Abstract
Air vent for a vehicle, including a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and an air duct for air flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a main flow direction. A slat assembly is arranged in the air duct and has a plurality of air-guiding slats that are pivotable together with respect to the main flow direction, and designed to divert the air flow from the main flow direction in an open position of the slat assembly and to interrupt the air flow in a closed position of the slat assembly. The air-guiding slats, in the closed position, are braced relative to one another and each of them takes up its end position, and at least some of the air-guiding slats reach their respective end position in succession during an adjustment of the slat assembly from the open position to the closed position.
Claims
1. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising a housing (12) with an inlet opening (14) and an outlet opening (16), the housing (12) delimiting an air duct (18) for air flowing from the inlet opening (14) to the outlet opening (16) in a main flow direction (H), further comprising a slat assembly (20) arranged in the air duct (18) and having a plurality of air-guiding slats (22) that are coupled in terms of movement and are pivotable together with respect to the main flow direction (H), the air-guiding slats (22) being designed to divert the air flow from the main flow direction (H) in an open position of the slat assembly (20) and to interrupt the air flow in a closed position of the slat assembly (20), the air-guiding slats (22, 122), in the closed position of the slat assembly (20), being braced relative to one another by adopting in each case an end position, wherein at least some of the air-guiding slats (22, 122) reach their respective end position in succession during an adjustment of the slat assembly (20) from the open position to the closed position.
2. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the air-guiding slats (22, 122) is configured as an actuable control slat (24, 124), the control slat (24, 124) being movable into its end position in such a manner that the further air-guiding slats (22, 122) reach their respective end position in succession with a decreasing distance from the control slat (24, 124), the control slat (24, 124) reaching its end position last.
3. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the closed position of the slat assembly (20), the air-guiding slats (22, 122) are braced relative to one another by at least one elastically formed coupling rod (32, 132, 232, 332, 432).
4. The air vent as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one end stop (36, 136) extending from a housing inner wall of the housing (12) into the air duct (18) is provided in order to stop at least one outer air-guiding slat (22, 122) of the slat assembly (20) in its end position.
5. The air vent as claimed in claim 4, wherein an end stop (36, 136, 138) extending from a housing inner wall of the housing (12) into the air duct (18) is provided for each of the air-guiding slats (22, 122).
6. The air vent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling rod (132, 232, 332, 432) has a rod portion (140, 240, 340, 440) and coupling arms (142, 242, 342, 442) projecting from the rod portion (140, 240, 340, 440), the air-guiding slats (22, 122) being connected in a rotatably movable manner via a respective attachment point (146) to a respective coupling arm (142, 242, 342, 442).
7. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, which has a rod portion (240) having a curved profile, and coupling arms (242) of equal length.
8. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, which has a rod portion (340) having a straight profile, and coupling arms (342) of differing length.
9. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, which has a rod portion (440) having a curved profile, and coupling arms (442) of differing length.
10. The air vent as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling rod (132) has a rod portion (140) and coupling arms (142) projecting from the rod portion (140), the air-guiding slats (122) being connected in a rotatably movable manner via a respective attachment point (146) to a respective coupling arm (142), the air-guiding slats (122) each having an elastic slat portion (148) that has the respective attachment point (146).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Several configurations of the invention are explained in the following text with reference to schematic figures, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an air vent according to the invention,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the slat assembly of the air vent from FIG. 1 in a perspective view,
[0025] FIGS. 3 and 4 show sectional views through the slat assembly from FIG. 2,
[0026] FIGS. 5-9 show very schematic views of different slat assemblies that allow the air-guiding slats to be braced relative to one another,
[0027] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a slat assembly according to a further configuration.
[0028] Unless specified to the contrary, identical reference signs denote identical objects in the following text.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first configuration of the invention. An air vent is visible, having a housing 12 with an inlet opening 14 and an outlet opening 16, the housing 12 delimiting an air duct 18 that extends from the inlet opening 14 to the outlet opening 16. Mounted within the air duct 18 is a slat assembly 20, which is visible in FIGS. 2 to 4. The slat assembly 20 has a plurality of air-guiding slats 22, which are coupled in terms of movement via a coupling rod 32 to coupling arms 34, with a control slat 24 arranged centrally in the slat assembly 20. The air-guiding slats 22 and the control slat 24 are in this case received in receptacles of the coupling arms 34 in each case via pins that are not visible, and are mounted in a pivotable manner on a support frame 28 of the slat assembly 20 via bearings 30. Via an actuating element 26 connected to the control slat 24, the control slat 24 can be pivoted about its axis of rotation D with respect to the air flow. On account of the coupling via the coupling rod 32, the air-guiding slats 22 are also pivoted about their corresponding axes of rotation that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the control slat.
[0030] As a result of the control slat 24 and thus the air-guiding slats 22 connected to the control slat 24 via the coupling rod 32 being pivoted about their axes of rotation, the air flow flowing through the air duct 18 can be diverted from the main flow direction H in two opposite directions. In the case of the arrangement of the air vent as in FIG. 1, the air flow can thus be diverted to the sides. Furthermore, the slat assembly 20 also serves to restrict or fully interrupt the air flow by adjusting the air-guiding elements 22, 24. For this purpose, the slat assembly can be moved from an open position into a closed position that is visible in FIG. 4. In the illustration in FIG. 3, the air-guiding slats have not yet all reached their respective end position. Consequently, the position of the air-guiding slats that is shown therein can also be understood to be an open position of the slat assembly. As is apparent therefrom, in this case only the outer air-guiding slats 22a have thus far reached their respective end position by coming into abutment in each case against end stops 36 of the support frame 28 of the slat assembly 20. Located between the further air-guiding slats 22b, 22c and between the air-guiding slats 22c and the control slat 24 are also apertures for the air flow. If the control slat 24 is now moved in the direction labeled F in FIG. 4 by being subjected to a force via the actuating element 26, the coupling rod 32 is moved substantially perpendicularly thereto in the direction G and the air-guiding slats 22, 24 are thus braced relative to one another. This is possible since the coupling rod 32 is configured in an elastic manner. As is visible in FIG. 3, the coupling rod 32 is curved slightly counter to the direction labeled G in the relaxed state. In the closed position shown in FIG. 4, the coupling rod 32 is tensioned and thus extends in a straight manner, i.e. without the abovementioned curve. Thus, the slats 22, 24 are braced relative to one another. In the closed position of the slat assembly that is visible in FIG. 4, the air-guiding slats can be held in their respective end positions for example via a friction force or latching. The air-guiding slat 22c arranged to the left of the control slat 24 in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a recess 25 for receiving the actuating element 26 in the closed position.
[0031] As a result of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod 32, the bracing of the air-guiding slats relative to one another can be achieved and thus any manufacturing tolerances of the air-guiding slats and of the coupling rod and of the entire kinematic chain from the actuating element to the housing can be compensated. Thus, reliable closing of the slat assembly can be achieved without leakage flows. When the slat assembly is moved into the closed position, the outer air-guiding slats 22a reach their respective end position first on account of the end stops 36. On account of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod 32, it is also possible for the further air-guiding slats 22b, 22c, 24 to reach their respective end position. In a rigid configuration of the coupling rod, this would not be possible. Following the outer air-guiding slats 22a, when the control slat 24 is moved further into its end position, the air-guiding slats 22b arranged next to the outer air-guiding slats 22a reach their respective end position first of all. Subsequently, the air-guiding slats 22c that are located in turn further inward reach their end position and finally, as the last slat, the control slat 24 reaches its end position. Thus, the closed position of the slat assembly is then achieved, see FIG. 4. Since the air-guiding slats therefore reach their end positions in succession, smaller closing forces are necessary than in the case of air-guiding slats that reach their end positions at the same time. In particular, by way of an operating force F that is smaller compared with known air vents and acts on the actuating element 26, it is possible for the slat assembly to be closed tightly. For this purpose, the coupling rod has to be put under less tension than in known air vents. In addition, as a result of the successive closing, only minor closing noises arise, which are brought about in that adjacent air-guiding slats strike one another (or in that the outer air-guiding slats 22a strike the stops 36). On account of the successive closing, these closing noises do not add up to an unpleasantly loud, single closing noise, however. Therefore, reliable and at the same time quiet closing can be achieved.
[0032] FIG. 5 schematically shows another configuration of the slat assembly of an air vent according to the invention. The slat assembly 220 comprises for example internal end stops 138 and outer end stops 136 formed on a support frame. In the slat assembly 220, air-guiding slats 122a, 122b, 124 that are arranged so as to be pivotable about axes of rotation 123 are mounted on the support frame, the air-guiding slat 124 being configured as a control slat that is actuable via an actuating element 126. Some of the air-guiding slats 122 have sealing elements 144. The air-guiding slats 122 are coupled together in terms of movement via a coupling rod 132, the coupling rod 132 having a rod portion 140 and five coupling arms 142 projecting perpendicularly from the rod portion 140. Via attachment points 146, the coupling arms 142 are each connected to one of the air-guiding slats 122 in a rotatably movable manner. The coupling rod 132 is also configured in an elastic manner. When a force is applied to the control slat 124 via its actuating element 126 along the arrow line labeled F, the air-guiding slats 122 can be moved from the open position shown in FIG. 5 into a closed position. In the process, the outer air-guiding slats 122a come into contact with their end stops 136 first of all, as already visible in FIG. 5. On account of the elastic coupling rod 132, it is also possible for the further air-guiding elements also to be adjusted into their end positions, the air-guiding slats 122b passing into contact with their end stops 138 first of all and thus reaching their end positions. Finally, as the last slat, the control slat 124 reaches its end position by striking its end stops 138. Thus, in this configuration, too, on account of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod and on account of the provision of the end stops 136, 138, the air-guiding slats can be adjusted successively into their end positions. The successive reaching of the end positions is in this case possible since the stop surfaces 137 of the end stops 136, 138 are arranged in an offset manner in the main flow direction H, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The stop surfaces are in this case arranged further downstream in the main flow direction H with increasing distance from the control slat 124. In the closed position, the sealing elements 144 bear against the adjacent air-guiding slats and thus ensure an additional seal.
[0033] The configuration of the slat assembly 220 in FIG. 6 differs from the configuration of the slat assembly in FIG. 5 in that, instead of the internal end stops 138, a curved coupling rod 232 allows the successive closing of the air-guiding slats. In addition, in FIG. 6, the sealing elements 144 have been left out (although these could also be provided here, of course). The coupling rod 232 has a curve pointing counter to the main flow direction H, the curve being created by two rod parts of the rod portion 240 that are at a slight angle to one another. The coupling arms 242 are in this case, like the coupling arms of the configuration in FIG. 5, all the same length. It is clearly visible from FIG. 6 that, on account of the curved configuration of the rod portion 240 of the coupling rod 232, the attachment point 146 of the control slat 124 to its coupling arms 242 is at a greater distance X from an axis A extending through the axes of rotation 123 of the air-guiding slats. With increasing distance of the air-guiding slats 122 from the control slat 124, the distances of the attachment points 146 from the axis A decrease in this slat position. When the control slat 124 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 6 about its axis of rotation 123 when a force in the direction of the arrow labeled F is applied to the actuating element 126, the outer air-guiding slats 122a therefore reach their respective end position first of all, then the air-guiding slats 122b located further in, and finally the control slat 124. On account of this configuration of the coupling rod, the air-guiding slats 122, 124 are in the non-braced state, i.e. with a coupling rod that is not elastically deformed, in different positions on their respective pitch circle paths. Consequently, the successive closing can be realized as a result of this, too. In the closed position, the elastic coupling rod 232 is deformed such that the curved rod portion 240 extends in a substantially straight manner.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a further configuration of a slat assembly 320, wherein, in contrast to the slat assembly in FIG. 6, the coupling rod 332 has a rod portion 340 that extends in a straight manner and coupling arms 342 of differing length projecting therefrom. The rod portion 340 is in particular perpendicular to the main flow direction H, just like the rod portion 132 in FIG. 5. In this way, too, a different distance of the attachment points 146 from the axis A and thus different positioning of the attachment points 146 on the respective pitch circle paths can be achieved, as explained above. Consequently, the successive closing is allowed as a result of this, too.
[0035] In the configuration in FIG. 8, the slat assembly 420 has a coupling rod 432, which has an inwardly curved rod portion 440 and coupling arms 442 of differing length projecting therefrom. The rod portion 440 is in this case curved in the main flow direction H, the length of the coupling arms increasing with increasing distance of the air-guiding slats 122 from the control slat 124. Again, on account of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod 432, successive closing can be achieved as a result of this, too.
[0036] FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a slat assembly 520 that has a coupling rod 132 with a rod portion 140 that extends in a straight manner and coupling arms 142 of identical length, just like the configuration in FIG. 5. In this case, however, the coupling rod 132 does not have to be configured in an elastic manner. Rather, the successive closing is achieved via deformable slat portions 148 of the air-guiding slats 122. The slat portions 148 are each at an angle to a slat main body of the air-guiding slats 122, the angle between the slat portions 148 and the slat main bodies increasing with increasing distance from the control slat 124. The slat portions thus project to different distances counter to the main flow direction H in their rest position. When the control slat 124 is subjected to a force in the arrow direction F via its actuating element 126, the outer air-guiding slats 122a are first of all adjusted into their respective end position via the coupling rod 132, formed in particular in a rigid manner, in cooperation with the end stops 136. In this case, the slat portions 148 are elastically deformed, specifically such that the slat portions 148 pass into a plane with the slat main bodies. Following the outer air-guiding slats 122a, the air guiding slats 122b located further in are adjusted into their respective end position, wherein, here too, the slat portions 148 pass into a plane with their slat main bodies. Finally, the control slat 124 reaches its end position. Thus, the closed position of the slat assembly is achieved successively.
[0037] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a slat assembly 620 in a further configuration. The slat assembly 620 differs from the slat assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 mainly in that further air-guiding elements 22 are provided, in that the air-guiding elements 22 are sealed off from one another via sealing elements 50 in the illustrated closed position, and in particular in that the coupling rod 632 has a spring element let into the rod body. The spring element can consist in particular of metal and ensure sufficient elasticity of the coupling rod 632 over a wide temperature range. The metal spring also prevents the spring action being lost over time by creeping processes in plastic parts. Such creeping processes are very low anyway in the air vent according to the invention, however, since only minor tensions arise in the system on account of the successive closing, as explained above.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0038] 12 Housing [0039] 14 Inlet opening [0040] 16 Outlet opening [0041] 18 Air duct [0042] 20 Slat assembly [0043] 22, 22a, b, c Air-guiding slats [0044] 24 Control slat [0045] 25 Recess [0046] 26 Actuating element [0047] 28 Support frame [0048] 30 Bearings [0049] 32 Coupling rod [0050] 34 Coupling arms [0051] 36 End stops [0052] 50 Sealing elements [0053] 122, 122a, b Air-guiding slats [0054] 123 Axes of rotation [0055] 124 Control slat [0056] 126 Actuating element [0057] 132 Coupling rod [0058] 136 Outer end stops [0059] 137 Stop surfaces [0060] 138 Inner end stops [0061] 140 Rod portion [0062] 142 Coupling arms [0063] 144 Sealing elements [0064] 146 Attachment point [0065] 148 Slat portions [0066] 220 Slat assembly [0067] 232 Coupling rod [0068] 240 Rod portion [0069] 242 Coupling arms [0070] 320 Slat assembly [0071] 332 Coupling rod [0072] 340 Rod portion [0073] 342 Coupling arms [0074] 420 Slat assembly [0075] 432 Coupling rod [0076] 440 Rod portion [0077] 442 Coupling arms [0078] 520 Slat assembly [0079] 620 Slat assembly [0080] 632 Coupling rod [0081] A Axis [0082] D Axis of rotation [0083] F Direction of the operating force [0084] H Main flow direction [0085] X Distance
