VENTILATION DEVICE FOR THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A ventilation device for the interior compartment of a vehicle, in particular of an automobile, comprising a holding frame (10) which can be inserted into an installation opening of the vehicle, wherein the holding frame (10) forms a grille-free ventilation opening, and in that multiple ventilation flaps (18) are mounted on the holding frame (10) so as to be pivotable, about a pivot axis (20) running parallel to the center-of-gravity axis (32) thereof, between a closed position, in which they close the ventilation opening and an open position, in which they open up the ventilation opening for the purposes of ventilating the vehicle interior compartment.

Claims

1. A ventilation device for the interior compartment of a vehicle, comprising a holding frame (10, 10) which can be inserted into an installation opening of the vehicle, characterized in that the holding frame (10, 10) forms a grille-free ventilation opening (16, 16), and in that multiple ventilation flaps (18, 18) are mounted on the holding frame (10, 10) so as to be pivotable, about a pivot axis (20, 20) running parallel to the center-of-gravity axis (32) thereof, between a closed position, in which they close the ventilation opening (16, 16) and an open position, in which they open up the ventilation opening (16, 16) for the purposes of ventilating the vehicle interior compartment.

2. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18) each have an aerodynamic profile.

3. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18) each have a curved profile nose and a profile trailing edge with an acute trailing-edge angle.

4. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18) are in each case of non-flexible form.

5. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18) extend in each case substantially over the entire width of the ventilation opening (16, 16) formed by the holding frame (10, 10), and are pivotably mounted in each case on mutually opposite walls of the holding frame (10, 10).

6. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18), in the closed position, bear sealingly against an adjacent ventilation flap (18, 18) or against a wall of the holding frame (10, 10).

7. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the ventilation flaps (18, 18) have a sealing element (22, 24, 28) in each case on at least one edge.

8. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that at least some of the ventilation flaps (18, 18) have a sealing lip (22) in each case on at least one longitudinal edge, wherein the sealing lips (22), in the closed position, bear sealingly against an adjacent ventilation flap (18, 18) or against a wall of the holding frame (10, 10).

9. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that at least some of the ventilation flaps (18, 18) have in each case one sealing lip (24, 28) in each case on at least two opposite transverse edges, wherein the sealing lips (24, 28), in the closed position, bear sealingly against mutually opposite inner walls of the holding frame (10, 10).

10. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation flaps (18, 18) are coupled to one another by way of at least one coupling bar (21) which synchronizes the pivoting movement of the ventilation flaps (18, 18) between the closed position and the open position.

11. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the coupling bar (21) is connected to the ventilation flaps (18, 18) in each case by way of a pivot joint.

12. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in the installed state of the ventilation device, the center-of-gravity axis (32) of each ventilation flap (18, 18) runs below the pivot axis (20, 20) of the respective ventilation flap (18, 18) and so as to be laterally offset relative to the pivot axis (20, 20) of the respective ventilation flap (18, 18) in the direction of the outer side averted from the vehicle interior compartment.

13. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an imaginary connecting line (34) between the pivot axes (20, 20) of the ventilation flaps (18, 18) runs at an angle () with respect to an imaginary connecting line (36) between the pivot axis (20, 20) and the center-of-gravity axis (32) of each ventilation flap (18, 18), wherein, for the angle (), the following applies: 1045.

14. An automobile, comprising at least one installation opening and at least one ventilation device as claimed in claim 1 inserted into the at least one installation opening.

15. A ventilation device for the interior compartment of an automobile, comprising: a holding frame (10, 10) for insertion into an installation opening, wherein the holding frame (10, 10) forms a grille-free ventilation opening (16, 16), wherein multiple ventilation flaps (18, 18) are pivotably mounted on the holding frame (10, 10), wherein each ventilation flap is pivotable about a respective pivot axis (20, 20) between a closed position and an open position, wherein each ventilation flap includes a center of gravity axis (32) formed by an axis that runs parallel to the pivot axis (20, 20) of the ventilation flap and through a center-of-gravity of the ventilation flap, and which center of gravity axis (32) is offset from the pivot axis (20, 20), wherein when each ventilation flap is in its closed position the ventilation flaps collectively close the ventilation opening (16, 16) and when each ventilation flap is in its open position the ventilation flaps collectively open up the ventilation opening (16, 16) for the purposes of allowing flow therethrough.

16. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 15, wherein each ventilation flap (18, 18) has an aerodynamic profile.

17. The ventilation device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each ventilation flap (18, 18) has a curved profile nose and a profile trailing edge with an acute trailing-edge angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising at least one installation opening and at least one ventilation device according to the invention inserted into the at least one installation opening.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail in the following text using figures, in which, diagrammatically:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a ventilation device according to the invention in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment and in a first operating state, in a perspective rear view,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the view from FIG. 1 in a second operating state,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the view from FIG. 1 in a third operating state,

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the ventilation device which is shown in FIG. 1, in the operating state which is shown in FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the front view from FIG. 4 in the operating state which is shown in FIG. 3,

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the ventilation device which is shown in FIG. 1, in the operating state which is shown in FIG. 1,

[0031] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged illustration of detail A from FIG. 6,

[0032] FIG. 8 shows the illustration from FIG. 6 in a tilted arrangement,

[0033] FIG. 9 shows a ventilation device according to the invention in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment and in a first operating state, in a perspective rear view, and

[0034] FIG. 10 shows the view from FIG. 9 in a further operating state.

[0035] Unless specified otherwise, identical designations denote identical objects in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The ventilation device which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment has an approximately rectangular holding frame 10 in the example which is shown, on the upper side and underside of which holding frame 10 a plurality of latching projections 12 are configured. For assembly, the ventilation device is inserted with the holding frame 10 into a vehicle opening, for example an opening in an automobile, the latching projections 12 coming into latching engagement with corresponding latching elements of the vehicle opening. A frame plate 14 which runs around the holding frame 10 forms an outer border. The holding frame 10 is a grille-free holding frame. No transverse or longitudinal webs, in particular, are therefore arranged in the ventilation opening 16 which is delimited by the holding frame 10. Rather, three ventilation flaps 18 are situated in the ventilation opening 16 in the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, which ventilation flaps 18 are pivotably mounted such that they can be pivoted in each case laterally on mutually opposite walls of the holding frame 10, in particular the shorter walls which run in the vertical direction in FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0037] The pivot axes can be seen at the designation 20 in FIGS. 1 to 3. The ventilation flaps 18 in each case have an aerodynamic profile, in particular an airfoil profile. Here, the pivot axes 20 run in each case spaced apart in parallel from the center-of-gravity axis of the ventilation flaps. This achieves a situation where the ventilation flaps 18 are held in the closed position which closes the ventilation opening 16 and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the case of an identical air pressure in the vehicle interior compartment and the vehicle surrounding area. It can be seen clearly in FIG. 4, in particular, that the ventilation flaps 18 fill the ventilation opening 16 substantially completely here.

[0038] If a positive pressure occurs in the vehicle interior compartment during operation, the ventilation flaps 18 are first of all pivoted open partially into the partial open position which is shown in FIG. 2, and are pivoted open into the completely opened open position in the case of a further prevailing positive pressure, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the ventilation opening 16 is open to the maximum extent for the passage of air in the open position, without a grille of the holding frame 10 disrupting the air flow. On account of the aerodynamic profile, the ventilation flaps 18 are oriented automatically in the air flow and assume a position which is as stable as possible. For further improvement, the coupling bar which is shown at the designation 21 in FIGS. 1 to 5 can be provided. The coupling bar 21 is connected pivotably in each case, for example, via a latching connection to an upper longitudinal edge (in the closed position) of the ventilation flaps 18, as can be seen from the figures. It synchronizes the pivoting movement of the ventilation flaps 18, by also forcing the pivoting movement of one ventilation flap 18 onto the other ventilation flaps 18.

[0039] The arrangement between the pivot axes 20 and the center-of-gravity axes 32 of the ventilation flaps 18 is to be described in greater detail using FIGS. 6 to 8. As can be seen, in particular, in the enlarged illustration of FIG. 7, an imaginary connecting line between the pivot axes 20 of the ventilation flaps 18 is illustrated at the designation 34, which connecting line corresponds to the direction of gravity, that is to say the vertical, in the present example. An imaginary connecting line between the respective pivot axis 20 and the respective center-of-gravity axis (shown at the designation 32) of the respective ventilation flap 18 is shown in each case at the designation 36. An angle lies between the imaginary connecting lines 34 and 36, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Said angle is between 10 and 45. The angle is approximately 30 in the example which is shown. Moreover, it can be seen in FIG. 7 that the respective center-of-gravity axis 32 of the ventilation flaps 18 is arranged offset downward and laterally to the outside, that is to say in the opening direction of the ventilation flaps 18, with respect to the respective pivot axis 20. As illustrated using FIG. 8, moreover, the angle defines the maximum possible tilting angle during the assembly of the ventilation device, up to which the ventilation flaps 18 remain in the closed position in the case of an equilibrium of pressure between the vehicle interior compartment and the surrounding area. It can be seen correspondingly in FIG. 8 that said maximum tilting angle which is shown in FIG. 8 between the direction of gravity which is shown at the designation 38 in FIG. 8 and the opening plane 40 which is defined by the holding frame 10 and is tilted with respect to the vertical plane corresponds to the angle .

[0040] A second exemplary embodiment of the invention is to be described using FIGS. 9 and 10. The ventilation device which is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 corresponds largely to the ventilation device which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. It also has a substantially rectangular holding frame 10 which delimits a grille-free ventilation opening 16. In the example which is shown, three ventilation flaps 18 are once again mounted on mutually opposite walls (in particular the walls which run in the vertical direction in FIGS. 9 and 10) of the holding frame 10, such that they can be pivoted about pivot axes 20 between the closed position which is shown in FIG. 9 and the (completely) open position which is shown in FIG. 10. The ventilation flaps 18 also have an aerodynamic profile, in particular an airfoil profile, in the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Their function corresponds to the function which is described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0041] For improved sealing of the ventilation opening 16 in the closed position, the ventilation flaps 18 in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 have in each case one sealing lip 22 which runs over the entire length of the ventilation flaps 18 on their lower longitudinal edge in the closed position. The ventilation flaps 18 can consist, for example, of a plastic. The sealing lips 22 can likewise consist of a plastic, for example, but of a softer plastic than the ventilation flaps 18. In the closed position which is shown in FIG. 9, the sealing lips 22 of the two upper ventilation flaps 18 bear in each case sealingly against the upper longitudinal edge of the ventilation flap 18 which is situated below them. The sealing lip 22 of the lowermost ventilation flap 18 bears sealingly against the lower wall of the holding frame 10.

[0042] Moreover, the ventilation flaps 18 likewise have sealing lips in each case on their mutually opposite transverse edges. Firstly, sealing lips 24 which do not extend over the entire length of the transverse edge are provided in each case on the upper transverse edges. In the closed position, said sealing lips 24 bear on sealing sections which can be seen at the designation 26 in FIG. 10 against the mutually opposite inner walls of the holding frame 10 which mount the ventilation flaps 18 pivotably. Moreover, further sealing lips 28 which do not extend over the entire length of the transverse edge are in turn provided on the lower transverse edges of the ventilation flaps 18, which further sealing lips 28 bear sealingly against the inner walls of the holding frame on sealing sections 30 in the closed position. The sealing lips 24 and 28 together extend in each case substantially over the entire length of the upper and lower transverse edge of the ventilation flaps 18. The seal of the ventilation opening 16 in the closed position is improved further by way of the sealing lips 22, 24, 28 in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0043] In both exemplary embodiments, the holding frame 10, 10 can consist in one piece of plastic, produced in a plastic injection molding process, for example. The ventilation flaps 18, 18 of both exemplary embodiments can also consist in each case in one piece of a plastic, once again produced, for example, in a plastic injection molding process. Any sealing lips can be molded onto the ventilation flaps, for example, in a two-component injection molding process, and can consist of a softer plastic in comparison with the ventilation flaps. The sealing sections 26 and 30 can also consist of a softer plastic of this type. They can likewise be molded onto the holding frame in a two-component injection molding process.

[0044] Although three ventilation flaps 18, 18 are shown in the holding frame 10, 10 in the figures, it goes without saying that fewer or more than three ventilation flaps 18, 18 can also be provided. Moreover, the coupling bar 21 which is shown with respect to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8 is also possible in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10. Furthermore, it is possible to dispense with the coupling bar 21 in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8. The sealing lips which are shown with respect to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 can fundamentally likewise be provided in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8. In turn, the sealing lips can also be omitted in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0045] 10, 10 Holding frame [0046] 12 Latching projections [0047] 14 Frame plate [0048] 16, 16 Ventilation opening [0049] 18, 18 Ventilation flaps [0050] 20, 20 Pivot axes [0051] 21 Coupling bar [0052] 22, 22 Sealing lips [0053] 24 Sealing lips [0054] 26 Sealing sections [0055] 28 Sealing lips [0056] 30 Sealing sections [0057] 32 Center-of-gravity axis [0058] 34 Imaginary connecting line between pivot axes [0059] 36 Imaginary connecting line between pivot axis and center-of-gravity axis [0060] 38 Direction of gravity [0061] 40 Opening plane