AIR VENT FOR A VEHICLE WITH EXTERNAL ACTUATING ELEMENT

Abstract

Air vent for a vehicle, including an air duct, which is bounded by a housing (12), with an air inlet end and an air outlet end, wherein an air flow flowing through the air duct can flow from the air inlet end to the air outlet end along a main flow direction and a manual actuating element (22) for controlling the air outlet direction of the air flow by movement of fins (60, 62), wherein, during a translational movement of the manual actuating element along a movement axis the air outlet direction undergoes a change along the movement axis, and wherein, during a tilting movement of the manual actuating element about the movement axis, the air outlet direction undergoes a change perpendicular to the movement axis, wherein the manual actuating element is arranged outside the air flow.

Claims

1. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising an air duct, which is bounded by a housing (12, 12), with an air inlet end (14, 14) and an air outlet end (16, 16), wherein an air flow flowing through the air duct can flow from the air inlet end (14, 14) to the air outlet end (16, 16) along a main flow direction (H) and a manual actuating element (22) for controlling the air outlet direction of the air flow, wherein, during a translational movement of the manual actuating element (22) along a movement axis (L) the air outlet direction undergoes a change along said movement axis (L), and wherein, during a tilting movement of the manual actuating element (22) about the movement axis (L), the air outlet direction undergoes a change perpendicular to the movement axis (L), wherein the manual actuating element (22) is arranged outside the air flow.

2. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during a translational movement of the manual actuating element (22) along the movement axis (L) in a first direction, the emerging air flow undergoes a change in the first direction, and in that, during a translational movement of the manual actuating element (22) along the movement axis (L) in a second direction opposed to the first direction, the emerging air flow undergoes a change in the second direction.

3. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during a tilting movement of the manual actuating element (22) in a first direction, the emerging air flow undergoes a change in the first direction perpendicular to the movement axis (L), and wherein, during a tilting movement of the manual actuating element (22) in a second direction opposed to the first direction, the emerging air flow undergoes a change in the second direction perpendicular to the movement axis (L).

4. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one air-guiding element (24, 24a, 60, 60a, 62, 62a) on which the manual actuating element (22) acts in order to control the air outlet direction.

5. The air vent as claimed in claim 4, wherein a movement of the manual actuating element (22) is transferred to the at least one air-guiding element (24, 24a, 60, 60a, 62, 62a) by an operating shaft (32, 132) which is arranged outside the air flow and extends parallel to the movement axis (L), wherein a movement of the manual actuating element (22) in one direction results in a movement of the operating shaft (32, 132) in the same direction.

6. The air vent as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a rotary shaft (38, 138) which is connected to the at least one air-guiding element (24, 24a, 60, 60a, 62, 62a) and runs perpendicularly to the operating shaft (32, 132), wherein the rotary shaft (38, 138) has a gearwheel (40, 140) which is in engagement with a toothing (34, 134) of the operating shaft (32, 132) in such a manner that, during a translational movement of the operating shaft (32, 132) along its longitudinal axis (L), the rotary shaft (38, 138) is rotated about its axis of rotation (D).

7. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gearwheel (40, 140) of the rotary shaft (38, 138) is arranged outside the air flow.

8. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, wherein, as air-guiding elements, a plurality of air-guiding gratings (24, 24a) which extend substantially perpendicularly to the main flow direction (H) and are coupled to one another in terms of movement are arranged in the air duct, wherein the rotary shaft (38) is connected via at least one push rod (44) to a driven air-guiding grating (24a) in such a manner that, by means of a rotational movement of the rotary shaft (38), the driven air-guiding grating (24a) is adjusted in a translatory manner counter to the direction of movement of the operating shaft (32).

9. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rotary shaft (38) is connected via at least two push rods (44), which are arranged offset along the axis of rotation (D) of said rotary shaft, to the driven air-guiding grating (24a).

10. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the operating shaft (32) is connected via at least one push rod (48) to the driven air-guiding grating (24a) in such a manner that, during a tilting movement of the operating shaft (32) about the movement axis (L), the driven air-guiding grating (24a) is adjusted in a translatory manner perpendicular to the operating shaft (32).

11. The air vent as claimed in claim 10, wherein the operating shaft (32) is connected via at least two push rods (48), which arranged offset along the longitudinal axis (L) of said operating shaft, to the driven air-guiding grating (24a).

12. The air vent as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein, as air-guiding elements, a plurality of slats (60, 60a) which extend parallel to the rotary shaft (138), are pivotable in relation to the main flow direction (H) and are coupled in terms of movement to each other are arranged in the air duct, wherein the rotary shaft (138) is connected to one of the slats (60a) in such a manner that a rotational movement of the rotary shaft (138) is converted into a corresponding rotational movement of the slats (60, 60a).

13. The air vent as claimed in claim 12, wherein, as further air-guiding elements, a plurality of slats (62, 62a) which extend parallel to the operating shaft (132), are pivotable in relation to the main flow direction (H) and are coupled in terms of movement to each other are arranged in the air duct, wherein the operating shaft (132) is coupled to at least one of said slats (62a) via at least one coupling rod (144) in such a manner that, during a tilting movement of the operating shaft (132) about its longitudinal axis (L), the slats (62, 62a) are correspondingly pivoted in the direction of rotation of the operating shaft (132).

14. The air vent as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating shaft (132) is coupled to the coupling rod (144) via an interlocking connection, in particular a tongue and groove connection (142, 143), in such a manner that a translatory movement of the operating shaft (132) along its longitudinal axis (L) is not transferred to the coupling rod (144).

15. A vehicle with an air vent as claimed in claim 1.

16. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising: an air duct bounded by a housing (12, 12) and having an air inlet end (14, 14) and an air outlet end (16, 16), wherein an air flow flowing through the air duct can flow from the air inlet end (14, 14) to the air outlet end (16, 16) along a main flow direction (H); a manual actuating element (22) for controlling an air outlet direction of the air flow from the air outlet end, wherein, during a translational movement of the manual actuating element (22) along a movement axis (L), the air outlet direction undergoes a change along said movement axis (L), and wherein, during a tilting movement of the manual actuating element (22) about the movement axis (L), the air outlet direction undergoes a change perpendicular to the movement axis (L), wherein the manual actuating element (22) is positioned outside the air flow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Two exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to figures, in which

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an air vent in a first refinement with air-guiding gratings as air-guiding elements,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the front panel of the air vent from FIG. 1 in a rear view,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an air vent according to the invention in a second refinement with slats as air-guiding elements,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the front panel of the air vent from FIG. 3 together with slats in a rear view,

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the front panel from FIG. 4 without the rear slats, and

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the air vent from FIG. 3 in a view from below.

[0028] Unless stated otherwise, the same reference signs denote the same objects in the following.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the air vent according to the invention in a first refinement. The air vent 10 comprises a housing 12 which bounds an air duct which extends from an air inlet end 14 to an air outlet end 16 of the housing 12. At the air outlet end 16, a front panel 18 is placed onto the housing. On the side facing away from the air duct, the front panel comprises an outflow grating 20 and a manual actuating element 22 passing through the outflow grating 20. The outflow grating 20 here as visual protection conceals air-guiding elements which are located therebehind and can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0030] In this refinement, the air-guiding elements are designed as air-guiding gratings 24 which form a common grating pack 26. The air-guiding gratings 24 each have a multiplicity of grating openings 28 which, in superimposition with air-guiding gratings adjacent to the grating openings, form a multiplicity of small air-conducting ducts. The outer air-guiding grating 24b is immovably connected to the front panel 18, while the further air-guiding gratings 24 are connected to the outer air-guiding grating 24b so as to be displaceable relative to each other via two handles 30a and 30b. Orientation of the airflow takes place via displacement of the driven air-guiding grating 24a located furthest on the inside.

[0031] For this purpose, the manual actuating element 22 is connected via a clip connection to an operating shaft 32 which extends perpendicularly to a main flow direction H along the X axis through the air duct. The main flow direction H denotes the flow direction of an unobstructed airflow, i.e. an airflow which is not deflected by air-guiding elements, from the air inlet end 14 to the air outlet end 16. The operating shaft 32 has a toothing 34 with teeth extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of the operating shaft 32, and two ball and socket joints 36 arranged at opposite ends of the operating shaft 32. The operating shaft 32 is in engagement with a gearwheel 40 of a rotary shaft 38 via the toothing 34. The rotary shaft 38 is mounted at its opposite ends on the housing 12 and is rotatable about its axis of rotation D. The rotary shaft 38 is connected in turn via two ball and socket joints 42, which are arranged offset with respect to the axis of rotation D, to two push rods 44. The push rods 44 are each mounted on the inner air-guiding grating 24a via a further ball and socket joint 46. In addition, the operating shaft 32 is connected via its ball and socket joints 36 to two push rods 48 which are mounted in turn on the inner air-guiding grating 24a via ball and socket joints 50. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows a first guide element 52 which is mounted on the housing 12 via two opposite arms and in which a second guide element 54 of cross-shaped design is accommodated. The second guide element 54 is mounted movably along the X axis in relation to the first guide element 52. In addition, a slide 56 of the inner air-guiding grating 24a is mounted movably along the Y axis in a guide of the second guide element 54. The air-guiding gratings 24 are pressed onto the front panel 18 via the first guide element 52, which can prevent an undesirable adjustment of the air-guiding gratings. However, this is optional. A sufficient pressure on the air-guiding gratings can also already be applied by the rotary shaft 38 and the push rods 44. In particular for this purpose, a second push rod is expedient.

[0032] According to the invention, the manual actuating element 22 is movable in a translational manner along a movement axis and in a rotational manner about said movement axis. The movement axis extends here along the longitudinal axis L of the operating shaft 32 since the manual actuating element 22 is directly coupled thereto. A translational movement of the manual actuating element to the right along the X axis in FIG. 2 leads by engagement of the toothing 34 with the gearwheel 40 to a rotational movement of the rotary shaft 38 to the right. On account of the arrangement of the ball and socket joints 42 in an offset manner with respect to the axis of rotation D, said ball and socket joints are moved along a partial circle about the axis of rotation D during rotation of the rotary shaft 38. In the explained situation, the push rods 44 are pushed along via the ball and socket joints 42 by the rotary shaft 38 in the opposite direction on the X axis, as a result of which, because of the coupling of the push rod 44 to the inner air-guiding grating 24a via the ball and socket joints 46, a movement of the inner air-guiding grating 24a on the X axis takes place in a direction opposed to the direction of movement of the operating shaft 32. Via the handle 30b, said movement to the left on the X axis is transferred from the inner air-guiding grating 24 to the further air-guiding gratings 24 which are therefore deflected in the same directionbut to a decreasing extent as the distance from the inner air-guiding grating 24a increases. By this means, the air-conducting ducts formed by the grating openings 28 are displaced in such a manner that the air outlet direction of the airflow is changed to the right along the X axis. If the manual actuating element 22 is displaced in the opposed direction, i.e. to the left, along the X axis, the rotary shaft 48 likewise rotates in the opposed direction and, via the push rod 44, pulls the inner air-guiding grating 24a to the right along the X axis, which results in an orientation of the emerging airflow to the left on the X axis. The use of two push rods acting in a manner offset along the axis of rotation of the rotary shaft and in an offset manner on the air-guiding grating 24a ensures here that shearing forces which may result in a deflection of the air-guiding gratings in an undesirable direction are minimized. Consequently, with the explained mechanism, a translational movement of the manual actuating element can be converted into a correspondingly changed direction of the emerging airflow. If an operator therefore moves the actuating element to the left, the airflow is also deflected to the left. A corresponding situation applies during a movement to the right. The second guide element 54 slides here in the guide of the first guide element 52.

[0033] During a tilting movement of the manual actuating element 22 about the movement axis, i.e. about the longitudinal axis L of the operating shaft 32, the teeth of the gearwheel 40 slide along in the toothing 34. Consequently, such a tilting movement of the manual actuating element does not have an effect on an orientation of the air-guiding elements along the X axis. Instead, by means of a tilting movement of the actuating element 22 upward along the Y axis, a rotation of the operating shaft 32 about its longitudinal axis L, which runs along the X axis, takes place in such a manner that the push rods 48 are pulled downward along the Y axis via the ball and socket joints 36. For this purpose, the ball and socket joints 36 are likewise arranged offset with respect to the longitudinal axis L and describe a partial circle during the rotation of the operating shaft 32. Via the coupling by means of the ball and socket joints 50, the push rods 48 pull the inner air-guiding grating 24a downward along the Y axis. The further air-guiding gratings 24 are moved in the same direction to a correspondingly graduated extentvia the handle 30A. The air-conducting ducts formed by the grating openings 28 are therefore oriented pointing upward in such a manner that a deflection of the airflow from the main flow direction H takes place upward along the Y axis. If the manual actuating element 22 is tilted downward along the Y axis, the operating shaft 32 rotates in the opposed direction and displaces the push rods 48 upward along the Y axis. By this means, the air-guiding gratings 24 are likewise displaced upward to a graduated extent and the airflow is consequently deflected downward along the Y axis from the main flow direction H. Via this mechanism, the tilting movement of the manual actuating element 22 is converted into a translational movement of the air-guiding gratings 24, which leads to a change in the air outlet direction in the direction of movement. In this case, the slide 56 slides within the guide of the second guide element 54.

[0034] The manual actuating element 22 and the operating shaft 32 are arranged here completely outside the airflow and therefore do not negatively impair the latter. Although the operating shaft 32 is located within the air duct, the airflow passes beyond said operating shaft. In addition, the rotary shaft 38 is also arranged at least in sections, namely at its lower end surrounding the gearwheel 40, outside the airflow. The push rods 48 are each in engagement at one end with opposite end portions of the operating shaft 32. In addition, the push rods 48 are each in engagement at their other end with corner regions of the inner air-guiding grating. By this means, during the movement of the operating shaft 32 along its longitudinal axis L, the push rods 48 only enter slightly into the airflow since only a slight tilting of the push rods in relation to the Y axis takes place. Said push rods therefore also scarcely disturb the airflow.

[0035] The explained embodiment of the invention therefore permits the particularly intuitive movement according to the invention of an actuating element with simultaneously optimum conducting of air with only an extremely small negative influencing of the airflow for air vents with air-guiding gratings as air-guiding elements.

[0036] FIGS. 3 to 6 show a second exemplary embodiment of the invention which, instead of air-guiding gratings, has slats as air-guiding elements. As is apparent in FIG. 3, said air vent 10 also has a housing 12 which bounds an air duct extending from an air inlet end 14 to an air outlet end 16, a front panel 18 and a manual actuating element 22 which is movable in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, an operating wheel 58 is illustrated which serves for moving a shut-off flap for restricting or for completely interrupting the airflow. Such an operating wheel with a shut-off flap can in principle also be provided in the abovementioned exemplary embodiment. A plurality of inner slats 60 and a plurality of outer slats 62 are provided as air-guiding elements. The slats 60 extend along the Y axis parallel to one another and serve for deflecting the airflow along the X axis to the left and right from the main flow direction Hwhich runs along the Z axis. The slats 62 extend along the X axis parallel to one another and serve for deflecting the airflow upward and downward from the main flow direction H on the Y axis.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows the front panel 18 from FIG. 3 in a rear view looking at the slats 60, 62 and at the mechanism driving the slats. Also in this exemplary embodiment, the manual actuating element 22 is directly connected to an operating shaft 132 via a clip connection. The operating shaft 132 in turn has a toothing 134 via which there is an engagement in a gearwheel 140 of a rotary shaft 138, which is perpendicular to the operating shaft 132. The rotary shaft 138 is coupled in terms of movement to a slat 60a of the inner slats 60 via a connecting element 146. The slats 60 are mounted on the housing 12 via bearing strips 150 and are coupled in terms of movement to one another via a coupling rod 152. In addition, the operating shaft 132 has a coupling lever 136 which acts on a slat 62a of the horizontal slats 62 via a coupling rod 144.

[0038] If the manual actuating element 22 moves in a translational manner along the movement axis, which also coincides here with the longitudinal axis L, which runs on the X axis, of the operating shaft 32, a translational movement of the operating shaft 132 in the same direction takes place. During a movement of the operating shaft 132 to the right on the X axis, the rotary shaft 138 is rotated around to the right because of the engagement of the toothing 134 in the teeth of the gearwheel 140. On account of the coupling of the rotary shaft 138 to the slat 60a, said slat is correspondingly pivoted together with the further slats 60, which leads to a deflection of the airflow to the right along the X axis. A translational movement of the manual actuating element 22 and therefore of the operating shaft 132 to the left along the X axis in FIG. 4 correspondingly leads to an opposed rotation of the rotary shaft 138 and consequently to an adjustment of the slats 60 and therefore of the air outlet direction to the left along the X axis.

[0039] By means of a tilting movement of the manual actuating element 22 about the longitudinal axis L, the operating shaft 132 is rotated about its longitudinal axis L, with the teeth of the gearwheel 140 sliding along in the toothing 134. Also in this refinement, a tilting movement about the movement axis consequently does not result in any change of the air outlet direction along the movement axis. Instead, such a tilting movement via the rotation of the operating shaft 132 leads to a corresponding rotation of the coupling lever 136 about the longitudinal axis L. If the manual actuating element 22 is moved, for example, upward along the Y axis in FIG. 4, because of the rotation of the operating shaft 132 the coupling lever 136 moves downward and pulls the coupling rod 144 along with it. Via the coupling rod 144, the slat 62a in turn is pivoted about its bearing axis. On account of a coupling clip 148, the further slats 62 move in a corresponding manner, which finally leads to a deflection of the airflow upward and therefore in the direction of movement of the manual actuating element. During a movement of the manual actuating element 22 downward along the Y axis, the operating shaft 132 consequently rotates in an opposed manner, as a result of which the coupling lever 136 pushes the coupling rod 144 upward along the Y axis and therefore, via the slat 62a, all of the slats 62 are pivoted in such a manner that the airflow is deflected downward along the Y axis.

[0040] This refinement therefore also results in a movement, which is intuitive in accordance with the invention, of the manual actuating element with the latter simultaneously being arranged outside the airflow. As is apparent in FIG. 6, the operating shaft 132 and the coupling lever 136 are also not only located here outside the airflow, but even outside the air duct, i.e. the housing 12. Said elements therefore cannot undesirably adversely affect the airflow. The rotary shaft 138 is also arranged here at least in sections, i.e. with its gearwheel 140, outside the air duct. The coupling rod 144 also partly projects out of the housing and accordingly only slightly disturbs the airflow.

[0041] In addition, it is apparent in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 5 that the operating shaft 132 is coupled to the coupling rod 144 via a tongue and groove connection. During a movement of the operating shaft 132 along its longitudinal axis L, a spring 143 of the coupling lever 136 slides in a groove 142 of the operating shaft 132, and therefore a translational movement of the manual actuating element 22 and therefore of the operating shaft 132 does not have any influence on the setting of the horizontal slats 62 and therefore on a deflection of the airflow along the Y axis.

List of Reference Signs

[0042] 10, 10 Air vent

[0043] 12, 12 Housing

[0044] 14, 14 Air inlet end

[0045] 16, 16 Air outlet end

[0046] 18, 18 Front panel

[0047] 20 Outflow grating

[0048] 22 Manual actuating element

[0049] 24 Air-guiding grating

[0050] 24a Inner air-guiding grating

[0051] 24b Outer air-guiding grating

[0052] 26 Grating pack

[0053] 28 Grating openings

[0054] 30a, 30b Handle

[0055] 32 Operating shaft

[0056] 34 Toothing

[0057] 36 Ball and socket joints

[0058] 38 Rotary shaft

[0059] 40 Gearwheel

[0060] 42 Ball and socket joints

[0061] 44 Push rods

[0062] 46 Ball and socket joints

[0063] 48 Push rods

[0064] 50 Ball and socket joints

[0065] 52 First guide element

[0066] 54 Second guide element

[0067] 56 Slide

[0068] 58 Operating wheel

[0069] 60 Inner slats

[0070] 60a Driven slat

[0071] 62 Outer slats

[0072] 62a Driven slat

[0073] 132 Operating shaft

[0074] 134 Toothing

[0075] 136 Coupling lever

[0076] 138 Rotary shaft

[0077] 140 Gearwheel

[0078] 142 Groove

[0079] 143 Spring

[0080] 144 Coupling rod

[0081] 146 Connecting element

[0082] 148 Coupling clip

[0083] 150 Bearing strips

[0084] 152 Coupling rod