Vehicle HVAC Blower Door Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle HVAC systems face inefficiencies when drawing a mixture of exterior and interior air, as exterior air can leak into the passenger compartment through the interior air intake vent, leading to increased energy expenditure and reduced fuel economy, especially at higher speeds.
Innovation Solution
A blower unit with independent first and second doors that can move between fresh air, recirculating air, and mixture positions, featuring a sealing mechanism to prevent air flow out of the interior air intake aperture, ensuring that exterior air is conditioned before entering the passenger compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both exterior and interior air intake vents are open to draw a mixture of air, then passengers receive fresh air which reduces window fogging and makes riding more pleasant, but exterior air can leak into the passenger compartment through the interior air intake vent without being heated or cooled, increasing energy expenditure and reducing fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The air intake system is segmented into separate controllable paths: exterior air intake and interior air intake. Each path has its own door mechanism that can be independently controlled to prevent unintended mixing and leakage, ensuring that exterior air only enters through the designated exterior intake path where it can be properly conditioned.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the exterior air intake path and the interior air intake path. This sealing member, when engaged by the first door, prevents direct communication between the two paths, blocking the leakage route for unconditioned exterior air while allowing controlled mixture operation when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If exterior air is drawn through the exterior air intake vent at higher vehicle speeds, then more fresh air is supplied to passengers, but the high RAM air pressure causes increased leakage of unconditioned exterior air through the interior air intake vent
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism acts in advance to prevent the harmful effect of high-pressure exterior air from forcing its way through the interior air intake vent. By maintaining a sealed barrier between the exterior and interior intake paths, the system counteracts the pressure-driven leakage before it can occur, regardless of vehicle speed or RAM air pressure conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A blower unit for a vehicle heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is disclosed. The blower unit includes a case member that defines at least one exterior air intake aperture and at least one interior air intake aperture. The blower unit also includes a sealing member, a first door, and a second door. The first and second doors can move independent of each other. The first and second doors can be positioned in a mixture position to allow air flow into the blower unit through both the exterior and interior air intake apertures. The first door, in the mixture position, is sealed against the sealing member. As such, the first door and the sealing member cooperate to reduce air flow out of the blower unit through the interior air intake aperture.