Air Distribution Apparatus

• US 20190315197A1
• Filed: 04/15/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB (Dometic Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB (Dometic Group AB)
• Inventors: Williamson, Jarrod, Liu, Louis, Svarc, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 11,376,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00028 Constructional lay-out of the devices in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00364 for caravans or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/245 located in the roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/247 Disposition of several air-diffusers in a vehicle for ventilation-air circulation in a vehicle cabin
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00185 Distribution of conditionned air
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/00235 Devices in the roof area of the passenger compartment

Abstract

The present embodiments relate to an air distribution apparatus for distributing conditioned airflow from a roof mounted air conditioner to the inside of a vehicle, which includes an inlet port adapted to receive the conditioned airflow from the roof mounted air conditioner. An outlet port, which is disposed adjacent to each longitudinal end of the apparatus, delivers conditioned airflow to the vehicle. An internal supply duct is adapted to evenly split the conditioned airflow to the outlet ports.

Claims

1. An air distribution apparatus for distributing conditioned airflow from a roof mounted air conditioner to the inside of vehicle, said apparatus including:

an inlet port adapted to receive said conditioned airflow from said roof mounted air conditioner;

at least one outlet port disposed adjacent each longitudinal end of said apparatus for delivering conditioned airflow to said vehicle; and

an internal supply duct adapted to evenly split said conditioned airflow to each said outlet port.

2. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said internal supply duct includes a raised splitter formation and two legs, each leg leading to one longitudinal end.

3. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each leg includes an upper convex surface for substantially redirecting said conditioned airflow.

4. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each leg includes a lower concave surface for substantially redirecting said conditioned airflow.

5. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each leg includes a lower convex surface downstream of said lower concave surface such that the height of each leg is narrower at the centre of each leg.

6. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the height of each leg is relatively higher at the sides of each leg.

7. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each leg includes a pair of opposed side walls, said side walls substantially diverging as each leg approaches each longitudinal end.

8. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each side wall is substantially curved.

9. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a pair of outlet ports disposed at each longitudinal end.

10. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said supply duct includes a divider formation extending along a portion of each leg for evenly separating the conditioned airflow between each outlet port.

11. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said divider formation extends between said lower convex surface and a top surface of each leg.

12. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said raised splitter formation is substantially aligned with the centre axis of said inlet port.

13. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 1, including a flexible inlet supply duct for fluidly connecting said inlet port to said roof mounted vehicle air conditioner.

14. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each leg includes a cross sectional area which increases as each leg respectively approaches each longitudinal end such that the velocity of the conditioned airflow reduces thereby reducing the airflow noise generated at each longitudinal end.

15. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said flexible inlet supply duct includes large radiused corners for minimising the flow disturbance of said conditioned airflow into said inlet port.

16. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each outlet port includes at least one movable louver for directing the conditioned airflow leaving each outlet port.

17. An air distribution apparatus according to claim 1 including a pair of laterally disposed return air entry ports adapted to return air from said vehicle to said roof mounted vehicle air conditioner.