COUPLING ROD FOR MANIPULATING AIR GUIDING LOUVERS WHICH ARE USED IN AN AIR VENT FOR VEHICLES, AIR VENT FOR A VEHICLE, AND AIR VENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A coupling rod for manipulating air guiding louvers of a louver assembly which are used in an air vent for vehicles. The coupling rod has a multiplicity of bearing regions, each bearing region being configured to receive a bearing shaft (bearing journal, bearing pin, etc) which is assigned to one of the air guiding louvers in such a way that, in the case of a movement of the coupling rod in an adjusting direction relative to the air guiding louvers, the corresponding bearing shaft which is received in the bearing region is suitably guided.

Claims

1. A coupling rod (1) for manipulating air guiding louvers (21a, 21b) of a louver assembly which are used in an air vent (20) for vehicles, the coupling rod (1) having a multiplicity of bearing regions (2, 3), each bearing region (2, 3) being configured to receive a bearing shaft (4) which is assigned to one of the air guiding louvers (21a, 21b), in such a way that, in the case of a movement of the coupling rod (1) in an adjusting direction relative to the air guiding louvers (21a, 21b), the corresponding bearing shaft (4) which is received in the bearing region (2) is guided, at least one bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1) being configured in such a way that the bearing region (2) configures a bearing with a received bearing shaft (4), which bearing permits firstly a rotation of the bearing shaft (4) relative to the bearing region (2) and secondly, at least for a distance which is fixed or can be fixed in advance, a translational movement of the bearing shaft (4) perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region (2).

2. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the at least one bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1) being configured to permit a translational movement of the bearing shaft (4) perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region (2) only if a minimum force which acts on the bearing shaft (4) perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis is exceeded.

3. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 2, the minimum force being fixed or being capable of being fixed in advance, and being greater than a sliding or static friction force which occurs at the contact surfaces between the bearing region (2) and the bearing shaft (4) which is received by the bearing region (2).

4. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the at least one bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1) being configured to permit at least for a distance which is fixed or can be fixed in advance a translational movement of the bearing shaft (4) perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis only in the displacement direction of the coupling rod (1) relative to the bearing region (2).

5. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the at least one bearing region (2) being configured as a region which projects from the coupling rod (1) perpendicularly with respect to the displacement direction.

6. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the at least one bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1) being configured in such a way that the bearing region (2) configures a bearing with the received bearing shaft (4), which bearing permits a translational movement of the bearing shaft (4) perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region (2) in such a way that, in a closed position of the louver assembly, the individual air guiding louvers (21a, 21b) and the coupling rod (1) are present in each case in a non-prestressed state.

7. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the at least one bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1) being configured at least in regions as a bearing socket with a bearing opening (5) for receiving the bearing shaft (4), the size and/or shape of the bearing opening (5) being variable at least in regions in the case of an action of a minimum force which acts in the radial direction.

8. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 7, the bearing socket having an elastic, resilient periphery region (6) which is configured, as a fork tine.

9. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 8, the bearing socket having, in order to configure the elastic periphery region (6), a constriction (7) which extends radially from the bearing socket and the clear span of which is smaller than the diameter of the bearing shaft (4), the constriction (7) being interrupted on an end region which faces away from the bearing socket, in such a way that an elastically deformable fork tine which configures the bearing socket at least in regions is formed.

10. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, at least one bearing region (3) of the coupling rod (1) being configured as a single-value radial bearing.

11. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, each bearing region (2, 3) of the coupling rod (1) having a bearing opening (5) for receiving a bearing shaft (4) of one of the air guiding louvers (21a, 21b), each bearing opening (5) preferably having a bevel for centering the bearing shafts (4) during the introduction of the latter into the corresponding bearing opening (5).

12. The coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, the coupling rod (1) being configured as a plastic injection molded part.

13. An air vent (20) for a vehicle, including at least one coupling rod as claimed in claim 1, the air vent (20) having the following: a housing (22) with an inlet opening (23) and an outlet opening (24), the housing (22) delimiting an air duct for air which flows from the inlet opening (23) to the outlet opening (24) along a main flow axis; a louver assembly which is arranged in the air duct with a plurality of air guiding louvers (21a, 21b) which are coupled in terms of movement and can be pivoted together with respect to the main flow direction, the air guiding louvers (21a, 21b) being configured to deflect the air stream from the main flow direction in an open position of the louver assembly and to interrupt the air stream in a closed position of the louver assembly; and at least one coupling rod (1) as claimed in claim 1, each air guiding louver (21a, 21b) having a bearing shaft (4) which is received in a bearing region (2) of the coupling rod (1).

14. The air vent (20) as claimed in claim 13, the air guiding louvers (21a, 21b) being configured as vertical louvers for the horizontal air deflection.

15. An air vent system having a first air vent (20) as claimed in claim 13 which is configured as a left-hand-side air vent (20), and having a second air vent (20) as claimed in claim 13 which is configured as a right-hand-side air vent (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] An exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, schematically and in a partially sectioned isometric view, an exemplary embodiment of the air vent according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a region of an exemplary embodiment of the air vent according to the invention with an embodiment of the coupling rod used for manipulating the air guiding louvers in the air vent;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows, schematically and in an isometric view, the region shown in FIG. 2 of the exemplary embodiment of the air vent according to the invention without air guiding louvers; and

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a bearing region of the coupling rod shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows, in a partially sectioned view, an exemplary embodiment of the air vent 20 according to the invention. The latter has a housing 22 with an inlet opening 23 and an outlet opening 24, the housing 22 delimiting an air duct 27 which extends from the inlet opening 23 to the outlet opening 24. Mounted within the air duct 27 is a louver assembly, which can be seen better in particular in the illustration according to FIG. 2.

[0038] The louver assembly has a multiplicity of air guiding louvers 21a, 21b, which are coupled in terms of movement via a coupling rod 1 to a drive element 10. In detail, provision is made for the air guiding louvers 21a of the louver assembly to be coupled in terms of movement via a coupling rod 1 to a control louver 21b, for example arranged centrally in the louver assembly, wherein the control louver 21b can be adjusted via the drive element 10.

[0039] The air guiding louvers 21a, 21b are each received via bearing shafts 4 (pins) in receptacles of the coupling rod 1 configured as bearing regions 2, 3 and, via mountings 25, are pivotably mounted on a supporting frame 26 of the louver assembly. Via the drive element 10 already mentioned, the control louver 21b can be pivoted about its axis of rotation with respect to the air stream. Because of the coupling via the coupling rod 1, the other air guiding louvers 21a are also pivoted about their parallel axes of rotation, corresponding to the axis of rotation of the control louver 21b.

[0040] As a result of pivoting the control louver 21b, and therefore the remaining air guiding louvers 21a connected to the control louver 21a via the coupling rod 1, about their axes of rotation, the air stream flowing through the air duct 27 can be deflected from the main flow direction in two opposite directions. In the arrangement of the air vent 20 according to FIG. 1, the air stream can thus be deflected to the sides.

[0041] Furthermore, the louver assembly also serves to throttle or completely interrupt the air stream by adjusting the air guiding elements (control louver 21b and air guiding louver 21a). For this purpose, the louver assembly can be moved from an open position (cf. FIG. 1) into a closed position, not shown in the drawings.

[0042] The coupling rod 1 which, in the air vent 20 shown in the drawings, is used for manipulating the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b or coupling the movement of the air guiding louvers 21a 21b, has a multiplicity of bearing regions 2, 3. The bearing regions 2, 3 of the coupling rod 1 in the embodiment shown are configured, at least in regions, as a bearing socket having a bearing opening 5 for receiving a bearing shaft 4. Here, provision is made for each air guiding louver 21a, 21b of the louver assembly to have a correspondingly assigned bearing shaft 4 in the shape of a bearing pin.

[0043] For easier insertion during placement on the bearing shafts 4, the bearing regions 2, 3 configured as a bearing socket have appropriate bevels, which center the respective bearing shafts 4 during insertion.

[0044] In the coupling rod 1 shown in the drawings, a total of two different types of bearing rings 2, 3 are used. Firstly, use is made of bearing regions 3 which, together with an appropriately received bearing shaft 4, configure an in particular single-value radial bearing with the rotation as a single degree of freedom. In this connection, it is in particular conceivable if these bearings are designed as radial sliding bearings, i.e. as radial bearings which, in addition to the rotation, permit the translational movement of the bearing shaft 4 received by the bearing region 3 in the direction of the rotational axis.

[0045] Secondly, in the coupling rod 1 shown in the drawings, use is also made of bearing regions 2 which, with an appropriately received bearing shaft 4, configure a bearing which firstly permits a rotation of the bearing shaft 4 received by the bearing region 2 relative to the bearing region 2 and secondlyat least for a distance which is previously fixed or can be fixeda translational movement of the bearing shaft 4 received by the bearing region 2 perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region 2. This type of bearing region 2 is shown in detail as an example in FIG. 4.

[0046] In detail, the bearing region 2 of the coupling rod 1 shown in FIG. 4 is configured, at least in regions, as a bearing socket having a bearing opening 5 for receiving a bearing shaft 4, the size and/or shape of the bearing opening 5 of the bearing region 2 being variable at least in regions in the case of an action of a minimal force which acts in the radial direction. For this purpose, provision is made for the bearing socket of the bearing region 2 to have an elastic, in particular resilient, periphery region 6 which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, is formed as a type of fork tine.

[0047] To configure the elastic periphery region 6, the bearing socket has a constriction 7 which extends radially from the bearing socket and the clear span of which is smaller than the diameter of the bearing shaft 4 to be received in the bearing socket. On an end region facing away from the bearing socket, the constriction 7 is interrupted or opened in such a way that an elastically deformable fork tine forming the bearing socket at least in some regions is formed.

[0048] The elastic periphery region 6 of the bearing socket is configured in such a way that for a distance which is fixed, a translational movement of a bearing shaft 4 received in the bearing socket of the bearing region 2 perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis is permitted in particular only in the planned displacement direction of the coupling rod 1 relative to the bearing region 2.

[0049] In this connection, provision is in particular made for each bearing region 2, 3 of the coupling rod 1 to be configured as a region (coupling arm 9) which projects from the coupling rod 1 perpendicularly with respect to the displacement direction.

[0050] By means of this configuration, it is ensured that a translational movement of the bearing shaft 4 perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region 2 is permitted only if a minimum force which acts on the bearing shaft 4 received in the bearing region 2 according to FIG. 4 perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis is exceeded. The minimum force depends on the elastic spring constant of the elastic periphery region 6. This is in particular greater than a sliding or static friction force which occurs at the contact surface between the bearing region 2 and the bearing shaft 4 which is received by the bearing region 2.

[0051] As a result of the provision of specific bearing regions 2 which permit not only a rotation of a received bearing shaft 4 relative to the bearing region 2 but also a translational movement of the bearing shaft 4 perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis and relative to the bearing region 2, overall a flexible and to a certain extent ductile coupling rod 1 is provided. In particular, this coupling rod 1 has variably configurable receptacles and mountings for the bearing shaft 4 of the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b. The receptacles can be constructed to be narrower or wider in size, so that an influence can therefore be exerted on the adjustment and assembly forces. Furthermore, by means of a suitable configuration (size and/or shape) of the bearing openings 5, rattling and creaking noises which may possibly occur can be reduced or eliminated.

[0052] Overall, a greater tolerance range can be achieved during the production process, when setting the adjustment force and also during the louver assembly.

[0053] The bearing regions 2 (receptacles) of the coupling rod 1 can partly be configured as spring elements (e.g. as an interrupted extended hole or with an open C shape) in order to permit the simplest possible assembly of the bearing shafts 4 of the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b, and in order to increase or to influence the flexibility and the tolerance range.

[0054] Although not illustrated in the drawings, the bearing regions 2 can be equipped with a soft component, in order to suppress possible creaking and rattling noises.

[0055] In order to influence the adjustment and closing forces, the coupling rod 1 can be configured to be rectilinear, curved or irregular, at least in regions.

[0056] In addition, the bearing regions 2 that project perpendicularly from the coupling rod 1 can be connected to the coupling rods 1 via different coupling arms 9. The bearing sockets of the bearing regions 2 can have an equal or else an irregular distance from one another.

[0057] The coupling rod 1 according to the invention does not prestress the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b of the louver assembly and is not subjected to any prestress, but achieves its high level of adaptability through its comprehensive flexible configuration. The flexible coupling rod 1 can be installed and assembled bilaterally.

[0058] As a result of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod 1, the bracing of the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b against each other can be achieved and thus any possible manufacturing tolerances of the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b and also of the coupling rod 1 and the entire dynamic train from the drive element 10 as far as the housing 22 can be compensated. Thus, reliable closure of the louver assembly without any leakage flows can be achieved.

[0059] In the case of a movement of the louver assembly into the closed position, the outer air guiding louvers 21a reach their respective end position first, because of an appropriately provided end stops, wherein, because of the elastic configuration of the coupling rod 1, the further air guiding louvers 21a, 21b can then reach their respective end position. As an alternative thereto, however, it is also conceivable that all the air guiding louvers 21a, 21b reach their end position simultaneously.

[0060] The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawings; instead, all the features disclosed herein can be gathered from an overall view.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0061] 1 Coupling rod

[0062] 2 Bearing region

[0063] 3 Bearing region

[0064] 4 Bearing shaft

[0065] 5 Bearing opening

[0066] 6 Elastic periphery region

[0067] 7 Constriction

[0068] 9 Coupling arm

[0069] 10 Drive element

[0070] 20 Air vent

[0071] 21a Air guiding louver

[0072] 21b Air guiding louver (Control louver)

[0073] 22 Housing

[0074] 23 Inlet opening

[0075] 24 Outlet opening

[0076] 25 Mounting

[0077] 26 Supporting frame

[0078] 27 Air duct