Cooling system for an instrument panel of a vehicle

Abstract

The subject invention provides a heat transfer device ( 24 ) for controlling the temperature of an instrument panel ( 18 ) extending from and under a windshield ( 16 ) of a vehicle ( 10 ). Sunlight ( 22 ) passes through the windshield ( 16 ), thereby heating the surface of the instrument panel ( 18 ). The instrument panel ( 18 ) then transfers the heat to an interior compartment ( 14 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ) affecting the thermal comfort of a passenger. The heat transfer device ( 24 ) directly removes the heat stored in the instrument panel ( 18 ) to limit the transfer of heat from the instrument panel ( 18 ) to the interior compartment ( 14 ). Preferably, the heat transfer device ( 24 ) circulates a flow of cooling air ( 40 ) over the surface of the instrument panel ( 18 ) to remove the heat stored therein. As such, the heat transfer device ( 24 ) limits the heat transfer into and thereby cools the interior compartment ( 14 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ) to meet the desired thermal comfort level of the passenger in less time and with less energy.

1 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a body defining an interior compartment and a windshield;    a panel having a surface extending from and under said windshield into said interior compartment of said body with said surface being exposable to sunlight through said windshield; and    a heat transfer device for directly removing heat from said surface of said panel to control the temperature of said surface.    
   
   
       2 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer device includes at least one vent disposed on said surface for directing a flow of air over said surface.  
   
   
       3 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said vehicle includes a control mechanism for actuating said heat transfer device.  
   
   
       4 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said vehicle includes a blower operatively connected to said control mechanism such that said control mechanism actuates said blower for providing the flow of air.  
   
   
       5 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said vehicle includes a heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) module in fluid communication with said blower and operatively connected to said control mechanism such that said control mechanism actuates said HVAC module for removing heat from the flow of air provided by said blower.  
   
   
       6 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said vehicle includes a plurality of passageways for circulating air through said interior compartment from said HVAC module and through said vent.  
   
   
       7 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said HVAC module includes at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with said at least one vent by at least one of said plurality of passageways wherein said HVAC module supplies the flow of air to said vent for directing the flow of air over said surface and directly removing heat from said surface.  
   
   
       8 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said blower includes at least one air return port in fluid communication with said at least one vent by at least one of said plurality of passageways wherein said blower draws the flow of air from said vent such that said vent directs the flow of air over said surface for directly removing heat from said surface.  
   
   
       9 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said heat transfer device includes a liquid coolant.  
   
   
       10 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said vehicle includes at least one passageway adjacent said surface such that said liquid coolant circulates through said at least one passageway for removing heat from said surface.  
   
   
       11 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said vehicle includes at least one valve operatively connected to said control mechanism such that said control mechanism actuates said at least one valve for controlling the circulation of said liquid coolant through said at least one passageway.  
   
   
       12 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said vehicle includes a humidity sensor operatively connected to said heat transfer device for sensing an exterior humidity level outside said vehicle such that said heat transfer device will not operate if the exterior humidity level is above a pre-determined level for preventing condensation on said windshield.  
   
   
       13 . A method of cooling a panel having a surface extending from and under a windshield of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: 
 heating the surface of the panel by subjecting the surface to sunlight passing through the windshield; and    directly removing heat from the surface of the panel to reduce heating of the panel by sunlight.    
   
   
       14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said method further includes circulating a flow of air over the surface of the panel for directly removing heat from the surface.  
   
   
       15 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said method further includes circulating a liquid coolant through at least one passageway adjacent the surface of the panel for directly removing heat from the surface.  
   
   
       16 . A cooling system for cooling an interior compartment of a vehicle including a windshield and a panel having a surface extending from and under the windshield and heated by sunlight passing through the windshield, said system comprising: 
 a heat transfer device for removing heat from said surface;    a control mechanism operatively connected to said heat transfer device;    at least one passageway for passing a fluid flow across said surface of said panel and away from the windshield.    
   
   
       17 . A system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said system includes at least one vent in fluid communication with said at least one passageway for directing the fluid flow over said surface.  
   
   
       18 . A system as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said heat transfer device includes a blower operatively connected to said control mechanism such that said control mechanism actuates said blower for providing the fluid flow.  
   
   
       19 . A system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said heat transfer device includes a heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) module in fluid communication with said blower and operatively connected to said control mechanism such that said control mechanism actuates said HVAC module for removing heat from the fluid flow provided by said blower.  
   
   
       20 . A system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said heat transfer device includes a liquid coolant circulating through said at least one passageway for conducting the heat away from said surface of said panel.