DESC:

FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of air conditioning. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of HVAC systems of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Typically, a filter in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (AC) system of a vehicle is used to filter air to be supplied into a driver’s compartment and a passenger’s compartment. A clean filter in the HVAC system of the vehicle facilitates smooth movement of cool air through the driver and passenger compartment. However, due to continuous air movement, the filter becomes contaminated by dust getting clogged into the filter. Also, a dirty filter will not only hinder the operation of the HVAC, but also becomes a breeding ground for germs and bacteria thereby releasing odor into the compartment.
To service the filter, the entire HVAC system needs to be removed which incurs high maintenance cost. Also, during maintenance of the filter, the HVAC system remains inoperable.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a system that alleviates the above mentioned drawbacks and that increases the filter serviceability interval.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that notifies about servicing of the filter.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that provides comfort at a relatively lower maintenance cost.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a system for controlling air flow of HVAC system of a vehicle. The system of the present disclosure comprises a system for increasing filter serviceability interval in a HVAC module of a vehicle, the system comprising a recirculation module configured to receive fresh air; a first path configured between the recirculation module and a compartment of the vehicle to which fresh air is to be supplied; a second path configured between the recirculation module and the compartment; a first filter fitted in-line in the first path; a second filter fitted in-line in the second path; a diverter for diverting fresh air from the recirculation module either along the first path or the second path; a selector configured to displace the diverter; an airflow sensor configured to sense a pressure drop in airflow across the first filter and the second filter; and a comparator fitted in the recirculation module for receiving a signal from the airflow sensor and comparing the received signal with a stored threshold value, and if pressure drop exceeds the threshold value triggering a displacing signal to the diverter via the selector for diverting fresh airflow from the first path to the second path or vice-versa.
The recirculation module further comprises a fresh air opening; a first recirculation opening; a second recirculation opening; and a repository. The fresh air opening is configured to receive fresh air. The first recirculation opening is configured at operative bottom of the recirculation module. The second recirculation opening is configured on operative top of the recirculation module. The repository stores the threshold value of the airflow in terms of pressure/velocity. The airflow sensor is coupled with the selector. The selector is an actuator motor. The diverter is a drum type door. The diverter is capable of being installed radially or axially according to the air flow direction into the filters. The diverter switches between a set of pre-determined positions depending upon a fresh/recirculation mode selected till the threshold level of airflow is reached for the respective filter. The airflow sensor is a velocity sensor or a pressure sensor. A notification module cooperates with the airflow sensor and is configured to notify a user regarding clogged filters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A system for increasing filter serviceability interval in a vehicle HVAC system of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1A to Figure 1D illustrates a top view, a left side view, a front view, and a right side view of the system in radial flow concept, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2A illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 1A-1D that depicts position of drum door and air path way through Filter-1 in the fresh air mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 1A-1D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-1 in the recirculation mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3A illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 1A-1D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the fresh air mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 1A-1D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the recirculation mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4A to Figure 4D illustrates a top view, a left side view, a front view, and a right side view of the system in axial flow concept, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5A illustrates the sectional view of a system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-1 in the fresh air mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-1 in the recirculation mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6A illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the fresh air mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the recirculation mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7A and 7B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the fresh air mode, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 8A and 8B illustrates a sectional view of the system of Figure 4A-4D that depicts the position of drum door and air path way through Filter-2 in the recirculation mode.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING
100 – System
102 – Recirculation Housing
104 – Fresh Air Opening
106A – First Recirculation Opening
106B – Second Recirculation Opening
108 – Actuator Motor
110 – Airflow Sensor
112A – First Filter
112B – Second Filter
114 – Drum Type Door
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure envisages a system for increasing filter serviceability interval of a vehicle HVAC system. The system for increasing filter serviceability interval of a vehicle HVAC system (herein after referred to as “system 100”) of the present disclosure is now described with reference to Figure 1A to Figure 8B.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the system 100 comprises a recirculation housing 102. The recirculation housing 102 includes a fresh air opening 104, a first recirculation opening 106A, a second recirculation opening 106B, an actuator motor 108, an air flow sensor 110, a first filter 112A, a second filter 112B, and a drum type door 114.
In an embodiment, the recirculation housing 102 has the fresh air opening 104 which receives fresh air. The drum type door 114 is disposed downstream of the fresh air opening 104 and is configured to direct the flow of fresh air towards the first filter 112A. In an embodiment, the drum type door 114 has two slots configured opposite to each other. The drum type door 114 is configured to selectively direct the flow of fresh air from the fresh air opening 104 to the first filter 112A or towards the second filter 112B. The actuator motor 108 is coupled with the drum type door 114 and is configured to rotate the drum type door 114. The air flow sensor 110 is coupled with the actuator motor 108 and is configured to sense the pressure of the air going towards the compartment (shown in figure 2A with dotted arrows). Depending upon the pressure/velocity drop of the fresh air entering the compartment, the actuator motor 108 rotates the drum type door 114 and directs the air.
In an embodiment, the system 100 of the present disclosure operates in two modes i.e. a radial flow mode and an axial flow mode.
In the radial flow mode, the fresh air is sucked by the blower (not shown in Figures) in radial direction with respect to the axis of the drum type door 114, as shown in figure 2A. Two recirculation openings i.e. the first recirculation opening 106A configured at bottom operative end of the recirculation housing 102 and the second recirculation opening 106B configured on operative top portion of the recirculation housing 102. The first filter 112A and the second filter 112B are disposed within the recirculation housing 102 downstream the fresh airflow. In an embodiment, the first filter 112A is placed on top of the second filter 112B.
Initially, the drum type door 114 is at position A as shown in figure 2A, as the blower motor is switched ON, the blower (not shown in the Figures) of the blower motor sucks fresh air through the first filter 112A via the drum type door 114. When the user selects the recirculation mode, the actuator motor rotates the drum type door 114 in a counter clock-wise direction by an angle of 45° to position B, as shown in figure 2B. The air is then sucked from the first recirculation opening 106A and passes through the first filter 112A. In an embodiment, the drum type door 114 switches between the position A and position B as per the fresh/recirculation mode selected by the user until a threshold level of air flowing is reached through the first filter 112A sensed by the airflow sensor 110. The airflow sensor 110 sends signal to the climate control module (CCM) (not shown in the Figures) which triggers the actuator motor 108 to rotate the drum type door 114 to position C or position D depending up on the current selection of fresh/recirculation mode. Figure 3A and 3B depicts the position of the drum type door 114 and the air flow through the second filter 112B.
When the first filter 112A gets clogged and the fresh air mode is selected by the user to rotate the drum type door 114 from position A to position C in clock-wise direction by an angle of 45° via the second recirculation opening 106B. The fresh air enters from the fresh air opening 104 and passes through the second filter 112B, as shown in Figure 3A. Once the fresh air is circulated through the vehicle compartment, the drum type door 114 is rotated by 90° in clock-wise direction from position A to position D, as shown in Figure 3B. The recirculated air enters from the second recirculation opening 106B and passes via the drum type door 114 and towards the compartment through the second filter 112B.
In axial flow mode, the air flows in axial direction with respect to the drum type door axis at position A, as shown in Figure 5A. When the user switches the blower motor ON, the air is sucked by the blower motor from the fresh air opening 104 through the first filter 112A, as shown in Figure 5B. The recirculation mode is selected by the user and the actuator motor 108 rotates the drum type door 114 by 50° counter clock-wise direction and moves to position B, as shown in Figure 5B. The air is then sucked from the first recirculation opening 106A, and passes through the first filter 112A and enters the blower motor, as shown in the Figure 5B. The drum type door switches between position A and position B as per the fresh/recirculation mode selected by the user until the threshold level of the airflow is reached through the first filter 112A which will be sensed by the airflow sensor 110. The airflow sensor 110 is configured to send a signal to the climate control module (CCM) (not shown in the Figures). The CCM comprises a comparator (not shown in the Figures) and a repository (not shown in the Figures). The repository stores a predetermined threshold value of the airflow in terms of pressure/velocity and the comparator is configured to compare the pressure/velocity drop of the airflow signal received from the sensor 110 with the predetermined threshold value of airflow. Depending upon the pressure/velocity drop sensed by the sensor 110, the CCM triggers the actuator motor 108 to rotate the drum type door 114 to position C or position D as per the current selection of the fresh/recirculation mode. The drum type door 114 positions and the airflow passage through the second filter 112B in fresh mode and recirculated mode are clearly depicted in the Figure 7A & 7B and in the Figure 8A & 8B respectively.
When the first filter is clogged and the fresh air mode is selected, and the drum type door 114 by 120° clock-wise direction from position A and reaches position C so that the fresh air enters from the fresh air opening 104. The fresh air passes through the drum type door 114 and the second filter 112B, as shown in the Figures 7A & 7B.
When the first filter is clogged and recirculation mode is selected by the user, the drum type door 114 is rotated by 170° clock-wise direction. The drum type door 114 rotates from position A to position D so that the air enters from the second recirculation opening 106B and passes through the drum type door 114 as shown in the Figures 8A & 8B.
In an embodiment, the threshold level of the pressure/velocity of the air flowing towards the blower motor can be measured by either by a velocity sensor or by a pressure sensor. In an embodiment, the threshold level of the airflow for each blower needs to be defined in the climate control module (CCM), against which the airflow from the sensor 110 is compared for switching the drum type door 114 between the first filter 112A and the second filter 112B. In an embodiment, notification module cooperating with the sensor and is configured to notify the user when both the filters are clogged. The notification is in form of an audible warning or a visual indication displayed on a screen.
The system 100 of the present disclosure has following advantages as compared to the prior art:
• It makes use of same actuator which is used for fresh/recirculation and for door actuation, hence no additional drivers are required like separate motor, driving cam device, sliding arms, etc.;
• It can be implemented in any exiting HVAC design layouts just by changing fresh/recirculation housing;
• Filter serviceability is easy and cheap by accessing through glove box and/or from bottom of IP at co-driver side similar to the conventional HVAC system.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a system for increasing filter serviceability of a vehicle HVAC system that:
• notifies regarding servicing of the filter; and
• provides comfort at a relatively lower maintenance cost.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals 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.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. these and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A system (100) for increasing filter serviceability interval in a HVAC module of a vehicle, said system (100) comprising:
- a recirculation module (102) configured to receive fresh air;
- a first path configured between said recirculation module and a compartment of said vehicle to which fresh air is to be supplied;
- a second path configured between said recirculation module and said compartment;
- a first filter (112A) fitted in-line in said first path;
- a second filter (112B) fitted in-line in said second path;
- a diverter (114) for diverting fresh air from said recirculation module either along said first path or said second path;
- a selector (108) configured to displace said diverter (114);
- an airflow sensor (110) configured to sense a pressure drop in airflow across said first filter (112A) and said second filter (112B); and
- a comparator fitted in said recirculation module (102) for receiving a signal from said airflow sensor (110) and comparing said received signal with a stored threshold value, and if pressure drop exceeds said threshold value triggering a displacing signal to said diverter (114) via said selector (108) for diverting fresh airflow from said first path to said second path or vice-versa.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recirculation module (102) further comprises a fresh air opening (104); a first recirculation opening (106A); a second recirculation opening (106B) ; and a repository.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fresh air opening (104) is configured to receive fresh air.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first recirculation opening (106A) is configured at operative bottom of said recirculation module (102).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second recirculation opening (106B) is configured on operative top of said recirculation module (102).
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said repository stores said threshold value of the airflow in terms of pressure/velocity.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airflow sensor (110) is coupled with said selector (108).
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selector (108) is an actuator motor.
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diverter (114) is a drum type door.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diverter (114) is capable of being installed radially or axially according to the air flow direction into said filters (112A, 112B).
11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diverter (114) switches between a set of pre-determined positions depending upon a fresh/recirculation mode selected till said threshold level of airflow is reached for the respective filter (112A, 112B).
12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airflow sensor (110) is a velocity sensor or a pressure sensor.
13. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a notification module cooperates with said airflow sensor (100) and is configured to notify a user regarding clogged filters (112A, 112B).