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US6354934B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including one or more flaps controlled by a control device

Assignee: Valeo Climatisation SA
•
Filing: 1999-11-08
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Granted: 2002-03-12
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Expires: 2019-11-08
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus that includes a control device and a flap controlled by the control device. The control device includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between the control member and the flap. The kinematic linkage includes a cable fixed close to its ends and at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing the kinematic linkage when the flap is at an end stop position. The provided flexibility makes it possible to dispense with the setting-up of the control device and reduces the spring effect in the kinematic linkage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Olivier Seuge

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 18:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00642; B60H1/00814; B60H1/00821; B60H1/00835; B60H1/00857

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; and a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; and a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said kinematic control linkage includes a lever which includes a receiver element including a housing which accommodates said downstream end of said sheathed cable in order to control the movement of said lever, said movement driving said flap in rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said deformability by flexing, seen from said sheathed cable, lies between 0.15 mm/N and 0.3 mm/N.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 134 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position, said kinematic control linkage including a first lever the movement of which is controlled by said control member and which includes a first receiver element including a first housing which accommodates said upstream end of said sheathed cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 134 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position, said kinematic control linkage including a first lever the movement of which is controlled by said control member and which includes a first receiver element including a first housing which accommodates said upstream end of said sheathed cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said first lever includes said elastic element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , said first lever having a central region, wherein said elastic element is an elastic arm, arranged between said first receiver element and said central region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said elastic arm is surrounded by an overmoulding of an elastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , further including two end stops situated on either side of said elastic arm to stop the movements of said elastic arm beyond said end stop position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , said first lever having a central region. wherein said first lever includes two elastic arms arranged between said first receiver element and said central region of said first lever.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 56 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said central region of said first lever includes an elongation arranged between said two elastic arms which stop the movement of said elongation beyond said end stop position defined by each of said two elastic arms on either side of a rest position of said elongation member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one end of said sheathed cable is coupled elastically to said first receiver element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said deformability by flexing of said kinematic control linkage, seen from said sheathed cable, lies between 0.15 mm/N and 0.3 mm/N.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 179 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position, said kinematic control linkage including a first lever the movement of which is controlled by said control member and which includes a first receiver element including a first housing which accommodates said upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including a second lever which includes a second receiver element including a second housing which accommodates said downstream end of said sheathed cable in order to control the movement of said second lever, said second lever driving said flap in rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 179 words
A heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus including a control device; a flap controlled by said control device which includes a control member and a kinematic control linkage of the direct-coupling type arranged between said control member and said flap, said kinematic control linkage including a sheathed cable fixed close to a downstream end and an upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including at least one elastic element arranged in such a way as to confer deformability by flexing said kinematic control linkage when said flap is at an end stop position, said kinematic control linkage including a first lever the movement of which is controlled by said control member and which includes a first receiver element including a first housing which accommodates said upstream end of said sheathed cable, said kinematic control linkage including a second lever which includes a second receiver element including a second housing which accommodates said downstream end of said sheathed cable in order to control the movement of said second lever, said second lever driving said flap in rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one said fist lever and said second lever includes said elastic element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , said first lever and said second lever having a central region, wherein said elastic element is an elastic arm arranged between one of said receiver elements and a corresponding central region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said elastic arm is surrounded by an overmoulding of an elastic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , further include two end stops situated on either side of said elastic arm to stop the movements of said elastic arm beyond said end stop position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 45 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , said first lever and said second lever having a central region, wherein at least one of said levers includes two elastic arms arranged between its said receiver element and said central region of its corresponding said lever.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 55 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said central region of said levers includes an elongation arranged between said two elastic arms which stop the movement of said elongation beyond said end stop position defined by each of said two elastic arms on either side of a rest position of said elongation member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one end of said sheathed cable is coupled elastically to one of said receiver elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said deformability by flexing of said kinematic control linkage, seen from said sheathed cable, lies between 0.15 mm/N and 0.3 mm/N.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
A vehicle comprising said heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus of claim 1 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 14 words
A vehicle comprising the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning apparatus of claim 13 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 78 words
A ventilation apparatus comprising: a flap having an end stop position; a control member; and a kinematic linkage of the direct-coupling type linking said control member and said flap, said kinematic linkage including: a cable having an upstream end and a downstream end, said cable fixed proximate said upstream end and said downstream end; and an elastic element arranged in such a way as to flex said kinematic linkage when said flap is in said end stop position.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 78 words
A ventilation apparatus comprising: a flap having an end stop position; a control member; and a kinematic linkage of the direct-coupling type linking said control member and said flap, said kinematic linkage including: a cable having an upstream end and a downstream end, said cable fixed proximate said upstream end and said downstream end; and an elastic element arranged in such a way as to flex said kinematic linkage when said flap is in said end stop position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 60 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said kinematic linkage further comprises: a first lever including a first receiver and having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end of said first lever connected to said control member, said first receiver at said downstream end of said first lever connected to said upstream end of said cable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 69 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said kinematic linkage further comprises: a second lever including a second receiver and having an upstream end and a downstream end, said second receiver at said upstream end of said second lever connected to said downstream end of said cable, said downstream end of said second lever connected to said flap, movement of said second lever driving said flap in rotation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 , wherein at least one of said first lever and said second lever includes said elastic element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 54 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 , said first lever and said second lever having a central region, wherein said elastic element is an elastic arm arranged between said first receiver and corresponding said central region of said first lever or said second lever and corresponding said central region of said second lever.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further including two end stops situated on either side of said elastic arm to stop the movements of said elastic arm beyond said end stop position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 93 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 27 , said first lever and said second lever having a central region, wherein at least one of said first lever and said second lever includes: two elastic arms arranged between corresponding said receiver and corresponding said central region; and an elongation extending from corresponding said central region, said elongation arranged between said two elastic arms which stop the movement of said elongation beyond said end stop position defined by each of said two elastic arms on either side of a rest position of said elongation member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 , wherein at least one of said upstream end and said downstream end of said cable is coupled elastically to one of said first receiver and said second receiver.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said kinematic linkage is capable of deforming between 0.15 mm/N and 0.3 mm/N when flexed.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR2151172A5 Cited
US4730552A Cited
US4867047A Cited
FR2679621A1 Cited
US5700191A Cited
FR2737864A1 Cited
GB2322181A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-03-11 2005-09-10 2006-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-03-11 2009-09-10 2010-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-03-11 2013-09-10 2014-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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