VEHICLE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A vehicle air handling system comprising:
- a housing including an outlet configured to guide air flow to a passenger compartment, a fresh air inlet configured to provide air from outside the vehicle into the housing and a recirculated air inlet configured to guide air flow from the passenger compartment into the housing;
a blower arranged to move air through the housing from the fresh air inlet and the recirculated air inlet to the outlet;
a sensor positioned to obtain humidity and temperature values for the air flow through the outlet;
an air intake valve mechanism configured to move between a closed position blocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing and an open position unblocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing; and
a controller operably coupled to the air intake valve mechanism to selectively position the air intake valve mechanism relative to the fresh air inlet to control an amount of fresh air introduced into the housing in order to maintain moisture density of the air flow entering the passenger compartment within a prescribed range based on the humidity and temperature measurements from the sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air handling system includes a housing, a blower, a sensor, an air intake valve and a controller. The housing includes an outlet to a passenger compartment, a fresh air inlet providing fresh air into the housing and a recirculated air inlet that guides air flow from the passenger compartment into the housing. The blower moves air through the housing. The air intake valve moves between a closed position blocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing and an open position unblocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing. The controller positions the air intake valve relative to the fresh air inlet controlling the flow of fresh air into the housing and thereby maintaining moisture density of the air flow entering the passenger compartment within a prescribed range based on humidity and temperature values from the sensor.
47 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle air handling system comprising:
-
a housing including an outlet configured to guide air flow to a passenger compartment, a fresh air inlet configured to provide air from outside the vehicle into the housing and a recirculated air inlet configured to guide air flow from the passenger compartment into the housing; a blower arranged to move air through the housing from the fresh air inlet and the recirculated air inlet to the outlet; a sensor positioned to obtain humidity and temperature values for the air flow through the outlet; an air intake valve mechanism configured to move between a closed position blocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing and an open position unblocking air flow from the fresh air inlet into the housing; and a controller operably coupled to the air intake valve mechanism to selectively position the air intake valve mechanism relative to the fresh air inlet to control an amount of fresh air introduced into the housing in order to maintain moisture density of the air flow entering the passenger compartment within a prescribed range based on the humidity and temperature measurements from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of controlling moisture density within vehicle passenger compartment comprising:
-
providing a housing with an outlet that guides air flow to a passenger compartment, a fresh air inlet configured to provide fresh air to the air handling system and a recirculated air inlet that guides air flow from the passenger compartment into the housing; detecting humidity and temperature of the air flow passing from the outlet to passenger compartment; controlling an amount of fresh air entering the housing through the fresh air inlet based on the humidity and temperature of the air flow in order to maintain moisture density of the air flow entering the passenger compartment within a prescribed range. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification