Abstract:
A ventilation system for use in a vehicle that provides individual control of micro-zones in the vehicle and the system includes a blower for pushing air through the ventilation system, an evaporator for conditioning the air being pushed by the blower, a first duct for supplying air to a first micro-zone and a second duct for supplying air to a second micro-zone, the second duct partitioned form the first duct, the first and second ducts receiving air once it has been blown through the evaporator and a flow diverter for selectively opening the partition wall and connecting the first duct and second duct so that air continues to flow through the evaporator even when one microzone is completely closed and no air flows through the related duct.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Current heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for automotive use with multi-zone cooling may include a common evaporator system. When one zone is off, the portion of the evaporator may have little to no airflow through it and it may begin to accumulate ice or condensation. This can lead to undesirable liquids in the HVAC system and associated ducts. In addition to possibly damaging the evaporator, the water may lead to undesirable smells when the HVAC system is used. Moreover, the current systems for HVAC are inefficient for energy consumption with a single occupant in the vehicle. Additionally, the current systems may lead to increased warranty claims and/or unpleasant odors in the vehicle HVAC systems. 
         [0002]    Therefore, to support reduced energy consumption in vehicles with a single occupant or with un-occupied seats in the vehicle, there is a need to reduce or eliminate active heating or cooling to that region of the vehicle. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC flow control system. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary diverter having a pivoting door in a first position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an exemplary diverter having a pivoting door in a second position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an alternative diverter. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a flow diverter having a sliding hole pattern in a fully closed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a fully open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a partially open position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the system diverting flow through the pivoting door system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of the system diverting flow through the sliding hole system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In order to support reduced energy consumption in vehicles with a single occupant or with un-occupied seats in the vehicle, a segmented airflow system can selectively reduce or eliminate active heating or cooling to a region of the vehicle. This can reduce load on an evaporator and thus, the compressor. This may also reduce vehicle fuel or electrical usage, which may in turn improve fuel economy and/or extend electric range. 
         [0013]    In an example, the system may close passages, ducts or outlets in the HVAC or associated ducting and distribution system. In a dual or multi-zone system this may cause a non-uniform airflow distribution across the evaporator core. This can lead to degraded performance of the evaporator and/or regions of evaporator icing. Evaporator icing can lead to warranty or customer complaints due to ice formation damaging the evaporator or causing a wet odor being detected by the customer. Single zone HVAC systems (without independent occupant mode/temperature controls) often have a divider plate in the center of the HVAC for structure and commonality in design. Base HVAC performance is ensured by directing uniformity coverage of the evaporator; micro-zone concepts may significantly compromise the uniformity of coverage. 
       System Overview 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary HVAC flow control system. The HVAC system  100  includes a blower  110 , and a manifold duct  120 . An evaporator  120 , as part of the air conditioning system, selectively cools the air as it passes through it to a driver side primary duct  140 A and a passenger side primary duct  140 B. The driver side primary duct  140 A and passenger side primary duct  140 B are separated by a partition wall  140 C. The air blown there through may then pass through a heater core  150  before passing to a driver side secondary duct  160 A and passenger side secondary duct  160 B. Moreover, each secondary duct may also include duct closeoffs  170 A and  170 B, respectively. 
         [0015]    The partition wall  140 C provides for separation of the airflow after the evaporator  120  for zone controlled functions. As discussed herein, exemplary embodiments of flow diverters (discussed below) may be located along partition wall  140 C to provide for cross-flow of air after the evaporator  120 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary diverter  200  having a moveable (pivoting) door  220  in a first position. The pivoting door  220  may include a pivot point  210  engaged with a controllable actuator. When the door  220  is open, partition wall  140 C will have an opening  230  there through allowing flow of air from driver side primary duct  140 A to/from passenger side primary duct  140 B. Such an arrangement allows for air to flow through evaporator  130 , while controlling the amount of air passing through to the driver side secondary duct  160 A and passenger side secondary duct  160 B. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of exemplary diverter  200  having a pivoting door  220  in a second position. Here, pivoting door  220  opens into driver side primary duct  140 A and is not in a fully opened position. This provides a controllable size of the opening  230 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an alternative diverter having a dual flap arrangement. A first flap  410  may be opened independently or along with a second flap  420 . This may allow for control of the air flowing there through. It may also provide for various control mechanisms that close between the opening  230 , rather than at the extents of the opening. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a flow diverter having a sliding hole pattern in a fully closed position. As an alternative to pivoting door  220  (see  FIG. 2 ), the sliding diverter may be placed along partition wall  140 C to allow flow between (when open), or to substantially prevent flow between (when closed). A first sliding diverter portion  510  includes two holes there through  510 A. A second sliding diverter portion  520  includes two holes there through  520 A. When overlaid as shown in  FIG. 5 , the holes  520 A,  520 B do not align. Therefore, there should be substantially no flow there through. The partitions, when operating, may be moved by a linear actuator to allow them to slide along one another to align or not align holes  520 A,  520 B. 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a fully open position. Here, first sliding diverter portion  510  and second sliding diverter portion  520  are moved so that holes  510 A,  520 B are aligned and air may flow through partition wall  140 C, effectively connecting driver side primary duct  140 A to passenger side primary duct  140 B. 
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the sliding flow diverter in a partially open position. When first sliding diverter portion  510  and second sliding diverter portion  520  are moved to partially align holes  510 A,  520 B then air may flow through partition wall  140 C at a rate decided amount by the of the opening and the pressure of air provided. 
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the system  800  diverting flow through the pivoting door system. In this example, pivoting door system (see  FIG. 2 ) is used to fully open opening  230  and fully close off passenger side primary duct  140 B from air reaching passenger side secondary duct  160 B. Flow is diverted  810  entirely to driver side  170 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of the system  900  diverting flow through the sliding hole system. When sliding hole system  500  is open (see  FIG. 6 ) and a passenger side duct closeoff  170 B is closed  920 , air will flow through evaporator  130  and be redirected into the driver&#39;s side conduit  140 A,  160 A. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the airflow  820  continues to flow through both the driver side and passenger side of the evaporator  130 . Even with airflow cutoff to passenger side secondary duct  160 B, the evaporator  130  will not accumulate ice or otherwise collect condensation. In this way, the pivoting door  220  may be used to provide airflow through the evaporator while not providing air to the passenger side. Similarly, by using passenger side duct closeoff  170 B, air flows through evaporator  130  and through sliding hole system  500 . 
         [0025]    It is understood that while current descriptions include shutting off, or reducing flow, to the passenger side vents, the same may be done with the driver&#39;s side. Alternatively, the system may be applied to multi-zone systems that may include many vents. For example, the driver&#39;s side may include separate foot vents, dash vents, and windshield vents, among others. Moreover, the system may be applied to first, second, and third row venting systems. 
       Conclusion 
       [0026]    It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims. 
         [0027]    In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same elements. Further, some or all of these elements could be changed. With regard to the mechanisms, processes, systems, methods, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claimed invention. 
         [0028]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims. 
         [0029]    All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary in made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.