Air Vent with Adjustable Air Outlet Direction, in Particular Flat or Joint Flows

Abstract

An air vent (10) such as a flat or joint vent has an adjustable air-outflow direction (9) to direct an airstream. An air-deflection area (4) between the air inlet opening (2) and the air outlet opening (3) sets the air-outflow direction (9) at the air outlet opening (3). At least one regulation means (7) in the air-deflection area (4) is arranged in the flow channel (1) in order to influence the geometry of the flow channel. The at least one regulation means (7) is essentially tubular and elastically deformable. The at least one regulation means (7) splits the airstream (15) into partial streams (21) that flow through the regulation means (7).

Claims

1. An air vent with adjustable air-outflow direction, comprising: a flow channel having an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening located substantially opposite from the air inlet opening, wherein an airstream can flow in a direction through the air inlet opening into the flow channel and then out through the air outlet opening; an air-deflection area arranged between the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening configured to set air-outflow direction at the air outlet opening; at least one regulation means in the air-deflection area and arranged in the flow channel that is configured to influence geometry of the flow channel, wherein the at least one regulation means is configured so as to be elastically deformable and substantially tubular in shape and splits the airstream into partial streams that are guided by and flow through the regulation means.

2. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein the at least one regulation means comprises two or more elastic tubular elements that are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

3. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein the at least one regulation means extends in the flow channel substantially from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening, and when the at least one regulation means is in a basic position, the partial streams flowing or being guided through the regulation means flow from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening substantially without being deflected.

4. The air vent according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment element that is operationally connected to the at least one elastically deformable regulation means and that serves to reversibly change the geometric shape of the at least one regulation means.

5. The air vent according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment element is adapted to be deflected in at least one direction (Y) and in another direction (Z) that is perpendicular to the direction (Y) in order to change the geometric shape of the at least one reversibly changeable regulation means on at least two planes that are preferably situated approximately perpendicular to each other.

6. The air vent according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment element is adapted to set the regulation means between a basic position in which the airstream or the partial streams flow from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening substantially without deflection, and a deflected position in which the geometry of the at least one regulation means is reversibly deformed with respect to the basic position.

7. The air vent according to claim 4, wherein, in order for the direction of the airstream or of the partial streams to be set, an operating element arranged in the area of the air outlet opening is coupled to the adjustment element.

8. The air vent according to claim 1, further comprising a housing for the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening, wherein the housing widens or is curved convexly outwards in the air-deflection area for purposes of improving laminar flow of the partial streams.

9. The air vent according to claim 8, further comprising at least one receptacle means for the at least one regulation means, wherein the at least one receptacle means is movable or slidable relative to the housing of the air vent in order to allow a linear compensation in the case of a reversible change in the geometric shape of the at least one regulation means.

10. The air vent according to claim 9, wherein the at least one regulation means is held in the flow channel in the area of its leading edge by at least one bearing point configured as a receptacle means and/or by at least one bearing point configured as a receptacle means in the area of the air outlet opening.

11. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein a center lamella is provided in the flow direction at the end of the air-deflection area of the partial streams, and wherein the operating element is coupled to the center lamella.

12. The air vent according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reversibly deformable regulation means is made of an elastomer or contains an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU).

13. A method for directing an airstream through an air vent, comprising: providing an air vent according to claim 1; introducing the airstream into a flow channel via an air inlet opening of the air vent; reversibly changing geometric shape of the at least one substantially tubular regulation means in the air vent so as to change the geometry of the flow channel, particularly so that partial streams flowing through the regulation means are split and guided before the partial streams exit the air vent via the outlet opening.

14. The method for directing an airstream according to claim 13, wherein the reversible change in the geometric shape is an elastic deformation of the regulation means.

15. The method for directing an airstream according to claim 14, wherein the elastic deformation of the regulation means is influenced by the airstream in an air-deflection area in the flow channel of the air vent.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] In this context, the following is depicted, at times schematically:

[0062] FIG. 1 an air vent with regulation means, in a basic position,

[0063] FIG. 2 the air vent as shown in FIG. 1, in a deflected position,

[0064] FIG. 3 another embodiment of the air vent with a center lamella, in the basic position, and

[0065] FIG. 4 the air vent as shown in FIG. 3, in a deflected position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] For the sake of clarity, identical or functionally identical parts are provided with appropriate reference numerals in the figures of the drawing shown below, making reference to an embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 1 shows an air vent 10 with adjustable air-outflow direction 9. In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the air vent 10 is configured as a flat or joint vent whose height is smaller than its width, for instance, a height-to-width ratio of about 1:6 to about 1:7. The air vent can also be arranged so as to run orthogonally or even diagonally, for example, in a vehicle.

[0068] An airstream 15 can flow in via an air inlet opening 2 of a flow channel 1 into the air vent 10 and flow out of the flow channel 1 via an air outlet opening 3 situated essentially opposite from the air inlet opening 2.

[0069] The air vent 10 here has a housing 14 with the air inlet opening 2 and the air outlet opening 3. A constriction—not shown—of the flow channel 1 in the area between the air inlet opening 2 and the air-deflection area 4 can be provided in the housing 14.

[0070] In a likewise not shown embodiment, for purposes of improving the laminar flow of the airstream 15 or of the partial streams 21, the housing 14 can widen in the air-deflection area 4, especially so as to be curved convexly outwards.

[0071] In each case, the direction of flow of the airstream 15 is indicated by arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0072] For example, installation of the air vent 10 in the dashboard of a motor vehicle allows a temperature-controlled airstream 15 to be fed to the air vent 10 via the air inlet opening 2. The airstream 15 can then be deflected and regulated in the air vent 10 in such a way that the directed airstream 15 desired by the user is prevalent in the motor vehicle.

[0073] For this purpose, between the air inlet opening 2 and the air outlet opening 3, an air-deflection area 4 is provided in which the airstream 15 is adjusted in order to set the air-outflow direction 9 at the air outlet opening 3.

[0074] In this context, several, in this case six, regulation means 7 that serve to influence the flow channel geometry are arranged in the air-deflection area 4. These regulation means 7 for guiding the airstream 15 are configured here so as to be elastically deformable and essentially tubular in shape, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0075] The airstream 15 is preferably not only adjusted but also split into partial streams 21 by the regulation means 7. This splitting takes place in that the airstream 15 flows through the air inlet opening 2 into the tubular regulation means 7 and is then split into an appropriate number (here six) of partial streams 21. Naturally, a different number of regulation means 7 is likewise conceivable. Due to the appertaining geometry of the regulation means 7, these partial streams 21 are correspondingly guided and directed in the flow channel 1.

[0076] The regulation means 7 here are formed by elastic tube elements, preferably silicon tubes, arranged essentially parallel to each other, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0077] The regulation means 7 extend in the flow channel 1 essentially from the air inlet opening 2 to the air outlet opening 3. In this manner, the partial streams 21 flow into the regulation means 7 from the air inlet opening 2 to the air outlet opening 3.

[0078] In the basic position 5 which is shown in FIG. 1 and in which the airstream 15 or the partial streams 21 flow essentially undeflected from the air inlet opening 2 to the air outlet opening 3, the at least one regulation means 7 extends essentially parallel to the flow direction 11 of the airstream 15 or of the partial streams 21 between the air inlet opening 2 and the air outlet opening 3.

[0079] FIG. 1 also shows an adjustment element 8 which is operationally connected to the at least one elastically deformable regulation means 7 that serves to set the air-outflow direction, and which serves to reversibly change the geometric shape of the at least one regulation means 7.

[0080] Accordingly, the regulation means 7 are adjustable by means of the adjustment element 8 between the basic position 5, in which the airstream 15 or the partial streams 21 flow essentially undeflected from the air inlet opening 2 to the air outlet opening 3, and a deflected position 6, in which the geometry of the regulation means 7 is reversibly deformed. The deflected position 6 of the regulation means 7 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0081] The adjustment element 8 can be deflected in at least one direction (Y) and in another direction (Z) that is perpendicular to this direction (Y) in order to change the geometric shape of the at least one reversibly changeable regulation means (7) on at least two planes that are preferably situated approximately perpendicular to each other.

[0082] As can also be seen FIGS. 1 and 2, the air vent 10 has at least one receptacle means 12 for the regulation means 7. Here, a first end 13 of the regulation means 7 is held in these receptacle means 12. In this manner, the regulation means 7 are securely held in the air vent 10.

[0083] The receptacle means 12 can be moved, especially slid, relative to the housing 14 of the air vent 10 in order to allow a linear compensation in the case of a reversible change in the geometric shape of the regulation means 7.

[0084] As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the receptacle means 12 here are configured as bearing points 18, 20 for the regulation means 7. In other words, the regulation means 7 are held in the flow channel 1 in the area of its leading edge 19 by bearing points 18, and by bearing points 20 in the area of the air outlet opening 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0085] Here, the receptacle means 12 can be made of “hard” plastic, in contrast to which the regulation means 7 can be made of “soft” plastic such as, for instance, silicon, TPE or TPU. The receptacle means 12 configured as bearing points 18, 20 ensure a linear compensation of the regulation means 7 at the air inlet opening 2. The receptacle means 12 have the additional function of a visible part, situated on the air outlet opening 3, an aspect that is advantageous for esthetic or design reasons.

[0086] The reversibly deformable regulation means 7 can be made of an elastomer, especially a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), preferably a polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), or else it contains an elastomer.

[0087] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of an air vent 10. The structure and the mode of functioning of the air vent 10 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond essentially to those as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The second variant differs from the first embodiment variant as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that an additional center lamella 16 is provided which is at the end of the air-deflection area 4 of the partial streams 21 in the flow direction 11.

[0088] By the same token, FIGS. 3 and 4 depict an operating element 17 that is arranged especially in the area of the air outlet opening 3, that serves to set the direction of the airstream 15 or of the partial streams 21 and that is coupled to the adjustment element 8.

[0089] The center lamella 16 is also coupled to the operating element 17. It is conceivable for the operating element 17 to have a gearwheel or toothed segment, so that this connection can be implemented in the form of a gearwheel connection.

[0090] Due to the center lamella 16, the airstream can be additionally deflected in a flow direction perpendicular or crosswise to the partial streams 21. As seen from the perspective of a user, for example, in a motor vehicle, the airstream can be deflected by means of the operating element 17 or the center lamella 16, for instance, to the side, in other words, to the left and to the right.

[0091] In such a case, the flow direction established by the air-deflection area and by the regulation means 17 would run approximately orthogonally thereto, in other words, upwards and downwards, so that a deflection of the airstream 15 is possible in the horizontal direction, in other words, also in the vertical direction relative to the outlet opening of the air vent 10, that is to say, air deflection is possible in all spatial directions.

[0092] As set forth in the invention, it would also be conceivable for the air vent 10 to be arranged in such a way that, from the operator's perspective, the deflection in the vertical direction, in other words, from the top to the bottom, brought about by the center lamella 16, and the deflection direction effectuated by the regulation means 7 are then in the horizontal direction as seen by the user.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows the air vent 10 in a basic position 5 that corresponds to the position as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 depicts the deflected position 6 of the air vent 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0094] 1 flow channel [0095] 2 air inlet opening [0096] 3 air outlet opening [0097] 4 air-deflection area [0098] 5 basic position [0099] 6 deflected position [0100] 7 regulation means [0101] 8 adjustment element [0102] 9 air-outflow direction [0103] 10 air vent [0104] 11 flow direction [0105] 12 receptacle means [0106] 13 first end of regulation means [0107] 14 housing [0108] 15 airstream [0109] 16 center lamella [0110] 17 operating element [0111] 18 bearing point [0112] 19 leading edge [0113] 20 pivot point [0114] 21 partial streams