DESC:SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING HVAC PERFORMANCE INSIDE VEHICLE CABIN

Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to an automobile testing and more particularly, to a system for evaluating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)performance inside a vehicle.

Background of the invention:

Normally, in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) testing, the thermocouples are placed at nose, waist and foot locations of the vehicle cabin with the help of a tie rod and a plurality of tapes. The plurality of thermocouple sin every row are collected together and routed to a place where the instrument is placed. The plurality of thermocouple s is connected to the instrument every time and the respective location of each thermocouple has to be noted down.

All these were large time consuming activities and a minimum of half a day is required for making this setup ready. This method also has its disadvantage that the locations of thermocouples could vary for every vehicle and also the thermocouples can touch the neighboring surface which could result in wrong values.

The performance of the HVAC is evaluated by measuring temperatures across the cabin at various seating locations such as at foot, waist and nose level of human body. Making this setup consumes large amount of time for every vehicle. Vehicle wise comparison will not be accurate because of different thermocouple used on different vehicle and all thermocouple will be having a different error factor. When thermocouples are placed with the help of tapes, it is prone to come out in some time and also touch some location in vehicle which will give erratic values. Hence for avoiding all these constraints, there came a need for this setup to be made.

Accordingly, there exists a need of a system for evaluating the performance of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) inside a vehicle that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Object of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to create a flexible and user friendly semi-automated system that is useful in a vehicle for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance evaluation.

Summary of the invention:

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for evaluating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance inside vehicle cabin. The system comprises a data logger, a personal computer, a plurality of thermocouples, a plurality of connectors and a power source. The data logger is connected to the personal computer for a real time data monitoring. The data logger includes a program module configured therein. The program module is configured to provide a graphical presentation of measured temperature and time. The power source is operably connected to the data logger and the personal computer for distributing power.

The plurality of thermocouples is connected to the data logger through the plurality of connectors. The plurality of thermocouples is a wired setup that measures the temperature at a tip thereof. The plurality of thermocouples is positioned at different locations in the vehicle and arranged at different points with respect to an occupant. The system includes at most 8 thermocouples that are arranged for one occupant seat to measure the difference in HVAC performance row vice in the vehicle. Specifically, one thermocouple is arranged at nose position, two thermocouples are arranged at shoulder position, two thermocouples are arranged at waist position, two thermocouples are arranged at knee position and one thermocouple is arranged at foot position of the occupant.

The plurality of connectors are labeled and directly connected to the data logger for every seating location of the vehicle. The plurality of connectors is connected to a junction box at one end. The junction box is adapted to collect the temperature output from the plurality of connectors. The junction box is connected across the data logger kept in the vehicle cabin at other end thereof

The system further comprises an individual data reading module that is interlinked by the plurality of connectors. The data reading module receives the measured temperature data and transmits the data to the personal computer for real time monitoring and data logging.

Brief description of the drawings:

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a system for evaluating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an adaptable setup of a system for evaluating the HVAC performance, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a setup of the system for evaluating the HVAC performance, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 4 shows perspective views of different stages of setting up of the system for evaluating the HVAC performance inside the vehicle, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 5 shows a line diagram of the system for evaluating the HVAC performance, in accordance with the invention.

Detail description of the invention:

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiments.

The present invention provides a system for evaluating the performance of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) inside a vehicle. The system provides a flexible test conducting setup which can be readily used in a vehicle to evaluate the HVAC performance. The system can study the comparative performance of the HVAC at various seating locations and also its deterioration over a period of time.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the system. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the table below.

Component No Component name
100 System for evaluating the HVAC performance
1,2,3 Seating positions
10 Power source
11 Data logger
12 Adaptable setup
13 Plurality of thermocouples
14 Plurality of connectors
15 Personal computer

Referring to the figures 1-5, a system (100) for evaluating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance inside a vehicle in accordance with the present invention is shown. The system (100) is placed inside a vehicle cabin to test the HVAC performance at the seating locations. The system comprises a power source (10),a data logger (11), a plurality of thermocouples(13) (herein after referred to as “the thermocouples (13)”),a plurality of connectors (14) (herein after referred to as “the connectors (14)”), a junction box (not shown)and a personal computer (15)(hereinafter “PC (15)”).

The power source (10) is operably connected to the data logger (11) and the personal computer (15) for distributing power. The data logger (11) is connected to the PC (15) for real time data monitoring. In an embodiment, the data logger (11) is a centralized device that includes a program module (not shown) configured therein. The program module is configured to provide a graphical presentation of measured temperature and time. In an embodiment, the program module is customized to store the values and compares the results with the old files.

The thermocouples (13) are connected to the data logger (11) through the connectors (14). The connectors (14) are labeled and directly connected to the data logger (11) for every seating location. The thermocouples (13) are positioned at different locations and are adjusted in terms of size to fit in different locations as per the types of vehicles. In an embodiment, the thermocouple (13) is a wired setup that measures the temperature at a tip thereof. The system (100) consists of at most 8 thermocouples for one occupant seat to measure the difference in HVAC performance row vice in the vehicle. However, it is understood that the number of thermocouples (13) used may vary as per the type of vehicle in other alternative embodiments of the system (100).

In an embodiment, the thermocouples (13) are arranged at different points with respect to an occupant. Specifically, one thermocouple is arranged at nose position, two thermocouples are arranged at shoulder position, two thermocouples are arranged at waist position, two thermocouples are arranged at knee position and one thermocouple is arranged at foot position of the occupant. The thermocouples (13) are placed at each location of the system (100) with utmost care to ensure that the thermocouples (13) are held sturdy and the tip thereof is exposed only to cabin air and not intervene with any alien surface.The system setup is capable to hold the temperature control module to avoid unnecessary data losses due to vibration and unexpected disconnection of the thermocouples (13).

In an alternate embodiment, the connectors (14) are connected to the junction box at one end. The junction box is created along with the seating setup.The junction box is an intermediate device that collects the temperature output from the connectors (14).The other end of the junction box comprises identification of all the points and is connected across the datalogger (11) kept in the vehicle cabin.The output of the junction box of different setups is connected to the data logger (11) and in turn the data logger (11) is connected to the PC (15) for real time data monitoring.

In an another alternate embodiment, an individual data reading module (not shown) issued as a replacement for the junction boxes. Every data reading module is interlinked by the connectors (14). The data reading modules receive the measured temperature data and transmit the data to the PC (15) for real time monitoring and data logging.

Again referring to figures 1-5, in an operation of the system (100) for evaluating the performance of HVAC inside the vehicle, the testing is done by using the thermocouples (13). The thermocouples(13) arefixed internally at different locations of the seating positions of the vehicle. The outcome of thermocouples(13) is transferred to the data logger (11). The program module of the data logger (11) plots graphical presentation of the temperature against time that is measured for different seating locations.

By utilizing the same setup, the system (100) measures the airflow reach, humidity level at different seating locations inside the cabin. The setup of the system (100) for each seat of the vehicle ensures that the same setup will be used in future testing or in other vehicle thus eradicating the variability in test comparisons. In an another alternate embodiment, the setup of the system (100) is adaptable to various portions and are varied to simulate person of different sizes and also adjust for different cabin and seat sizes.

The system (100) provides flexibility in changing the dimensions of the design including length, width and height. The system (100) also provides a facility to measure the HVAC performance at different locations on user’s perspective like foot, knee, hip, chest and nose points. In an embodiment, the setup of the system (100) is foldable that makes it convenient for portability.

Advantages of the invention:
1. The system (100) being portable reduces testing time and ensures safety operation during the test.
2. The system (100) is adaptable for all vehicles having different cabin and seat size.
3. The program module of the system (100) provides reliable test results thereby reducing human errors.
4. The internal wiring eliminates the thermocouple (13) failures during operation.
5. The system(100) requires minimized efforts to measure the HVAC performance.
6. The connectors (14)of the thermocouples (13) are labelled that reduces the messy appearance in routing and labelling of the thermocouples (13).
7. The system (100) is adaptable to future enhancements capable of measuring human comfort (humidity,air velocity,dew point) and air quality (CO,CO2,VOC and O2)inside the vehicle.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A system (100) for evaluating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) performance inside a vehicle cabin, the system (100) comprising:
a data logger (11) connected to a personal computer (15) for a real time data monitoring, the data logger (11) having a program module configured therein;
a plurality of thermocouples (13)connected to the data logger (11) through a plurality of connectors (14), the plurality of thermocouples (13)being positioned at different locations in the vehicle and arranged at different points with respect to an occupant; and
a power source (10) operably connected to the data logger (11) and the personal computer (15) for distributing power,
wherein, the plurality of connectors (14) are labeled and directly connected to the data logger (11) for every seating location of the vehicle.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program module is configured to provide a graphical presentation of measured temperature and time.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of thermocouples (13) is a wired setup that measures the temperature at a tip thereof.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at most 8 thermocouples are arranged for one occupant seat to measure the difference in HVAC performance row vice in the vehicle.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein one thermocouple is arranged at nose position, two thermocouples are arranged at shoulder position, two thermocouples are arranged at waist position, two thermocouples are arranged at knee position and one thermocouple is arranged at foot position of the occupant.

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors (14) are connected to a junction box at one end, the junction box is adapted to collect the temperature output from the plurality of connectors (14).

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein other end of the junction box is connected across the datalogger (11) kept in the vehicle cabin.

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises an individual data reading module that is interlinked by the plurality of connectors (14), the data reading module receives the measured temperature data and transmits the data to the personal computer (15) for real time monitoring and data logging.

Dated this on 10th day of January 2019

Prafulla Wange
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA-2058)