Air vent assembly with pressure relief valve
A vent assembly of a vehicle includes a vent having a vent opening through which an airflow is directed, and a primary duct operably connected to the vent to convey the airflow toward the vent opening. A pressure relief valve is located along the primary duct. The pressure relief valve is configured to open when a pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds a threshold, to divert a portion of the airflow through the pressure relief valve.
1 . A vent assembly of a vehicle comprising:
a vent having a vent opening through which an airflow is directed;
a primary duct operably connected to the vent to convey the airflow directly from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit toward the vent opening; and
a pressure relief valve located along the primary duct upstream of the vent, the pressure relief valve configured to open when a pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds a threshold, to divert a portion of the airflow through the pressure relief valve.
2 . The vent assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary duct operably connected to the pressure relief valve to convey the portion of the airflow from the pressure relief valve.
3 . The vent assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a secondary outlet of the secondary duct through which the portion of the airflow is conveyed.
4 . The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve opening and a valve door extending across the valve opening when the pressure relief valve is in a closed position.
5 . The vent assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the valve door to bias the valve door in the closed position.
6 . The vent assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes:
a valve housing having a valve opening; and
a flexible valve membrane secured to the valve housing;
wherein the valve membrane covers the valve opening when the pressure relief valve is a the closed position, and the flexible membrane uncovers the valve opening when the pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds the threshold.
7 . A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a vehicle comprising:
an HVAC unit;
a primary duct operably connected to the HVAC unit;
a vent operably connected to the HVAC unit and configured to convey an airflow directly from the HVAC unit into an occupant compartment of the vehicle via the primary duct; and
a pressure relief valve located along the primary duct upstream of the vent, the pressure relief valve configured to open when a pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds a threshold, to divert a portion of the airflow through the pressure relief valve.
8 . The HVAC system of claim 7 , further comprising a secondary duct operably connected to the pressure relief valve to convey the portion of the airflow from the pressure relief valve.
9 . The HVAC system of claim 8 , further comprising a secondary outlet of the secondary duct through which the portion of the airflow is conveyed.
10 . The HVAC system of claim 9 , wherein the secondary outlet directs the portion of the airflow into the occupant compartment.
11 . The HVAC system of claim 7 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve opening and a valve door extending across the valve opening when the pressure relief valve is in a closed position.
12 . The HVAC system of claim 11 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the valve door to bias the valve door in the closed position.
13 . The HVAC system of claim 7 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes:
a valve housing having a valve opening; and
a flexible valve membrane secured to the valve housing;
wherein the valve membrane covers valve opening when the pressure relief valve is a the closed position, and the flexible membrane uncovers the valve opening when the pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds the threshold.
14 . A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body defining an occupant compartment inside the vehicle; and
a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, including:
an HVAC unit;
a primary duct operably connected to the HVAC unit;
a vent operably connected to the HVAC unit and configured to convey an airflow directly from the HVAC unit into the occupant compartment of the vehicle via the primary duct; and
a pressure relief valve located along the primary duct upstream of the vent, the pressure relief valve configured to open when a pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds a threshold, to divert a portion of the airflow through the pressure relief valve.
15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising:
a secondary duct operably connected to the pressure relief valve to convey the portion of the airflow from the pressure relief valve; and
a secondary outlet of the secondary duct through which the portion of the airflow is conveyed.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the secondary outlet directs the portion of the airflow into the occupant compartment.
17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the secondary outlet is in an instrument panel of the vehicle.
18 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes a valve opening and a valve door extending across the valve opening when the pressure relief valve is in a closed position.
19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , further comprising a biasing member connected to the valve door to bias the valve door in the closed position.
20 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the pressure relief valve includes:
a valve housing having a valve opening; and
a flexible valve membrane secured to the valve housing;
wherein the valve membrane covers the valve opening when the pressure relief valve is in a closed position, and the flexible membrane uncovers the valve opening when the pressure of the airflow in the primary duct exceeds the threshold.