GB2106637A

GB2106637A - Heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2106637A
Application number: GB08224372A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerd Tannenlaeufer; Bernhard Forsting; Peter Fischer
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1981-09-23
Filing date: 1982-08-25
Publication date: 1983-04-13
Also published as: FR2513190B1; FR2513190A1; DE3137771A1; DE3137771C2; GB2106637B

Abstract

A heating and ventilating unit for a motor vehicle comprises a heat exchanger 4 within a casing 1 which is provided with an assembly flap 12 which is preferably integrally joined to the casing by way of a film hinge 11 and which, in its closed position secured by screws 13, holds the heat exchanger 4 against its mounting 10 in the casing 1 by way of seals 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles The invention relates to a heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles, which includes a heat exchanger located in a housing, and a distributor flap for distributing air from a blower.

A heating and ventilating unit of this type is already known from the German Offenlegungsschrift No. 15 55 365. Here both the heat exchanger disposed in a heat exchanger duct and the distributor flap are located deep in the housing.

The known heating and ventilating unit thus had the disadvantages that firstly, in the event of its failure, the heat exchanger could only be removed and replaced after completely dismantling the unit and that, secondly, the distributor flap located deep in the casing led to an unfavourable air distribution, so that additional guide walls were required for the air flow.

A heating and ventilating unit of a similar type is known from the German Gebrauchsmuster No. 1 9 90 214, in which both an improved accessibility and an improved air distribution have already been sought.

According to the present invention, there is provided a heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles, the unit comprising a heat exchanger duct disposed in a casing downstream of a blower and containing a heat exchanger, the casing being provided with an assembly flap which, in its closed position, holds the heat exchanger in position in the casing, a bypass duct, which may be opened, partially opened or closed by a mixing flap and which opens into a mixing space from which ducts go off for connection to ventilating and defroster nozzles as well as to leg room outlets, and a distributor flap which can be operated to partially or completely open one or more of the ducts from the mixing space.

Since the casing is provided with an assembly flap which can be integral with the casing by way of a film hinge or membrane hinge and which, in its closed position where it can be secured by screws, holds the heat exchanger bearing against a mounting in the casing, e.g. by way of seals, a simple assembly of the heat exchanger is ensured in the manufacture of the heating and ventilating unit. Also a defective heat exchanger may be changed simply and rapidly without time-consuming dismantling at any time in the event of failure.

If a double wing distributor flap, rotatable in a cylindrical space, is used, the wings of the double wing flap can extend radially and be connected at their inner ends by a guide wall arranged at a distance from the pivot axis of the flap. The outgoing ducts for the defroster nozzles can be formed as laterally offset ducts opening upwards. Guide walls leading upwards and outwards to the ventilating nozzles may be provided in the casing in the region of the mixing space. Both these measures make possible a more advantageous air distribution to the ventilating and defroster nozzles.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a heating and ventilating unit according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section along the line Il-Il in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; and Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1.

The heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles shown in the figures essentially consists of two casing parts 1 and 2, a blower 3, a heat exchanger 4, a mixing flap 5 and a distributor flap 6.

A heat exchanger duct 7 and a bypass duct 8 are formed in the casing part 1 and they meet in a mixing space 9 in which the distributor flap 6 is located.

In the region of the heat exchanger duct 7 the casing part 1 is provided with a mounting 10 for the heat exchanger 4 and with an assembly flap 1 2 integrally joined to the casing part 1 by way of a film or membrane hinge 11. In Fig. 1, the assembly flap 12 is shown in the closed position. It is secured in this position to the casing part 1 by way of lateral screws 13, and it then holds the heat exchanger 4 against the mounting 10 in the casing part 1. Appropriate resilient sealing strips 14 of foam material are provided. The assembly flap 1 2 is shown in dash-dot lines in its opened position, and in this position the heat exchanger 4 may be changed simply and rapidly.

The distributor flap 6 is a double wing flap which cooperates with areas of cylindrical surfaces 1 5 and 16 in the casing part. The distributor flap 6 has wings 1 7 and 18 which extend only partially radially inwards and which are connected by a guide wall 20 extending at a distance from the pivot axis 1 9. The guide wall 20 is connected by way of reinforcements 21 to joining plates 22 on which journals 23 and 24 for the flap are integrally formed.

Ducts 25 and 26 for connection to defroster nozzles are formed as laterally offset ducts opening upwards, and the guide wall 20 on the distributor flap 6 ensures good air distribution between the defroster nozzles and leg room outlets 27 and 28. As a result of guide walls 29 and 30 provided in the casing 1 in the region of the mixing space 9, good air circulation to separately controllable ventilating nozzles arranged laterally on the dashboard is possible.

With the heating and ventilating unit described, improved accessibility for the purpose of repairs is achieved on the one hand, and air distribution better than with the prior art units is achieved on the other hand, without requiring a more complicated casing.

Claims

1. A heating and ventilating unit for motor vehicles, the unit comprising a heat exchanger duct disposed in a casing downstream of a blower and containing a heat exchanger, the casing being provided with an assembly flap which, in its closed position, holds the heat exchanger in position in the casing, a bypass duct, which may be opened, partially opened or closed by a mixing flap and which opens into a mixing space from which ducts go off for connection to ventilating and defroster nozzles as well as to leg room outlets, and a distributor flap which can be operated to partially or completely open one or more of the ducts from the mixing space.

2. A heating and ventilating unit according to Claim 1, wherein the distributor flap is a double wing flap which is rotatable about a pivot axis within a cylindrical space, the wings extending radially and being connected at their inner ends by a guide wall arranged at a distance from the pivot axis, the outgoing ducts for connection to the defroster nozzles being laterally offset and opening upwards.

3. A heating and ventilating unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein in the region of the mixing space the casing is provided with guide walls leading upwards and outwards to ducts for connection to the ventilating nozzles.

4. A heating and ventilating unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the casing is of synthetic material.

5. A heating and ventilating unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the assembly flap is connected to the casing by means of an integral hinge.

6. A- heating and ventilating unit according to any preceding claim, wherein seals are provided around the heat exchanger position in the casing.

7. A heating and ventilating unit substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.