EP0053462A1 — Fluid actuated vehicle temperature control system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 316 words

A fluid actuator control valve for use in a vehicle environment and comfort control system, the system being of the type including duct work (20) interconnecting a fresh air inlet with a vent outlet, a heater outlet and a defrost outlet and further including a movable fresh air door (14), a movable heat door (16), and a movable defrost door (18) mounted in said duct work, the doors being shiftable between first and second positions by fluid actuators (22, 24, 26), said control valve directing actuating fluid selectively to the actuators for said doors and characterized by: a valve element housing (48), said housing defining a valve element chamber (110) having a front surface and a back surface, an inlet passage (226) adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, and a plurality of outlet passages (176, 178, 180) each adapted to be connected to one of said actuators, said outlet passages being arranged in a row and opening into said chamber through said back surface, said housing further defining a plurality of fluid inlet cavities (234, 236, 238) each connected to said inlet passage, each positioned in opposed relationship to one of said outlet passages and opening into said chamber through said front surface; and a valve element (112) slidably disposed within said valve element chamber (110), said valve element having a front face movable past said inlet cavities and a rear face movable past said outlet passages, said valve element defining an array of throughbores (144) and an array of bleed passages (148), each bleed passage opening through said rear face, said throughbores and said bleed passages being arranged so that as said valve element is moved within said chamber, said inlet cavities and said outlet passages are selectively interconnected to permit fluid to pass from said inlet passage through ones of said outlet passages.to selectively actuate said actuators and position said doors.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 316 words

A fluid actuator control valve for use in a vehicle environment and comfort control system, the system being of the type including duct work (20) interconnecting a fresh air inlet with a vent outlet, a heater outlet and a defrost outlet and further including a movable fresh air door (14), a movable heat door (16), and a movable defrost door (18) mounted in said duct work, the doors being shiftable between first and second positions by fluid actuators (22, 24, 26), said control valve directing actuating fluid selectively to the actuators for said doors and characterized by: a valve element housing (48), said housing defining a valve element chamber (110) having a front surface and a back surface, an inlet passage (226) adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, and a plurality of outlet passages (176, 178, 180) each adapted to be connected to one of said actuators, said outlet passages being arranged in a row and opening into said chamber through said back surface, said housing further defining a plurality of fluid inlet cavities (234, 236, 238) each connected to said inlet passage, each positioned in opposed relationship to one of said outlet passages and opening into said chamber through said front surface; and a valve element (112) slidably disposed within said valve element chamber (110), said valve element having a front face movable past said inlet cavities and a rear face movable past said outlet passages, said valve element defining an array of throughbores (144) and an array of bleed passages (148), each bleed passage opening through said rear face, said throughbores and said bleed passages being arranged so that as said valve element is moved within said chamber, said inlet cavities and said outlet passages are selectively interconnected to permit fluid to pass from said inlet passage through ones of said outlet passages.to selectively actuate said actuators and position said doors.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 1 which includes an actuator lever (56) supported on the housing and operatively connected to the valve element for moving the valve element within the chamber.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 2 in which the actuator lever includes a cam surface (88) configured to actuate a compressor switch (80) when said actuator lever is in preselected positions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the housing comprises a front member (50) defining the chamber front surface, the inlet passage and the fluid inlet cavities, the fluid inlet cavities being arranged in a row.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 4 in which the housing comprises a back member (52) defining the chamber rear surface and the outlet passages, each of the outlet passages having a central axis aligned with the central axis of one of the inlet cavities.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 80 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 which comprises a plurality of inlet seal elements (260) one of the inlet seal elements being disposed in each of the inlet cavities and each of said inlet seal elements defining a bore (274) having an axis co-linear with the central axis of the cavity within which it is disposed, the inlet seal elements each defining a seal face (268) engaging the valve element front face.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 80 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 which comprises a plurality of outlet seal elements (260),one of the outlet seal elements being disposed in each of the outlet passages and each of the outlet seal elements defining a bore (274) having an axis co-linear with the central axis of the outlet passage within which it is disposed, the outlet seal elements each defining a seal face (268) engaging the valve element rear face.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 in which the valve element comprises an elongated, generally planar member having three horizontally extending, vertically spaced rows of throughbores (144) and bleed passages (148) making up said array, each row passing by aligned inlet cavities and outlet passages to direct fluid to and from said actuators.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 8 in which the elongated, planar member has a leading edge (132), a trailing edge (134), an upper edge (136) and a lower edge (138),the member defining a plurality of row areas which are equally spaced between the leading edge and the trailing edge and which define the throughbores and the bleed passages.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 82 words

A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 9 in which the valve element row areas include a first row (Figure 23) having an upper throughbore, an intermediate bleed passage and a lower throughbore whereby when the first row is aligned with the inlet cavities and the outlet passages, fluid will pass through the valve element to the fresh air door actuator and the defrost door actuator and fluid may bleed back from said heat door actuator through the bleed passage.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 89 words

ll. A fluid actuator control valve as claimed in Claim 10 in which the valve element row areas further include: a second row (Figure 25) having an upper bleed passage, an intermediate bleed passage and a lower throughbore; a third row (Figure 27) having an upper bleed passage, an intermediate throughbore and a lower bleed passage; and a fourth row (Figure 29) having an upper bleed passage, an intermediate bleed passage and a lower bleed passage so that no fluid passes from the inlet cavities to the outlet passages.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 207 words

An air control valve for a vehicle climate control system of the type including an air actuated fresh air door.(14), an air actuated heat door (16), an air actuated defrost door (18), an air conditioner evaporator, a heater core and duct work (20) interconnectable with fresh outside air, the evaporator, and the heater core through said doors, said system being operable in a Max A/C Mode, Normal A/C Mode, Vent Mode, Heat Mode, Defrost Mode and a Defog Mode, the valve being characterised by: a valve body (48) defining inlet means (226) for admitting pressurized air to the body, outlet means (76; 78, 80) connectable to said doors for directing pressurized air from said inlet means to said doors and a valve element chamber (110); and a slide valve (112) slidably disposed within the valve element chamber, the slide valve being selectively shiftable to any one of six positions corresponding to Max A/C Mode, Normal A/C Mode, Vent Mode, Heat Mode, Defrost Mode and Defog Mode, said slide valve defining passage means (144, 148) for selectively interconnecting the air inlet means with the outlet means in each of said positions to selectively permit air to pass to selected ones of said doors in each of said modes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 207 words

An air control valve for a vehicle climate control system of the type including an air actuated fresh air door.(14), an air actuated heat door (16), an air actuated defrost door (18), an air conditioner evaporator, a heater core and duct work (20) interconnectable with fresh outside air, the evaporator, and the heater core through said doors, said system being operable in a Max A/C Mode, Normal A/C Mode, Vent Mode, Heat Mode, Defrost Mode and a Defog Mode, the valve being characterised by: a valve body (48) defining inlet means (226) for admitting pressurized air to the body, outlet means (76; 78, 80) connectable to said doors for directing pressurized air from said inlet means to said doors and a valve element chamber (110); and a slide valve (112) slidably disposed within the valve element chamber, the slide valve being selectively shiftable to any one of six positions corresponding to Max A/C Mode, Normal A/C Mode, Vent Mode, Heat Mode, Defrost Mode and Defog Mode, said slide valve defining passage means (144, 148) for selectively interconnecting the air inlet means with the outlet means in each of said positions to selectively permit air to pass to selected ones of said doors in each of said modes.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 59 words

An air control valve as claimed in Claim 13 which includes a plurality of passage seal means (260) forming parts of said inlet means and said outlet means and engaging said slide valve for sealing around said slide valve passage means to prevent passage of air into the cavity and to ensure that air moves through said passage means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

An air control valve as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13 in which the valve body inlet means comprises three.inlet cavities (234, 236, 238) and a main inlet passage (226) communicating with each of the inlet cavities, the inlet cavities being tandemly arranged in a single row.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

An air control valve as defined by Claim 15 wherein said outlet means comprises three outlet passages (176, 178, 180) defined by the outlet body and tandemly arranged in a single row, the outlet passages being in opposed coaxially spaced and paired relationship to the inlet cavities.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 218 words

An air control valve as claimed in Claim 15 in which the slide valve comprises a body defining the passage means, the passage means including: a plurality of bleed passages (148), each defining a plurality of bleed ports (146) opening towards and communicating with said outlet passages in selected ones of said positions to bleed air from the door actuators; and a plurality of throughbores (144) positioned to permit communication between the inlet cavities and selected ones of the outlet passages in each of the said positions so that air will pass through the valve body to the door actuator, the bleed ports and the throughbores being arranged in six rows and positioned to be brought in front of said cavities and said outlet passages in each of said positions, said rows including; a first row (Figure 23) defining an upper throughbore, an intermediate bleed port and a lower throughbore; a second row (Figure 25) defining upper and intermediate bleed ports and/or lower throughbore; a third row (Figure 27) defining upper and intermediate bleed ports and/or lower throughbore; a fourth row (Figure 29) defining upper and lower bleed ports and an intermediate throughbore; a fifth row (Figure 31) defining upper, lower and intermediate bleed ports; and a sixth row (Figure 33) defining upper, lower and intermediate bleed ports.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 257 words

A vehicle environmental control system comprising: a fresh air door (14); a fluid operated actuator (22) connected to said fresh air door; a heat door (16); a fluid operated.actuator connected to said heat door; a defrost door (18); a fluid operated actuator connected to said defrost door; a source of pressurized fluid (40); control means (10) operatively connected to said source of fluid and said actuators ' for selectively directing fluid to said actuators to position said doors in a Vent Mode, a Heat Mode and a Defrost Mode of operation, said control means being characterized by; a valve body (48) defining a valve element cavity (110) having opposed front and rear surfaces, three vertically arranged inlet ports (234, 236, 238) connected to said source of pressure and three vertically arranged outlet ports (89, 91, 93) each connected to one of said actuators, the inlet and outlet ports being aligned with each other to define three paired inlet and outlet ports; and a slide valve element (l12) movable to at least three positions within the cavity corresponding to a Vent Mode, a Heat Mode and a Defrost Mode, the valve element defining passage means for bleeding fluid from said fresh air door and said heat door and passing fluid to said defrost door actuator when in said Vent Mode, for bleeding fluid from said fresh air door and said defrost door and passing fluid to said heat door when in said Heat Mode, and for bleeding air from each of said actuators when in said Defrost Mode.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 257 words

A vehicle environmental control system comprising: a fresh air door (14); a fluid operated actuator (22) connected to said fresh air door; a heat door (16); a fluid operated.actuator connected to said heat door; a defrost door (18); a fluid operated actuator connected to said defrost door; a source of pressurized fluid (40); control means (10) operatively connected to said source of fluid and said actuators ' for selectively directing fluid to said actuators to position said doors in a Vent Mode, a Heat Mode and a Defrost Mode of operation, said control means being characterized by; a valve body (48) defining a valve element cavity (110) having opposed front and rear surfaces, three vertically arranged inlet ports (234, 236, 238) connected to said source of pressure and three vertically arranged outlet ports (89, 91, 93) each connected to one of said actuators, the inlet and outlet ports being aligned with each other to define three paired inlet and outlet ports; and a slide valve element (l12) movable to at least three positions within the cavity corresponding to a Vent Mode, a Heat Mode and a Defrost Mode, the valve element defining passage means for bleeding fluid from said fresh air door and said heat door and passing fluid to said defrost door actuator when in said Vent Mode, for bleeding fluid from said fresh air door and said defrost door and passing fluid to said heat door when in said Heat Mode, and for bleeding air from each of said actuators when in said Defrost Mode.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 139 words

A vehicle environment control system as claimed in Claim 17 in which the valve element passage means comprises: a first area including three horizontally spaced bleed ports connected to a bleed passage; a second area defining a bleed port connected to another bleed passage,.a throughbore interconnecting one of said pairs of inlet and outlet ports when in the Heat Mode and a bleed port connected to another bleed passage; a third area defining two throughbores and another bleed port connected to another bleed passage; and a fourth area defining another throughbore, another bleed port and another throughbore, respectively, and which are positioned so that fluid passes to said fresh air door and said defrost door actuators and is bled from said heat door actuator when said valve element is positioned in a fourth position corresponding to an A/C Mode.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 208 words

For use in a vehicle temperature control system, a control assembly for selectively interconnecting a plurality of outlet passages with a source of pressurized air, the assembly comprising: a valve front member -(50) defining an inlet passage (226) and a plurality of inlet cavities (234, 236, 238) communicating with said inlet passage; a valve back member (52) secured to said front member and defining a plurality of outlet passages (189, 191, 193), said inlet cavities and outlet passages being arranged in opposed, paired relationship with each other, said valve front and back members further defining an open elongated slot-like cavity (110); an elongated valve element (112) slidably disposed within said slot-like cavity and movable to a plurality of positions, said valve element defining an array of control passages (144, 148) opening through said element and positioned to permit air to pass from selected ones of said inlet cavities to opposed ones of said outlet passages in the plurality of positions of said valve element; and a plurality of seals (260), each disposed in one of said inlet cavities and outlet passages for sealingly engaging said valve element and preventing leakage of air out of said slot-like cavity to ensure that air flows through said valve element control passages.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 208 words

For use in a vehicle temperature control system, a control assembly for selectively interconnecting a plurality of outlet passages with a source of pressurized air, the assembly comprising: a valve front member -(50) defining an inlet passage (226) and a plurality of inlet cavities (234, 236, 238) communicating with said inlet passage; a valve back member (52) secured to said front member and defining a plurality of outlet passages (189, 191, 193), said inlet cavities and outlet passages being arranged in opposed, paired relationship with each other, said valve front and back members further defining an open elongated slot-like cavity (110); an elongated valve element (112) slidably disposed within said slot-like cavity and movable to a plurality of positions, said valve element defining an array of control passages (144, 148) opening through said element and positioned to permit air to pass from selected ones of said inlet cavities to opposed ones of said outlet passages in the plurality of positions of said valve element; and a plurality of seals (260), each disposed in one of said inlet cavities and outlet passages for sealingly engaging said valve element and preventing leakage of air out of said slot-like cavity to ensure that air flows through said valve element control passages.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 63 words

A control assembly as claimed in Claim 19 in which each of said seal means comprises: a pad-like member having a front face (168), a rear face (172) and a throughbore (174) opening through said faces, said front face engaging said valve element; and spring means (262).engaging said pad-like member for biasing said pad-like member front face into engagement with said valve element.

Fluid actuated vehicle temperature control system

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