DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to ventilation systems in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to a compact plenum assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a first chamber for effectively providing air to a HVAC unit in the vehicle, and a second chamber for effectively providing air to the first chamber.

BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system in vehicles is used to provide comfort to occupants of the vehicle by providing warm air in winter and cool air in summer. Further, the HVAC system performs ventilation function i.e. venting used air as well as providing fresh air to a passenger cabin of the vehicle. A plenum assembly is used for fresh air intake in the event of fresh air mode of the HVAC system. In addition, the plenum assembly prevents the water to enter the HVAC system in the event of rain or during manually watering the vehicle condition. Further, the plenum assembly hides a gap between a windshield and a bonnet thereby protecting a wiper motor and other mechanisms located below the plenum assembly. Usually, the windshield and the bonnet joining area are subjected to have a very minimum space. The less packaging space available at the joining area results in design constraint and complex packaging of the plenum assembly due to packaging of longitudinal engine configuration. A conventional lower plenum assembly has a duct shaped channel formed by welding of the inner and outer dash panels that provide an air path to the HVAC system. Further, an additional lower plenum panel is fastened to the dash panel to collect and drain the water. The aforementioned lower plenum assembly usually occupies a full cross width of the vehicle which in turn increases an overall weight of the vehicle.
[003] Therefore, there exists a need for a compact plenum assembly for a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[004] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a compact plenum assembly for a vehicle, which occupies very less space thereby enabling lesser packaging space, efficiently provides air to a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) unit of the vehicle and effectively drains collected water.
[005] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a plenum assembly for a vehicle, which comprises a second chamber for effectively collecting and draining the water thereby restricting the water from the second chamber to flow to the first chamber and a HVAC unit of the vehicle.
[006] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a plenum assembly for a vehicle, which is detachable thereby enabling easier service/repair process.
[007] A further another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a plenum assembly for a vehicle, which has less weight and non-corrosive characteristics.
[008] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[009] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] Fig. 1 depicts an exploded view of a plenum assembly for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] Fig. 3 depicts a top view of a portion of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0013] Fig. 4 depicts a front view of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of the plenum assembly along the line X-X of fig. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] Fig. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of the plenum assembly along the line Y-Y of fig. 2, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0016] Fig. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of the plenum assembly along the line Z-Z of fig. 4, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 8 depicts a perspective view of a first chamber of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0018] Fig. 9 depicts a front view of the first chamber of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0019] Fig. 10 depicts a perspective view of a second chamber of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0020] Fig. 11 depicts a top view of the second chamber of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0021] Fig. 12 depicts a front view of the second chamber of the plenum assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0023] The embodiments herein achieve a compact plenum assembly for a vehicle, which occupies very less space thereby enabling lesser packaging space, efficiently provides air to a HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) unit of the vehicle and effectively drains collected water. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 through 12, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0024] Fig. 1 depicts an exploded view of a plenum assembly for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the vehicle (not shown) includes a plenum assembly 100, a dash panel D (as shown in fig. 6 and fig .7), a HVAC unit (not shown), an engine compartment (not shown) and may include other standard systems and components as present in standard vehicle. In an embodiment, the plenum assembly 100 includes a first chamber 102, a second chamber 104, a first water isolating means 106, a second water isolating means 108, a first gas isolating means 110, a second gas isolating means 112, a plurality of drainage ducts 114 and a top panel T.
[0025] In an embodiment, the first chamber 102 is used to provide air to the HVAC unit (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) of the vehicle. The first chamber 102 receives air from the second chamber 104. In an embodiment, the first chamber 102 is disposed inside the second chamber 104. In an embodiment, the first chamber 102 includes at least one air inlet 102a, at least one air outlet 102b, a plurality of openings 102c, a first portion 102d and a second portion 102e. The air inlet 102a of the first chamber 102 is used to facilitate entry of air from the second chamber 104 to the first chamber 102. The air outlet 102b of the first chamber 102 is used to facilitate exit of air from the first chamber 102 to the HVAC unit. In an embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the air inlet 102a of the first chamber 102 is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the air outlet 102b. The plurality of openings 102c of the first chamber 102 is used to receive fasteners (not shown) therein to removably connect the first chamber 102 to the dash panel D. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the first chamber 102 to the dash panel D by welding, riveting, adhesive bonding or by any other means. The plurality of openings 102c is adjacent to the periphery of the air outlet 102b of the first chamber 102. The first portion 102d of the first chamber 102 is used for engaging the first water isolating means 106 with the first chamber 102. The second portion 102e of the first chamber 102 is used for engaging the second water isolating means 108 with the first chamber 102. The first chamber 102 is made of plastic material. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the first chamber 102 to be made of metal or any other material.
[0026] In an embodiment, the second chamber 104 is used to provide air to the first chamber 102. The second chamber 104 is adapted to collect and drain the water during at least one of a rainy condition and a manually watering the vehicle condition. The second chamber 104 is used to receive at least one of air and water through the top panel T. In an embodiment, the second chamber 104 includes a plurality of water outlets 104a, a plurality of first openings 104b, a second opening 104c, a first peripheral portion 104d and a second peripheral portion 104e. The plurality of water outlets 104a of the second chamber 104 is used to facilitate exit of water from the second chamber 104. The plurality of first openings 104b is used to receive fasteners (not shown) therein to removably connect the second chamber 104 to the dash panel D. The second opening 104c is used to receive fastener therein to removably connect the second chamber 104 to an engine compartment side panel (not shown). It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the second chamber 104 with the dash panel D and the engine compartment side panel (not shown) by welding, riveting, adhesive bonding or by any other means. The first peripheral portion 104d of second chamber 104 is used for engaging the first gas isolating means 108 with the second chamber 104. The second peripheral portion 104e of the second chamber 104 is used for engaging the second gas isolating means 110 with the second chamber 104. The second chamber 104 is made of plastic material. It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the second chamber 104 to be made of metal or any other material.
[0027] In an embodiment, the first water isolating means 106 is used to restrict the water from the first chamber 102 to flow to the HVAC unit (not shown). The first water isolating means 106 is connected to the first portion 102d of the first chamber 102 by adhesive bonding. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the first water isolating means 106 with the first portion 102d of the first chamber 102 by fastening, riveting or by any other means. The first water isolating means 106 is adapted to be disposed between the first chamber 102 and the dash panel D, and in front of the air outlet 102b of the first chamber 102. The first water isolating means 106 is made of foam material (closed cell EPDM foam). It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the first water isolating means 106 to be made of any other material.
[0028] In an embodiment, the second water isolating means 108 is used to restrict the water from the second chamber 104 to flow to the first chamber 102. The second water isolating means 108 is connected to the second portion 102e of the first chamber 102 by adhesive bonding. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the second water isolating means 108 with the second portion 102e of the first chamber 102 by fastening, riveting or by any other means. The second water isolating means 108 is adapted to be disposed between the first chamber 102 and the top panel T, and is above the air inlet 102a of the first chamber 102. The second water isolating means 108 is made of foam material (partially closed EPDM foam). It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the second water isolating means 108 to be made of any other material.
[0029] In an embodiment, the first gas isolating means 110 is used to restrict the gas from the engine compartment (not shown) to flow to second chamber 104. The first gas isolating means 110 is connected to the first peripheral portion 104d of the second chamber 104 by adhesive bonding. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the first gas isolating means 110 with the first peripheral portion 104d of the second chamber 104 by fastening, riveting or by any other means. The first gas isolating means 110 is adapted to be disposed between the second chamber 104 and the dash panel D, and in front of the air outlet 102b of the first chamber 102. The first gas isolating means 110 is made of foam material (partially closed EPDM foam). It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the first gas isolating means 110 to be made of any other material.
[0030] In an embodiment, the second gas isolating means 112 is used to restrict the gas from the engine compartment (not shown) to flow to the second chamber 104. The second gas isolating means 112 is connected to the second peripheral portion 104e of the second chamber 104 by adhesive bonding. It is also within the scope of the invention to connect the second gas isolating means 112 with the second peripheral portion 104e of the second chamber 104 by fastening, riveting or by any other means. The second gas isolating means 112 is adapted to be disposed between the second chamber 104 and the top panel T. The second gas isolating means 112 is made of at foam material (partially closed EPDM foam). It is also within the scope of the invention to provide the second gas isolating means 112 to be made of any other material.
[0031] In an embodiment, the plurality of drainage ducts 114 is used to drain the water in the second chamber 104. In an embodiment, each drainage duct 114 includes an inlet 114a and an outlet 114b. The inlet 114a of each drainage duct 114 is provided in fluid communication with corresponding water outlet 104a of the second chamber 104. The outlet 114b of each drainage duct 114 is used to facilitate exit of water from the drainage duct 114.
[0032] The top panel T is used to facilitate the flow of atmospheric air to the second chamber 104 and also to cover the second chamber 104. The top panel T is disposed onto the second chamber 104. The top panel T includes a plurality of openings O (as shown in fig. 3) adapted to allow the atmospheric air to flow to the second chamber 104. The plurality of openings O also allows the water to flow to the second chamber 104 during rainy condition or manually watering the vehicle condition.
[0033] The assembly of the plenum assembly 100 is as follows. The first water isolating means 106 is pasted to the first portion 102d of the first chamber 102 by adhesive bonding. The second isolating means 108 is pasted to the second portion 102e of the first chamber 102 by adhesive bonding. The first gas isolating means 110 is pasted to the first peripheral portion 104d of the second chamber 104 by adhesive bonding. The second gas isolating means 112 is pasted to second peripheral portion 104e of the second chamber 104 by adhesive bonding. The inlet 114a of each drainage duct 114 is connected to corresponding water outlet 104a of the second chamber 104. Thereafter, the first chamber 102 is fastened to the dash panel D. Thereafter, the second chamber 104 is fastened to the dash panel D and the engine compartment side panel (not shown). Thereafter, the top panel T is fastened to the second chamber 104.
[0034] The dash panel D is disposed between the engine compartment (not shown) and a passenger cabin (not shown) of the vehicle. The dash panel D is used to facilitate mounting and packaging of the HVAC unit (not shown) and other dash panel mounted components.
[0035] The HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) unit (not shown) is used to provide comfort to occupants of the vehicle by providing warm air in winter and cool air in summer. The HVAC unit (not shown) is used to vent used air and provides fresh air to the passenger cabin (not shown) of the vehicle by drawing the atmospheric air through the plenum assembly 100. The HVAC unit (not shown) includes a blower (not shown) and other standard components as present in standard HVAC unit. The blower (not shown) of the HVAC unit (not shown) is used to draw the atmospheric air through the first chamber 102 and the second chamber 104 of the plenum assembly 100, and provides the drawn air to the passenger cabin (not shown) of the vehicle. The blower (not shown) of the HVAC unit (not shown) is provided in fluid communication with the first chamber 102 of the plenum assembly 100.
[0036] The engine compartment (not shown) is used to facilitate the mounting and packaging of an engine (not shown), a radiator (not shown) and other standard components as present in standard vehicle.
[0037] The plenum assembly 100 occupies one third of the cross car width thereby enabling lesser packaging space. The plenum assembly 100 provides effective air transfer to the HVAC unit (not shown), effective water collection and draining, easily detachable thereby enabling easier servicing/repair process, less weight and resistant to corrosion.
[0038] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A plenum assembly 100 for a vehicle, said plenum assembly 100 comprising:
a first chamber 102 adapted to provide air to a HVAC unit of the vehicle;
a second chamber 104 adapted to provide air to said first chamber 102, said second chamber 104 having at least one water outlet 104a adapted to facilitate exit of water from said second chamber 104, where said second chamber 104 is adapted to receive at least one of air and water through a top panel T of said plenum assembly 100,
wherein
said first chamber 102 defines at least one air inlet 102a adapted to facilitate entry of air from said second chamber 104 to said first chamber 102 and at least one air outlet 102b adapted to facilitate exit of air from said first chamber 104 to the HVAC unit, where said first chamber 102 is adapted to be disposed inside said second chamber 104.

2. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first water isolating means 106 adapted to restrict the water from said first chamber 102 to flow to the HVAC unit, wherein said first water isolating means 106 is adapted to be disposed between said first chamber 102 and a dash panel D of the vehicle, and in front of the air outlet 102b of said first chamber 102.

3. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second water isolating means 108 adapted to restrict the water from said second chamber 104 to flow to said first chamber 102, wherein said second water isolating means adapted to be disposed between said first chamber 102 and the top panel T.

4. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first gas isolating means 110 adapted to restrict the gas from an engine compartment of the vehicle to flow to said second chamber 104, wherein said first gas isolating means 110 is adapted to be disposed between said second chamber 104 and the dash panel D.

5. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second gas isolating means 112 adapted to restrict the gas from the engine compartment to flow to said second chamber 104, wherein said second gas isolating means 112 is adapted to be disposed between said second chamber 104 and the top panel T.

6. A plenum assembly 100 for a vehicle, said plenum assembly 100 comprising:
a first chamber 102 adapted to provide air to a HVAC unit of the vehicle;
a second chamber 104 adapted to provide air to said first chamber 102, said second chamber 104 having at least one water outlet 104a adapted to facilitate exit of water from said second chamber 104, where said second chamber 104 is adapted to receive at least one of air and water through a top panel T of said plenum assembly 100;
a first water isolation means 106 adapted to restrict the water from said first chamber 102 to flow to the HVAC unit, where said first water isolation means 106 is adapted to be disposed between said first chamber 102 and a dash panel D of the vehicle, and in front of the air outlet 102b of said first chamber 102;
a second water isolating means 108 adapted to restrict the water from said second chamber 104 to flow to said first chamber 102, where said second water isolating means 108 is adapted to be disposed between said first chamber 102 and the top panel T;
a first gas isolating means 110 adapted to restrict the gas from an engine compartment of the vehicle to flow to said second chamber 104, where said first gas isolating means 110 is adapted to be disposed between said second chamber 104 and the dash panel D;
a second gas isolating means 112 adapted to restrict the gas from the engine compartment to flow to said second chamber 104, where said second gas isolating means 112 is adapted to be disposed between said second chamber 104 and the top panel T;
at least one drainage duct 114 having an inlet 114a adapted to be provided in fluid communication with the water outlet 104a of said second chamber 104 and an outlet 114b adapted to facilitate exit of water from said drainage duct 114,
wherein
said first chamber 102 defines at least one air inlet 102a adapted to facilitate entry of air from said second chamber 104 to said first chamber 102 and at least one air outlet 102b adapted to facilitate exit of air from said first chamber 104 to the HVAC unit, where said first chamber 102 is adapted to be disposed inside said second chamber 104.

7. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first chamber 102 includes a plurality of openings 102c adapted to receive fasteners therein to removably connect said first chamber 102 to the dash panel D, where the plurality of openings 102c are adjacent to the periphery of the air outlet 102b of said first chamber 102.

8. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 7, wherein a longitudinal axis of the air inlet 102a of said first chamber 102 is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the air outlet 102b.

9. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second chamber 104 includes a plurality of first openings 104b adapted to receive fasteners therein to removably connect said second chamber 104 to the dash panel D.

10. The plenum assembly 100 as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second chamber 104 includes a second opening 104c adapted to receive a fastener therein to removably connect said second chamber 104 to an engine compartment side panel of the vehicle.