An air vent assembly includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and a plurality of channels positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet. A first set of fixed vanes is positioned in a first one of the channels. The fixed vanes of the first set are angled or curved in a first direction with respect to a flow vector of the air inlet. A second set of fixed vanes is positioned in a second one of the channels. The fixed vanes of the second set are angled or curved in a second direction with respect to a flow vector of the air inlet. A gate is positioned within grooves of each of the first and second sets of fixed vanes. The gate is configured to regulate a position at which air may enter the first and second channels from the air inlet.

A method for driving an actuator of an HVAC system having a region of mechanical play is provided, and which comprises the steps of: a] monitoring a position of a movable member of the HVAC system or at least one rotatable element of the actuator to determine when the region of mechanical play has been entered or exited; and b] ramping a drive power to the actuator between a zero-velocity drive power and a steady-state-velocity drive power during the region of mechanical play. The HVAC system implementing the above method is not only capable of reducing the noise produced by an HVAC system, but is also capable of reducing an over-powering of the actuator when there is a low load on the system.

The present invention relates to an air vent for a vehicle, provided with a damper for opening or closing the air path of a duct housing with improved operation quality and convenience. The air vent for a vehicle comprises: a duct housing (20) having an air path inside, a vane member for adjusting air discharge direction, a damper (21) for opening or closing the air path and a cover fixing boss (22) formed in an outside surface; a dial knob (30) rotationally coupled to the duct housing (20) and having a knob coupling hole (31); a damper rotation member (40) coupled to a damper (21) rotation shaft and having a pinion gear (41); a knob connector (50) having protruded coupling members (51), of which one is fitted into the knob coupling hole (31); a damper connector (60) link-connected to the knob connector (50), provided with a rack gear (61) to be engaged with the pinion gear (41), and having a guide hole (62) placed by the cover fixing boss (22) of the duct housing (20); and a guide cover (70) having an insertion part (71) fitted with the cover fixing boss (22), and a finishing part (72) coupled to the cover fixing boss (22) by a coupling member (73).

An air blowing device has a first blowing portion, a duct, and an airflow causing member. The first blowing portion has a guide surface and is provided with a first blowing outlet that blows air from a blower unit into a vehicle compartment. The airflow causing member defines at least one of a first passage and a second passage located on one side and an other side of the airflow causing member in a front-rear direction of a vehicle respectively in the duct. The airflow causing member sets a first condition in which a high-velocity airflow flows in the first passage and a low-velocity airflow flows in the second passage by decreasing a sectional area of the first passage to be smaller than a sectional area of the second passage. The high-velocity airflow flows along the guide surface and is blown into the vehicle compartment.

An air vent for a motor vehicle includes a housing having an insert rotationally and/or pivotably supported in the housing about a bearing system with at least one assembly for guiding and/or deflecting a supplied air flow, and an element arranged centrally in the insert. The element is connected to the assembly for guiding and/or deflecting a supplied air flow. The bearing system is arranged on the central longitudinal axis of the housing and is carried out by a bearing. An optical fiber is accommodated in the bearing. For the at least regional lighting of the air vent, at least one light source is arranged in the housing on the central longitudinal axis upstream of the bearing system, such that the light emitted by the at least one light source is at least partially couplable, as needed, into the first optical fiber via a photometric coupling in the bearing.

A canopy downdraft fan assembly for being able to direct air flow like a curtain as selected. The canopy downdraft fan assembly includes a canopy assembly including support members adapted to be mounted upon a prime mover and including a canopy mounted upon the support members; and an air flow generating assembly in communication with the canopy assembly and including one or more fans.

An air blowing device includes: a tubular body defining an airflow passage and an air outlet; a guide wall configured to guide an airflow having passed through the air outlet in an intended direction; and a movable projecting portion, which is capable of projecting from an inside of the guide wall to an outside of the guide wall. The guide wall has a convex surface shape projecting in a direction intersecting a forward direction of the air outlet, and is arranged so that a projection image, which is obtained by projecting the guide wall onto a virtual plane including the air outlet, covers the entire air outlet. The movable projecting portion is capable of adjusting a projecting amount from the guide wall within a range of from zero to a predetermined maximum amount, and configured to adjust the projecting amount depending on the intended direction.

A method for driving an actuator of an HVAC system is provided, and which comprises the steps of: a] determining an actuation command to the actuator; and b] ramping a drive power to the actuator between a steady-state-velocity drive power and a zero-velocity drive power to effect a required acceleration or deceleration to a movable member of the HAVC system without or substantially without over-powering of the actuator. An HVAC system is also provided. The HVAC system implementing the above method is not only capable of reducing the noise produced by an HVAC system, but is also capable of reducing an over-powering of the actuator when there is a low load on the system.

A method of maintaining a position of an airflow-direction control element 16 of a HVAC system, comprising the steps of, a] determining a position of at least one movable member of an airflow-direction control mechanism of the HVAC system; and b] calculating whether the movable member is at a target position associated with a required position of the airflow-direction control element, and if not, activating an airflow-direction-controller actuator of the HVAC system to effect a change in the position of the movable member thereby bringing the airflow-direction control element to or towards the said required position. A HVAC system suitable for implementing such a method is also provided and capable of improving the overall efficiency of operation.

A trim assembly having a trim element and an air vent designed to be supplied with air. The trim element includes a first face designed to be oriented toward a user, a second face opposite the first face, and an edge extending between the first face and the second face. The air vent is positioned to generate a jet of air flowing along the second face toward the edge.