IP Library Granted Patent US 11,746,791
Granted Patent B2
US 11,746,791 · App. 16/444,584 · Granted Sep 5, 2023

Scroll housing subassembly and method for servicing a scroll housing subassembly

Inventors: Gregory Rademacher (Auburn Hills, MI); Jason Kreucher (Auburn Hills, MI); Richard Sikorski (Auburn Hills, MI)
Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
F04D17/16B60H1/00028B60H1/00471B60H1/00521F04D29/4226
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,746,791
App. No.
16/444,584
Granted
Sep 5, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for servicing a blower motor installed in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle may include rotating a scroll housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly from an installed position to an extraction position. The method may include detaching a first securing element, the first securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an evaporator housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly. The method may include removing the scroll housing subassembly from the HVAC assembly in a direction of extraction. The method may include that the scroll housing subassembly reaches the extraction position by axial rotation in a direction orthogonal to the direction of extraction. The method may include that the extraction position is a position at which the scroll housing subassembly is cleared for moving in the direction of extraction.

Claims (83)

1. A method for servicing a blower motor installed in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly fora motor vehicle, the method comprising:

rotating a scroll housing subassembly comprising a scroll housing and the blower motor of the HVAC assembly from an installed position to an extraction position,

wherein the blower motor is rigidly attached to the scroll housing, thereby resulting in a joint rotation of the scroll housing and the blower motor when rotating the scroll housing subassembly, and

wherein the joint rotation is about an axis through the blower motor,

detaching a first securing element, the first securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an evaporator housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly; and

removing the scroll housing subassembly from the HVAC assembly in a direction of extraction, at the extraction position,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly reaches the extraction position by axial rotation in a direction orthogonal to the direction of extraction, and

wherein the extraction position is a position at which the scroll housing subassembly is cleared for moving in the direction of extraction.

2. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

detaching a second securing element, the second securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and the evaporator housing subassembly; and

detaching a third securing element, the third securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an air inlet housing subassembly of the HVAC assembly.

3. The method of claim 2 , the method further comprising:

identifying a reference point in the scroll housing subassembly, the reference point being an indicator of a location to start rotating the scroll housing subassembly from the installed position; and

disengaging a safety mechanism of the air inlet housing subassembly, the safety mechanism attaching the air inlet housing subassembly to the scroll housing subassembly.

4. The method of claim 3 ,

wherein the reference point is a pin on the scroll housing subassembly that locates a channel in the air inlet housing subassembly, and

wherein the safety mechanism is a latch in the air inlet housing subassembly that prevents the scroll housing subassembly from disassembling during transit.

5. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly comprises the blower motor and a scrolling portion, the blower motor being attached to the scrolling portion through a plurality of fastening elements,

wherein the evaporator housing subassembly comprises an evaporator, and

wherein the air inlet housing subassembly comprises an entry passageway for transporting air.

6. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the second securing element is a radial male wedge and a radial female wedge, the radial male wedge and the female wedge being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and the radial male wedge and the female wedge being detached at the extraction position.

7. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the third securing element is a plurality of bayonet features, the plurality of bayonet features being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and the plurality of bayonet features being detached at the extraction position.

8. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first securing element is an arcing tongue and an arcing groove, the arcing tongue and the arcing groove being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and detached at the extraction position.

9. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the extraction position comprises an extraction height and an extraction angle,

wherein the extraction height is a distance traveled by the scroll housing subassembly in the direction orthogonal to the direction of extraction from the installed position, and

wherein the extraction angle is an angular distance traveled by twisting the scroll housing subassembly from the installed position.

10. The method of claim 9 ,

wherein the extraction height is 15 millimeters or less, and

wherein the extraction angle is 40 degrees or less.

11. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a scroll housing subassembly comprising a scroll housing and a blower motor;

an evaporator housing subassembly; and

an air inlet housing subassembly,

a first securing element, the first securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and the evaporator housing subassembly and configured to detach at an extraction position;

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is configured for rotating from an installed position to the extraction position,

wherein the blower motor is rigidly attached to the scroll housing, thereby resulting in a joint rotation of the scroll housing and the blower motor when rotating the scroll housing subassembly,

wherein the joint rotation is about an axis through the blower motor,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is configured for removal from the HVAC assembly at the extraction position,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly reaches the extraction position by rotating axially in a direction orthogonal to a direction of extraction, and

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is the only subassembly removed from the HVAC assembly for servicing the blower motor.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , the assembly further comprising:

a second securing element, the second securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and the evaporator housing subassembly and configured to detach at the extraction position; and

a third securing element, the third securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and the air inlet housing subassembly and configured to detach at the extraction position.

13. The assembly of claim 12 ,

wherein the second securing element is a radial male wedge and a radial female wedge, the radial male wedge and the radial female wedge being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and the radial male wedge and the radial female wedge being detached at the extraction position.

14. The assembly of claim 12 ,

wherein the third securing element is a plurality of bayonet features, the plurality of bayonet features being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and the plurality of bayonet features being detached at the extraction position.

15. The assembly of claim 11 , the assembly further comprising:

a reference point in the scroll housing subassembly, the reference point being an indicator of a location to start rotating the scroll housing subassembly from the installed position; and

a safety mechanism of the air inlet housing subassembly, the safety mechanism attaching the air inlet housing subassembly to the scroll housing subassembly.

16. The assembly of claim 15 ,

wherein the reference point is a pin on the scroll housing subassembly that locates a channel in the air inlet housing subassembly, and

wherein the safety mechanism is a latch in the air inlet housing subassembly that prevents the scroll housing subassembly from disassembling during transit.

17. The assembly of claim 11 ,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly comprises a blower motor and a scrolling portion, the blower motor being attached to the scrolling portion through a plurality of fastening elements,

wherein the evaporator housing subassembly comprises an evaporator, and

wherein the air inlet housing subassembly comprises an entry passageway for transporting air.

18. The assembly of claim 11 ,

wherein the first securing element is an arcing tongue and an arcing groove, the arcing tongue and the arcing groove being attached at the installed position of the scroll housing subassembly and the arcing tongue and the arcing groove being detached at the extraction position.

19. The assembly of claim 11 ,

wherein the extraction position comprises an extraction height and an extraction angle,

wherein the extraction height is a distance traveled by the scroll housing subassembly in the direction orthogonal to the direction of extraction from the installed position, and

wherein the extraction angle is an angular distance traveled by twisting the scroll housing subassembly from the installed position.

20. The assembly of claim 19 ,

wherein the extraction height is 15 millimeters or less, and

wherein the extraction angle is 40 degrees or less.

21. A scroll housing subassembly installed in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) assembly for a motor vehicle, the subassembly comprising:

a scroll housing;

a blower motor;

a first securing element, the first securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an evaporator housing subassembly and configured to detach at an extraction position;

a second securing element, the second securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and the evaporator housing subassembly and configured to detach at the extraction position; and

a third securing element, the third securing element being distributed on the scroll housing subassembly and an air inlet housing subassembly and configured to detach at the extraction position,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is configured for rotation from an installed position to the extraction position,

wherein the blower motor is rigidly attached to the scroll housing, thereby resulting in a joint rotation of the scroll housing and the blower motor when rotating the scroll housing subassembly,

wherein the joint rotation is about an axis through the blower motor,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is configured for removal from the HVAC assembly at the extraction position,

wherein the scroll housing subassembly reaches the extraction position by axial rotation in a direction orthogonal to a direction of extraction, and

wherein the scroll housing subassembly is the only subassembly removed from the HVAC assembly for servicing the blower motor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2019
From: RADEMACHER, GREGORY; KREUCHER, JASON; SIKORSKI, RICHARD
To: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 049868/0105 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200400146A1 · Dec 24, 2020