IP Library Granted Patent US 11,021,038
Granted Patent B2
US 11,021,038 · App. 16/214,391 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Lightweight vehicle HVAC structure

Inventors: Aaron Kirk Hensler (South Lyon, MI); Scott Torok (Commerce Township, MI)
Assignee: MARELLI CABIN COMFORT USA, INC.
B60H1/00471B60H1/00514B60H1/00521B60H1/00528B60H1/00564B60H1/32B60H2001/006
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,021,038
App. No.
16/214,391
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An HVAC system includes a blower housing including a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower housing having a plastic skeleton structure. The HVAC system further includes a foam blower liner disposed within and coupled to the blower housing.

Claims (48)

1. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a blower housing comprising a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower housing having a plastic skeleton structure that includes a plurality of voids extending therethrough; and

a foam blower liner disposed within and coupled to the blower housing, wherein the foam blower liner extends along and covers the plurality of voids.

2. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 1 , wherein:

the blower housing further comprises a first body and an opposing second body disposed on the first body; and

the blower housing defines a mesh structure.

3. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 2 , wherein the first body has a material thickness that is greater than a material thickness of the second body.

4. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 2 , wherein:

the blower liner is a three-dimensional foam and defines a flange; and

the flange is sandwiched between the first body and the second body.

5. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 4 , the blower liner is configured to be ultrasonically welded to the blower housing proximate the blower inlet.

6. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 1 , wherein the blower housing defines a mesh structure comprising a solid wall proximate a scroll cut-off defined between a scroll portion and a manifold portion of the blower housing.

7. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 6 , wherein the foam liner is configured to be ultrasonically welded to the blower housing proximate the scroll cut-off.

8. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 1 further comprising a blower having a motor and a fan cage, the blower provided in the blower housing.

9. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first body defines a fan opening configured to receive at least a portion of the blower therethrough; and

the blower inlet is configured to receive an ultrasonic welding tool therethrough that is configured to ultrasonically weld the blower liner to the blower housing.

10. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 9 , wherein the blower liner defines:

a blower liner inlet complementary to the blower inlet; and

a liner fan opening complementary to the fan opening.

11. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 1 , further comprising an evaporator disposed downstream from the blower housing.

12. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 11 , further comprising:

an evaporator housing comprising an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the evaporator housing having a plastic skeleton structure; and

a foam evaporator liner disposed within and engaging the evaporator housing;

wherein the evaporator is disposed in the evaporator liner.

13. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the evaporator liner is compressed between the evaporator and the evaporator housing.

14. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 12 , further comprising an adapter comprising an adapter inlet extending into the blower outlet and an adapter outlet extending into the evaporator inlet.

15. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system of claim 12 , wherein:

the evaporator housing comprises a first body and an opposing second body disposed on the first body; and

at least one of the first or second bodies defines a mesh structure.

16. The HVAC A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a blower housing comprising a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower housing having a plastic skeleton structure;

a foam blower liner disposed within and coupled to the blower housing;

an evaporator disposed downstream from the blower housing;

an evaporator housing comprising an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the evaporator housing having a plastic skeleton structure;

a foam evaporator liner disposed within and engaging the evaporator housing;

wherein the evaporator is disposed in the evaporator liner; and

an adapter comprising an adapter inlet extending into the blower outlet and an adapter outlet extending into the evaporator inlet,

wherein a portion of the blower liner proximate the blower outlet is disposed between the adapter and the blower housing.

17. A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a blower housing comprising a blower inlet and a blower outlet, the blower housing having a plastic skeleton structure;

a foam blower liner disposed within and coupled to the blower housing;

an evaporator disposed downstream from the blower housing;

an evaporator housing comprising an evaporator inlet and an evaporator outlet, the evaporator housing having a plastic skeleton structure;

a foam evaporator liner disposed within and engaging the evaporator housing;

wherein the evaporator is disposed in the evaporator liner; and

an adapter comprising an adapter inlet extending into the blower outlet and an adapter outlet extending into the evaporator inlet,

wherein a portion of the evaporator liner proximate the evaporator inlet is disposed between the adapter and the evaporator housing.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2020
From: MARELLI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: MARELLI CABIN COMFORT USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 054609/0652 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 9, 2020
From: CALSONIC KANSEI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: MARELLI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 054663/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2019
From: HENSLER, AARON KIRK; TOROK, SCOTT
To: CALSONIC KANSEI NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 047990/0049 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62597338 · Dec 11, 2017
Related Publication 20190176569A1 · Jun 13, 2019