Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7748441?dq=7,496,943
Timestamp: 2015-01-25 18:38:37
Document Index: 13873314

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n4', 'art.\n6', 'art.\n7', 'art.\n12', 'art.\n16', 'art.\n19', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5']

Patent US7748441 - Modular heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA heating or air conditioning system is used for a motor vehicle. The heating or air conditioning system may have a housing which is composed of several housing segments. At least one housing segment may be embodied as an insertion part which is inserted into the remaining housing after the remaining...http://www.google.com/patents/US7748441?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7748441 - Modular heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicleAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7748441 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/518,490PCT numberPCT/EP2003/006575Publication dateJul 6, 2010Filing dateJun 23, 2003Priority dateJun 21, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE10328275A1, DE50304765D1, EP1517807A1, EP1517807B1, EP1517807B2, US20060060343, WO2004000589A1Publication number10518490, 518490, PCT/2003/6575, PCT/EP/2003/006575, PCT/EP/2003/06575, PCT/EP/3/006575, PCT/EP/3/06575, PCT/EP2003/006575, PCT/EP2003/06575, PCT/EP2003006575, PCT/EP200306575, PCT/EP3/006575, PCT/EP3/06575, PCT/EP3006575, PCT/EP306575, US 7748441 B2, US 7748441B2, US-B2-7748441, US7748441 B2, US7748441B2InventorsErich Litwing, Gebhard Schweizer, J�rgen Heilemann, Wolfgang DieksanderOriginal AssigneeBehr Gmbh & Co. KgExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (58), Classifications (9), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetModular heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicleUS 7748441 B2Abstract A heating or air conditioning system is used for a motor vehicle. The heating or air conditioning system may have a housing which is composed of several housing segments. At least one housing segment may be embodied as an insertion part which is inserted into the remaining housing after the remaining housing is mounted in the motor vehicle. The insertion part may have at least one functional module.
1. A heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, said heating and/or air conditioning system comprising:
a housing which comprises a plurality of housing segments,
wherein at least one of the housing segments is an insertion part which comprises at least one functional unit, with at least one means for air conduction, a warm air feed, a cold air feed, at least one mixer valve, or any combination thereof,
wherein the insertion part can be inserted into a recessed receiving space in a remainder of the housing of the heating and/or air conditioning system such that a first plurality of external wall portions of the insertion part abut internal wall portions of the receiving space and such that a second plurality of external wall portions of the insertion part immediately adjacent to and bordering with portions of an external wall of the remainder of the housing will form an exterior surface of the housing along with the immediately adjacent and bordering portions of the external wall of the remainder of the housing,
wherein the housing is configured to be installed on or about an obstacle that runs through the receiving space between the insertion part and the remainder of the housing.
2. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the functional unit is a mixer module for a rear area.
3. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the insertion part is configured symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the insertion part.
4. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the functional unit comprises at least one drive for the at least one mixer mixing valve.
5. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the insertion part is configured symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the insertion part.
6. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insertion part is configured symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the insertion part.
7. A motor vehicle comprising a heating and/or air conditioning system according to claim 1.
8. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the obstacle comprises a cross member that runs through the receiving space between the insertion part and the remainder of the housing such that the housing is configured to be installed on or about the cross member.
9. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one functional unit comprises two mixing flaps for thermally controlling air, and wherein the remainder of the housing comprises two inlet openings and two discharge openings.
10. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the mixing flaps are actuatable by a continuous shaft with a motor.
11. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insertion part comprises two air ducts formed in the insertion part such that the two air ducts run from a bottom side of the insertion part to a top side of the insertion part.
12. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insertion part further comprises two air discharge openings.
13. A heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
wherein at least one of the housing segments is an insertion part,
wherein the insertion part can be inserted into a recessed receiving space in a remainder of the housing of the heating and/or air conditioning system such that a first plurality of external wall portions of the insertion part abut internal wall portions of the receiving space and such that a second plurality of external wall portions of the insertion part adjacent to portions of an external wall of the remainder of the housing will form an exterior surface of the housing along with the adjacent portions of the external wall of the remainder of the housing,
wherein the insertion part comprises two mixing flaps for thermally controlling air, and
wherein the remainder of the housing comprises two inlet openings and two discharge openings.
14. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the mixing flaps are actuatable by a continuous shaft with a motor.
15. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the insertion part comprises two air ducts formed in the insertion part such that the two air ducts run from a bottom side of the insertion part to a top side of the insertion part.
16. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the insertion part further comprises two air discharge openings.
17. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 13, wherein movement of each mixing flap is limited by an upper end stop and a lower end stop.
18. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the insertion part is configured symmetrically to a longitudinal axis of the insertion part.
19. The heating and/or air conditioning system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the housing is configured to be installed on or about an obstacle that runs through the receiving space between the insertion part and the remainder of the housing.
BACKGROUND The invention relates to a heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle.
EP 0 799 734 A2 discloses a heating and/or air conditioning system having a housing for a motor vehicle, it being possible for the housing to be assembled in a modular construction from a plurality of housing segments, and the housing being assembled before being installed in the motor vehicle. The installation in the motor vehicle proves problematic if there are crossmembers or other subassemblies restricting the installation space.
SUMMARY It is the object of the invention to develop a housing for a heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle in such a manner that the housing can be fitted into the motor vehicle in a simple manner and the functionality of the heating and/or air conditioning system can be expanded in a simple manner.
This object is achieved by a heating and/or air conditioning system disclosed herein. The following description relates to advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention.
The main concept of the invention resides in designing at least one housing segment of the housing for a heating and/or air conditioning system as an insert part, the insert part being inserted into the remaining housing only after the remaining housing is installed in the motor vehicle, the insert part comprising at least one additional functional subassembly. The design of at least one housing segment as an insert part makes it possible to fit the housing of the heating and/or air conditioning system in the motor vehicle in a simple manner despite there being obstacles in the fitting space. This is undertaken by the other housing segments which are not designed as an insert part firstly being put together to form a remaining housing, and the remaining housing then being positioned around an obstacle in the fitting space and being fitted in the motor vehicle. The obstacle may be, for example, a crossmember running through the fitting space. After the remaining housing is installed in the motor vehicle, the insert part is inserted into the remaining housing and fastened, thus completing the fitting-together of the housing of the heating and/or air conditioning system in the motor vehicle. In addition, further functional subassemblies are integrated in the insert part, so that the functionality of the air conditioning system can be expanded in a simple manner. In the simplest case, the insert part comprises at least one air-guiding means, for example an air-guiding element or an air inlet or an air outlet.
In another embodiment, the functional subassembly comprises at least one mixing flap, it also being possible for the drive for the at least one mixing flap to be designed as part of the functional subassembly.
In a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the functional subassembly is designed as a mixing module, the air which is thermally controlled by the mixing module being mixed, for example, for a rear region in the motor vehicle.
The abovementioned measures make it possible for the insert part, in addition to facilitating the installation of the heating and/or air conditioning system in the motor vehicle, to expand the functionality of the heating and/or air conditioning system in a simple manner by interchanging the insert part. The remaining housing is thus composed in an essentially identical manner for the different functionalities, for example for the embodiment as a single-zone air conditioning system or multi-zone air conditioning system (two-zone or three-zone or four-zone air conditioning system); the corresponding insert part is merely to be inserted into the remaining housing in order to realize the desired functionality. It is also conceivable, for easier installation of the housing of the heating and/or air conditioning system in the motor vehicle, for a plurality of housing segments to be designed as insert parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a housing for a heating and/or air conditioning system;
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the individual housing segments;
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the housing for a heating and/or air conditioning system;
FIG. 4 shows an insert part;
FIG. 5 a shows a front view of the insert part;
FIG. 5 b shows a sectional illustration of the insert part along the section line A-A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic illustration, a housing 1 for a heating and/or air conditioning system. The housing 1 which is illustrated comprises a fan segment with a fresh air inlet 2.1 and a circulating-air inlet 2.2, a base segment 3, a right and a left air-distributing and heat-transfer segment 4.1, 4.2 and an insert part 5, the air-distributing and heat-transfer segments 4.1, 4.2 having corresponding air discharge openings 6, and the insert part 5 likewise having two air discharge openings 7. As FIG. 1 furthermore shows, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated the housing is arranged around a crossmember 8.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the right air-distributing and heat-transfer segment 4.1, of the fan segment 2, the base segment 3 and of the insert part 5 before the housing for a heating and/or air conditioning system is fitted together.
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the housing 1 of a heating and/or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, which housing is arranged around a crossmember 8 and has the insert part 5 already inserted.
FIG. 4 shows, in a schematic illustration, the insert part 5, which is broken open on the right-hand side, and its position with respect to a crossmember 8 present in the fitting space. FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show a front view and a sectional drawing, respectively, of the insert part 5. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the insert part 5 which is necessary for installing the housing 1 on or around the crossmember 8 is designed as a mixing module. This mixing module is used, for example, for ventilating the rear zone of the vehicle (rear region), the B-pillar, the central vent on the central console or else for the footwell. As can be gathered from FIG. 5 a, the insert part 5 is constructed symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis L and comprises two mixing flaps 5.1 for thermally controlling the air. The flaps 5.1 can be actuated by a continuous shaft with a motor or, as in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, by a respective motor 5.2 for separately setting the temperature on the right and left. There is a cold air supply 5.3 and a hot air supply 5.4 in each case in front of the mixing flaps 5.1. The mixing flaps 5.1 are illustrated in a central position, the movement of the mixing flaps 5.1 being limited by an upper end stop 5.6 (mixing position cold) and by a lower end stop 5.7 (mixing position hot). All of the hot air from a heating element (not illustrated) and from an optionally present PTC heater (likewise not illustrated) is guided through the mixing module 5 from bottom to top through two air ducts 5.5. The various air guides indicated above can be designed for ventilating the various zones of the vehicle as a function of the design of the insert part 5. Thus, for example, a two-zone heating and/or air conditioning system can be converted in a very simple manner by the insert part 5 illustrated into an at least three-zone heating and/or air conditioning system with thermally controllable ventilation of the rear or into a four-zone heating and/or air conditioning system, it being possible, in the case of the four-zone heating and/or air conditioning system, for the right and left rear regions to be ventilated separately and with differing thermal control, and it furthermore being possible for the same remaining housing to be used.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3550522 *Jan 29, 1969Dec 29, 1970Bauer Edward JTelescopic,portable temperature control unit for the rear seat portion of an automobileUS4512239 *Jan 25, 1983Apr 23, 1985Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaVehicle air duct construction using center console boxUS5042566May 18, 1990Aug 27, 1991Siemens AktiengesellschaftHeating or air conditioning system for a motor vehicleUS5072106 *Sep 25, 1990Dec 10, 1991Zexel CorporationSolar radiation quantity detecting device for automobile air-conditionerUS5086628 *Oct 18, 1990Feb 11, 1992Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.Automotive air tempering apparatusUS5673964Aug 4, 1995Oct 7, 1997Ford Motor CompanyIntegral center-mounted airhandling system with integral instrument panel air-conditioning duct and structural beamUS5803160Jun 14, 1996Sep 8, 1998Valeo ClimatisationApparatus for heating and ventilating, and/or air conditioning, the cabin of a motor vehicleUS5853323Oct 24, 1997Dec 29, 1998Behr Gmbh & Co.In a motor vehicleUS5878806Nov 14, 1995Mar 9, 1999Behr Gmbh & Co.Heating and/or air-conditioning installationUS6036594 *Sep 8, 1998Mar 14, 2000Ford Motor CompanyAir handling system for automotive vehiclesUS6189801May 14, 1999Feb 20, 2001Behr Gmbh & Co.Device for heating and/or air conditioning a vehicle interiorUS6230795 *Jul 20, 1999May 15, 2001Denso CorporationAir conditioning apparatus for vehicleUS6234569Nov 24, 1999May 22, 2001Behr Gmbh & Co.Subassembly for a cockpit of a motor vehicleUS6247530 *Aug 2, 1999Jun 19, 2001Denso CorporationAir conditioning apparatus for vehicleUS6305462 *Feb 6, 1998Oct 23, 2001Calsonic Kansei CorporationDoor mechanism of automobile air conditionerUS6305733Jun 20, 2000Oct 23, 2001Sai Automotive Allibert IndustrieCockpit for an automotive vehicleUS6449535 *Oct 30, 2001Sep 10, 2002American Calcar, Inc.Method and system for adjusting a function in a vehicleUS6463998 *Nov 14, 2000Oct 15, 2002Denso CorporationVehicle air conditioning ventilation system and apparatus having positional doors and blow-switching modesUS6482081 *Oct 9, 2001Nov 19, 2002Valeo ClimatisationVehicle air-conditioning installation with two mixing regionsUS6482082 *Nov 23, 1998Nov 19, 2002Behr Gmbh & Co.Heating and/or air-conditioning system for an automobile and method of making sameUS6629424Jun 30, 2000Oct 7, 2003Zexel Valeo Climate Control CorporationAir conditioner for car and instrument panel moduleUS6659358 *Oct 24, 2001Dec 9, 2003Denso CorporationVehicle air conditioner having surface temperature sensorUS6736190 *Apr 2, 2002May 18, 2004Denso CorporationVehicle air conditionerUS6857282 *Jun 25, 2003Feb 22, 2005Zexel Valeo Climate Control CorporationAir-conditioning system for vehiclesUS6874575 *Dec 21, 2001Apr 5, 2005Halla Climate Control Corp.Air conditioning housing for an air conditioner of an automobileUS6881140 *Mar 31, 2003Apr 19, 2005Trw Automotive U.S. LlcApparatus for mixing air in a vehicle HVAC systemUS6925825 *Apr 9, 2003Aug 9, 2005Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Vehicle air-conditioning systemUS6935673Nov 17, 2000Aug 30, 2005Behr Gmbh & Co.Dashboard of a passenger motor vehicle and method of making sameUS6979259 *Feb 6, 2004Dec 27, 2005Denso CorporationAir conditionerUS7013656 *Apr 12, 2004Mar 21, 2006Denso CorprationVehicle ventilation and deodorization systemUS7134487 *Dec 3, 2003Nov 14, 2006Denso CorporationVehicle air conditionerUS7156166Aug 1, 2001Jan 2, 2007Behr Gmbh & Co.Heating and air-conditioning system for a motor vehicleUS20040016536 *Jul 23, 2002Jan 29, 2004Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.HVAC system with modular insertsUS20040069483 *Sep 16, 2003Apr 15, 2004Takuya NatsumeAir direction changing system for vehicular air ductsDE3911615A1Apr 8, 1989Oct 11, 1990Audi Nsu Auto Union AgHeiz- oder klimaanlage fuer den fahrgastraum von kraftfahrzeugenDE4442000A1Nov 28, 1994May 30, 1996Behr Gmbh & CoHeizungs- und/oder KlimaeinrichtungDE10037384A1Aug 1, 2000Feb 14, 2002Behr Gmbh & CoHeizungs- und Klimaanlage f�r ein KraftfahrzeugDE19535263A1Sep 22, 1995Apr 4, 1996Valeo ClimatisationDashboard for motor vehicleDE19703519C1Jan 31, 1997Apr 16, 1998Daimler Benz AgHousing for vehicle air-conditioning plantDE19749067A1Nov 6, 1997May 12, 1999Fahrzeugheizungen Kirchberg GmAuxiliary heater unit for motor vehicleDE19751652A1Nov 21, 1997May 27, 1999Behr Gmbh & CoHeizungs- und/oder Klimaanlage f�r ein Fahrzeug, insbesondere f�r einen PersonenkraftwagenDE19822173A1May 16, 1998Nov 18, 1999Behr Gmbh & CoHeating and/or air conditioning device for interior of vehicleDE19854940A1Nov 27, 1998May 31, 2000Behr Gmbh & CoMotor vehicle cockpit unit has air delivery channel with shell-shaped component covered to form air channel and forming T-shaped unit with housing for mounting functional componentsDE19909663A1Mar 5, 1999Sep 7, 2000Behr Gmbh & CoMotor vehicle heating or air-conditioning installation comprises an air distribution module which is constituted as a part of an instrument panelDE19955221A1Nov 17, 1999May 23, 2001Behr Gmbh & CoInstrument panel for a motor vehicle, in particular, an automobile comprises a top cover element and interior elements which are provided with fastening devices engaging with one anotherDE19955616C1Nov 19, 1999Nov 2, 2000Daimler Chrysler AgAutomobile air-conditioning unit has heat exchanger warm air supplied to several air mixing chambers for providing different temperatures for different seating areas within passenger spaceDE69630560T2Jul 10, 1996Sep 16, 2004Ford Motor Co., DearbornLuftbehandlungssystem f�r KraftfahrzeugeEP0392296A1Mar 31, 1990Oct 17, 1990Audi AgHeating or air conditioning unit for a vehicle passenger compartmentEP0397997B1Mar 26, 1990Dec 30, 1992Siemens AktiengesellschaftHeating and air conditioning system for automotive vehicleEP0799734B1Dec 12, 1996Apr 2, 2003Behr GmbH &amp; Co.Heating or air conditioning installation for motor vehiclesEP0838356B1Jun 23, 1997Oct 6, 2004Behr GmbH &amp; Co.Heating or air conditioning unitEP0917973A2Oct 20, 1998May 26, 1999Behr GmbH &amp; Co.Heating and/or air conditioning device for vehicle, especially for passenger motor vehicleFR2742383A1 Title not availableJP2001158218A Title not availableJPH09132023A Title not availableJPH10278546A Title not availableWO2001034417A1Jun 30, 2000May 17, 2001Daisuke ArakiAir conditioner for car and instrument panel moduleWO2001047336A2Mar 13, 2001Jul 5, 2001Zexel Valeo Climate Contr CorpCar air conditioner* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification165/204, 165/42, 165/202International ClassificationB60H1/00Cooperative ClassificationB60H2001/002, B60H1/00542, B60H1/00521European ClassificationB60H1/00S1D, B60H1/00S1ALegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 23, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 20, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: BEHR GMBH & CO., KG, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LITWING, ERICH;SCHWEIZER, GEBHARD;HEILEMANN, JURGEN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:017193/0162;SIGNING DATES FROM 20041117 TO 20041122Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LITWING, ERICH;SCHWEIZER, GEBHARD;HEILEMANN, JURGEN AND OTHERS;SIGNED BETWEEN 20041117 AND 20041122;REEL/FRAME:17193/162Owner name: BEHR GMBH & CO., KG,GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LITWING, ERICH;SCHWEIZER, GEBHARD;HEILEMANN, JURGEN;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20041117 TO 20041122;REEL/FRAME:017193/0162RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services