FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT. 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTES RULES, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION {See section 10, rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
"System for Vehicle Air-Conditioner Performance Checking and Method Of Testing The Performance Thereof'
! 2. APPLICANT(S)
Name : MAH1NDRA & MAH1NDRA LIMITED
Nationality : Indian Company registered under the provisions
of the Companies Act. 1956 Address : R&D Center, Automotive Sector,
89, M.I.D.C, Satpur, NASHIK -422 007
Maharashtra State, India
3. PREAMBLE OF THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE 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 a system and testing methodology for accessories of an automotive vehicle, and more particularly, to the system for checking performance of an air-conditioner in an automotive vehicle and the method of testing.
Background of the invention
Traditional methods followed by OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for vehicle air-conditioner (AC) performance checking online, calls for manual checking of vehicle AC performance with an industrial thermometer. In this method, readings required for AC performance testing at the required locations are taken and recorded by the stage operator. Taking and recording the test data manually, may lead to the human error which may consequently lead to the rejection of the product at the delivery station. Also the process of performance checking of the vehicle AC is time consuming.
Accordingly, there exists a need to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art method and provide a real time data for vehicle AC performance checking of the vehicle.
Object of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide for online checking of performance of the air-conditioner in an automotive vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce cycle time for checking the performance of the air-conditioner in an automotive vehicle.

Summary of the invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for vehicle air-conditioner performance checking. The system comprises a processing/control unit, a PLC, a scanner for recording the vehicle serial number, a plurality of temperature sensing probes for sensing the temperature inside the vehicle, a switch assembly for operating the plurality of temperature sensing probes, a switch assembly for operating the plurality of temperature sensing probes, and a printing means for printing output data received from the processing/control unit . The scanner, the plurality of temperature sensing probes, the switch assembly, and the printing means are connected to the processing/control unit through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means.
Brief description of the figures
The objectives and features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein.
Figure 1 shows the block diagram of a system for checking of the performance of the air-conditioner in an automotive vehicle in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 2 shows a sample performance sheet of the output data delivered by system and methodology disclosed in the present invention.
Detailed description of the present invention
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are

overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.
For the better understanding of this invention, reference would now be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater depth in the accompanying figures and description herein below, further, in the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in various views/figures.
The present invention provides real time recording of data for vehicle AC performance checking, establishing a relationship with vehicle serial number for 100% tractability and result generates a print out at the end of the process indicating parameters of the respective vehicle, such as vehicle temperatures at various locations such as front (instrument panel), middle (second passenger row) and rear (third passenger row) and likewise wherever the AC vent ducts are provided, ambient temperature, and the result of temperature drop which is supported by date and time of the test.
Referring now to figure 1, there is shown a system (100) for checking of the performance of the air-conditioner in an automotive vehicle in accordance with the present invention. The system (100) includes a processing/control unit (!0), a programmable logic controller (PLC) (20). a scanner (30). a plurality of temperature sensing probes (40), a switch assembly (50), and a printing means (60).
The processing/control unit (10) is capable of receiving and processing data. The processing/control unit used herein is the processing/control unit known in the art such as a computer system. The processing/control unit (10) is controlled by the programmable logic controller (PLC) (20).
The scanner (30) provides for recording the vehicle serial number. In an embodiment, the scanner (30) is barcode scanner. The scanner (30) is connected to

the processing/control unit (10) through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means. In an embodiment, the scanner (30) is connected to the processing /control unit (10) by teflon coated wires. In another embodiment, the scanner (30) is connected to the processing /control unit (10) by wireless means such as electromagnetic means. When the vehicle to be tested reports air-conditioner (AC) performance test station, an operator lowers driver side glass of the vehicle and picks the scanner (30) and scans the vehicle serial number. The vehicle serial number is recorded in to the processing/control unit (10).
The plurality of temperature sensing probes (40) (hereinafter "probes (40)) are positioned inside the vehicle. The probes (40) are connected to the processing/control unit (10) through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means. In an embodiment, the probes (40) are connected to the processing /control unit (10) by teflon coated wires. In another embodiment, the probes (40) are connected to the processing/control unit (10) by wireless means such as electromagnetic means. Specifically, the probes (40) are positioned near the air-conditioner vents inside the vehicle. During testing of the. AC performance of the vehicle, the operator takes the probes (40), routes wire thereof through the glass openings and puts the probes (40) near the AC vents.
The probes (40) are operated by the switch assembly (50). The switch assembly (50) is connected to the processing/control unit (10) through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means as described above. The switch assembly (50) includes a button (52) for starting the vehicle air-conditioner performance checking by the probes (40). Further, the switch assembly (50) includes a visual indication means (54) for indicating the vehicle air-conditioner performance checking completion process. The switch assembly (50) is connected to the processing/control unit (10) via the PLC (20) through wire connectivity. The data received from the processing/control unit (10) is printed by the printing means (60). The printing means (60) is connected to the processing/control unit (10) through anyone of

wired and wireless connection means as described above. In an embodiment, the printing means is thermal printing means.
During the vehicle air-conditioner performance checking, the vehicle is taken to the AC performance test station. The operator lowers driver side glass and picks the scanner (30) and scans vehicle .serial number. The vehicle serial number is recorded in to processing/control unit (10). Thereafter, the operator collects the probes (40) from a stand, routes the wire of the probes (40) through the glass openings of the vehicle and puts the probes (40) near the air-conditioner vents of the vehicle. In an embodiment, at least three probes (40) are required for AC performance checking, for example, one probe at front near instrument panel, second probe at middle at second passenger row and third at rear at third passenger row of the vehicle where the AC vents are located.
The operator starts engine and achieves the speed of 1500 rpm. Thereafter, the operator presses start button (52) on the switch assembly (50) outside and closes the door glass. The visual indication means (54), for example, the indicator light on the switch assembly (50) glows on as the performance checking cycle of the AC starts. The operator run vehicle on 1500 rpm for at least 2 minutes. After, 2 minutes, the visual indication means (54) goes off indicating the completion of the air-conditioner performance checking process.
The operator then removes the temperature sensing probes (40) and the processing/control unit generates test data through the thermal printer (60) with the parameters such as vehicle serial number, ambient temperature, AC temp- Rl, AC temp- R2, and AC temp- R3. The abovementioned test data is supported with date and time of the test conducted as shown in Figure 2.
The operator collects the print of test data and pastes it on the vehicle history card. The abovementioned data is saved in the system as well for traceability and statistical process control (SPC).

Advantages of the invention
1. The system (100) avoids human intervention during vehicle AC performance
checking / recording.
2. The system (100) provides for work content saving.
3. The system (100) provides for !00% tractability of records and the vehicle AC performance data available for SPC.
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, 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 omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

We Claim
1. A system for vehicle air-conditioner performance checking, the system
comprising:
a processing/control unit capable of receiving and processing data;
a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the processing/control unit:
a scanner for recording the vehicle serial number, the scanner connected to the processing/control unit through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means;
a plurality of temperature sensing probes to be positioned inside the vehicle, the plurality of temperature sensing probes connected to the processing/control unit through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means;
a switch assembly for operating the plurality of temperature sensing probes, the switch assembly connected to the processing/control unit through anyone of wired and wireless connecting means, and
a printing means for printing output data received from the processing/control unit, the printing means is connected to the processing/control unit through anyone of wired and wireless connection means.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch assembly includes a button for starting the vehicle air-conditioner performance checking,
3. The system as claimed in claim I, wherein the switch assembly includes a visual indication means for indicating the vehicle air-conditioner performance checking completion.
4. The system as claimed in claim I, wherein the scanner is a barcode scanner.

5. The system as claimed in claim i, wherein the plurality of temperature sensing probes are positioned near air-conditioner vents in the vehicle.