Air circulation system

Abstract

This invention relates to an air circulation system (1) for guiding air within an HVAC unit (3) of a motor vehicle. The air circulation system (1) has a housing (2) of the HVAC unit (3) and a sensor device through which air can pass. The housing (2) has at least two housing portions (2a, 2b), each having a connecting surface (4a, 4b), wherein one housing portion (2a) and the other housing portion (2b) are adjacent to and fixedly connected to each other via their respective connecting surfaces (4a, 4b). At least one air duct (5) through which air can pass is formed at least partially between the two adjacent connecting surfaces (4a, 4b) and is connected to the sensor device in an air-circulating manner. Importantly for this invention, at least one air duct (5) has at least one narrowing point (6) at which the cross-section of the at least one air duct (5) for air passage decreases.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an air circulation system for guiding air within an HVAC unit in a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] HVAC systems (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) for motor vehicles are known in the prior art and are used to regulate air. To take air quality into account during the regulation process, an air circulation system with sensor devices (e.g., with a fine dust sensor) is typically used. In addition to the sensor devices, the air circulation system here also includes air ducts leading to and from the sensor devices. The air ducts can be at least partially housed within the housing of the HVAC system.

[0003] Stable airflow is essential for improving the measurement accuracy of sensor devices. However, a longer flow path can weaken the airflow. Furthermore, burrs can interfere with airflow when air channels are formed within the housing. As a solution, for example, a fan can be installed in the air duct, but this unnecessarily increases the cost of the airflow system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a general type of air circulation system, which overcomes the described disadvantages.

[0005] An airflow system for guiding air within an HVAC unit in a motor vehicle is provided. The airflow system includes a housing of the HVAC unit and a sensor device through which air can pass. The housing has at least two housing portions, each having a connecting surface. One housing portion and the other housing portion are adjacent to each other and fixedly connected to each other via their respective connecting surfaces. At least one air duct through which air can pass is formed at least partially between the two adjacent connecting surfaces. The at least one air duct is connected to the sensor device in an airflow manner. According to the invention, the at least one air duct has at least one narrowing point where the cross-sectional area through which air can pass through the at least one air duct decreases. In the airflow system according to the invention, the necessary and stable airflow for the sensor device is achieved, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the sensor device.

[0006] HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units primarily refer to components of air conditioners or motor vehicle air conditioners. For example, sensor devices can have dust sensors and / or so-called air quality sensors, or can be formed from dust sensors and / or so-called air quality sensors. In the housing, at least one air duct can be formed through a groove in at least one of the connecting surfaces. At least one air duct can be completely molded into the housing of the HVAC unit. Alternatively, at least one air duct can be partially molded into the housing of the HVAC unit and partially molded by a flexible hose. It is also conceivable that at least one air duct is formed by additional elements (e.g., connectors or couplings).

[0007] Advantageously, the air circulation system can have two air ducts, one configured to allow air into the sensor device and the other configured to exhaust air from the sensor device. A narrowing point can be located in the air duct for air intake and / or in the air duct for air exhaust. Preferably, the narrowing point is located only in the air duct for air exhaust, thus no narrowing point is located in the air duct for air intake. This avoids dust accumulation in the air duct for air intake, thereby preventing a decrease in the measurement accuracy of the sensor device.

[0008] Advantageously, at the narrowing point of at least one air duct, the cross-section through which air can pass is reduced in an hourglass shape, a comb shape, or a diaphragm shape along the longitudinal direction of at least one air duct. The design of the cross-section through which air can pass can be adapted to the design or route of at least one air duct and sensor device to achieve the necessary and reliable airflow to and from the sensor device.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the air circulation system, a narrowing point of at least one air duct is formed within the housing by a molding portion. The molding portion is integrally molded onto the housing (or molded as a single piece with the housing) and is laterally guided into the at least one air duct relative to its longitudinal direction. The molding portion can advantageously accommodate the design or routing of the at least one air duct and sensor device. Applicably, no additional air duct separation exists within the molding portion to avoid potential burr formation at the molding portion. This increases the robustness and service life of the narrowing point.

[0010] Furthermore, it is possible to configure the molding portion to be formed on one of the housing parts and guided from top to bottom into at least one air duct of an HVAC unit properly installed in a motor vehicle. This prevents dust accumulation at the constriction point. The molding portion can here be configured to reduce the cross-section through which air can pass in an offset manner, for example, in an hourglass shape, a comb shape, or a diaphragm shape. The terms "top" and "bottom" here refer to gravity, which is downward in an HVAC unit properly installed in a motor vehicle.

[0011] In another advantageous embodiment of the airflow system, the narrowing point is formed by a separate insert. The insert is arranged in at least one air duct and, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the at least one air duct, blocks the cross-sectional area through which air from the at least one air duct can pass. Here, the insert can be handled with greater flexibility in implementation and modification compared to the molded portion described above. Furthermore, the insert, as well as the housing or at least one air duct, can be formed from different materials. Therefore, the insert, for example, can be formed from a material harder than the at least one air duct.

[0012] Furthermore, it can be configured such that the outer diameter of the insert corresponds to the inner diameter of at least one air duct, and the cross-section through which air can pass through at the narrowing point of at least one air duct is determined by the central opening of the insert aligned in the longitudinal direction of at least one air duct.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment of the air circulation system, at least one air duct is formed at least partially outside the housing via a separate coupling member, with the narrowing point of at least one air duct disposed within this coupling member. It is conceivable that the coupling member is arranged between the housing and the flexible hose, or alternatively between two hose segments of the flexible hose. At least one air duct is then partially formed within the housing, partially formed by the flexible hose, and partially formed by the coupling member. However, it is also conceivable that the coupling member is disposed between the housing and the sensor device. At least one air duct is then partially formed within the housing and partially formed by the coupling member.

[0014] In another advantageous embodiment of the air circulation system, the narrowing point can be formed by a screw that is screwed into at least one air duct from the outside, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the air duct. The screw can be, for example, a common screw or a specially designed threaded additional part. The screw here covers a cross-sectional area in at least one air duct and, depending on the design, can reduce the cross-sectional area through which air can pass through at least one air duct to varying degrees.

[0015] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area through which air can pass at the narrowing point of at least one air duct can be adjusted by adjusting the screw depth. In this way, for example, manufacturing tolerances in at least one air duct can be compensated. The necessary screw depth can be determined, for example, in a measurement (e.g., in the measurement of pressure loss in at least one air duct). Advantageously, the measurements of screw depth and pressure loss can be performed online using a feedback loop.

[0016] As a high-end variant, the screw insertion depth can also be advantageously adjusted using a stepper motor during HVAC equipment operation. In this case, at least one air duct's narrowing, for example due to blockage, or widening, for example due to material deformation, can be compensated for during operation. This ensures the necessary and stable airflow to the sensor device throughout the HVAC unit's lifespan.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and description.

[0018] It is understood that, without departing from the scope of the invention, the features described above and the features to be described below can be used not only in their respective designated combinations, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, which will be described in detail below, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical parts.

[0020] Each schematically shows

[0021] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figures 2 to 5 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein air ducts of different designs have different constriction points.

[0023] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The air circulation system 1 includes a housing 2 of an HVAC unit 3 and a sensor device (not shown here). The HVAC unit 3 can be a component of an air conditioner or an air conditioner in a motor vehicle. The housing 2 has two housing portions 2a and 2b, each having a connecting surface 4a and 4b, wherein housing portions 2a and 2b are adjacent to each other and fixedly connected to each other via their respective connecting surfaces 4a and 4b. An air duct 5 is formed between the connecting surfaces 4a and 4b, the air duct being aligned longitudinally (LR) and capable of guiding air to or from the sensor device. Air flows in the air duct 5 longitudinally (LR).

[0026] The air duct 5 has a narrowing point 6, at which the cross-section through which air can pass through the air duct 5 decreases. This achieves the necessary and stable airflow for the sensor device in the air circulation system 1. In the first embodiment shown here, the narrowing point 6 of the air duct 5 is formed by a molding portion 7. The molding portion 7 is integrally molded into the housing 2 or molded as a single piece with the housing 2 and is introduced into the air duct 5 transversely to the longitudinal direction LR. Applicably, there is no additional air duct separation within the molding portion 7 to avoid burr formation at the molding portion. Due to the molding portion 7, the narrowing point 6 is configured in an hourglass shape.

[0027] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the second embodiment, the narrowing point 6 is formed by a separate insert 8. Figure 2 In this configuration, the insert 8 is arranged in the lower housing portion 2b and obstructs the cross-section of the air duct 5 transversely to the longitudinal direction LR. It goes without saying that the insert 8 can also be designed differently from what is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The narrowing point 6 is formed here by a separate insert 8; however, this separate insert is configured to... Figure 2 The insert 8 is different. Air duct 5 is different. Figure 2 Unlike the air duct 5 shown, this one is partially formed by a separate connecting branch pipe 14, in which the insert 8 is arranged. The outer diameter of the insert 8 shown here corresponds to the inner diameter of the air duct 5 or the connecting branch pipe 14. The cross-section through which air can pass at the narrowing point 6 of the air duct 5 or the connecting branch pipe 14 is formed here by the hourglass-shaped central opening 9 of the insert 8. Needless to say, the opening 10 can also be designed differently from what is shown.

[0029] Figure 4A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The narrowing point 6 is formed here by a separate insert 8; however, this separate insert is configured to... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The insert 8 is different. The air duct 5 is also different. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The air duct is located within the housing portion 2a and is positioned on top of the HVAC unit 3, which is correctly installed in the motor vehicle. This advantageously prevents dust accumulation at the narrowing point 6.

[0030] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The narrowing point 6 is formed here by a separate insert 8; however, this separate insert is configured to... Figures 2 to 4 The insert 8 is different. The air duct 5 is also different. Figures 2 to 4 The air duct is located in the middle. The insert 8 is externally engaged with the air duct 5 from the outside, transverse to the longitudinal direction LR, and blocks the air duct 5. Air can flow only through the central notch 10 in the insert 8. The cross-section through which air can pass in the air passage 5 within the narrowing point 6 is therefore determined by the shape of the notch 10.

[0031] Reference Figures 2 to 5 This simplifies the handling of the insert 8 during installation. Furthermore, the insert 8 can be made of a different material than the housing 2 and, correspondingly, the air duct 5.

[0032] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the third embodiment, the narrowing point 6 is formed by a screw 11, which engages externally and is threaded to the housing 2 transverse to the longitudinal direction LR of the air passage 5. By adjusting the screw depth of the screw 11, the cross-section through which air can pass in the air passage 5 can also be adjusted. This allows for compensation of manufacturing tolerances in the air duct 5 and for balancing changes in the air duct 5 over time. It is also conceivable that the screw depth of the screw 11 can be adjusted by means of a stepper motor.

[0033] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of an air circulation system 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, an air duct 5 is partially formed outside the housing 2 via two flexible hose members 12a and 12b of a flexible hose 12 and a separate coupling member 13. A narrowing point 6 is provided here in the coupling member 13.

Claims

1. An air circulation system (1) for guiding air within an HVAC unit (3) of a motor vehicle, -The air circulation system (1) mentioned therein includes the housing (2) of the HVAC unit (3) and a sensor device through which air can pass. -The housing (2) has at least two housing portions (2a, 2b), and the at least two housing portions each have connecting surfaces (4a, 4b). - One of the housing parts (2a) and the other housing part (2b) are adjacent to each other and are fixedly connected to each other through their respective connecting surfaces (4a, 4b). -At least one air duct (5) through which air can pass is formed at least partially between two adjacent connecting surfaces (4a, 4b), and - wherein at least one air duct (5) is connected to the sensor device in a manner that allows airflow. Its features are, The at least one air duct (5) has at least one narrowing point (6), and the cross-section through which air can pass through the at least one air duct (5) decreases at the at least one narrowing point. The air circulation system (1) has two air ducts (5), one air duct (5) configured for air to enter the sensor device, and the other air duct (5) configured for air to exit the sensor device. The narrowing point (6) is only located in the air duct (5) used for air exhaust.

2. The air circulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section through which air can pass at the narrowing point (6) of the at least one air duct (5) decreases in an hourglass shape, a comb shape, or a membrane shape along the longitudinal direction (LR) of the at least one air duct (5).

3. The air circulation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, - The narrowing point (6) of the at least one air duct (5) is formed within the housing (2) by a molding part (7), and - The molding part (7) is integrally molded on the housing (2) and protrudes laterally into the at least one air duct (5) relative to the longitudinal direction (LR).

4. The air circulation system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The molded portion (7) is formed on one of the at least two housing portions (2a, 2b) and protrudes from top to bottom into at least one air duct (5) of an HVAC device (3) properly installed in a motor vehicle.

5. The air circulation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The narrowing point (6) is formed by a separate insert (8) arranged in the at least one air duct (5) and transverse to the longitudinal direction (LR) of the at least one air duct (5) blocking the area of ​​the cross section through which air can pass through the at least one air duct (5).

6. The air circulation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the insert (8) corresponds to the inner diameter of the at least one air duct (5), and the cross-section through which air can pass at the at least one air duct (5) at the narrowing point (6) is determined by the central opening (9) of the insert (8) aligned in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the at least one air duct (5).

7. The air circulation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one air duct (5) is formed at least partially outside the housing (2) by a separate coupling member (13), and the narrowing point (6) of the at least one air duct (5) is disposed in the separate coupling member.

8. The air circulation system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The narrowing point (6) is formed by a screw (11) which is screwed into the at least one air duct (5) from the outside in a transverse direction (LR) to the longitudinal direction (LR) of the at least one air duct (5).

9. The air circulation system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cross-section through which air can pass through the at least one air duct (5) at the narrowing point (6) is adjusted by adjusting the screw depth of the screw (11).

10. The air circulation system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cross-section through which air can pass in the at least one air duct (5) at the narrowing point (6) is adjusted by means of a stepper motor to adjust the screw depth of the screw (11).

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