Vehicle HVAC system
A HVAC system that includes an air duct connected to an air handler and having a tubular housing with a first airflow path and a second airflow path therein separated from the first airflow path. One end of the tubular housing having a first air outlet in fluid communication with only the first airflow path and a second air outlet in fluid communication with only the second airflow path. The first air outlet and the second air outlet are adjacent to one another. A vent assembly having a housing surrounding first airflow directing members and second airflow directing members. The vent assembly is installed to the end of the tubular housing such that the first airflow directing members direct airflow from the first air outlet in a first direction. The second airflow directing members direct airflow from the second air outlet in a second direction.
1. An HVAC system comprising:
an air handler having an air inlet, an airflow direction control mechanism configured to selectively direct airflow out of the air handler to a first outlet or a second outlet, or simultaneously to both the first outlet and the second outlet;
a blower coupled to the air handler selectively operable at a plurality of blowing speeds to generate airflow through the air handler;
an air duct connected to the air handler and having a tubular housing defining and completely surrounding both a first airflow path and a second airflow path from a first end of the tubular housing of the tubular housing to a second end of the tubular housing, the second air flow path being separate from the first airflow path, the first end of the tubular housing defining a first air inlet in fluid communication with only the first airflow path and a second air inlet in fluid communication with only the second airflow path, the second end of the tubular housing defining a first air outlet in fluid communication with only the first airflow path and a second air outlet in fluid communication with only the second airflow path, the first air inlet and the second air inlet being adjacent to one another at the first end of the tubular housing and the first air outlet and the second air outlet being adjacent to one another at the second end of the tubular housing, the first air inlet being in direct fluid communication with the first outlet of the air handler and the second air inlet being in direct fluid communication with the second outlet of the air handler; and
a vent assembly having a housing that surrounds both first airflow directing members and second airflow directing members, the vent assembly being installed to the tubular housing at the second end of the tubular housing such that the first airflow directing members direct airflow from the first air outlet in a first direction away from the tubular housing and the second airflow directing members direct airflow from the second air outlet in at least a second direction away from the tubular housing.
2. The HVAC system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first airflow directing members of the vent assembly are non-movably fixed to the housing of the vent assembly, and
the second airflow directing members are movable within the housing such that airflow from the second air outlet is adjustable to any of a plurality of directions including the second direction.
3. The HVAC system according to claim 2 , wherein
the air handler, the blower, the air duct and the vent assembly are configured to install to an instrument panel in a passenger compartment of a vehicle such that the first airflow directing members of the vent assembly are fixedly positioned to direct air against a side window of the vehicle and the second airflow directing members of the vent assembly are adjustably positionable to direct airflow into the passenger compartment away from the side window of the vehicle.
4. The HVAC system according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubular housing of the air duct is an elongated structure having a circular shape in cross-section.
5. The HVAC system according to claim 4 , wherein
the housing of the vent assembly has an overall circular shape.
6. The HVAC system according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubular housing of the air duct is an elongated structure having a rectangular shape in cross-section.
7. The HVAC system according to claim 6 , wherein
the housing of the vent assembly has an overall rectangular shape.
8. An HVAC system comprising:
an air handler having an air inlet, an airflow direction control mechanism configured to selectively direct airflow out of the air handler to a first outlet or a second outlet, or simultaneously to both the first outlet and the second outlet;
a blower coupled to the air handler selectively operable at a plurality of blowing speeds to generate airflow through the air handler;
an air duct connected to the air handler and having a tubular housing defining and completely surrounding both a first airflow path and a second airflow path that is separate from the first airflow path, a first end of the tubular housing defining a first air inlet in fluid communication with only the first airflow path and a second air inlet in fluid communication with only the second airflow path, a second end of the tubular housing defining a first air outlet in fluid communication with only the first airflow path and a second air outlet in fluid communication with only the second airflow path, the first air inlet and the second air inlet being adjacent to one another at the first end of the tubular housing and the first air outlet and the second air outlet being adjacent to one another at the second end of the tubular housing, the first air inlet being in direct fluid communication with the first outlet of the air handler and the second air inlet being in direct fluid communication with the second outlet of the air handler, the first airflow path occupying at least 50% of an overall cross-sectional area of the tubular housing; and
a vent assembly having a housing that surrounds both first airflow directing members and second airflow directing members, the vent assembly being installed to the tubular housing at the second end of the tubular housing such that the first airflow directing members direct airflow from the first air outlet in a first direction away from the tubular housing and the second airflow directing members direct airflow from the second air outlet in at least a second direction away from the tubular housing.
9. The HVAC system according to claim 8 , wherein
the first airflow path occupies approximately 75% of an overall cross-sectional area of the tubular housing with the second airflow path occupying a remainder of the overall cross-sectional area of the tubular housing.
10. The HVAC system according to claim 8 , wherein
the air duct further includes a second tubular housing defining a third airflow path and a fourth airflow path, the second tubular housing defining and completely surrounding both a third airflow path and a fourth airflow path that is separate and independent of the third airflow path.
11. The HVAC system according to claim 10 , wherein
the second tubular housing defines a third end that includes a third air inlet in fluid communication with only the third airflow path and a fourth air inlet in fluid communication with only the fourth airflow path.
12. The HVAC system according to claim 11 , wherein
the second tubular housing has a fourth end that includes a third air outlet in fluid communication with only the third airflow path and a fourth air outlet in fluid communication with only the fourth airflow path.
13. The HVAC system according to claim 12 , wherein
the first end of the tubular housing and the third end of the second tubular housing are adjacent to one another with the first, second, third and fourth air inlets being adjacent to one another.
14. The HVAC system according to claim 13 , wherein
the second end of the tubular housing defines first distal end of the air duct relative to the first end of the tubular housing, and the fourth end of the second tubular housing defines a second distal end of the air duct relative to the third end of the second tubular housing with the first, second, third and fourth air inlets being located centrally between the first distal end and the second distal end.
15. The HVAC system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first airflow path occupies approximately 50% of an overall cross-sectional area of the tubular housing with the second airflow path occupying a remainder of the overall cross-sectional area of the tubular housing.
16. The HVAC system according to claim 1 , wherein
the air duct further includes a second tubular housing defining a third airflow path and a fourth airflow path, the second tubular housing defining and completely surrounding both a third airflow path and a fourth airflow path that is separate and independent of the third airflow path.
17. The HVAC system according to claim 16 , wherein
the second tubular housing defines a third end that includes a third air inlet in fluid communication with only the third airflow path and a fourth air inlet in fluid communication with only the fourth airflow path.
18. The HVAC system according to claim 17 , wherein
the second tubular housing has a fourth end that includes a third air outlet in fluid communication with only the third airflow path and a fourth air outlet in fluid communication with only the fourth airflow path.
19. The HVAC system according to claim 18 , wherein
the first end of the tubular housing and the third end of the second tubular housing are adjacent to one another with the first, second, third and fourth air inlets being adjacent to one another.
20. The HVAC system according to claim 19 , wherein
the second end of the tubular housing defines first distal end of the air duct relative to the first end of the tubular housing, and the fourth end of the second tubular housing defines a second distal end of the air duct relative to the third end of the second tubular housing with the first, second, third and fourth air inlets being located centrally between the first distal end and the second distal end.