FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [See Section 10; Rule 13]
TITEL OF THE INVENTION AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
APPLICANT
TATA MOTORS LIMITED
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001,
Maharashtra, India.
INVENTORS
Ravindra N. Babhulkar and Dipali Tulshidas Bendarkar
both are Indian National
of Tata Motors Limited
Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001,
Maharashtra, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle, and more particularly, the present invention relates to the air conditioning system for the vehicle, for controlling opening and closing of flaps based on the occupancy of the seat by the occupant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Air conditioning systems have been used in vehicle since years for drivers comfort zone. Initially, vents were only provided near the driver seat for the driver and the co-driver. Thereafter, with the advancement of technology, the number of vents kept on increasing depending on the size of the vehicle. Therefore, the fuel consumption also kept on increasing to meet the requirement of the size of the vehicle. However, it has been observed that when a vehicle is driven with a single occupancy, the entire vehicle is considered for cooling irrespective of the occupancy. In such a case, excessive fuel is used than required. Some of the vehicle has the option of the blocking the vents by using fins, which are structured near the seats to avoid unnecessary cooling in the areas with no occupancy. However, since the closure is manual, it is very likely that one may forget to close the vents while dropping off from the vehicle, thereby resulting in unnecessary wastage of fuel.
WO2017175034A1 discloses an air conditioner system for a vehicle. The system includes a horizontal and a vertical vent shutter and their respective actuator. The system also includes a seat occupancy sensor such that when the seat occupancy sensor senses no occupancy, it gives signal to the controller that instructs the horizontal and vertical vent shutter actuator to shut the horizontal and the vertical vent shutters. Though this system shuts the flow of air based on non-occupancy, the system uses outer vents, which even if shut may not be able to stop the flow of

air properly. Further, the air will be distributed within the body of the air conditioner, thereby resulting in wastage of conditioned air.
Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide an efficient system that in the absence of occupant in a vehicle seat, shuts off the supply of conditioned air towards that seat and divert it towards other seats, and the problem is solved in the present invention, wherein a conduit that carries conditioned air is connected with a frame of the of air conditioning body, and a flap, which is pivoted with the frame to close the opening of the conduit by a linear actuator that moves in the linear direction to rotate the flap to close the opening of the conduit when instructed by the control unit in the absence of occupant detected by a seat occupancy sensor.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
One object of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle wherein a flap is rotated by a linear actuator to close or open the conduit for alternating flow of conditioned air.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle wherein the flap is rotated by a linear actuator to close or open the conduit for alternating flow of conditioned air depending on the occupancy of the seat in the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention discloses an air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising: an air conditioning body including a flap being pivoted on a frame, and a linear actuator adapted to move in a linear direction and coupled with said flap to rotate said flap for altering flow of a conditioned air; a conduit connected with said frame for receiving said conditioned air, said conduit includes

an opening covered by said flap; a seat occupancy sensor for providing
information about a current occupancy of a seat by a person in said vehicle; and a
control unit configured to control movement of said linear actuator in said linear
directions based on information received from said seat occupancy sensor about
5 said current occupancy of the seat by said person, wherein said conditioned air is
directed into the vehicle when said liner actuator moves in the linear direction to rotate said flap to open said conduit when the current occupancy of the seat is detected by said seat occupancy sensor.
10 In an embodiment of the present invention the control unit instructs a solenoid
valve to control linear movement of said linear actuator for opening and closing of said opening of said conduit.
In an embodiment of the present invention the linear actuator is connected to said
15 flap by a lever.
In an embodiment of the present invention the lever is connected to said flap by a linkage to enable opening and closing of said conduit with linear movement of said linear actuator.
20
In an embodiment of the present invention the air conditioning body includes a horizontal vent and a vertical vent controlled by an actuator.
In an embodiment of the present invention the control unit controls speed of said
25 conditioned air by a control mechanism.
In an embodiment of the present invention the control mechanism includes a variable current device that varies the speed of a fan to vary speed of said conditioned air released by said conduit.
4

In an embodiment of the present invention the fan is housed in an air blowing device that receives condensed air for the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting different elements of the air conditioning system;
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting air conditioning system.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting side view of the air conditioning body.
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting rear view of the air conditioning body with flap in closed position.
Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting rear view of the air conditioning body with flap in open condition.
Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting isometric view of the linear actuator.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting block diagram of air blowing device with conduit.
Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention depicting circuit diagram of variable current device.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

Referral Numeral:
Reference Numeral Description
10 Air conditioning body
12 Horizontal vent
14 Vertical vent
16 Key Switch
17 Coil winding
18 Mounting back plate
19 Plunger
20 Linear actuator
21 Electrical connections
22 Flap
23 Case of frame
24 Frame
26 Lever
28 Linkage
30 Solenoid valve
40 Seat occupancy sensor

50 Control unit
60 Seat
70 Variable current device
72 Fan
74 Air blowing device
76 Conduit
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
An embodiment of the present invention discloses an air conditioning system for a vehicle. The air conditioning system enables controlling cooling of the vehicle with respect to the occupant on the sear. In case the seat is not occupied by the occupant, the air conditioning system blocks or stop the flow of cooled air towards the seat to avoid unnecessary cooling.

As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioning system for a vehicle comprises of an air conditioning body (10), a conduit (76) that connects the air conditioning body (10) with the air blowing device (74), a seat occupancy sensor (40) structured on the seat (60) to detect the presence of the occupant on the seat (60). The system comprises of a key switch (16) which works as a normal start stop of the vehicle. The key switch (16) is connected with a control unit (50). The control unit (50) is also connected to the air blowing device (74) and the seat occupancy sensor (40). The control unit (50) controls the movement of the linear actuator (20) in linear directions based on the information received from the seat occupancy sensor (40) about the current occupancy of the seat (60) by the person. The control unit (50) based on the signal received from the seat occupancy sensor (40) i.e. whether the seat (60) is occupied or not occupied, the control unit (50) gives signal to the solenoid valve (30). The solenoid valve (30) is further connected to linear actuator (20) of the air conditioning body (10). When the air conditioning switch is set to ON mode, the control unit (50) get the inputs from key switch (16), air conditioning switch and the seat occupancy sensor (40) which is integrated with the vehicle seat (60). For ease of explanation we will consider that the vehicle is occupied by driver only. The control unit (50) will get the input signal from driver seat (60) only and will identify that only one occupant is present in the vehicle. The control unit (50) transmit the signal to the solenoid valve (30), the control unit (50) will transmit the signal and actuates the solenoid valve (30) which will open the air conditioning vents i.e. flap (22) of air conditioning body which are located near driver seat (60).
As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the air conditioning system comprises of main air conditioning body (10) which further includes the mechanical linkage (28) between linear actuator (20) and flap (22), a lever (26) and the flap (22). The linear actuator (20) is a liner electric actuator packaged rigidly on air conditioning body (10). The linear actuator (20) moves in a linear direction and coupled with the flap (22) to rotate the flap (22) for altering flow of conditioned air. The liner actuator (20) is physically connected to the lever (26) with the help of linkage

(28). The lever (26) is an integral part of flap (22). The flap (22) moves between vertical and the horizontal position. The flap (22) is movably connected with the frame (24) or pivoted on a frame (24), which is further connected with the conduit (76) such that the movement of the flap (22) opens and closes the opening of the conduit (76). Fig. 2 shows that the frame (24) of the air conditioning system is connected with the conduit (76). The one side of the conduit (76) is connected to the frame (24) and the other is connected with the air blowing device (74). The frame (24) forms a rear part of the air conditioning body (10). Fig. 3 and 4 show the air conditioning body (10) including horizontal vent (12) and vertical vent (14) respectively. The vertical and horizontal movements of the vertical vents (14) and the horizontal vents (12) are controlled by their respective actuators. Fig. 4 shows flap (22) in vertical position which closes the conduit (76) when no occupant is detected by the seat occupancy sensor (40). Fig. 5 shows that the flap (22) is tilted from its original position to enable opening of the conduit (76) when the presence of the occupant is detected by the seat occupancy sensor (40). Fig. 5 does not shows frame (24) for the clarity purpose.
Fig. 6 shows the linear actuator (20) actuated by the solenoid valve (30). The linear actuator (20) comprises of a case of frame (23) that encloses or houses the coil winding (17). The coil winding (17) further encloses a plunger (19) that moves inward or outward depending on the actuation received from the solenoid valve (30). The linear actuator (20) also includes a mounting back plate (18) and electrical connections (21). The actuation of the linear actuator (20) moves the plunger (19) inward or outward up to X stroke i.e. up to a fixed distance to enable movement or tilting of the flap (22) from its opening and closing position. When the solenoid valve (30) is actuated by the control unit (50), the solenoid valve (30) gets activated and the electromagnet i.e. the coil winding (17) gets energized. The coil winding (17) pulls the plunger (19) to actuate the linear actuator (20), thereby resulting in an inward movement of the linear actuator (20). The linear actuator (20) pulls the linkage (28) and eventually the flap (22). This inward movement of the plunger (19) pulls the lever (26) and opens the flap (22). Whereas, the outward

movement of the plunger (19) pushes the lever (26) and closes the flap (22). Thus, the conditioned air is directed into the vehicle when said liner actuator (20) moves in the linear direction to rotate the flap (22) to open the conduit (76) when the current occupancy of the seat (60) is detected by the seat occupancy sensor (40).
As shown in Fig. 7, the conduit (76) is connected with the air blowing device (74), which forms a part of the control mechanism. The air from the air blowing device (74) is directed to the air conditioning body (10) through the conduit (76), which forms the pathway. This pathway or conduit (76) has an opening at a point wherein the conduit (76) is connected with the frame (24). This opening of the conduit (76) is opened and closed by the flap (22) operated by the linear actuator (20) based on the signal received from the control unit (50). The control mechanism also includes a fan (72) and a variable current device (70) housed in the air blowing device (74). The fan (72) blows the air received from the condenser into the conduit (76) for distribution within the vehicle through different air conditioning bodies (10). The speed of the air blown is variable due to the presence of variable current device (70). Fig. 8 discloses the circuit diagram of the variable current device (70) which varies the current automatically to vary the speed of the fan (72) to further vary the speed of the air blown. The variable current device (70) receives signal from the control unit (50) based on the number of occupants available in the car. The seat occupancy sensor (40) senses and confirms number of seats occupied and accordingly, the conduit (76) connected to the air conditioning body (10) is either opened or closed i.e. opened when the seat (60) is occupied and closed when the seat (60) is not occupied. The control unit (50) depending on the number of seats (60) occupied either reduces or increases the speed of the fan (72) by instructing the variable current device (70). In cases where more number of the conduits (76) or air vents are open, the speed of the fan (72) will be high and in cases where lesser number of vents are open, the speed of the fan (72) will be low.

We Claim:
1. An air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising:
an air conditioning body (10) including a flap (22) being pivoted on a
frame (24), and a linear actuator (20) adapted to move in a linear direction
and coupled with said flap (22) to rotate said flap (22) for altering flow of
a conditioned air;
a conduit (76) connected with said frame (24) for receiving said
conditioned air, said conduit (76) includes an opening covered by said flap
(22);
a seat occupancy sensor (40) for providing information about current
occupancy of a seat (60) by a person in said vehicle; and
a control unit (50) configured to control movement of said linear actuator
(20) in said linear directions based on information received from said seat
occupancy sensor (40) about said current occupancy of the seat (60) by
said person,
wherein said conditioned air is directed into the vehicle when said liner
actuator (20) moves in the linear direction to rotate said flap (22) to open
said conduit (76) when the current occupancy of the seat (60) is detected
by said seat occupancy sensor (40).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (50) instructs a solenoid valve (30) to control linear movement of said linear actuator (20) for opening and closing of said opening of said conduit (76).
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said linear actuator (20) is connected to said flap (22) by a lever (26).
4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lever (26) is connected to said flap (22) by a linkage (28) to enable opening and closing of said conduit (76) with linear movement of said linear actuator (20).

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air conditioning body (10) includes a horizontal vent (12) and a vertical vent (14) controlled by an actuator.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit (50) controls speed of said conditioned air by a control mechanism.
7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control mechanism includes a variable current device (70) that varies the speed of a fan (72) to vary speed of said conditioned air.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fan (72) is housed in an air blowing device (74) that receives condensed air for the vehicle.