Abstract:
The subject invention provides a heat transfer device ( 24 ) for controlling the temperature of an instrument panel ( 18 ) extending from and under a windshield ( 16 ) of a vehicle ( 10 ). Sunlight ( 22 ) passes through the windshield ( 16 ), thereby heating the surface of the instrument panel ( 18 ). The instrument panel ( 18 ) then transfers the heat to an interior compartment ( 14 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ) affecting the thermal comfort of a passenger. The heat transfer device ( 24 ) directly removes the heat stored in the instrument panel ( 18 ) to limit the transfer of heat from the instrument panel ( 18 ) to the interior compartment ( 14 ). Preferably, the heat transfer device ( 24 ) circulates a flow of cooling air ( 40 ) over the surface of the instrument panel ( 18 ) to remove the heat stored therein. As such, the heat transfer device ( 24 ) limits the heat transfer into and thereby cools the interior compartment ( 14 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ) to meet the desired thermal comfort level of the passenger in less time and with less energy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The subject invention relates to a heat transfer device for controlling a surface temperature of an instrument panel of a vehicle.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In a typical vehicle having a body defining an interior compartment and a windshield, a large amount of solar radiation enters the vehicle through the windshield. A panel (instrument panel) extending from and under the windshield is exposable to sunlight. The panel absorbs the solar radiation from the sunlight and retains a significant amount of heat generated by the solar radiation. The panel then transfers the heat into an interior compartment of the vehicle, thereby affecting the thermal comfort of the vehicle passengers.  
         [0005]     Traditionally, vehicles have included air conditioning systems for improving the thermal comfort of a passenger. A typical air conditioning system includes a blower for providing a flow of air through a HVAC module having an evaporator for removing heat from the air. The blower then urges the cooled air through a network of passageways to a plurality of outlets. The outlets then direct the flow of cooled air towards the passengers of the vehicle. The objective of the typical air conditioning system is to provide a cooling effect to the passengers by directing the flow of cooled air directly at the passengers.  
         [0006]     However, the thermal comfort of the passengers is not strictly dependent on the ambient air temperature within the interior compartment of the vehicle. The heat transfer from the panel also greatly affects the passengers thermal comfort. As the panel transfers heat to the interior compartment of the vehicle, the desired ambient air temperature of the passengers decreases. If the heat transfer from the panel is limited, the desired ambient air temperature of the passengers increases. Therefore, the more heat transferred from the panel to the interior compartment of the vehicle results in the passenger desiring a lower interior compartment temperature in order to satisfy the passenger&#39;s thermal comfort requirements.  
         [0007]     While the typical air conditioning system helps to improve the thermal comfort of the passengers, it does not address the effect of heat transfer from the panel into the interior compartment of the vehicle. Thus, the typical air conditioning system does not directly remove the heat from the panel. Therefore, the typical air conditioning system must provide a lower ambient air temperature to meet the thermal requirements of the passengers, which is accomplished by spending additional time and energy removing heat from the flow of air.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0008]     The subject invention provides a vehicle comprising a body defining an interior compartment and a windshield. A panel having a surface extends from and under the windshield and into the interior compartment of the body. The surface of the panel is exposable to sunlight through the windshield thereby heating the surface by solar radiation. The vehicle further includes a heat transfer device for directly removing heat from the surface of the panel to control the temperature of the surface and lower the heat transfer from the panel to the interior compartment of the vehicle.  
         [0009]     The subject invention also provides a method of cooling a panel having a surface extending from and under a windshield of a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of heating the surface of the panel by subjecting the surface to sunlight passing through the windshield. The method further includes the step of directly removing heat from the surface of the panel to reduce heating of the panel by sunlight and lower the heat transfer from the panel to the interior compartment of the vehicle.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, the subject invention provides a vehicle with a heat transfer device that controls the surface temperature of the panel such heat is removed from the panel. The invention reduces the heat transfer from the panel into the interior compartment and increases the thermal comfort of the passengers in less time and with a lower energy requirement.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the vehicle;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of another embodiment of the vehicle;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of another embodiment of the vehicle;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of another embodiment of the vehicle;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of another embodiment of the vehicle; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of another embodiment of the vehicle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a vehicle is generally shown at  10 . The elements of the invention which reoccur throughout the different embodiments are numbered ten through ninety nine. The elements that are specific to each individual embodiment are preceded by a number corresponding to the embodiment. For example, elements of the invention that are specific to the preferred (first) embodiment are numbered in the 100&#39;s, whereas elements that are specific to the second embodiment are numbered in the 200&#39;s. Likewise for the third through sixth embodiments.  
         [0020]     The vehicle  10  includes a body  12  defining an interior compartment  14  and a windshield  16 . A panel (instrument panel)  18  having a surface  20  extends from and under the windshield  16  and into the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 . The surface  20  is exposable to sunlight  22  through the windshield  16  and absorbs heat by solar radiation therethrough. The vehicle  10  further includes a cooling system, generally shown at  23 . The cooling system  23  includes a heat transfer device, generally indicated at  24 , for directly removing the heat from the surface  20  of the panel  18  to control the temperature of the surface  20 .  
         [0021]     In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the heat transfer device  24  includes at least one vent  26  disposed on the surface  20  of the panel  18  for dispersing a fluid flow (flow of air)  40  directly over the surface  20  of the panel  18 . The vent  26  is an outlet for exhausting the flow of air  40  into the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 . A blower  28  urges the flow of air  40  through a HVAC module  30  and a plurality of passageways  142   a  to the vent  26 . The vent  26  then disperses the flow of air  40  directly over the surface  20  of the panel  18  and into the interior compartment. The flow of air  40  removes heat from the panel  18  as it passes over the surface  20 , thereby controlling the temperature of the surface  20 .  
         [0022]     The vent  26  receives the flow of air  40  directly from the HVAC module  30  through at least one of the plurality of passageways  142   a , which is in direct fluid communication between the vent  26  and an exhaust port  160  of the HVAC module  30 . At least another one of the plurality of passageways  142   b  directs the flow of air  40  from the interior compartment  14  back to the blower  28 .  
         [0023]     The vehicle  10  further includes a control mechanism  34  operable by a passenger for controlling the heat transfer device  24 . The passenger registers a desired thermal comfort level at the control mechanism  34 . The control mechanism  34  then determines if the actuation of the heat transfer device  24  is required. If so determined, the control mechanism  34  actuates the heat transfer device  24  to achieve the desired thermal comfort level. The control mechanism  34  may include such mechanical and electrical connections as is known to one skilled in the art necessary to operate the heat transfer device  24 .  
         [0024]     The HVAC module  30  includes an evaporator  36  for removing heat from the flow of air  40  as it passes therethrough. The control mechanism  34  is operatively connected to the evaporator  36  for actuating the evaporator  36  when required to meet the thermal comfort level of the passenger.  
         [0025]     The plurality of passageways  142   a ,  142   b  convey the flow of air  40  from the HVAC module  30  to the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10  and from the interior compartment  14  back to the blower  28 . In this way, the flow of air  40  circulates through the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 . The circulation of the flow of air  40  provides additional thermal comfort to the passenger. Alternatively, another of the plurality of passageways  142   c  may draw the flow of air  40  from the exterior of the vehicle to the blower  28 . The passenger selects whether the flow of air  40  is to circulate through the interior compartment  14  by the passageway  142   b , or whether the flow of air  40  is to be drawn from the exterior of the vehicle by the passageway  142   c.    
         [0026]     The vehicle  10  also includes at least one valve  144  operatively connected to the control mechanism  34 . The control mechanism  34  actuates the at least one valve  144  for controlling the flow of air  40  between the plurality of passageways  142   a ,  142   b ,  142   c  for determining a circulatory path of the flow of air  40 . The control mechanism  34  actuates the at least one valve  144  to direct the flow of air  40  from the blower  28 , through the HVAC module  30  and the plurality of passageways  142   a , to the vent  26 .  
         [0027]     Preferable, the vehicle  10  further includes a humidity sensor  38  operatively connected to the control mechanism  34  for sensing an exterior humidity level outside the vehicle  10 . The humidity sensor  38  prevents the heat transfer device  24  from operating if the exterior humidity level is above a pre-determined level, thereby preventing condensation from forming on the windshield  16 . However, the humidity sensor  38  is optional and is not required to operate the heat transfer device  24 .  
         [0028]     In a second embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the vent  26  receives the flow of air  40  from an instrument panel outlet  246 . The vent  26  then directs the flow of air  40  over the surface  20  of the panel  18  as described above. At least one of the plurality of passageways  242   a  is in fluid communication between the HVAC module  30  and the instrument panel outlet  246 . Additionally, at least one of the plurality of passageways  242   b  is in fluid communication between the vent  26  and the instrument panel outlet  246 , whereby the at least one of the plurality of passageways  242   a ,  242   b  conveys the flow of air  40  to the vent  26  from the HVAC module  30 . The instrument panel outlet  246  is preferably disposed on a vertical surface  248  of the panel  18  and is oriented to direct the flow of air  40  at the passenger. A portion of the flow of air  40  is diverted from the instrument panel outlet  246  to provide the vent  26  with the flow of air  40  sufficient to cool the surface  20  of the panel  18 .  
         [0029]     In a third embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the surface  20  of the panel  18  is manufactured from a mesh or porous material. In this embodiment, the entire surface  20  becomes the vent, which is generally shown at  26 . The blower  28  provides the flow of air  40  to an underside  319  of the surface  20  by at least one of the plurality of passageways  342 . The flow of air  40  diffuses through the mesh or porous material of the vent  26  thereby removing the heat from the surface  20  of the panel  18 .  
         [0030]     In a fourth embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the heat transfer device  24  includes at least one vent  26  disposed on the surface  20  of the panel  18  for drawing the flow of air  40  directly over the surface  20  of the panel  18 . The vent  26  is an inlet for returning the flow of air  40  from the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 . The blower  28  draws the flow of air  40  from the vent  26  through at least one of the plurality of passageways  442   a  and back to the blower  28 .  
         [0031]     In accordance with the fourth embodiment, the blower  28  includes at least one port in fluid communication with the vent  26  by at least one of the plurality of passageways  442   a . The control mechanism  34  actuates the blower  28  to begin drawing air from the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 . The blower  28  draws the air over the surface  20  of the panel  18  and through the vent  26  such that the flow of air  40  removes heat from the surface  20  of the panel  18  as it flows across the surface  20 . The blower  28  then urges the flow of air  40  through the HVAC module  30  and back to the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10  by another of the plurality of passageways  442   b.    
         [0032]     The vehicle  10  disclosed in the fourth embodiment also includes at least one valve  444  operatively connected to the control mechanism  34 . The control mechanism  34  actuates the at least one valve  444  to direct the flow of air  40  from the vent  26  to an inlet port  462  of the blower  28 ; and then through the HVAC module to the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0033]     In a fifth embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the blower  28  is in fluid communication with a defrost air vent  546  by at least one of the plurality of passageways  542   a . The defrost air vent  546  is utilized as an inlet to draw the flow of air  40  over the surface  20  of the panel  18  to remove the heat from the panel  18 . The defrost air vent  546  is in fluid communication with the HVAC module  30  by at least one of the plurality of passageways  542   c.    
         [0034]     In accordance with the fifth embodiment, at least one valve  544  is operatively connected to the control mechanism  34  and is positioned within the plurality of passageways  542   a ,  542   c  to divert the flow of air  40  between the plurality passageways  542   a ,  542   c . When the control mechanism  34  signals for the actuation of the heat transfer device  24 , the at least one valve  544  only allows the flow of air  40  between the defrost air vent  546  and the blower  28  for cooling the surface  20  of the panel  18 , thereby blocking the flow of air  40  from the HVAC module  30  to the defrost air vent  546 . When the control mechanism  34  does not signal for the actuation of the heat transfer device  24 , the at least one valve  544  only allows the flow of air  40  from the HVAC module  30  to the defrost air vent  546 , thereby blocking the flow of air  40  form the defrost air vent  546  to the blower  28 .  
         [0035]     In a sixth embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the heat transfer device  24  includes a liquid coolant  648 . At least one of the plurality of passageways  642  travels adjacent to the surface  20  of the panel  18 . A liquid coolant  648  circulates through the at least one passageway  642  for removing heat from the panel  18 , such that the heat is transferred from the panel  18  to the liquid coolant  648 . The vehicle  10  further includes at least one valve  644  operatively connected to the control mechanism  34 . The control mechanism  34  actuates the valve  644 . When the control mechanism  34  signals for the actuation of the heat transfer device  24 , the at least one valve  644  opens to allow the liquid coolant  648  to flow through the at least one passageway  642 , thereby transferring the heat from the panel  18  to the liquid coolant  648 . The heat may then be removed from the liquid coolant  648  by a method known to one skilled in the art so that the liquid coolant  648  may be recirculated back through the at least one passageways  642 .  
         [0036]     The subject invention also provides a method of removing heat from a surface  20  of a panel  18  extending from and under a windshield  16  of a vehicle  10 . The method comprises the steps of heating the surface  20  of the panel  18  by subjecting the surface  20  to sunlight  22  passing through the windshield  16  and then directly removing the heat from the surface  20  of the panel  18  to control the temperature of the surface  20 . The method, therefore, removes heat from the panel  18  and thereby reduces the amount of heat transferred to the interior compartment  14  of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0037]     The method further includes the step of sensing a humidity level outside the vehicle  10  for determining if actuation of the heat transfer device  24  will produce condensation on the windshield  16 . If the humidity level is above a pre-determined level, it is likely that condensation will form on the windshield  16  as heat is removed from the surface  20  of the panel  18 , thereby cooling the panel  18 . When the humidity level is above the pre-determined level, the control mechanism  34  will not actuate the heat transfer device  24  to prevent condensation from forming on the windshield  16  and to prevent obstructing a driver&#39;s visibility.  
         [0038]     The method further includes the step of actuating a heat transfer device  24  for removing heat from the surface  20  of the panel  18 . A control mechanism  34 , which a passenger operates, actuates the heat transfer device  24 . The passenger sets a desired thermal comfort level. The control mechanism  34  then determines if the desired thermal comfort level requires the actuation of the heat transfer device  24 . If so desired, the control mechanism  34  signals for the actuation of the heat transfer device  24 .  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the step of actuating a heat transfer device  24  may be further defined as circulating a flow of air  40  over the surface  20  of the panel  18  to remove heat from the surface  20 . As discussed above in the preferred embodiment and the alternative embodiments two and three, the flow of air  40  is preferably exhausted through a vent  26  and directed over the surface  20  of the panel  18 . Alternatively, as discussed in the fourth and fifth alternative embodiments, the flow of air  40  is drawn through the vent  26  such that the flow of air  40  removes heat from the surface  20  as the flow of air  40  passes from the interior compartment  14  to the vent  26 .  
         [0040]     As discussed in the alternative embodiment six and as shown in  FIG. 7 , the step of actuating the heat transfer device  24  may further be defined as circulating a liquid coolant  648  through at least one of the plurality of passageways  642 . The at least one passageway  642  is adjacent the surface  20  of the panel  18  such that the liquid coolant  648  draws the heat from the panel  18  as the liquid coolant  648  circulates through the at least one passageway  642 . The heat is then removed from the liquid coolant  648  by a method known to one skilled in the art.  
         [0041]     The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.