DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

This present disclosure is generally related to the vehicle air-conditioning systems. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to a ducting system for a vehicle air-conditioning system.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Vehicles are equipped with vehicle air-conditioning systems to cool the ambiance of the vehicle, as and when required. The vehicle air-conditioning systems are therefore required to provide cooled air to various parts of the vehicle. For such communication of the cooled air to various parts, or desired parts of the vehicle, a ducting system is required.

In the case of commercial vehicles such as buses, the vehicle air-conditioning system is typically mounted on the roof. Such vehicle air-conditioning systems, generally referred to as roof mounted air-conditioning systems, are frequently considered as easiest and most feasible way to package air conditioning system in commercial vehicles like buses. In such roof mounted air-conditioning systems, the roof air conditioning unit is mounted at center of bus top laterally. This makes air conditioning duct design simple and commercially viable.

For the buses which are with front engine configuration, i.e. buses which demand for higher isolation of driver’s area from passenger cabin for passenger comfort, as the front engine adds more heat to driver’s compartment. To avoid heat addition and noise disturbance from engine to passenger compartment, partition is provided between driver (cabin) compartment and passenger compartment (cabin).

Air conditioning ducts are placed longitudinally on both inner sides of bus internally and preferably below hat rack. Due to passenger door provided on one side of the partition between passenger compartment and driver compartment, it becomes difficult to properly serve driver area with conditioned air.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

One objective of the present disclosure is to obviate above mentioned drawbacks and provide a simple, reliable, cost effective, easy to manufacture and assembly, ducting system for a vehicle air-conditioning systems.
Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a ducting system which is adapted to communicate air conditioned air from one side of a driver compartment of a vehicle to another side of the driven compartment.
Further objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A ducting system for an air circulation system of a vehicle, comprises: a first side-duct housed longitudinally along a vehicle roof; a second side-duct housed parallel to the first side-duct longitudinally along a vehicle roof, each of the first side-duct and the second side-duct being connected to an air circulation unit; and, a lateral duct connected to an end of the first side-duct and the second side-duct, and positioned proximate to a driver cabin, the lateral duct having a plurality of vents towards a driver cabin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a front-engine air-conditioned vehicle with roof mounted air-conditioning system, in accordance to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a ducting system for the vehicle air-conditioning system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the disclosure only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.

FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of a vehicle 10, with an air-conditioning system 12, in accordance to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 10 (also referred to as “Bus 10”), as illustrated in the figure 1, is a front engine bus. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the vehicle may be a rear engine bus. The bus 10, as illustrated in the figure 1, includes a plurality of seats 14. The seats 14 are in a pair of rows, which may be in 2*2 or 2*3 arrangement. A plurality of seats 14 is arranged in the pair of rows i.e. in the right row and the left row, within a passenger compartment 16 of the bus 10.

Another compartment in the bus 10, called the driver compartment 18 (also referred to as “driver cabin 18”), generally includes at least a co-drivers seat and a driver’s seat (not illustrated). An in-between partition 22 (wall) divides the driver compartment 18 with the passenger compartment 16. A door 20 is provided between the driver compartment 18 and the passenger compartment 16. The door 20 is provided on the partition wall 22.

The vehicle 10 may also be provided with two more doors namely, main door (not numbered) and a driver door (not numbered), in the driver compartment 18. The main door is provided for allowing ingress and egress to the passenger, whereas the driver door is for providing ingress and egress to the driver.

The air conditioning unit 12 (also referred to as “air circulation system 12”) is laterally mounted on the roof at center of the bus 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2. A ducting system 100 communicates the air from the air conditioning unit 12, to parts of the vehicle 10.

The ducting system 100 includes a first side-duct 26 housed longitudinally along a vehicle roof. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first side-duct 26 is a driver side duct 26. Similarly, a second side-duct 24 is parallel to the first side-duct 26, and is housed longitudinally along a vehicle roof. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second side-duct 24 is a co-driver side duct 24.

Each of the first side-duct 26 and the second side-duct 24 are connected to the air circulation unit 12. The co-driver side duct and a driver side duct, collectively called the “air conditioning ducts,” are placed longitudinally on both inner sides of bus internally and preferably below hat rack.

Typically, the co-driver side of bus is always equipped with a passenger door, where the number of seat rows on is generally less. Therefore, the co-driver side duct will have less number of vents/ grills to supply air to passenger compartment 16. However, the driver side duct will have comparatively more number of vents/ grills to supply air to driver side passengers in the passenger compartment 16, as well as driver in driver’s compartment 18.

The present invention provides a system to facilitate transfer of higher amount of cooled air from the air-conditioning system 22 to the driver in driver’s compartment 18. For this, as illustrated in the figures 1 and 3, the ducting system 100 for the vehicle air-conditioning systems 12 is disclosed.

The ducting system 100 further includes a lateral duct 104 connected to an end of the first side-duct 26. In alternative embodiment the lateral duct 104 includes a first duct 102 connected to end of the first side duct 26. The first duct 102 is therefore adapted to receive air from the vehicle air-conditioning system 12 through the first side duct 26. The first duct 102 includes vents 103 for dispensing air to the driver’s compartment 18 and more particularly, towards the drivers seat.

The lateral duct 104 is positioned proximate to a driver cabin 18 (the driver’s compartment 18).

In an embodiment, the lateral duct 104 may be in an orientation perpendicular to the first side-duct 26 and extend towards the drivers seat from above the door 20 provided on the in-between partition 22. The lateral duct 104 is adapted to receive air-conditioned air from the first side-duct 26. Intermediate portion of the lateral duct 104 may include one or more vents 108 (as illustrated in FIG. 2) to release air-conditioned air to the driver’s compartment 18.

The ducting system 100 furthermore includes the lateral duct 104 fluidically connected to an end of the co-driver side duct 24. In alternative embodiment lateral duct 104 includes a second duct 106 fluidically connected to an opposite end of the lateral duct 104. The second duct 106 is also adapted to receive air conditioned air from the lateral duct 104. The second duct 106 may also be referred to as a “drivers duct.” The second duct 106 has one opening towards the driver’s side/drivers seat. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the second duct 106 may have more than one opening towards the co-driver’s side/co-drivers seat.

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the disclosure as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

REFERRAL NUMERALS:

Reference Number Description
10 Vehicle
12 Air-conditioning system
14 Plurality of seats
16 Passenger compartment/cabin
18 Driver’s compartment/ Driver cabin
22 Partition
20 Door
24 Second side-duct
26 First side-duct
100 Ducting system
102 First duct
103 Vents
104 Lateral duct
106 Second duct
108 Vents

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A ducting system 100 for an air circulation system 12 of a vehicle 10, the ducting system comprising 100:
a first side-duct 26 housed longitudinally along a vehicle roof;
a second side-duct 24 housed parallel to the first side-duct 26 longitudinally along a vehicle roof, each of the first side-duct 26 and the second side-duct 24 being connected to an air circulation unit 12; and,
a lateral duct 104 connected to an end of the first side-duct 26 and the second side-duct 24, and positioned proximate to a driver cabin 18, the lateral duct 104 having a plurality of vents towards a driver cabin 18.
2. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral duct 104 includes a first duct 102 connected to the first side-duct 26, and a second duct 24 connected to the second side-duct 24.
3. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first duct 102 includes at least one vent 103 towards the driver cabin 18.
4. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral duct 104 is positioned on a partition 22 between the driver cabin 18 and a passenger cabin 16.
5. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first duct 102 further includes at least one vent opening in the driver cabin 18.
6. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent opening on the first duct 102 is towards the driver’s seat.

7. The ducting system 12 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air circulation system is a vehicle air conditioning system.

Dated this 5th day of March, 2014

GOPINATH A.S.
IN/PA-1852
K & S PARTNERS
AGENT OF THE APPLICANT