Apparatus and method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air

Abstract

An apparatus (10) to provide a uniform mixture of hot air (20) and cold air (30) is provided The apparatus includes a control valve (40) to allow flow of the cold air provided by an evaporator (50) towards outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater (60) towards the outlets. when placed at a first position. The control valve is to allow the flow of the hot air towards the outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the outlets when placed at a second position. The control valve is to allow the flow of the hot air and the cold air towards the outlets when placed at an intermediate position located between the first position and the second position. The apparatus includes a mixing baffle to break the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the outlets.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM MIXTURE OF HOT AIR AND COED AIR

[0002] EARLIEST PRIORITY DATE

[0003] This Application claims priority from a Complete patent application filed in India having Patent Application No. 202321055984, filed on August 21, 2023, and titled “APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM MIXTURE OF HOT AIR AND COLD AIR”.

[0004] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a field of heating ventilation and air conditioning in automobiles and more particularly to an apparatus and a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Heating, Ventilation, and Airconditioning (HVAC) unit maintains a predefined environment in an automobile cabin. The HVAC unit controls temperature, humidity, and ventilation in the automobile cabin. The HVAC unit provides heating by utilizing a heater connected to an engine of the automobile. The heater utilizes coolant from the engine to warm the automobile cabin. The HVAC unit employs an air conditioning (AC) unit, including a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and refrigerant for cooling purposes. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, which releases heat, as the refrigerant condenses in the condenser. The refrigerant then flows into the evaporator, where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the automobile cabin, resulting in cooling of the automobile cabin.

[0008] The HVAC unit is also responsible for providing ventilation inside the automobile cabin by directing the air from the heater and the evaporator towards the automobile cabin through vents. Since the air from the evaporator has higher momentum than the air from the heater, a flow of the air from the heater towards the vents is impacted by the air from the evaporator, thereby affecting the performance of the HVAC unit. Hence, there is a need for an improved apparatus and a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air to address the aforementioned issue(s).

[0009] OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An objective of the invention includes to provide an apparatus and a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air is provided. The apparatus includes a control valve located adjacent to an evaporator and a heater positioned in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit. The control valve is adapted to allow flow of the cold air provided by the evaporator towards one or more outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets when placed at a first position blocking an outlet of the heater. The control valve is also adapted to allow the flow of the hot air towards the one or more outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the one or more outlets when placed at a second position blocking the outlet of the evaporator. The control valve is further adapted to allow the flow of the hot air and the cold air towards the one or more outlets when placed at an intermediate position located between the first position and the second position. The apparatus also includes a mixing baffle mounted on the control valve. The mixing baffle is adapted to break the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets when the control valve is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby providing the uniform mixture of the hot air and the cold air.

[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air is provided. The method includes allowing, by a control valve positioned adjacent to an evaporator and a heater, a flow of the cold air provided by the evaporator towards one or more outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a first position blocking an outlet of the heater. The control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a second position blocking the outlet of the evaporator. The control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater and the cold air provided by the evaporator towards the one or more outlets when positioned at an intermediate point located between the first position and the second position. The method also includes breaking, by a mixing baffle on the control valve the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets when the control valve is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby constructing the apparatus to provide the uniform mixture of the hot air and the cold air.

[0014] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more explicit description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional details with the appended figures.

[0015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying figures in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0018] FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION To promote an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such a process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components preceded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices, sub-systems, elements, structures, components, additional devices, additional sub-systems, additional elements, additional structures, or additional components. Appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment", "in another embodiment" and similar language throughout this specification may, but not necessarily do, all refer to the same embodiment.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.

[0023] In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0024] In the discussion that follows, references will be made to “first position”, “second position” and “intermediate position” with reference to various positions of a control valve to restrict a flow of hot air, to restrict the flow of cold air, and to permit the flow of the cold air and the hot air respectively.

[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air. The apparatus includes a control valve located adjacent to an evaporator and a heater positioned in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit. The control valve is adapted to allow flow of the cold air provided by the evaporator towards one or more outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets when placed at a first position blocking an outlet of the heater. The control valve is also adapted to allow the flow of the hot air towards the one or more outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the one or more outlets when placed at a second position blocking the outlet of the evaporator. The control valve is further adapted to allow the flow of the hot air and the cold air towards the one or more outlets when placed at an intermediate position located between the first position and the second position. The apparatus also includes a mixing baffle mounted on the control valve. The mixing baffle is adapted to break the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets when the control valve is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby providing the uniform mixture of the hot air and the cold air.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus (10) to provide a uniform mixture of hot air (20) and cold air (30) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus (10) includes a control valve (40) located adjacent to an evaporator (50) and a heater (60) positioned in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (130). In one embodiment, the evaporator (50) may be a plate evaporator. In some embodiments, the evaporator (50) may be a tube evaporator. In one embodiment, the heater (60) may include, but is not limited to, heater core, positive temperature coefficient heater, electric heater and the like. The control valve (40) is adapted to allow flow of the cold air (30) provided by the evaporator (50) towards one or more outlets (70). The control valve (40) blocks the flow of hot air (20) provided by the heater (60) towards the one or more outlets (70) to allow the flow of the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70). The control valve (40) is placed at a first position (80) across an outlet of the heater (60) to block the flow of the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70). In one embodiment, the one or more outlets (70) may include a vent associated with an automobile. In such an embodiment, the vent may include at least one of a dash vent, center vent, side vent, front vent, defrost vent, and floor vent.

[0027] Further, the control valve (40) is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70). The control valve (40) blocks the flow of the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70) to allow the flow of the hot air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70). The control valve (40) is placed at a second position (90) across the outlet of the evaporator (50) to block the flow of the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70). The control valve (40) is further adapted to allow the flow of the hot air (20) and the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70) when placed at an intermediate position (not shown in FIG. 1) located between the first position (80) and the second position (90).

[0028] Furthermore, the apparatus (10) includes a mixing baffle (100) mounted on the control valve (40). The mixing baffle (100) is adapted to break the flow of the cold air (30) to support the hot air (20) to flow towards the one or more outlets (70) when the control valve (40) is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby providing the uniform mixture of the hot air (20) and the cold air (30). In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) may include an actuator (120) positioned adjacent to the control valve (40). In such an embodiment, the actuator (120) may be adapted to place the control valve (40) at the first position (80), the second position (90) and the intermediate position based on one or more control signals provided by a control unit (not shown in FIG. 1). In one embodiment, the actuator (120) may include at least one of an electromechanical actuator, piezo electric actuator, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electrohydraulic actuator and shape memory alloy actuator.

[0029] Moreover, in one embodiment, the mixing baffle (100) may be connected to an activator (not shown in FIG. 1) adapted to change one or more dimensions of the mixing baffle (100) based on one or more activation signals provided by the control unit. In such an embodiment, the mixing baffle (100) may be mounted at a predefined angle with respect to the control valve (40). In one embodiment, the predefined angle may include an obtuse angle. In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) may include a plurality of guiding baffles (110) positioned adjacent to the heater (60). In such an embodiment, the plurality of guiding baffles (110) may be adapted to guide the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70). In one embodiment, the plurality of guiding baffles (110) may be overhanging the heater (60) to guide the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70).

[0030] FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing the steps involved in a method (200) to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method (200) includes allowing a flow of the cold air provided by an evaporator towards one or more outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a first position blocking an outlet of the heater in step 210. In one embodiment, allowing a flow of the cold air provided by an evaporator towards one or more outlets includes allowing a flow of the cold air provided by an evaporator towards one or more outlets by a control valve positioned adjacent to an evaporator and a heater.

[0031] Further, the control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a second position blocking the outlet of the evaporator. The control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater and the cold air provided by the evaporator towards the one or more outlets when positioned at an intermediate point located between the first position and the second position. In one embodiment, the evaporator may be a plate evaporator. In some embodiments, the evaporator may be a tube evaporator. In one embodiment, the heater may include, but is not limited to, heater core, positive temperature coefficient heater, electric heater and the like.

[0032] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the one or more outlets may include a vent associated with an automobile. In such an embodiment, the vent may include at least one of a dash vent, center vent, side vent, front vent, defrost vent, and floor vent. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include an actuator positioned adjacent to the control valve. In such an embodiment, the actuator may be adapted to place the control valve at the first position, the second position and the intermediate position based on one or more control signals provided by a control unit. In one embodiment, the actuator may include at least one of an electromechanical actuator, piezo electric actuator, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electrohydraulic actuator and shape memory alloy actuator.

[0033] The method (200) also includes breaking the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets when the control valve is positioned at the intermediate point in step 220. In one embodiment, breaking the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets includes breaking the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets by a mixing baffle on the control valve. In one embodiment, the mixing baffle may be connected to an activator adapted to change one or more dimensions of the mixing baffle based on one or more activation signals provided by the control unit. In such an embodiment, the mixing baffle may be mounted at a predefined angle with respect to the control valve. In one embodiment, the predefined angle may include an obtuse angle.

[0034] Further, in one embodiment, the apparatus my include a plurality of guiding baffles positioned adjacent to the heater. In such an embodiment, the plurality of guiding baffles may be adapted to guide the hot air towards the one or more outlets. In one embodiment, the plurality of guiding baffles may be overhanging the heater to guide the hot air towards the one or more outlets.

[0035] Various embodiments of the apparatus and a method to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air described above enable various advantages. The mixing baffle is capable of breaking the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets, thereby providing uniform mixture of the hot air and the cold air. The plurality of guiding baffles are adapted to guide the hot air towards the one or more outlets, thereby enhancing the performance of the apparatus. The actuator is capable of positioning the control valve at the first position, the second position and the third position based on the one or more control signals provided by the control unit, thereby enabling superior controllability of the apparatus. Provision of the mixing baffle at the obtuse angle with respect to the control valve enables the mixing baffle to break the flow of the cold air efficiently.

[0036] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended.

[0037] The figures and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, the order of processes described herein may be changed and is not limited to the manner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown; nor do all the acts need to be necessarily performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus (10) to provide a uniform mixture of hot air (20) and cold air (30) comprising: a control valve (40) located adjacent to an evaporator (50) and a heater (60) positioned in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit, wherein the control valve (40) is adapted to: allow flow of the cold air (30) provided by the evaporator (50) towards one or more outlets (70) while blocking the flow of hot air (20) provided by the heater (60) towards the one or more outlets (70) when placed at a first position (80) blocking an outlet of the heater (60); allow the flow of the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70) while blocking the flow of the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70) when placed at a second position (90) blocking the outlet of the evaporator (50); allow the flow of the hot air (20) and the cold air (30) towards the one or more outlets (70) when placed at an intermediate position located between the first position (80) and the second position (90); and characterized in that: a mixing baffle (100) mounted on the control valve (40), wherein the mixing baffle (100) is adapted to break the flow of the cold air (30) to support the hot air (20) to flow towards the one or more outlets (70) when the control valve (40) is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby providing the uniform mixture of the hot air (20) and the cold air (30).

2. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing baffle (100) is connected to an activator adapted to change one or more dimensions of the mixing baffle (100) based on one or more activation signals provided by a control unit.

3. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing baffle (100) is mounted at a predefined angle with respect to the control valve (40), wherein the predefined angle comprises an obtuse angle.

4. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more outlets (70) comprises a vent associated with an automobile, wherein the vent comprises at least one of a dash vent, center vent, side vent, front vent, defrost vent, and floor vent.

5. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of guiding baffles (110) positioned adjacent to the heater (60), wherein the plurality of guiding baffles (110) are adapted to guide the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70).

6. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of guiding baffles (110) are overhanging the heater (60) to guide the hot air (20) towards the one or more outlets (70).

7. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an actuator (120) positioned adjacent to the control valve (40), wherein the actuator (120) is adapted to place the control valve (40) at the first position (80), the second position (90) and the intermediate position based on one or more control signals provided by a control unit.

8. The apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the actuator (120) comprises at least one of an electromechanical actuator, piezo electric actuator, hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electrohydraulic actuator and shape memory alloy actuator.

9. A method (200) to provide a uniform mixture of hot air and cold air comprising: allowing, by a control valve positioned adjacent to an evaporator and a heater, a flow of the cold air provided by the evaporator towards one or more outlets while blocking the flow of hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a first position blocking an outlet of the heater,wherein the control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater towards the one or more outlets while blocking the flow of the cold air towards the one or more outlets when positioned at a second position blocking the outlet of the evaporator, wherein the control valve is adapted to allow the flow of the hot air provided by the heater and the cold air provided by the evaporator towards the one or more outlets when positioned at an intermediate point located between the first position and the second position; (210) and characterized in that: breaking, by a mixing baffle on the control valve, the flow of the cold air to support the hot air to flow towards the one or more outlets when the control valve is positioned at the intermediate point, thereby constructing the apparatus to provide the uniform mixture of the hot air and the cold air. (220)

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