FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
"AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT "
APPLICANT
BEHR India Ltd., 29 Milestone
Kuru li, Nasik Highway
Khed, Pune 410501 India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner
in which it is to be performed

The invention relates to a method for operating an air-conditioning unit according to the preamble of claim 1 and an air-conditioning unit according to the preamble of claim 9.
5 Air-conditioning units are used in vehicles for cooling or heating the air in the vehicle interior. In a housing made of plastic flow ducts are limited by the housing and with a blower unit air from the ambiance of the vehicle and/or from the vehicle interior is suctioned in a first and second inlet orifice for air from ambiance and/or or in an inlet orifice for the vehicle interior. An 10 evaporator is arranged downstream of the blower unit and through the evaporator the air flows. Downstream of the evaporator a heater is arranged, through which the air also flows.
The inlet orifices are opened and closed with a first and second inlet flap, 15 pivotable respectively rotatable around an axis. These first and second inlet flaps are moveable or rotatable with the help of two separate motor, a first motor only for the first inlet flap and a second motor only for the second inlet flap.
2 0 In the housing outlet orifices are integrated, through which the conditioned air exhausts the air-conditioning unit. Downstream of the outlet orifices the • conditioned air flows through external flow ducts to air nozzles in the vehicle interior.
2 5 The invention aims to provide a method for operating an air-conditioning unit and an air-conditioning unit which needs only a little installation space at the inlet orifices in the vehicle.
The aim is solved with a method for operating an air-conditioning unit,
30 especially an air-conditioning as described in this patent application, the
method comprising the steps of: flow of air from the ambiance through a first
inlet orifice, flow of air form the ambiance through a second inlet orifice,

moving, especially rotating, of a first inlet flap for opening and closing the first inlet orifice between an open and close position, moving, especially rotating, of a second inlet flap for opening and closing the second inlet orifice between an open and close position, exhaust of air through at least one outlet orifice, 5 especially heating of the air at a heater, especially cooling of the air at an evaporator, whereby the first inlet flap and the second inlet flap are moved with only one motor and/or only one motor moves the first inlet flap and the second inlet flap. Therefore, the air-conditioning unit needs only a little installation place, because only one motor is needed to move both inlet flaps.
10
In a further embodiment a driving shaft of the motor rotates between a closed and opened angle of rotation and at the closed angle of rotation the first and second inlet flaps are closed and at the opened angle of rotation the first and second inlet flaps are opened.
15
In an additional embodiment the angle of rotation of the driving shaft is controlled in a function of the speed of the vehicle with the air-conditioning unit, especially the driving shaft is in the closed angle of rotation if the speed of the vehicle is the maximum speed or higher than 70%, 80% or 90% of the 20 maximum speed of the vehicle and the driving shaft is in the opened angle of rotation if the speed of the vehicle is less than 30%, 20% or 10% of the maximum speed of the vehicle or the vehicle stops. Therefore, the higher the speed of the vehicle is, the more the first and second inlet flaps are closed and reversed, because at high speeds there is a air pressure at the first and
2 5 second inlet orifice because of the speed of the vehicle.
Preferably the first inlet flap moves, especially rotates, as a first function of the angle of rotation of the driving shaft of the motor and the second inlet flap moves, especially rotates, as a second function of the angle of rotation of the
3 0 driving shaft of the motor and the first and second function are different
and/or the force, e.g. the moment of torque, from the driving shaft is

transmitted to the first inlet flap and the second inlet flap with a mechanism or gear.
In a further embodiment the first inlet flap opens continuous during a rotation 5 of the driving shaft from the closed angle of rotation to an angle of rotation, which is less than 70%, 50%, 30% or 10% of the angle of rotation between the closed and opened angle of rotation and the second inlet flap dwells during a rotation of the driving shaft from the closed angle of rotation to an angle of rotation, which is less than 70%, 50%, 30% or 10% of the angle of 10 rotation between the closed and opened angle of rotation.
In an additional embodiment the second inlet flaps opens, especially at least 2 or 3 times, faster than the first inlet flap during a rotation of the driving shaft from an angle of rotation, which is greater than 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of 15 the opened angle of rotation to the opened angle of rotation and reversed.
Preferably the movement, especially rotation, of the first inlet flap and the second inlet flap is controlled in a manner that the first inlet flap is more opened than the second inlet flap, especially the angle of rotation of the first
2 0 inlet flap is at least 30%, 50%, 100% or 200% greater than the angle of
rotation of the second inlet flap, if the driving shaft of the motor is between the opened and closed angle of rotation.
Especially the air from the ambiance is suctioned through the first inlet orifice 25 and the second inlet orifice with a blower unit. Therefore, the air flows through the first and second inlet orifice not only because of the air pressure as a result of the speed of the vehicle.
Air-conditioning unit for a vehicle, comprising a housing, a blower unit, at
3 0 least one flow duct, especially a heater for producing hot air, especially an
evaporator for producing cold air, a first inlet orifice, a second inlet orifice, a first inlet flap for opening and closing the first inlet orifice, a second inlet flap

for opening and closing the second infet orifice, at least one outlet orifice, closing the first inlet flap and the second inlet flap.
5 In a further embodiment the motor is a, especially electric, servo motor. The motor is e. g. an electric motor or another actuator.
Especially the motor, comprising a driving shaft, is mechanically connected with the first and second inlet flap with a mechanism or gear.
10
In an additional embodiment the mechanism comprises a driving-shaft-lever, which is direct connected to a driving shaft of the mechanism and a driving-shaft-rod, which is direct connected to the driving-shaft-lever with a hinge and the mechanism, comprising further primary, and second. first-flap-levers,
15 which are direct connected to the first inlet flap and the driving-shaft-rod is direct connected to the primary first-flap-lever with a hinge.
Preferably the mechanism comprises a second-flap-lever, which is direct connected to the second inlet flap and a connecting-rod, which is direct 2 o connected to the second-flap-lever with a hinge.
In a further embodiment the mechanism comprises a connecting-shaft and first and second connecting-levers, which are direct connected to the connecting-shaft, and the connecting-rod is direct connected to the first
2 5 connecting-lever with a hinge and the second connecting-lever comprises a passage in which a bolt of the second first-flap-lever is moved with a positive locking, especially the passage comprises a part with a curvature and the radius of the curvature is identical to the distance of the bolt to the axis of rotation of the first inlet flap and preferably a part in a straight line.
30 In an additional embodiment with the air-conditioning unit, especially because of the mechanism, a method described in this application is operable.

In a further embodiment the air-conditioning unit comprises at least one outlet orifice, especially an outlet orifice for defrosting or ventilation the windshield or windscreen of the vehicle and/or outlet orifice for ventilation the 5 foot space in the vehicle interior and/or outlet orifice for left side ventilation and/or outlet orifice for right side ventilation and/or outlet orifices for additional ventilation. Downstream of the outlet orifices the conditioned air flows through external flow ducts to air nozzles in the vehicle interior.
10 Preferably the inlet orifices and/or the at least one outlet orifice are openings in the housing.
In a further embodiment the mechanism comprises any cam disc and/or any spring.
15
Preferably the air-conditioning unit comprises an air filter, especially downstream the blower unit.
One example of the invention will be described with reference to the 20 accompanying drawings, in which:
fig. 1 gives a perspective view of a part of an air-conditioning unit
with a first and second inlet flap and a mechanism,
2 5 fig. 2 gives a perspective view of the mechanism unit according to fig. 1,
fig. 3 gives a side view of the mechanism according to fig. 1,
30 fig. 4 gives a diagram of the angle of rotation of a first and second
inlet flaps as a function of the angle of rotation of a driving shaft and

fig. 5 gives a table of the angle of rotation of the driving shaft and
the first and second inlet flaps.
5 The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle comprises a housing 1 in several parts or in one-piece made of thermoplastic. The housing 1 limits several flow ducts, the flow ducts end inter alia in a first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice for air from ambiance and in an inlet orifice for the vehicle interior. Inside the housing 1 a blower unit for air is fixed to the housing 1. From the
10 ambiance of the vehicle and/or from the vehicle interior air is suctioned in the inlet orifices for air from ambiance and/or in the inlet orifice for the vehicle interior. A mix flap is pivotable and according to the angle of rotation of the mix flap the air is suctioned from the ambiance of the vehicle and/or from the vehicle interior air. An evaporator, also fixed to the housing 1 and positioned
15 in a flow duct, is arranged downstream of the blower unit and through the evaporator the air flows and cold air is produced, if a compressor operates and the heat is transferred with a condenser to the ambiance of the vehicle. Downstream of the evaporator a heater is arranged, through which the air also flows, for heating the air, if the heater operates (not shown).
2 0 Downstream the evaporator and the heater the air flows to a mixing chamber or a mixing duct and from the mixing chamber or duct the air exhausts the air-conditioning unit through different outlet orifices.
The first inlet orifice can be opened and closed with a first inlet flap 2 and the 25 second inlet flap can be opened and closed with a second inlet flap 3 (fig. 1 to 3). The first inlet flap 2 is rotatable respectively pivotable around an axis 5 of rotation with a degree of 90° between the closed position (shown in fig. 1 to ) and an open position (not shown). In the same way the second inlet flap 3 is rotatable around an axis 6 of rotation (fig. 2) The first and second inlet 30 flap 2, 3 can be moved with only one electric servo motor (not shown). The electric servo motor, which is fixed to the housing 1, comprises a driving shaft. The driving shaft of the electric servo motor is mechanically connected

to a driving shaft 4 of a mechanism 8 with a positive locking. The first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 are mechanically connected with the mechanism 8 with the servo motor. The driving 4 shaft 4 (fig. 1 to 3) is rotatable around an axis 7 of rotation.
5
One part with the driving shaft 4 a driving-shaft-lever 10 is formed. A driving-shaft-rod 11 is connected to the driving-shaft-lever 10 with a hinge 9. A primary first-flap-1 ever 12 and a second first-flap-lever 13 is direct mechanical connected to the first inlet flap 2 and therefore, the first and second first-flap-
10 levers 12, 13 are rotatable around the axis 5. A connecting-shaft 16 is rotatable fixed to the housing 1 with a bearing (not shown) around an axis 17 of rotation of the connecting-shaft 17. One part with the connecting-shaft 16 a first connecting-lever 18 and a second connecting-lever 19 are formed to the connecting-shaft 16. As a consequence, the first and second connecting-
15 levers 18, 19 are rotatable around the axis 17. The second connecting-lever 19 comprises a passage 20 (fig. 3). The passage 20 is divided in a part 21 with a curvature and a part 22 in a straight line. The radius of the curvature is the distance of the part 21 to the axis 5 of rotation of the first inlet flap 2 and the centre of arc of the part 21 is the axis 5 of rotation. In the vicinity of the
20 end of the second first-flap-lever 13 a bolt 23 (fig. 3) is formed in one part with the second first-flap-lever 13. The bolt 23 is inside the passage 20.
A second-flap-lever 14 is direct mechanical connected to the second inlet flap 3. A connecting-rod 15 is connected to the second-flap-lever 14 and the 2 5 first connecting-lever 18 each with the hinge 9.
In fig. 1 to 3 the first and second inlet flap 2, 3 are closed, therefore the angle of rotation of the first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 is 0° (fig. 4 and 5). The degree of the angle of rotation of the first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 between 30 the closed position (fig. 1 to 3) and the opened position (not shown) is 90° degree as a right angle. The angle of rotation of the driving shaft 4 of the

mechanism and the driving shaft (not shown) of the servo motor is 60° degrees.
For opening the first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 from the closed position the 5 driving shaft 4 rotates clockwise according to fig. 3. As a consequence, because of the mechanical connection with the driving-shaft-rod 11, also the first inlet flap 2 and the primary and second first-flap-levers 12, 13 rotate clockwise around the axis 5 of rotation and the first inlet flap 2 opens. In fig. 4 the angle of rotation of the driving shaft 4 is in the horizontal axis of
10 abscissa diagramed and the angle of rotation of the first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 are diagramed at the vertical axis of ordinates. During the rotation of the driving shaft 4 from 0° degree to 27° degrees the second inlet flap 3 dwells, because the bolt 23 moves only in the part 21 of the passage 20 with the curvature. If the driving shaft 4 rotates clockwise further after 27°
15 degrees, the bolt 23 moves inside the part 22 of the passage 20 in the straight line. As there is a positive locking between the bolt 23 and the second connecting-lever 19, the connecting-shaft 16 and the first and second connecting-ievers 18, 19 rotate anti-clockwise during a clockwise rotation of the driving shaft 4 between 27° and 60° degrees. As the second
2 0 inlet flap 3 is connected with the connecting-rod 15 with the first connecting-lever 18, during the clockwise rotation of the driving shaft 4 between 27° and 60° degrees the second inlet flap 3 rotates clockwise and opens. During the rotation of the driving shaft 4 from 55.8° to 60° degrees the second inlet flap 3 rotates from 50° to 90° degrees (fig. 4) and there is a high acceleration of
25 the second inlet flap 3. For closing the first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 the above described procedure is reversed.
The angle of rotation of the driving shaft 4 depends the speed of the vehicle with the air-conditioning unit. Especially the angle of rotation of the driving shaft 4 is inversely proportional to the speed, as with 0° degrees the vehicle
30 drives mainly maximum speed and with 60° degrees the vehicle stops or drives very slowly. The square footage of the flow cross-section of the first and second inlet orifices is as higher, as slower the vehicle drivers and

reverse. Therefore the amount of air which flows through the first and second inlet orifice because of air pressure as a result of the speed is mainly equal at different speeds of the car.
5 The first and second inlet flaps 2, 3 and the components of the mechanism 8 are made of thermoplastic.
In an overall view, in the air-conditioning unit only a small amount of constructed space is needed for the mechanism 8 and the only one motor. 10 Furthermore, during a high speed of the vehicle only the first inlet flap 2 is opened and the small square footage of the flow cross-section of the first inlet orifice can be controlled exactly, because only the first inlet flap 2 moves. Also advantageously at the high speed only the first inlet flap 2 can create vibrations.

Claims
1. Method for operating an air-conditioning unit, especially an air-
5 conditioning unit according to the claims 9 to 15, the method
comprising the steps of:
flow of air from the ambiance through a first inlet orifice, flow of air form the ambiance through a second inlet orifice, moving, especially rotating, of a first inlet flap (2) for opening
10 and closing the first inlet orifice between an open and close
position,
moving, especially rotating, of a second inlet flap (3) for opening and closing the second inlet orifice between an open and close position,
15 - exhaust of air through at least one outlet orifice,
especially heating of the air at a heater, especially cooling of the air at an evaporator,
characterized in that
20
the first inlet flap (2) and the second inlet flap (3) are moved with only one motor.
2. Method according to claim 1,
25
characterized in that
a driving shaft (4) of the motor rotates between a closed and opened
angle of rotation and at the closed angle of rotation the first and
30 second inlet flaps (2, 3) are closed and at the opened angle of
rotation the first and second inlet flaps (2, 3) are opened.

3. Method according to claim 2,
characterized in that
5 the angle of rotation of the driving shaft (4) is controlled in a function
of the speed of a vehicle with the air-conditioning unit,
especially the driving shaft (4) is in the closed angle of rotation if the
speed of the vehicle is the maximum speed or higher than 70%, 80%
or 90% of the maximum speed of the vehicle and the driving shaft (4)
10 is in the opened angle of rotation if the speed of the vehicle is less
than 30%, 20% or 10% of the maximum speed of the vehicle or the vehicle stops.
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims,
15
characterized in that
the first inlet flap (2) moves, especially rotates, as a first function of
the angle of rotation of the driving shaft (4) of the motor and the
2 0 second inlet flap (3) moves, especially rotates, as a second function
of the angle of rotation of the driving shaft (4) of the motor and the first and second function are different and/or the force, e.g. the moment of torque, from the driving shaft is
2 5 transmitted to the first inlet flap (2) and the second inlet flap (3) with a
mechanism (8) or gear.
5. Method according to claim 4,
3 0 characterized in that
the first inlet flap (2) opens continuous during a rotation of the driving

shaft (4) from the closed angle of rotation to an angle of rotation,
which is less than 70%, 50%, 30% or 10% of the angle of rotation
between the closed and opened angle of rotation
and
5 the second inlet flap (3) dwells during a rotation of the driving shaft
from the closed angle of rotation to an angle of rotation, which is less than 70%, 50%, 30% or 10% of the angle of rotation between the closed and opened angle of rotation
10 6. Method according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized in that
the second inlet flaps (3) opens, especially at least 2 or 3 times, faster
15 than the first inlet flap (2) during a rotation of the driving shaft (4) from
an angle of rotation, which is greater than 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the opened angle of rotation to the opened angle of rotation and reversed.
2 0 7. Method according to any of the preceding claims 4 to 6,
characterized in that
the movement, especially rotation, of the first inlet flap (2) and the
2 5 second inlet flap (3) is controlled in a manner that the first inlet flap (2)
is more opened than the second inlet flap (3), especially the angle of
rotation of the first inlet flap (2) is at least 30%, 50%, 100% or 200%
greater than the angle of rotation of the second inlet flap (3), if the
driving shaft (4) of the motor is between the opened and closed angle
30 of rotation.
8. Method according to any of the preceding claims,

characterized in that
the air from the ambiance is suctioned through the first inlet orifice and
5 the second inlet orifice with a blower unit.
9. Air-conditioning unit for a vehicle, comprising
- a housing (1),
- a blower unit,
10 - at least one flow duct,
- especially a heater for producing hot air,
- especially an evaporator for producing cold air,
- a first inlet orifice,
- a second inlet orifice,
15 - a first inlet flap (2) for opening and closing the first inlet orifice,
- a second inlet flap (3) for opening and closing the second inlet orifice,
- at least one outlet orifice,
20 characterized in that
the air-conditioning unit comprises only one motor for opening and closing the first inlet flap (2) and the second inlet flap (3).
2 5 10. Air-conditioning unit according to claim 9,
characterized in that
the motor is a, especially electric, servo motor. 30
11. Air-conditioning unit according to claim 9 or 10,

characterized in that
the motor, comprising a driving shaft (4), is mechanically connected with the first and second inlet flap (2, 3) with a mechanism (8) or gear. 5
12. Air-conditioning unit according to claim 11,
characterized in that
10 the mechanism (8) comprises a driving-shaft-lever (10), which is
direct connected to a driving shaft (4) of the mechanism (8) and a driving-shaft-rod (11), which is direct connected to the driving-shaft-lever (10) with a hinge (9) and the mechanism (8) comprising further
15 primary first-flap-lever (12) and second first-flap-lever (13), which are
direct connected to the first inlet flap (2) and the driving-shaft-rod (11) is direct connected to the primary first-flap-lever (12) with a hinge (8).
13. Air-conditioning to claim 11 or 12,
20
characterized in that
the mechanism (8) comprises a second-flap-lever (14), which is direct
connected to the second inlet flap (3) and a connecting-rod (15),
25 which is direct connected to the second-flap-lever (14) with a hinge
(8).
14. Air-conditioning unit according to any of the preceding claim 11 to 13,
30 characterized in that
the mechanism (8) comprises a connecting-shaft (16) and a first

connecting-lever (18) and second connecting-lever (19), which are
direct connected to the connecting-shaft (16), and the connecting-rod
(15) is direct connected to the first connecting-lever (18) with a hinge
(9) and the second connecting-lever (19) comprises a passage (20) in
5 which a bolt (23) of the second first-flap-lever (13) is moved with a
positive locking,
especially the passage (20) comprises a part (21) with a curvature
and the radius of the curvature is identical to the distance of the bolt
(23) to the axis of rotation of the first inlet flap (2) and preferably a part
10 (22) in a straight line.
15. Air-conditioning unit according to any of the preceding claims 9 to 14,
characterized in that 15
with the air-conditioning unit, especially because of the mechanism (8), a method to any of the claims 1 to 8 is operable.