AIR VENT FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

An air vent for a vehicle includes a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening which is delimited by way of a housing outlet wall, an air duct for an air stream which flows from the inlet opening to the outlet opening being defined between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Air guiding elements are arranged adjustably in the housing for deflecting the air stream, the air guiding elements including at least two air guiding shells which are mounted in the housing such that they can be moved between a first end position and a second end position in order to deflect the air stream, the at least two air guiding shells being covered by way of the housing outlet wall at least in one position, as viewed counter to the flow direction of the air stream.

Claims

1. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (10, 110) with an inlet opening (12, 112) and an outlet opening (14, 114), the outlet opening delimited by way of a housing outlet wall (16, 116), wherein an air duct for an air stream (18, 118) is defined between the inlet opening (12, 112) and the outlet opening (14, 114) to permit flow of the air stream in a flow direction from the inlet opening (12, 112) to the outlet opening (14, 114); air guiding elements arranged adjustably in the housing (10, 110) for deflecting the air stream (18, 118), wherein the air guiding elements comprise at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) which are mounted in the housing (10, 110) such that each one of the at least two air guiding shells can be moved between a first end position and a second end position in order to deflect the air stream (18, 118), each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) being covered by way of the housing outlet wall (16, 116) at least in one position, as viewed counter to the flow direction of the air stream (18, 118).

2. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) can be moved independently of the other one of the two air guiding shells between the first and second end positions.

3. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) moves in in a direction toward the inlet opening (12, 112) of the housing (10, 110) during movement from the first end position into the second end position.

4. The air vent as claimed in as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) is covered by way of the housing outlet wall (16, 116) in when in the first end position.

5. The air vent as claimed in claim 4, wherein, in the case of each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120), the air stream (18, 118) is not deflected when the air guiding shell is in the first end position.

6. The air vent as claimed claim 5, wherein, in order to deflect the air stream (18, 118) in a first direction, a first one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) is adjusted out of its first end position into its second end position, whereas a second one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) remains in its first end position, and wherein, in order to deflect the air stream (18, 118) in a second direction, a second one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) is adjusted out of its first end position into its second end position, whereas the first one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) remains in its first end position.

7. The air vent as claimed in claim 6, wherein a front end of each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) faces the outlet opening, and during movement from the first end position into the second end position, the front end approaches the other one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) that remains in its first end position.

8. The air vent as claimed in claim 7, wherein each front end is situated closely adjacent to the housing outlet wall (16, 116) when in the first end position.

9. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front end of each of the at least two air guiding shells is pivotably connected to a first end of a respective first coupled air guiding element (136), each front end facing the outlet opening (14, 114), each of the first coupled air guiding elements (136) being moved in a coupled manner in the case of a movement of its connected air guiding shell (20, 120).

10. The air vent as claimed in claim 9, wherein each first coupled air guiding element (136) has a second end, opposite the first end, and pivotably connected to a first end of a respective second coupled air guiding element (138).

11. The air vent as claimed in claim 10, wherein each second coupled air guiding elements (138) has a second end, opposite its first end, wherein the second is situated closely adjacent to the housing outlet wall (16, 116) when the air guiding shell (20, 120) to which the second coupled air guiding element is indirectly connect is situated in the second end position.

12. The air vent as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the first coupled air guiding elements (136) is in the form of an air guiding shell and each of the second coupled air guiding elements (138) is in the form of an air guiding shells.

13. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120) is guided in movement via lateral pins (22, 122) in guide grooves of the housing (10, 110).

14. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upstream in the flow direction of the at least two air guiding shells (20, 120), at least one further air guiding element is mounted in the housing (10, 110) such that it can be moved between two end positions.

15. The air vent as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one further air guiding element is at least one air guiding slat (28, 128) which is mounted such that the air guiding slat can be pivoted about a pivot axis (30, 130) between two end positions.

16. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (10, 110) with an inlet opening (12, 112) and an outlet opening (14, 114), the outlet opening delimited by way of a housing outlet wall (16, 116), wherein an air duct for an air stream (18, 118) is defined within the housing between the inlet opening (12, 112) and the outlet opening (14, 114) to permit flow of the air stream in a flow direction from the inlet opening (12, 112) to the outlet opening (14, 114); first and second air guiding elements arranged adjustably in the housing (10, 110) for deflecting the air stream (18, 118), wherein the first air guiding element comprises a first air guiding shell (20, 120) and the second air guiding element comprises a second air guiding shell (20,120), the first air guiding shell mounted in the housing (10, 110) for movement between a first end position and a second end position in order to deflect the air stream (18, 118), the second air guiding shell mounted in the housing (10, 110) for movement between a first end position and a second end position in order to deflect the air stream (18, 118), the first air guiding shell covered, as viewed counter to the flow direction, by way of the housing outlet wall (16, 116) when in at least one position, the second air guiding shell covered, as viewed counter to the flow direction, by way of the housing outlet wall (16, 116) when in at least one position.

17. The air vent as claimed in claim 16, wherein: the first air guiding shell can be moved independently of the second air guiding shell and the second air guiding shell can be moved independently of the first air guiding shell; the first air guiding shell moves in in a direction toward the inlet opening (12, 112) of the housing (10, 110) during movement from its first end position into its second end position, and the second air guiding shell moves in in a direction toward the inlet opening (12, 112) of the housing (10, 110) during movement from its first end position into its second end position;

18. The air vent as claimed in claim 16, wherein: the first air guiding shell includes a front end, which faces the outlet opening, and which is pivotably connected to a first end of a first coupled air guiding element (136), wherein the first coupled air guiding element (136) moves in a coupled manner with the first air guiding shell; the second air guiding shell includes a front end, which faces the outlet opening, and which is pivotably connected to a first end of a second coupled air guiding element (136), wherein the second coupled air guiding element (136) moves in a coupled manner with the second air guiding shell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail in the following text using figures, in which, diagrammatically:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an air vent according to the invention in a sectional view in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment in a first operating state,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the illustration from FIG. 1 in a second operating state,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the illustration from FIG. 1 in a third operating state,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows an air vent according to the invention in a sectional view in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment in a first operating state,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows the illustration from FIG. 4 in a second operating state,

[0035] FIG. 6 shows the illustration from FIG. 4 in a third operating state, and

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 6.

[0037] Unless indicated otherwise, identical designations denote identical objects in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The air vent which is shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 10 with an inlet opening 12 and an outlet opening 14 which is delimited by way of a housing outlet wall 16. An air duct for an air stream 18 which flows along a main flow direction through the housing 10 is defined between the inlet opening 12 and the outlet opening 14. The air vent is installed in a vehicle, such as a passenger car or a truck, and conducts fresh air into the vehicle interior.

[0039] In the case of the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, two air guiding shells 20 are arranged movably in the housing 10. In the example which is shown, the air guiding shells 20 are curved in each case in a cylindrical shell-shaped manner. FIG. 1 shows a first end position of the air guiding shells 20. In said first end position, the air guiding shells 20 are covered by way of the housing outlet wall 16 as viewed counter to the flow direction of the air, that is to say as viewed from the right to the left in FIG. 1. In the neutral position which is shown in FIG. 1, the air stream is not deflected out of its main flow direction by way of the air guiding shells 20. At their two ends, the air guiding shells 20 which are of identical configuration and are arranged merely in a mirror-inverted manner with respect to one another have two pins 22 which lie opposite one another in each case and are guided in guide grooves (not shown in greater detail) of the housing 10. In this way, the lower air guiding shell 20 can be moved out of the first end position which is shown in FIG. 1 into a second end position which is shown in FIG. 2. The upper air guiding shell 20 in FIG. 1 can correspondingly be moved in this way out of the first end position which is shown in FIG. 1 into a second end position which is shown in FIG. 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 also show the first end positions of the moved air guiding shells 20 using dashed lines for illustrative purposes. As is illustrated in each case using the arrow 24 in FIGS. 2 and 3, moreover, the air guiding shells 20 are moved in each case in the direction of the inlet opening 12 of the housing 10 in the case of the movement into their second end position. As illustrated in each case by way of the arrow 26 in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front end of the air guiding shells 20, which front end in each case faces the outlet opening 14 and is the right hand end in the figures, approaches, in the case of its movement into the second end position, in each case the other air guiding shell 20 which remains in its first end position. It can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, furthermore, that the front end of the air guiding shells 20 which faces the outlet opening 14 is situated closely adjacently with respect to the housing outlet wall 16 in the first end position.

[0040] By way of the adjustability of the air guiding shells 20 between their first and second end position, the air stream 18 can be deflected out of its main flow direction which is shown in FIG. 1, in FIGS. 1 to 3 downward (FIG. 2) or upward (FIG. 3). This is achieved by way of the shape and position of the air guiding shells 20. The air guiding shell 20 which is moved in each case into its second end position in FIGS. 2 and 3 thus deflects the air stream 18 in the direction of the air guiding shell 20 which remains in the first end position, with the result that the latter is pressure loaded by way of the air stream 18. On account of its curvature, the air guiding shell 20 which remains in the first end position then guides the air stream away from it again in a manner which corresponds to its curvature, downward in FIG. 2 and upward in FIG. 3.

[0041] In FIGS. 1 to 3, moreover, one of a plurality of air guiding slats which are arranged parallel to one another and are mounted on the housing 10 such that they can be pivoted about a pivot axis 30 are shown at the designation 28. It goes without saying that it would also be conceivable to provide only one air guiding slat of this type. The air guiding slat 28 which can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 is coupled to the remaining air guiding slats 28 which are arranged behind it and in front of it in the plane of the drawing, for example via at least one coupling rod, with the result that they pivot synchronously. Pivoting of the air guiding slats 28 about the pivot axis 30 correspondingly leads to a lateral deflection of the air stream 18. This is known per se.

[0042] Moreover, it can also be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 that the front side 32 of the air guiding slat 28, which front side 32 faces the outlet opening 14, (and the remaining air guiding slats being of identical configuration) has a curved shape which is adapted to the curvature of the air guiding shells 20. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in particular, the air guiding shells 20 are situated closely adjacently with respect to said front side 32 in their second end position.

[0043] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 corresponds largely to the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 3. The air vent which is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 also has a housing 110 with an inlet opening 112 and an outlet opening 114 which is delimited by way of a housing outlet wall 116 for an air stream 118. Air guiding shells 120 are once again mounted in the housing 110 such that they can be moved between a first end position which is shown in FIG. 4 and a second end position which is shown in FIG. 6 for the lower air guiding shell 120 in the figures. It is to be noted that FIGS. 5 and 6 show only the movement of the lower air guiding shell 120. The movement of the upper air guiding shell 120 takes place in an identical, merely mirror-inverted way.

[0044] The air guiding shells 120 once again have the pins 122 which have already been described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3 at their ends, which pins 122 are guided in corresponding guide grooves of the housing 110. It can be seen in the intermediate position which is shown in FIG. 5 between the first end position (FIG. 4) and the second end position (FIG. 6) and in the second end position which is shown in FIG. 6, once again illustrated by way of arrows 124, that the air guiding shells 120 are moved in each case in the direction of the inlet opening 112 in the case of their movement into the second end position. Moreover, it is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by way of the arrows 126 that the front end of the air guiding shells 120 which faces the outlet opening 114 approaches the air guiding shell 120 which remains in the first end position in the case of their movement into the second end position. By way of adjustment of the air guiding shells 120 into the second end position, the air stream 118 can be deflected from its main flow direction, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by way of example for a deflection downward. In a corresponding way, a deflection of the air stream 118 upward can take place by way of movement of the upper air guiding shell 120 into its second end position.

[0045] In FIGS. 4 and 6, air guiding slats 128 are once again mounted on the housing 110 upstream of the air guiding shells 120 such that they can be pivoted about a pivot axis 130. By way of pivoting of the air guiding slats 128 about their pivot axes 130, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3, the air stream 118 can be deflected in the lateral direction. Moreover, FIGS. 4 to 6 also show a coupling rod which couples the air guiding slats 128 for synchronous pivoting at the designation 134. The air slats 128 of FIGS. 4 to 6 also have a curved front edge 132, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0046] The sectional view of FIG. 7 shows the adjustment of the air guiding slats 128, the adjusted positions of the air guiding slats 128 being shown using dashed lines. The deflection, contingent thereon, of the air stream 118 in the lateral direction is likewise shown using dashed lines. The movement of the air guiding slats 128 is illustrated by way of arrows 142.

[0047] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, first coupled air guiding elements 136 and second coupled air guiding elements 138 which are coupled to the air guiding shells 120 are provided, moreover, in the case of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6. The first and second coupled air guiding elements 136, 138 are coupled pivotably in a link arrangement to the respective front ends of the air guiding shells 120 and to one another. In the case of a movement of the air guiding shells 120 between the first end position and the second end position, the coupled air guiding elements 136, 138 are also moved or pushed, as shown by way of example from a comparison of FIGS. 4 to 6 for the lower air guiding shell 120 and the lower coupled air guiding elements 136, 138. For the upper air guiding shell 120 and the upper coupled air guiding elements 136, 138, said movement takes place in a corresponding way. The coupled air guiding elements 136, 138 are likewise of shell-shaped configuration. In the region of their ends, they likewise have guide pins which lie opposite one another in each case in pairs and are guided in corresponding guide grooves of the housing 110. The movement of the coupled air guiding elements 136, 138 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by way of the arrows 140. As can be seen in FIG. 6, in particular, the coupled air guiding elements 136, 138 form a contiguous curved surface in the second end position of the air guiding shells 120 together with the housing outlet wall 116 which is of curved configuration in this case, against which contiguous curved surface the air stream 118 bears in a particularly effective way.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0048] 10 Housing

[0049] 12 Inlet opening

[0050] 14 Outlet opening

[0051] 16 Housing outlet wall

[0052] 18 Air stream

[0053] 20 Air guiding shells

[0054] 22 Guide pin

[0055] 24 Arrow

[0056] 26 Arrow

[0057] 28 Air guiding slats

[0058] 30 Pivot axis

[0059] 32 Front side

[0060] 110 Housing

[0061] 112 Inlet opening

[0062] 114 Outlet opening

[0063] 116 Housing outlet wall

[0064] 118 Air stream

[0065] 120 Air guiding shells

[0066] 122 Pin

[0067] 124 Arrow

[0068] 126 Arrow

[0069] 128 Air guiding slats

[0070] 130 Pivot axis

[0071] 132 Front edge

[0072] 134 Coupling rod

[0073] 136 Coupled air guiding elements

[0074] 138 Coupled air guiding elements

[0075] 140 Arrow

[0076] 142 Arrow