Torque balancing apparatus and method for an automotive temperature control system

摘要

An apparatus (100) controls a temperature of air flow from a temperature control system (10). The apparatus (100) includes a blend door (150), an output gear (140), and a biasing mechanism (124). The blend door (150) blocks air flow and has a plurality of positions, each blocking different amounts of air flow. The blend door (150) is rotatable about a first axis (142) between each of the plurality of positions. The output gear (140) is secured to the blend door (150) and is rotatable about the first axis (142) to rotate the blend door (150) between each of the plurality of positions. The biasing mechanism (124) facilitates rotation of the output gear (140) in a first rotation direction (136) and impedes rotation of the output gear (140) in a second rotation direction (138) opposite the first rotation direction (136) such that the torque necessary to rotate the output gear (140) in the first rotation direction (136) is substantially equal to the torque necessary to rotate the output gear (140) in the second rotation direction (138). The biasing mechanism (124) includes a ramping surface (132 or 332) and a projecting member (126, 226, or 326) biasingly engaging the ramping surface (132 or 332).