Modular systems for HVAC equipment

Abstract

This invention relates to a modular system (1) for an HVAC device (2) in a motor vehicle (3), comprising: a first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) of the motor vehicle (3) driven by an internal combustion engine (5); a second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b) of the motor vehicle (3) driven by an electric motor (7); and a distributor (8) which can be combined with either the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) or the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b) in an alternative manner. This allows for flexible and low-cost manufacturing of both conventional and electric vehicles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a modular system for HVAC equipment in a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment and HVAC equipment assembled from such a modular system. Background Technology

[0002] In order to provide motor vehicles at the lowest possible cost and with ease of maintenance, regardless of whether they are powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines, the ideal is to use a large number of structurally identical components or platforms in all motor vehicles. Today, both internal combustion engine-powered motor vehicles (ICE, internal combustion engine) and electric motor vehicles (BEV, battery electric vehicle) use air conditioning systems to improve driving comfort.

[0003] In internal combustion engine-powered motor vehicles, the basic components of the air conditioning system (i.e., HVAC equipment) are located below or behind the dashboard in the passenger compartment, because there is typically no space in front of the end wall separating the passenger compartment from the engine compartment ahead. In battery-electric motor vehicles, however, at least a portion of the HVAC equipment can be positioned in the direction of travel in front of the end wall, thus outside the passenger compartment.

[0004] However, the drawback of HVAC equipment today is that, since electric vehicles typically offer completely different installation spaces, different HVAC equipment must be provided and reserved for battery-powered motor vehicles and internal combustion engine-powered motor vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the present invention addresses the following objective: to provide a modular system by means of which the known disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome.

[0006] This invention is based on the following general concept: to provide a modular system for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) equipment, which allows for the simple and flexible manufacture of different HVAC units, particularly for motor vehicles driven by internal combustion engines or electric motors. The basic concept involves breaking down the HVAC unit into a fan filter and a distributor, wherein the distributor is used for all vehicle variants, and the fan filter includes two alternatives: a first fan filter and a second fan filter, which can be selectively used for motor vehicles driven by internal combustion engines or motor vehicles driven by electric motors. Therefore, the modular system according to the invention has at least a first fan filter for motor vehicles driven by internal combustion engines, a second fan filter for motor vehicles driven by electric motors, and a distributor that can be alternatively combined with either the first or second fan filter. For example, this creates a separation plane between the distributor and the fan filter, making it conceivable to implement an embodiment where the HVAC equipment is entirely located in the passenger compartment, as well as an embodiment with variations where only the distributor is located in the passenger compartment, while the second fan filter is positioned in front of the end wall in the direction of travel. Therefore, utilizing the modular system according to the invention, flexible designs for different platforms are possible, as nearly identical or identical distributors can be combined with two fan filters in alternative ways for two vehicle variants. Thus, utilizing the modular system according to the invention significantly increases manufacturing flexibility while simultaneously reducing the number of component types.

[0007] Advantageously, the first or second fan filter has an evaporator. This evaporator is an integral part of the air conditioning system and can be provided as an add-on component at the first or second fan filter. It is also conceivable that the evaporator is a separate component in a modular system and can be selectively combined with the first or second fan filter.

[0008] Here, the two fan filters can further differentiate between right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles, such that in this case, the modular system has, for example, two first fan filters (i.e., two first fan filters for right-hand drive and two first fan filters for left-hand drive vehicles) and two second fan filters (i.e., two second fan filters for both right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles). By further refining the modular system in this way, the flexibility in manufacturing HVAC equipment can be additionally extended to right-hand drive or left-hand drive vehicles.

[0009] The present invention is also based on the following general concept: providing a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, an internal combustion engine, and HVAC equipment assembled from a modular system described in the preceding paragraphs, the modular system having a first fan filter device. Due to the modular system according to the invention, this motor vehicle can be manufactured faster and at a lower cost, because the HVAC equipment can be flexibly assembled using the modular system according to the invention. In this case, the first fan filter device and distributor can be located in the passenger compartment. Here, they are typically located below the dashboard, because other mechanisms are usually located in the engine compartment located forward of it in the direction of travel, thus eliminating the need for additional installation space.

[0010] The present invention is also based on the following general concept: providing a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, an electric motor for driving the motor vehicle, and an HVAC system, the HVAC system also being assembled from a modular system described in the preceding paragraphs, the modular system having a second fan filter, thereby enabling the manufacture of the electric vehicle with significantly greater flexibility and lower cost. In this case, the HVAC system can be located solely in the passenger compartment with its distributor, while the second fan filter is located in front of the end wall, where there is sufficient installation space due to the absence of an internal combustion engine.

[0011] Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof with reference to the drawings.

[0012] It goes without saying that, without departing from the scope of the invention, the above features and the features to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations given respectively, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar or functionally identical parts.

[0014] The following are schematically illustrated:

[0015] Figure 1 A modular system for HVAC equipment in motor vehicles according to the present invention is shown.

[0016] Figure 2 A feasible first embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown, which has an internal combustion engine as a drive.

[0017] Figure 3 As shown Figure 2 The illustration is for an electric motor drive. Detailed Implementation

[0018] according to Figure 1 According to the invention, for use in motor vehicles 3 (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The modular system 1 of the HVAC equipment 2 has a first fan filter 4 driven by an internal combustion engine 5 or a driveable motor vehicle 3, and a second fan filter 6 driven by an electric motor 7 or a driveable motor vehicle 3. At least one distributor 8 is also provided, which can be selectively (i.e., alternatively) combined with either the first fan filter 4 or the second fan filter 6. Airflow is distributed within the HVAC equipment 2 via the distributor 8.

[0019] Furthermore, the first fan filter 4 can have an evaporator 9, which can also be configured as a separate component, for example, in the modular system 1 according to the invention. The second fan filter 6 can also have such an evaporator 9 or another additional evaporator 10, which is disposed at or at least combined with the second fan filter 6. In the latter case, the additional evaporator 10 can also be configured according to... Figure 1 The components of the modular system 1 according to the present invention.

[0020] Here, similar to the second fan filter device 6, the first fan filter device 4 can be alternatively configured for either right-hand drive or left-hand drive vehicles 3, such that each fan filter device 4, 6 can have two variations in the modular system 1 according to the invention. For example, a first fan filter device 4a can be provided for a right-hand drive vehicle 3, while a different first fan filter device 4b can be provided for a left-hand drive vehicle 3. Similarly, a second fan filter device 6a can be provided for a right-hand drive vehicle 3, while a second fan filter device 6b of a different design can be provided for a left-hand drive vehicle 3.

[0021] according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagram shows a motor vehicle 3, which has a passenger compartment 11 and, according to... Figure 1 The HVAC equipment 2 is assembled from the modular system 1 according to the present invention. Here, according to Figure 2 The illustrated motor vehicle 3 has the previously mentioned internal combustion engine 5, which requires relatively much space in the engine compartment. For this reason, the first fan filters 4, 4a, 4b and the distributor 8 are located in the passenger compartment 11, for example, below the dashboard. Due to the relatively large size of the internal combustion engine 5 and the associated space constraints, the first fan filters 4, 4a, 4b cannot be positioned in front of the end wall 12 in the direction of travel 13.

[0022] Conversely, if observation is based on Figure 3Motor vehicle 3, as can be seen, also has a passenger compartment 11 and the previously described electric motor 7 for propulsion. Furthermore, according to... Figure 3 Motor vehicle 3 also has the following features: Figure 1 The modular system 1 is assembled into an HVAC unit 2, which has second fan filters 6, 6a, and 6b. Since the electric motor 7 is configured much more compactly than the internal combustion engine 5, and is even configured as a hub motor, there is sufficient installation space in front of the end wall 12 in the direction of travel 13, so that the second fan filters 6, 6a, and 6b are located in front of the end wall 12 in the direction of travel 13, while only the distributor 8 is located behind the end wall 12, that is, in the passenger compartment 11.

[0023] Therefore, by utilizing the modular system 1 according to the invention, motor vehicles 3 driven in different ways (e.g., motor vehicles 3 with an internal combustion engine 5 or an electric motor 7) and motor vehicles 3 configured in different ways or operated in different ways (e.g., right-hand drive or left-hand drive motor vehicles 3) can be manufactured with great flexibility, because the separation of the distributor 8 from the corresponding fan filter device 4 or 6 is feasible. Thus, by utilizing the modular system 1 according to the invention, the number of component types can be significantly reduced, and various variations of the motor vehicle 3 can be manufactured flexibly and at low cost.

Claims

1. A modular system (1) for HVAC equipment (2) in a motor vehicle (3), -A first fan filter device (4, 4a, 4b) of a motor vehicle (3) driven by an internal combustion engine (5). -A second fan filter device (6, 6a, 6b) for a motor vehicle (3) driven by an electric motor (7). - It has a distributor (8) that can be combined in an alternative manner with the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) or the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b), and - It has an evaporator (9), which is a separate component in the modular system (1) and can be selectively combined with the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) or the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b). in, The distributor (8) is separate from the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) or the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b), wherein when the distributor (8) is combined with the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b), the first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) and the distributor (8) are located in the passenger compartment (11); when the distributor (8) is combined with the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b), only the distributor (8) is located in the passenger compartment (11), and the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b) is located in front of the end wall (12) in the direction of travel (13).

2. The modular system according to claim 1, Its features are, The first fan filter device (4a, 4b) constitutes a motor vehicle (3) for right-hand drive or left-hand drive.

3. The modular system according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The second fan filter (6a, 6b) constitutes a motor vehicle (3) for right-hand drive or left-hand drive.

4. A motor vehicle (3) having a passenger compartment (11), an internal combustion engine (5) and an HVAC system (2) assembled from a modular system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the modular system having a first fan filter device (4, 4a, 4b) and a distributor (8).

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, Its features are, The first fan filter (4, 4a, 4b) and the distributor (8) are located in the passenger compartment (11).

6. A motor vehicle (3) having a passenger compartment (11), an electric motor (7) for driving the motor vehicle (3) and an HVAC device (2) assembled from a modular system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the modular system having a second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b) and a distributor (8).

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, Its features are, Only the distributor (8) is located in the passenger compartment (11), while the second fan filter (6, 6a, 6b) is located in front of the end wall (12) in the direction of travel (13).

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