Abstract:
An automotive control panel (1) is provided with at least one multifunctional switch (3), for operating in at least two modes, a first mode in which the multifunctional switch (3) controls a parameter of the audio system, and a second mode in which the multifunctional switch controls a parameter of the climate control system, the control panel also including a switch mode selector (5, 7) for selecting the mode of the multifunctional switch.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a multichannel flat tube for a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel flow channels (2) which are adjacent to one another in a transversal direction with regard to the tube. According to the invention, the flow channels (2) have an oval cross-section, and/or the outer surfaces of the tube have a wave-shaped cross-contour which corresponds to the flow channels in such a way that the flat tube is thinner in the vertical direction of the tube between each two flow channels than in the area of a respective flow channel. The inventive flat tube can be designed for high working pressures while having a relatively low weight and a relatively high heat exchanging capacity. The inventive multichannel flat tube is used, for example, in CO2 motor vehicle air conditioning systems.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a regulating device for a coolant circuit of an air conditioning system. Said coolant circuit is divided into a high pressure side and a low pressure side by a compressor and an expansion element. The regulating device comprises a regulating part (8 to 12) located on the high pressure side and has a regulating part (1 to 7) located on the low pressure side for respectively regulating one or several system components which can be regulated and which are located on the high pressure side or on the low pressure side. According to the invention, both regulating parts are coupled to one another in that at least one influencing quantity (ys) of the one regulating part (1 to 7) forms a coupling quantity which is injected into the other regulating part (8 to 12) as an influencing quantity which is also effective in said regulating part. The invention is used e.g. for CO2 air conditioning systems in motor vehicles.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning system having a coolant circuit (12) comprised of at least one condenser (14), one expansion organ (16), one evaporator (18), and one compressor (20). The inventive air conditioning system also has a bypass line (24) which bypasses the condenser (14), and has at least one bypass valve (26, 28) for opening and closing said bypass line (24). In order to produce an improved vehicle air conditioning system which can be more effectively used during the warm-up phase of the drive assembly, the invention provides that a heat exchanger (22) is arranged in the coolant circuit (12). Said heat exchanger can be subjected to the action of the coolant and to the action of a coolant of a drive assembly (40). The inventive air conditioning system can be used during the cold-start phase in order to heat up the engine and the passenger compartment more quickly.
Abstract:
An improved automatic collision notification system (1) comprising a radar sensing system (3) including at least one radar transmitter and receiver arranged to detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area relative to the vehicle (4) and to detect the velocity and direction of movement of the object relative to the vehicle (4), a collision prediction unit (5) coupled to the radar sensing system (3) which calculates the impact velocity of the impending collision to provide an accident severity indicator, the collision prediction unit (5) being coupled to an accident notifier (7) arranged to transmit a signal (13) receivable at a station (15) remote from the vehicle (4), the signal emitted transmitting the information that a collision has occurred and the severity of the collision.
Abstract:
An airbag deployment system (1) including an impact sensor (3) coupled to an airbag actuator (5) which comprises a pre-arm mechanism coupled to the airbag actuator, the pre-arm mechanism comprising a sensing system (7) arranged to detect the presence of an object in a predetermined area relative to the vehicle to produce a potential collision signal which is fed to a pre-arm control system (9) which pre-arms the airbag actuator (5) in readiness for an impact detected by the impact sensor (3) of the airbag deployment system.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method of assembling vehicle instrument panel structural and electronic components includes: 1) fabricating an insulative instrument panel base substrate (30); 2) applying a conductive pattern (40) to the base substrate (30); and 3) attaching electronic components (44) to the base substrate (30) in electrical communication with the conductive pattern (40).
Abstract:
An apparatus for cooling electronic devices/modules in a vehicle comprises a main ventilation duct (14) mounted in the vehicle, and includes a blower (16) for forcing air through the main duct. A bypass duct (22) is provided in selective fluid communication with the main ventilation duct (14), and is adapted to carry electonic devices (12) to be cooled by air forced through the bypass duct (22). Inlet and outlet valves (28, 30) are provided for selectively varying the amount of air which passes through the bypass duct. The electronic devices (12) may be positioned outside of the bypass duct (22), or inside the bypass duct (22) if sealed.
Abstract:
A multicylinder engine exhaust manifold system comprises a first manifold (16) having branches leading from individual exhaust ports (14) of the engine to a downpipe, and a second manifold for interconnecting the exhaust ports. The second manifold is constructed in the form of a block (20) having individual through passages (28) communicating the engine exhaust ports (14) with the branches of the first manifold (16) and a transverse passage (24) passing through and interconnecting the individual passages (28). The transverse passage (24) has housed in it a thin-walled conduit (32). The conduit (32) partially obstructs the individual passages (28) and has openings facing the engine exhaust ports (14). The conduit (32) is in poor thermal contact with the block (20) and having a low thermal capacity relative to the block (20), in order to minimise cooling of gases transferred between exhaust ports (14).
Abstract:
A method is described for varying the engine load while maintaining optimum charge stratification in a stratified charge engine. In the invention, at least under low and part load conditions, the intake streams (22, 32) supplying the stratified charge are throttled (50, 60) in proportion to one another so as to vary the charge density uniformly across the entire combustible charge without significantly varying the relative volumes of the separate streams nor their relative velocities as they are drawn into the combustion chamber, the relative velocities being such as to minimise mixing within the combustion chamber between the intake streams during the intake and compression periods of the engine.