Split HVAC Assembly Sealing and Interfacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional HVAC systems in vehicles often face challenges in maintaining aerothermal parameters efficiently, particularly in electric vehicles where space constraints require innovative solutions for airflow management without compromising leakage prevention.

Innovation Solution

A split HVAC assembly is designed with a single sealing element and interfacing elements to connect two sub-assemblies across a wall, ensuring tight sealing and minimizing airflow leakage, allowing for efficient airflow management and installation in electric vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sealing elements are used to connect HVAC sub-assemblies, then airflow leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow leakage preventionVSAvoidnumber of sealing elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single sealing element that is integrated with the interfacing structure. The sealing element is positioned within the interfacing element and works in conjunction with the direct mechanical connection to prevent airflow leakage, thereby reducing the total number of sealing components needed while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interfacing element serves dual functions: it provides both the mechanical connection between sub-assemblies and the sealing function through the integrated sealing element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sealing components and simplifies the overall assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple sealing elements and complex interfacing structures are used, then airflow leakage prevention is improved, but installation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow leakage preventionVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the sealing element with the interfacing element into a single unified component, the installation process is simplified to a single operation rather than requiring separate steps for installing multiple sealing elements. This reduces installation time while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element is pre-integrated with the interfacing element during manufacturing, so that during installation, the sealing function is already prepared and ready to work immediately upon assembly. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for separate sealing installation steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If sub-assemblies are connected with minimal sealing components, then device complexity is reduced, but airflow leakage may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sealing elementsVSAvoidairflow leakage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is strategically positioned at the critical interface between sub-assemblies where airflow leakage would occur. The direct connection between sub-assemblies concentrates the sealing effort at the most important location, providing effective sealing with minimal components by focusing the sealing function where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Temperature

If conventional HVAC systems are used in electric vehicles, then aerothermal parameter regulation is maintained, but space constraints are not adequately addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerothermal parameter regulationVSAvoidHVAC system space

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The HVAC system is divided into separate sub-assemblies that can be distributed throughout the vehicle's available space rather than requiring a single large centralized unit. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to the distributed space constraints typical of electric vehicle layouts while maintaining full aerothermal regulation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11260718B2Split heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 VALEO NORTH AMERICA INC(US)

AI summary

A split heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The split HVAC includes a first sub-assembly comprising an evaporator and a first airflow space, a second sub-assembly comprising a second airflow space, a single sealing element located between a wall and one of the first sub-assembly or the second-sub-assembly, and a first interfacing element that directly connects the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The single sealing element and the first interfacing element prevent any airflow leakage from both the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, and one of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly extends partially into the other of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly.