WO2016008684A1

WO2016008684A1 - Multi-zone air-conditioning device

Info

Publication number: WO2016008684A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064154
Authority: WO
Inventors: Siegfried Derx
Original assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-07-15
Filing date: 2015-06-23
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Also published as: DE102014109925A1

Abstract

The invention relates toa multi-zone air-conditioning device for a vehicle, wherein the air-conditioning device comprises at least one air-conditioning mixing zone (6) comprising: a first air supply channel (8a) and a second air supply channel (8b), comprising a mixing flap (8) arranged between the first and second air supply channels for controlling an air supply into the first and/or the second air supply channels, and a main flap (10) on a downstream side of the second air supply channel (8b) for controlling an air supply to the air-conditioning mixing zone (6) and/or to a further air-conditioning mixing zone (4), as well as an air discharge channel (16) leading away from the air-conditioning mixing zone (6), comprising at least one air distribution flap (12a, 12b), wherein a throttle flap (14) is additionally arranged in the air discharge channel (16).

Description

MULTI - ZONE AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE

The invention relates to an air-conditioning device for a vehicle, comprising at least two air-conditioning mixing zones and an apparatus, preferably for supplying air to a predetermined air-conditioning mixing zone as required. The air-conditioning device in this case is also designed, in particular, for multi-zone air- conditioning .

Within the meaning of the invention, a heating unit, ventilation unit and/or air-conditioning unit of a vehicle is denoted as an air-conditioning device for a vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle in this case is a motor vehicle such as a passenger motor vehicle or a utility vehicle.

Air-conditioning devices are intended to provide in a reliable manner a pleasant internal environment in very different types of vehicle. This is intended to be the case both in the front region and in the rear region of a vehicle, and in the respective footwell and in the seating region of the vehicle occupants, also denoted hereinafter as the ventilation regions.

For this reason, known air-conditioning devices have different air-conditioning mixing zones for the front region and the rear region, i.e. for the region of the front seats and the rear seats of a vehicle and for different zones in these regions.

The air-conditioning of the rear region in this case is controlled by a separate mixing flap, generally one or more distributor flaps being arranged downstream of said mixing flap for distributing the air between the footwell and the ventilation region. "Arranged downstream" within the context of the present invention means that an element is located in a direction of flow of the air on a downstream side of the corresponding reference component.

In the case of a maximum air requirement, in particular a warm air requirement, for example for defrosting a windshield, it is known to adjust the different flaps of the air-conditioning device so that the greatest possible volume of air is conducted to the windshield. In this state, the air-conditioning mixing zone in the rear region is not supplied with any air or only a small amount of air.

EP 1 634 735 B2 and US 2008 032617 Al disclose a temperature control for a vehicle rear region by means of a first mixing flap and the distribution of the air to the rear regions by means of an air distribution flap. The defrosting is controlled by means of a principal flap depending on the position of the distribution flap to the rear region. Thus, in this case the principal flap is not able to be controlled independently, which reduces the convenience of the air-conditioning .

DE 1995 5616 CI discloses an air-conditioning device in which optionally a greater quantity of air is guided into the rear region or into the front region of the vehicle but without the entire quantity of air being available in the air-conditioning system for a defrost mode. This extends the time required for defrosting.

US 6,247,530 Bl, FR 2 789 629 Al , FR 2 795 684 Al and EP 1 225 071 Al in each case disclose air-conditioning devices in which the total quantity of air is used for defrosting. To this end, these air-conditioning devices comprise at least one mixing flap, one principal flap and one distribution flap. However, the air supplies to the respective rear regions are dependent on one another. As a result, with a maximum opening of the flap a greater supply of air to the rear ventilation region demands a reduction in the opening of the flap for the rear footwell. Consequently, the total airflow delivered to the rear region is reduced due to the smaller volume which is able to be transported. In order to counteract this, the mixing flap and the principal flap have to be integrated in a control circuit with the distribution flap and the opening of this flap has to be correspondingly corrected in order to keep the air volume and air temperature constant.

A drawback with the measures by which this situation is counteracted, therefore, is that it is very complicated to implement such a control. Additionally, an appropriate control is dependent on the respective type of vehicle, the internal dimensions, etc.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an air-conditioning device which permits the volumes of air to be distributed in the respectively desired manner under different operating conditions and at a lower cost.

This is achieved by an air-conditioning device according to claim 1 of the present invention. Advantageous developments form the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

A multi-zone air-conditioning device according to the invention for a vehicle contains at least one heat exchanger, air being able to be conducted through said heat exchanger in order to control the temperature thereof and subsequently being able to be conducted to a first region and/or a second region of a motor vehicle, and at least one first and one second control flap, a proportion of a total volumetric flow and the temperature thereof being able to be adjusted thereby and being supplied to an air-conditioning mixing zone, characterized in that a throttle flap which is neutral in terms of temperature and which is able to be controlled independently is provided in an air discharge channel of the air-conditioning mixing zone for varying the flow cross section. "Neutral in terms of temperature" and "independently" in this case mean that the throttle flap may be activated without the regulating flaps and thus the temperature of the air volume in the air-conditioning mixing zone additionally having to be altered. Thus the throttle flap may be activated without an alteration to the temperature of the volumetric flow supplied to the second region. The temperature and the temperature distribution which the air volume has immediately before passing through the throttle flap and immediately after passing through the throttle flap, therefore, remain the same. In contrast to the known embodiments from the prior art, it is possible in this manner to reduce the volumetric flow whilst maintaining the temperature. Within the meaning of the invention, therefore, the throttle flap is denoted as "neutral in terms of temperature", wherein the aforementioned effect of the throttle flap is to be understood by this term, due to the specific design and arrangement thereof in the air-conditioning device.

Additionally, the throttle flap is able to be controlled independently. This means that the throttle flap may be controlled without one of the remaining flaps, in particular one of the regulating flaps for the air supply, having to be adjusted. Also, the control may be adjusted independently of any flaps arranged downstream, as will be shown in more detail hereinafter . The flow cross section in this case may be varied by the throttle flap in a range between 0% and 100% of the flowing air. This adjustment may be carried out in a stepless or stepwise manner. In this manner, it is also permitted, in particular, to regulate a control of the volumetric flow which is to be supplied to a specific vehicle region, in this case a second vehicle region, independently of the volumetric flows which are to be supplied to other regions, in particular a first vehicle region. Thus more pleasant air-conditioning, which may be adjusted more easily, may be achieved for the passengers of a vehicle.

In a number of developments of the invention, the first control flap may open in a controlled manner a bypass channel through which air is able to be conducted past the heat exchanger to the air-conditioning mixing zone. Thus the air may be easily temperature-controlled in the air-conditioning mixing zone.

In a number of developments of the invention again, the second control flap is able to conduct heated air either to the first region, i.e. to an air-conditioning mixing zone and onward to a predetermined vehicle region or to a further air-conditioning mixing zone and onward to a second vehicle region or, in the case of intermediate positions, is able to distribute said heated air between the first region and the second region. Thus the air may be supplied into the different regions of the vehicle, as required. In particular, when rapid defrosting is required, a maximum volume of preheated air may be conducted to a front region of a vehicle due to a corresponding position of the control flaps, specifically to a windshield to be defrosted.

In one specific embodiment, the air-conditioning device for a vehicle comprises a first air-conditioning mixing zone and a second air-conditioning mixing zone. The second air-conditioning mixing zone contains a first air supply channel and a second air supply channel. Moreover, the air-conditioning device comprises at least one mixing flap arranged between the first and second airflow channels, said mixing flap being able to control an air supply into the first and/or the second airflow channels. This means that the mixing flap, also denoted as the first control flap, is able to adjust an air supply into both the first air supply channel and the second air supply channel in a range between 0% and 100% of the possible air volume flowing therethrough. Thus each of the two air supply channels may also be completely closed by the mixing flap. In particular, a heating apparatus may be arranged in the second air supply channel in order to heat the air flowing through the second air supply channel. The air is then conducted from the air-conditioning mixing zones into the desired vehicle regions, i.e. for example the rear or front, the footwell or ventilation region or further designated zones. In this case a principal flap is arranged on a downstream side of the second airflow channel, said principal flap being able to control an air supply to the first air-conditioning mixing zone and/or to the second air-conditioning mixing zone. The second control flap, or the principal flap, is configured so as to be able to completely prevent the air supply from the second air supply channel to the second air- conditioning mixing zone, for example in the case of a defrost mode and to conduct the air instead to the first air-conditioning mixing zone.

In preferred developments of the invention, the heat exchanger is configured as a heating apparatus. In this case, one of the control flaps, in the present case the second control flap, is arranged downstream of the heating apparatus. By means of the second control flap, a quantity of generated warm air, which is able to be determined, may be conducted into the air-conditioning mixing zone and mixed there with cold air. In this manner, a temperature of the vehicle interior may be adj usted . Additionally an air discharge channel leading away from the second air-conditioning mixing zone may also be configured with at least one volume control flap. Thus the air may be conducted to the desired rear vehicle regions, in particular a footwell and/or a ventilation region. At least one throttle valve is arranged in the air discharge channel in order to vary the flow cross section of the air flowing out of the second air- conditioning mixing zone into at least one part of the air discharge channel.

By providing such a throttle flap a volumetric flow of air may be adjusted in a simple manner in the air discharge channel. This adjustment may be easily undertaken for the ventilation systems of very different types of vehicle. Thus the air-conditioning device according to the invention may be used for different types of vehicle. Therefore, a more universal use of the air-conditioning device may be implemented which is able to reduce the complexity of the design and construction which is dependent on the type of vehicle. Due to the possible integral construction of the air-conditioning device, this may also reduce production costs. In this manner the air-conditioning may also be corrected by the possible use of a booster in some operating modes for the rear region. Generally, the air-conditioning device according to the invention permits an improved and more convenient control of the total airflow in the rear region than is possible in the previously known cooling, heating and air- conditioning units. In particular, an adjustment of an air-conditioned zone supplied with air may take place independently of other air-conditioned zones, in particular vehicle regions.

In a number of embodiments of the invention, the air- conditioning device is configured so that the air discharge channel comprises at least one first air outlet channel and at least one second air outlet channel which in each case are arranged downstream of the throttle flap. Thus the airflow and, as a result, also the flow pressure which is intended to be conducted through the air discharge channel to the different regions of a vehicle interior may be controlled or regulated by means of the throttle flap. In this manner, the air-conditioning zones of the vehicle may be controlled in a more convenient manner for the passengers. Additionally, the airflow from the second air-conditioning mixing zone may be controlled independently of the airflow and the flap control of the first air-conditioning mixing zone. This permits, in particular, a four-zone air-conditioning system of a vehicle region, in particular of the rear of the vehicle .

In a number of alternative embodiments, the air- conditioning device for a vehicle is configured such that the air discharge channel comprises at least one first air outlet channel and at least one second air outlet channel, wherein the throttle flap is configured in at least one of the air outlet channels. In particular, the throttle flap may be configured in one or more air discharge channels, which conduct an airflow to the ventilation region of the rear of a vehicle. This permits a four-zone air-conditioning system or even a three-zone air-conditioning system of a vehicle region, in particular the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the provision of the throttle flap in an air outlet channel may result in an improved regulation of the airflow and the air pressure in the air outlet channel.

In a number of developments of the invention, in the air-conditioning device for a vehicle at least one volume control flap is configured in at least one of the air outlet channels.

In particular, a volume control flap may be configured in an air outlet channel which leads to a rear footwell of the vehicle. In such developments, the throttle flap may be arranged, on the one hand, upstream of the air outlet channel. However, on the other hand, it is also conceivable that the throttle flap is provided in an air outlet channel which does not lead to the rear footwell, but for example the ventilation region of the rear region.

Thus in addition to a control of the airflow and the air volume in one or all of the air outlet channels, an accurate adjustment of the air supply may be undertaken by means of the throttle flap, as required. This may permit improved air-conditioning by means of the air- conditioning device.

In a number of developments of the air-conditioning device for a vehicle, the volume control flap arranged in the air outlet channel and/or at least one volume control flap arranged in the air outlet channel is arranged downstream of the throttle flap. Thus, the flow cross section may be adapted and the air distributed in a targeted manner and as required. In this case, the air may be discharged to a vehicle region in a more independent manner relative to the air discharged to a further vehicle region. In alternative embodiments, the throttle flap is configured in an air discharge channel parallel to an air discharge channel in which a volume control flap is configured. In this case, in particular, a volume control flap may also be configured in the air discharge channel in which the throttle flap is configured. In a number of developments of the air-conditioning device for a vehicle, at least one volume control flap is configured such that an airflow passing through the volume control flap is able to be adjusted between 0% and 100%. In this manner, the flow cross section, the flowing volume of air and the air distribution for the vehicle region to which air is delivered may be more easily controlled. Such a development may, in particular, permit a three-zone air-conditioning system or a four-zone air conditioning system, wherein an independent control or regulation of the vehicle air- conditioned zones may be permitted.

In a number of embodiments of the invention, the first control flap, i.e. the mixing flap, the second control flap, i.e. the principal flap, and the throttle flap of the air-conditioning device are controlled by a common kinematic system. In this manner, a simplified activation of the flaps may be permitted, as required. This coupling may, for example, take place via a sliding block guide and associated guide disc. The kinematic system for adjusting the flaps, in particular for adjusting the throttle flap, in this case in a number of embodiments is the kinematic system for controlling the rear ventilation region which is also denoted as the third zone. In this manner, a reliable air-conditioning of the rear of the vehicle, in particular the rear ventilation region, may be permitted independently of the ventilation of other vehicle regions such as the front region. Naturally, it is also possible that the throttle flap is controlled together with the kinematic system of the mixing flap or the principal flap, wherein the flap not contained in the kinematic system may be controlled independently thereof .

In a number of embodiments, the volume control flaps of the air discharge channels are controlled by a common kinematic system. In a number of embodiments again, the volume control flaps are controlled for a region, for example for a rear footwell, by a kinematic system which differs from a kinematic system which is used for a control of a different region, for example the rear ventilation region. Both of these kinematic systems or at least one thereof may differ from the kinematic systems of the third zone. In this case, the use of a throttle flap in an air discharge channel does not exclude the use, in particular, of a volume control flap in the same and/or in the remaining air discharge channels. In this regard, the embodiments of the invention set forth above are also possible in combination with one another .

In a number of embodiments of the invention, the throttle flap may be configured in the air-conditioning device such that said throttle flap may be controlled independently of at least one of the volume control flaps used. This means, as already disclosed above, that the throttle flap together with the kinematic system of the third zone, or independently thereof, may control an air supply and thus an air pressure drop at least in one part of the air outlet channel, in particular in one of the air discharge channels. Thus an air-conditioning of a region supplied by the air outlet channel, for example the rear of a vehicle, may be air-conditioned in a more independent manner relative to the remainder of the vehicle. At the same time, the air-conditioning device may reliably provide a maximum quantity of warm air if required, for example for defrosting a windshield. An adjustment of the volume control flaps of the rear region, cited in this example, may be avoided according to the invention in such a defrost mode.

An air-conditioning device according to one of the aforementioned embodiments may be used, in particular, in a vehicle, for example in a passenger motor vehicle or a utility vehicle. This may permit improved air- conditioning and adjustability of the different air- conditioned zones, said adjustability being able to be individually tailored in the vehicles in an improved manner . A further embodiment of the invention relates to a vehicle comprising an air-conditioning device, as set forth above.

Further embodiments, advantages and details of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention will be described hereinafter with reference to different embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows an air-conditioning device according to the invention, according to a first embodiment in a schematic section, wherein the air-conditioning device is shown in a first position; fig. 2 shows the air-conditioning device of fig. 1 in a second position; fig. 3 shows the air-conditioning device of fig. 1 in a third position; fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an air outlet channel according to the first embodiment of the invention ; fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional sectional view of the air-conditioning device of the first embodiment; fig. 6 shows a schematic view of an air outlet channel according to a second embodiment of the invention; fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional sectional view of an air outlet channel of the air-conditioning device of the second embodiment; and fig. 8 shows a schematic view of an air outlet channel according to a third embodiment of the invention . An air-conditioning device 1 is shown in fig. 1, said air-conditioning device being provided, in particular, for installation in a motor vehicle. The air- conditioning device has a cold air supply region 2. Moreover, the air-conditioning device 1 has a first air-conditioning mixing zone 4 and a second air- conditioning mixing zone 6.

A first flap 3 is arranged between the first air- conditioning mixing zone 4 and the cold air supply region 2 along a first flow channel. Additionally, a heating flap 5 is provided between the first air- conditioning mixing zone 4 and the cold air supply region 2 along a second flow channel, followed by a heating device (heat exchanger 7) . Air may pass, therefore, either through the flap 3 or through the flap 5 and the heating device 7 to the first air- conditioning mixing zone 4. By controlling the opening of the flaps 3 and 5, therefore, a predeterminable mixing ratio of cold air and air which is heated in the heating device 7, may be adjusted for the air- conditioning mixing zone 4. In fig. 1 the solid line of the flap 3 defines the closed position of the flap 3 and the dashed line defines the open state of the flap 3. In the heating flap 5 the solid line defines the open state and the dashed line defines the closed state.

A first control flap 8, hereinafter denoted as the mixing flap, is provided between the cold air flow region 2 and the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 along a first air supply channel 8a, hereinafter also denoted the bypass. The mixing flap 8 is configured such that the bypass 8a may be fully closed. This is shown in fig. 1 by the thick line of the flap 8.

A heating apparatus is provided between the cold air supply region 2 and the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 along a second air supply channel 8b, said heating apparatus representing a part of the already disclosed heating apparatus 7 in the embodiment shown. The heating apparatus in the air supply channel 8b for the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6, however, may also be a separate heating apparatus.

Arranged downstream of the heating apparatus 7 is a second control flap 10, hereinafter denoted the principal flap. The principal flap 10 is configured such that a connection between the second air supply channel 8b and the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 may be closed. At the same time, the principal flap 10 may open a connection of the second air supply channel 8b to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4. Thus, all air which has passed through the heating apparatus is either conducted through the second air supply channel 8b or through the heating flap 5 to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4, as required. This is required, for example, in a so-called defrost mode for rapid defrosting of the windshield. The principal flap 10 in this case is configured as a double-winged flap which, when a connection to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4 is opened, closes the connection to the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 and vice versa. In fig. 1, the thick line of the principal flap 10 represents a position in which the connection to the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 is opened to maximum extent and a connection to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4 is closed. The thin line of the principal flap 10 shows a position in which the opening to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4 is at a maximum and the opening to the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 is closed. The principal flap 10 may, however, also adopt any positions located therebetween .

The mixing flap 8 is configured between the air supply channels 8a and 8b such that it may optionally close one of the air supply channels 8a, 8b or adopt any intermediate position so that a predeterminable airflow ratio flows through the air supply channels. In this manner, the quantity of air which is intended to be heated in the heating apparatus 7 is controlled and thus a desired temperature control of the air may be undertaken in the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6.

An air discharge channel 16 leads away from the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6. This conducts the air to a vehicle region (not shown) , for example to the rear region of the vehicle. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the air discharge channel 16 has two air outlet channels 11a, lib. The air outlet channels 11a, lib serve to conduct the air to different regions of an air-conditioning zone. For example, but in a non- limiting manner, the air outlet channel 11a may conduct the air to a vehicle rear ventilation region and the air outlet channel lib may conduct the air to a vehicle rear footwell.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a volume control flap 12a, 12b is provided in each of the air outlet channels 11a, lib. The volume control flaps 12a, 12b serve for the adjustment of the airflow which flows through said flaps and for the air distribution, for dividing up a proportion of the air which is intended to flow along the first air outlet channel 11a and along the second air outlet channel lib. In the embodiment shown, the volume control flap 12a is open and the volume control flap 12b is closed, so that a maximum airflow flows through the air outlet channel 11a. A throttle flap 14 is additionally provided in the air discharge channel 16, said throttle flap being arranged in this case upstream of the volume control flaps 12a, 12b. The throttle flap 14 is configured such that it may control or regulate the air volume flowing through the air discharge channel 16. The throttle flap permits the ratio of the air distribution between different air discharge channels of the air-conditioning device to be adjusted, without a complicated readjustment being required by means of the mixing flap and/or the principal flap. As a result, the adjustment of the volumetric flow may be undertaken independently of the other air-conditioning zones of the vehicle.

The thick line of the throttle flap 14 denotes in fig. 1 an open position. The throttle flap 14 may also be fully closed, as is indicated by the thin line. Additionally, the throttle flap may adopt any intermediate position between the closed state and the open state.

The reference numerals provided for fig. 1 are also used in this case and hereinafter for the same or similar components, the description thereof not being repeated. Only the differences between the views and between the individual embodiments are to be discussed hereinafter .

The air-conditioning device 2 of fig. 1 is shown in fig. 2, wherein the principal flap 10 is in a defrosting position. This means that the principal flap 10 is in a position in which the connection to the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 is closed and the connection from the second air supply channel 8b to the first air-conditioning mixing zone 4 is open. Additionally, the mixing flap 8 closes the bypass 8a. Moreover, the flap 3 is closed. As a result, in this position a maximum air volume passes through the heating apparatus 7 and may be used for defrosting. Therefore, this mode of operation is denoted as defrost mode. It should be noted that for adjusting the defrost mode the air distribution flaps 12a, 12b or the throttle flap 14 do not have to be adjusted.

By the position of the mixing flap 8 and the principal flap 10 in this mode no air is supplied to the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6. The rear of a vehicle, which is preferably connected to the second air- conditioning mixing zone 6, would therefore not be supplied with air-conditioned air.

A position of the flaps is shown in fig. 3 in which a maximum cooling may take place. In this case, the flow channels which lead to the heating apparatus are closed. This means that the heating flap 5 closes the supply to the heating apparatus 7. Additionally, the mixing flap 8 closes the second air supply channel 8b. As a result, the bypass 8a is fully opened. Additionally, the flap 3 is fully opened. The air, which is preferably cooled, from the cold air supply is conducted directly into the air-conditioning mixing zones 4 and 6. This is indicated by the curved arrows in fig. 3.

Fig. 3 also shows that the volume control flap 12a is closed and the volume control flap 12b is open. This control may take place independently of the mixing flap 8 or the principal flap 10. Additionally, the adjustment of the ratio of a first air volume to a front region of a vehicle from the first air- conditioning mixing zone 4 to a second air volume from the second air-conditioning mixing zone 6 through the air discharge channel 16 to a rear region of a vehicle may be solely controlled by the throttle flap 14, independently of the remaining flaps.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the flow channels of the embodiment described above. In this case, air coming from the air discharge channel 16 passes through the throttle flap 14 and into a plurality of air outlet channels 11a, lib. In this case, it should be noted that for a desired vehicle region, for example the rear of a vehicle, on both vehicle sides, left and right, the air distribution is intended to be able to take place symmetrically. The air outlet channels are, therefore, preferably configured and arranged in an appropriate manner.

As shown in fig. 4, the air coming out of the throttle flap 14 is conducted into two air outlet channels lib which may serve to supply, for example, a rear footwell. Additionally, the air is conducted into two air outlet channels 11a which may serve to supply, for example, a rear ventilation region. The air outlet channels 11a, lib in each case have a volume control flap 12a, 12b for adjusting the air flow ratio in the respective channels 11a, lib. Thus a total of four air outlet channels 11a, lib and four volume control flaps 12a, 12b are present so that a four-zone air- conditioning system is possible.

Fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the air- conditioning device 1 similar to the above-described fig. 3. As may be seen therein, the throttle flap 14 is arranged on an upstream side of the air discharge channel 16, upstream of the volume control flap 12a, 12b (not shown here) . As is clear from fig. 5, the throttle flap 14 may be coupled to the kinematic system of the third zone of the air-conditioning device 1. In this case, the third zone of the air-conditioning device 1 is the air-conditioning zone for the rear region of the vehicle which is served by the mixing flap 8 and the principal flap 10.

Fig. 6 shows an air discharge channel of an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this case, the throttle flap 14 is not configured in the entire air discharge channel 16, as shown in fig. 4. Instead throttle flaps 14 are arranged in the air outlet channels 11a. Thus the air volume which passes through the air outlet channels 11a is directly controlled by the adjustment of the throttle flap 14. The air outlet channels lib are only influenced by the throttle flap to a limited extent. Only the variable dynamic pressure on an upstream side of the throttle flap 14, i.e. in the air- conditioning mixing zone 6, influences the volumetric flow through the air outlet channels. In particular in this embodiment, the volume control flaps 12b which are arranged in the air outlet channels lib may be configured as volume control flaps which permit a control or regulation of the air through- passage volume of between 0% and 100%. Thus, in turn a reliable four-zone air-conditioning system may be achieved. This control and/or regulation may take place in a stepless or stepwise manner. This control or regulation may also be limited to an interval between the minimum and maximum volumetric flows.

As indicated in fig. 6, the throttle flap(s) 14 may in turn be coupled to the kinematic system of the third zone of the air-conditioning device 1 and activated, independently of the volume control flap 12b.

Fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the embodiment according to fig. 6. In this case, only one respective throttle flap 14 is provided in the air outlet channels 11a. Thus, for example, the air may be throttled in the air outlet channels 11a which are intended to supply the rear ventilation region. Fig. 8 shows a further alternative for an air discharge channel 16 of an air-conditioning device 1 according to the invention. In this case, the throttle flap is again provided in an air outlet channel 11a which is intended to guide the air, for example, to a rear ventilation region. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, however, this is only one air outlet channel 11a. Thus only one throttle flap 14 is configured for controlling the through-passage of air. Similar to the above described embodiments, two air outlet channels lib are provided, said air outlet channels serving, for example, for supplying a rear footwell. Thus the embodiment according to fig. 8 represents a three-zone air- conditioning device. In this case, air outlet nozzles 13a are arranged downstream of the throttle flap 14. Said air outlet nozzles permit an air distribution of the air flowing in the air outlet channel 11a, in the rear region of the vehicle. They may also be adjusted manually. Additionally, this may permit an adjustment of the airflow of between 0% and 100%.

Naturally, it is conceivable in all embodiments that air outlet nozzles are configured to discharge air into the vehicle interior, in particular into the rear of the vehicle. Said air outlet nozzles may permit a control of the air supply, either manually, semi- automatically or automatically. The air outlet nozzles 13a may be provided, for example, in a central console of the rear region.

The various features of the aforementioned embodiments may also be implemented in combination with one another, insofar that this is not implicitly or expressly excluded.

Claims

1. A multi-zone air-conditioning device (1) for a vehicle, wherein the air-conditioning device contains at least one heat exchanger (7), air being able to be conducted through said heat exchanger in order to control the temperature thereof and subsequently being able to be conducted to a first region and/or a second region of a motor vehicle, and at least one first and one second control flap (8, 10), a proportion of a total volumetric flow and the temperature thereof being able to be adjusted thereby and being supplied to an air-conditioning mixing zone (6), characterized in that a throttle flap which is neutral in terms of temperature and which is able to be controlled independently is provided in an air discharge channel (16) of the air-conditioning mixing zone (6) for varying the flow cross section.

2. The air-conditioning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first control flap (8) may open in a controlled manner a bypass channel (8a) through which air is able to be conducted past the heat exchanger to the air-conditioning mixing zone (6) .

3. The air-conditioning device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second control flap (10) is able to conduct heated air either to the first region or to the second region of a vehicle or, in the case of intermediate positions, is able to distribute said heated air between the first region and the second region .

4. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heat exchanger (7) is a heating apparatus (7) for heating the air flowing through an air supply channel (8b) .

5. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the air discharge channel (16) comprises at least one first air outlet channel (11a) and at least one second air outlet channel (lib) which are arranged downstream of the throttle flap (14) .

6. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the air discharge channel (16) comprises at least one first air outlet channel (11a) and at least one second air outlet channel (lib), wherein the throttle flap (14) is arranged in at least one of the air outlet channels (11a) .

7. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one volume control flap (12a, 12b) is arranged in at least one of the air outlet channels (11a, lib) .

8. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the volume control flap (12a, 12b) arranged in the air outlet channel (11a, lib) is arranged downstream of the throttle flap (14) .

9. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that at least one of the volume control flaps (12a, 12b) is configured such that an airflow passing said volume control flap is able to be adjusted between 0% and 100%.

10. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first control flap (8), the second control flap (10) and the throttle flap (14) are controlled by a common kinematic system.

11. The air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the throttle flap (14) is configured so as to be able to be controlled independently of at least one volume control flap (12a, 12b) .

12. A motor vehicle comprising an air-conditioning device (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims.