Airflow selecting mechanism for a vehicle cabin air conditioning apparatus

摘要

A vehicle cabin air conditioning apparatus including an airflow selecting mechanism movable between a first position to provide a first airflow mode and a second position to provide a second airflow mode. The airflow selecting mechanism restricts first airflow from flowing from a first airflow conduit to a second airflow conduit when in the first position, and permits the first airflow from flowing from the first airflow conduit to the second airflow conduit when in the second position. An electronic control unit is configured to control a first blower based on a user set front cabin airflow level and a second blower based on a user set rear cabin airflow level when in the first airflow mode. The electronic control unit controls the first blower based on the user set front cabin airflow level and the user set rear cabin airflow level when in the second airflow mode.

主权项

1. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle defining a vehicle cabin, the air conditioning apparatus comprising:
an air conditioning case defining a first airflow passage leading to a front area of the vehicle cabin, and a second airflow passage leading to a rear area of the vehicle cabin, the second airflow passage includes a supplemental recirculation air inlet; a first blower configured to create airflow in the first airflow passage; a second blower configured to create airflow in the second airflow passage, the air conditioning case accommodates both the first and the second blowers; an airflow selecting mechanism configured to select one of a first airflow mode preventing airflow created by the first blower from flowing into the second airflow passage, and a second airflow mode allowing airflow created by the first blower to flow into the second airflow passage, the airflow selecting mechanism includes a recirculation door configured to open and close the supplemental recirculation air inlet; a heater core at least proximate to the supplemental recirculation air inlet; a front blower level setting device for setting a preferred front airflow level in the front area of the vehicle cabin; a rear blower level setting device for setting a preferred rear airflow level in the rear area of the vehicle cabin; and an electronic control unit electrically connected to the first blower, the second blower, the airflow selecting mechanism, the front blower level setting device, and the rear blower level setting device; wherein: when the airflow selecting mechanism selects the first airflow mode, the electronic control unit controls the first blower based on the preferred front airflow level, and controls the second blower based on the preferred rear airflow level; when the airflow selecting mechanism selects the second airflow mode, the electronic control unit controls the first blower based on the preferred front airflow level and the preferred rear airflow level, and the electronic control unit actuates the recirculation door to open the supplemental recirculation air inlet; and the second blower is configured to mix a first airflow blown by the first blower with a second airflow that has entered the air conditioning case through the supplemental recirculation air inlet and has been heated by the heater core.