall  98  of the HVAC case  42 . Once the lip  120  engages the lateral wall  98 , the proximal portion  92  mates with the wall  112  to form a seal thereat ( FIG. 4 ). The entrance duct  45 ′ is operably coupled to the HVAC case  42  at the second opening  84 . 
   While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the configuration of the HVAC case  42  is exemplary and other shapes may be employed for accommodating the deflector plate  80  in the first and second configuration. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.