SE546596C2 - Device for using the HVAC system of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a device (1) comprising an inlet (14) configured to attach to a HVAC outlet (13) in a cabin of a vehicle (2) a closing plate (8) configured to be arranged in an opening (4) from a cabin of the vehicle (2) to the exterior of the vehicle (2)and an air conduit (9) from the inlet (149 trough an aperture (10) in the closing plate, to a device outlet (17). There is also provided a method for providing heating or cooling to a living space (3) using the device (1), the method comprising arranging the device in a vehicle (2) so that the device (1) can provide heating or cooling to the living space (3). The vehicle (2) may in particular be an electric vehicle (2).

Description

Device for using the HVAC system of a vehicle Field of the invention This invention relates to a device for providing heating or cooling to a living space, for ex- ample a tent, from a vehicle or a boat that is equipped with a HVAC system.

Background Camping in hot or cold climates may be uncomfortable because it is difficult to control the climate in a tent or a cabin. Hence, there is a need for a way to provide heating or cooling to living spaces. This invention solves this and other problems.

Summarv of the invention ln a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising, an inlet configured to attach to a HVAC outlet in a cabin of a vehicle a closing plate configured to be arranged in an opening from a cabin of the vehicle to the exterior of the vehicle and an air conduit from the inlet trough an aperture in the closing plate, to a device outlet__.___ This makes it possible to provide heating or cooling from the vehicle to a living space with- out rain or snow or insects entering the cabin. Coupling the living space directly to the HVAC device provides more efficient heating or cooling.

The inlet may be configured to reversibly attach to the HVAC outlet with a snap fit, friction fit or an interference fit.

The conduit comprises a first conduit part from the inlet to the closing plate and a second conduit part from the closing plate to the device outlet and the first or second conduit part may be reversibly attached to the closing plate. This has the advantage of avoiding kinks in the air conduit. ln one embodiment closing plate has a first side and a second side, where the closing plate is configured to be arranged in an opening from a cabin ofthe vehicle to the exterior ofthe vehicle, said opening having a lower end defined by a lower edge, the lower edge being a part of the vehicle, and where the closing plate has a lower edge configured to be arranged along the lower edge ofthe opening and characterized in that the lower edge ofthe closing plate has a flange with an outer surface that is continuous with the surface of the second side of the closing plate, said flange being configured to cover a part of the exterior of the vehicle.

The flange may be configured to lead water away from the surface ofthe second side of the closing plate and onto the exterior ofthe vehicle.

A part ofthe lower edge may have a downward-facing groove arranged to receive the lower edge of the opening of the vehicle, where the flange forms a part of the groove. ln a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for providing heating or cooling to a living space using a device according to the first aspect of the invention, the method involving a vehicle with a cabin and a HVAC system for providing heated or cooled air to the cabin the cabin having an opening to the exterior, said HVAC system having at least one HVAC outlet, the method comprising the steps of arranging the closing plate in the opening, connecting the in|et to a HVAC outlet, providing the device outlet to the living space, and running the HVAC system of the vehicle to provide heated or cooled air to the living space.

When the HVAC system of the vehicle has a plurality of HVAC outlets and where the HVAC system may be adjusted so that heated or cooled air is provided only from the HVAC outlet to which the in|et is connected.

The vehicle is preferably an electric vehicle. ln a third aspect of the invention there is provided a device comprising a closing plate con- figured to be arranged in an opening from a cabin ofthe vehicle to the exterior ofthe vehicle an air conduit from an aperture in the closing plate where the conduit is rotatably attached to the closing plate.

Drawings The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and schematically illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and serve to illustrate the principles of the inven- tion.

Fig. 1 shows a device and a vehicle.

Figs 2 shows a device.

Fig. 3 shows a partial section of a device.

Fig. 4 shows an in|et ofthe device arranged in a vehicle.

Fig. 5 shows an in|et arranged in a vehicle, where the HVAC system is schematically shown.

Figs. 6-7 shows an in|et.

Fig. 8 is a section of a device and a part of a vehicle.

Fig. 9-11 shows a device and parts thereof.

Detailed description With reference to Fig. 1, showing the device 1 being used together with a vehicle 2. How- ever, the device 1 may be used with any type of vehicle 2 or boat that has a cabin with a HVAC system 12, where the HVAC system 12 can provide cooled or heated air to the cabin.

The device 1 is provided separately from the vehicle 2. The device 1 is arranged to be re- versibly attached to the vehicle 2, preferably in a temporary manner.

Fig. 1 shows how device 1 provides a flow of heated or cooled air to a living space 3. The living space 3 is outside the cabin of the vehicle. The living space 3 may any type of living space 3 that may need heating or cooling for example a camping tent, a camping trailer or a weekend house (weekend cabin). For example, when camping in a hot climate, cooled air can be provide from the car to a tent. A different example is when someone travels with a car to a weekend house in the winter. A weekend house will often stay unheated in the weekdays, even if the cabin has some kind of heater, in order to save electricity. When a user travels to the weekend house in the weekend it will take some time to heat the cabin. By using the device 1, the cabin can be heated much faster. The device 1 may also be used for various types of military living spaces such as tents.

The vehicle 2 may be any type of suitable vehicle, such as a car (automobile), such as a four- or five seated car, a pickup, or a van. The vehicle 2 typically has four wheels. The vehicle 2 or has a cabin, which is a space can be closed off where people can stay. The cabin of the vehicle 2 can typically closed in a manner that keeps rain snow and insects out.

The invention will be described in relation to a vehicle 2, but the invention can also be used on a boat, where the boat has a cabin. The boat may be a boat intended for recreation.

The cabin has an opening 4 to the exterior. The opening 4 may be a window that can be opened but may also be a hatch. An example of a hatch is the hatch of the Rivian R1T. The opening 4 of the vehicle 2 can be closed with a window, typically a glass pane, or a hatch that provided as a part of the vehicle The opening 4 may be a car window that can be opened to some extent, for example the side window on the driver side or the passenger side of a car. Such windows can typically be opened by lowering the glass pane, such that the glass pane at least partially, or com- pletely, disappears into the car door, typically into windowpane slot 24 (see Fig. 8). The use of device 1 together with such a window is seen in Fig. 1. However, in some embodiments the window may be a glass pane that slides sideways. ln a preferred embodiment, the vehicle 2 an electric vehicle 2, that is, a vehicle 2 that is powered by a battery, meaning that a battery is able to power propulsion. Examples of such vehicles includes Tesla I\/|odel S, Tesla I\/|odel 3, Tesla I\/|odel X, Tesla I\/|odel Y, Kia EV6 , Kia Niro EV, Ford I\/|ustang I\/|ach-e, Rivian RlS, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning. The HVAC system ofthe vehicle 2 is preferably powered by a battery of the vehicle The opening 4 of the vehicle 2 may have an upper end 5 and a lower end 6. The lower end 6 is defined a lower edge 7 which a part of the vehicle 2. However, in some embodiments, the opening 4 may be a horizontal opening where no upper or lower end can be defined.

The device 1 comprises a closing plate 8 which is configured to be arranged in the opening 4 of the vehicle The closing plate 8 may be made from any suitable material which may be plastic, such as for example a polymer material such as polymethylmethacrylate, polyurethane, ABS, PP, PA Plastics, EPDM Rubber, TPE, or glass.

When the closing plate 8 is configured to be arranged in a window opening it may be re- ferred to as a "window closing plate 8".

The closing plate 8 is shaped to provide closing of opening 4 in a manner that prevent rain, snow and insects from entering the cabin. Hence, when the closing plate 8 is arranged in the opening 4, it provides a closed space. The closing plate 8 will typically be configured to interact with a specific model or make of a car such as for example Tesla I\/|odel S, or Tesla I\/|odel 3, in order to provide a snug fit.

Looking at Fig 2 and 3, the device 1 comprises closing plate 8, air conduit 9 which may com- prise first and second conduit parts 9a and 9b or may be one single conduit 9. ln some em- bodiments, air conduit 9 may be made from one single conduit or hose that passes through the aperture 10. When there are two conduit parts, one conduit 9a connects the inlet 14 to the aperture 10 and one conduit 9b leads from the aperture 10 to the outlet 17. The conduit 9 may be for example a flexible air hose, for example of a flexible polymer material with steel spring reinforcement. The air hose may have any suitable diameter, for example from cm to 25 cm.

The closing plate has a first side 18 and a second side 19. The first side 18 may be an inner side and the second side 19 may be an outer side, meaning that the closing plate 8 is con- figured to be arranged in a certain direction in the opening 4, where the first side 18 ofthe closing plate 8 is facing the cabin is the inner side and the second side 19 ofthe closing plate is the outer side. For example, the second side may have a flange 21 as described herein.

The first side 18 may be slightly concave. Second side 19 may be slightly convex.

The length ofthe part ofthe conduit 9 that goes from the second side 19 ofthe closing plate 8 to the device outlet 17 may have any suitable length in order to reach living space 3 such as for example from 1.5 meters to 20 meters.

The closing plate 8 has an aperture 10 between the first side 18 and the second side 19. ln Figs 2 and 3 the aperture has an optional attachment device, which may be arranged as a sleeve 11, forfirst and second conduit parts 9a and 9b. The attachment device may, in some embodiments, be used to reversibly attach first and second conduit parts 9ab in a convent manner. Conduit parts 9ab may for example attach to attachment device with a snap fit or a force fit or a friction fit. This makes it convenient to disassemble and store the device 1. ln Fig. 1 and 2 the aperture 10 is arranged roughly in the middle of the closing plate 8 but the aperture 10 may also be arranged in, for example, the corner ofthe closing plate ln Fig. 2 the device 1 comprises optional one or more handles 26 which makes installing the device 1 in the vehicle convenient. Handle 26 may be arranged on the second side 19 of the closing plate HVAC system 12 of the vehicle has one or more HVAC outlets 13 for providing heated or cooled air as is known the art. A user is typically able to control the HVAC system 12. For example, a user may be able to selecting a set temperature, controlling fan speed etc. De- vice 1 comprises an inlet 14, or inlet device 14, which is configured to attach to a HVAC outlet 13 inside the cabin. The inlet 14 is able to connect reversibly to the HVAC outlet. HVAC outlets 13 of vehicles have a wide range of shapes, depending on the model of the vehicle. For example, the HVAC outlet 13 may be shaped as a nozzle or as a slot in the dashboard as seen in Figs. 4-5. The inlet 14 may be configured to reversibly attach to the HVAC outlet 13, for example with a snap fit, friction fit or an interference fit. |nlet 14 may for example have teeth or claws 15 that are configured out to interact with the shape of an HVAC outlet 13. The teeth or claws 15 may be flexible in order to provide a snap fit. Looking at Figs. 5 to 7, the inlet 14 has flexible claws 15 that interact parts of the HVAC outlet 13. The inlet 14 will be designed in order to interact with a specific HVAC outlet of a specific vehicle car model and the inlet 14 of Figs 4-7 is configured to interact with an HVAC outlet shaped as a slot of a Tesla I\/|odel The inlet 14 may be made from any suitable material in particular a polymer material such as ABS or polyurethane. |nlet 14 may have suitable rubber strips or brush strips that line the circumference of the inlet 14 in order to provide an airtight or semi-airtight seal or generally to direct a stream of air from HVAC outlet 13 into conduit 9 via inlet 14. |nlet 14 may have a sleeve 16 for connecting to conduit 9, for example a hose. |nlet 14 is configured to receive air stream from the HVAC outlet 13. |nlet 14 may, in various embodiments, be configured to direct at least 80% more preferably at least 90 % and most preferably at least 95 % of the air flow from the outlet into the conduit The conduit 9 has a device outlet 17, which in some embodiments is an end of a hose that forms conduit 9. ln some embodiments device outlet 17 may have some kind of connector device for connection to the living space 3. However, when the living space 3 is a tent the device outlet 17 may simply be arranged, by the user, in an opening ofthe tent in a suitable mafinef.

Hence inlet 14 is arranged to attach to an outlet 13 of the HVAC system 12 of a vehiclesuch that a flow of air can be provided to the device outlet 17 of the air conduit Looking at Fig. 8, in various embodiments the closing plate 8 may be configured to be ar- ranged in an opening 4 which has lower end 6 defined by a lower edge 7, the lower edge 7 being a part ofthe vehicle (such as a for example a door), and where the closing plate 8 has a lower edge 20 configured to be arranged along the lower edge 7 of the opening 4 and where the lower edge 20 of the closing plate has a flange 21 with an outer surface 22 that is continuous with the surface of the second side 19 of the closing plate 8, said flange 21 being configured to cover at least a part of the exterior 23 of the vehicle 2. The flange may be configured to at least partially rest against the exterior 23 of the vehicle 2. The exterior 23 may for example be the exterior of the passenger door or the door on the driver's side of the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 may have a slot 24 for the glass pane, where the glass pane ofthe window or opening 4 is arranged to be lowered into the slot 24. Preferably the flange 21 is configured to be arranged at least partially outside relative to the glass pane slot 24 of the vehicle 2 when arranged in the opening 4. The flange 21 may cover a part of the glass pane slot 24. The purpose ofthe flange 21 is to prevent water to enter the cabin or the glass pane slot 24. The flange 21 may be configured to lead water away from the surface of the second side 19 of the closing plate 8 and onto the exterior 23 of the vehicle. Rain will follow the surface of the second side 19 of closing 8 plate and run down on the exterior 23 of the vehicle ln some embodiments, a part of the lower edge 20 has a downward-facing groove 25 ar- ranged to receive the lower edge 7 of the opening of the vehicle. The flange 21 may form a part of the groove 25 and an example of this is shown in Fig. 8. The groove 25 may be con- figured to rest on the lower edge 7. The groove 25 assists in keeping the closing plate 8 in position in the opening The embodiments of the device 1 of Fig. 9 does not have an inlet 14 for attaching to a HVAC outlet 13 or hose 9a on the first ofthe closing plate 8. The closing plate 8 has an second side 19 and aperture 10, and an air conduit 9 from the aperture 10 on the second side 19 to an device outlet 17. ln use, the HVAC system 12 provides heated or cooled air from the cabin ofthe vehicle 2 through the aperture 10 to the conduit 9 to the device outlet With reference to Figs. 10 and 11, in various embodiments the air conduit 9 comprises a first conduit part 9a from the inlet 14 to the closing plate 8 or a second conduit part 9b from the closing plate 8 to the device outlet 17 (or both conduit parts 9a and 9b), and where the first 9a or second conduit parts 9b is rotatably attached to the closing plate 8. The first and second conduit parts 9ab are hence able to rotate along their longitudinal axis, as shown with the dashed arrows in Fig. 10. This is advantageous because it prevents the formation of kinks on the conduit 9ab, when installing and using the device 1. ln a preferred embodi- ment both conduit parts 9a and 9b are rotatably attached to the closing plate 8. Preferably first and second conduit parts 9ab are able to rotate independently of each other. Prefera- bly a conduit part 9ab is able to rotate freely in respect of the closing plate An end of a conduit part may have an attachment ring 27 for attachment to the attachment device of the closing plate 8, which may a sleeve 11 as shown in Fig. 10 and 11, where the attachment ring 27 is able to rotate in the sleeve 11. The attachment ring 27 may attach to the attachment device for example with a snap lock and in Fig. 3 each side of the sleeve 11 comprises at least one flexible hook 28a and 28b that interacts with ring 27 in a locking and reversible manner. ln some embodiments a conduit part 9a or 9b is reversibly attached to the closing plate 8, for example with a snap lock. The ends of the conduit parts 9a 9b are hence preferably reversibly attached to attachment device for example with a snap lock as shown in Figsand 10-11. This facilitates disassembly and storage ofthe device A method for providing heating or cooling to a living space may comprise the steps of ar- ranging a device 1 in an opening of a vehicle 2 and providing the device outlet 17 to the living space 3, and running the HVAC system of the vehicle 2 to provide heated or cooled air to the living space 3. |fthe device 1 has a inlet 14 and an air conduit 9a from the inlet 14, the method also involves the step of connecting the inlet 14 to a HVAC outlet 13. When opening 4 has a window the method comprises the step of at least partially opening the window, for example by lowering a glass pane. lt may be preferred that the device 1, in particular the closing plate 8, is configured to be inserted in an opening 4 that is created when the window is completely open, for example in, when the glass pane has been low- ered completely into the door. The window may be adjusted to fit the size of the closing plate 8. The method may comprise the step of arranging the device 1 such that the flange 21 or the groove is at least partially covering the pane slot 24. The method may comprise the step of arranging the device 1 so that the flange 21 at least partially rest on the exterior ofthe vehicle lf the HVAC system 12 of the vehicle 2 has a plurality of HVAC outlets 13 and the HVAC system 12 can be arranged so that the heated or cooled air only comes from one of the HVAC outlets 13, the method may comprise the step of adjusting the HVAC system 12 so that heated or cooled air is provided only from the HVAC outlet 13 to which the inlet 14 is connected. ln some embodiments, where the HVAC system 12 has a plurality of outlets 13, a user may be able to select one single HVAC outlet 13 for providing heated or cooled air.ln some embodiments the selected HVAC outlet 13 may be arranged on the passenger side or the drivers side of a car. This is the case with for example the Tesla, where all air can be directed to an outlet on the drivers side. lt is realized that everything which has been described in connection to one embodiment is fully applicable to other embodiments, as compatible. Hence, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but can be varied within the scope of the enclosed claims. While the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, the description is in general only intended to illustrate the inventive concept and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. The invention is generally defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A device (1) comprising, an inlet (14) configured to attach to a HVAC outlet (13) in a cabin__of a vehicle (2), a closing plate (8) configured to be arranged in an opening (4) from a cabin of the vehicle (2) to the exterior ofthe vehicle, an air conduit (9a) from the inlet tåjrough an aperture (19) in the closing plate, to a device outlet (17), Lthe air conduit (9) comprises a first conduit part (9a) from the inlet (14) to the closing plate (8) and a second conduit part (9b) from the closing plate (8) to the device outlet (17), and where the first or second conduit part (9a, 9b) is rotatably attached to the closing plate (8).

2. The device (1) »according to claim 1 where the inlet (14) is configured to ¿¿\_attach to the HVAC outlet (13) with a snap fit, friction fit or an interfer- ence fit.

3. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2 where the first or second con- duit pa rt (9a, 9b) is -¿__attached to the closing plate (8).

4. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 where the closing plate (8) has a first side (18) and a second side (19), where the closing plate (8) is configured to be arranged in an opening (4) from a cabin of the vehicle (2)to the exterior ofthe vehicle (2), said opening (4) having a lower end (6) defined by a lower edge (7), the lower edge (7) being a part ofthe vehicle, and where the closing plate (8) has a lower edge (20) configured to be arranged along the lower edge (7) ofthe opening (4) and characterized in that the lower edge (20) ofthe closing plate (8) has a flange (21) with an outer surface (22) that is continuous with the surface of the second side (19) of the closing plate (8), said flange (21) being configured to cover a part ofthe exterior (23) of the vehicle (2).

5. The device according to claim 4 where a part ofthe lower edge (20) has a down- ward-facing groove (25) arranged to receive the lower edge (7) of the opening (4) ofthe vehicle (2), where the flange (21) forms a part ofthe groove (25).

6. A method for providing heating or cooling to a living space (3) using a device (1) ac- cording to any one of claims 1 to 5 the method involving a vehicle (2) with a cabin and a HVAC system (12) for providing heated or cooled air to the cabin the cabin having an opening (4) to the exterior, said HVAC system having at least one HVAC outlet (13), the method comprising the steps of arranging the closing plate (8) in the opening (4), connecting the inlet (14) to a HVAC outlet (13), providing the device outlet (17) to the living space (3), and running the HVAC system of the vehicle (2) to provide heated or cooled air to the living space (3). 7. The method of claim 6 where the HVAC system ofthe vehicle (2) has a plurality of

7. HVAC outlets (13) and where the HVAC system is adjusted so that heated or cooled air is provided only from the HVAC outlet (13) to which the inlet (14) is connected.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7 where the vehicle (2) is an electric vehicle.