Abstract
A vent cap has a cap wall extending an inner surface of a cap base. First and second sealing lips extend starting from the cap base. Each sealing lip has at least one cutaway such that two adjacent cutaways are offset with respect to each other. A vent body has a plate with an opening formed therethrough. Inner and outer guide walls extend vent body plate and at least partially encircle the ventilation opening. The cap base lies flush against an outer wall of the vent body such that the first and second sealing lips lie flush against the outer wall of the vent body to form a flow path with a first labyrinthine course in a radial direction and a second labyrinthine course in a vertical direction between the vent body plate and the base body.
Claims
1. A vent cap configured to cover a vent body of a light housing of a motor vehicle comprises: a flat base body with an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface and a base body cutaway formed therein; a cap wall extending from the inner surface along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the flat base body, the cap wall having an outer circumferential surface; a first sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a first cutaway formed therein; a second sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a second cutaway formed therein, wherein the second sealing lips is spaced from the first sealing lip along the longitudinal axis; wherein the first and second cutaways are offset with respect to each other, and the base body cutaway is offset with respect to the first cutaway such that the base body cutaway is covered by the first sealing lip.
2. The vent cap according to claim 1, further comprising a third sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a third cutaway formed therein, wherein the third sealing lips is spaced from the first and second sealing lips along the longitudinal axis.
3. The vent cap according to claim 1, wherein each of the sealing lips has exactly one cutaway formed therein.
4. The vent cap according to claim 1, further comprising a curtain wall extending inside the region of the inner surface of the cap base body encircled by the cap wall.
5. The vent cap according to claim 1, wherein the base body cutaway is configured to engage a detent of a vent body of a light housing.
6. The vent cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap base body is circular in shape and the cap wall is configured as a circular cylinder.
7. A ventilation assembly for a light housing comprising: a vent body having: a vent body plate with an opening formed therethrough; an inner guide wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the vent body plate and partially encircles the ventilation opening; an outer guide wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the vent body plate and partially encircles the inner guide wall; an outer wall extending substantially perpendicularly from the vent body plate and completely encircles the outer guide wall; and a vent cap covering the vent body having: a base body with an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface and a base body cutaway formed therein; a cap wall extending from the inner surface along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the flat base body, the cap wall having an outer circumferential surface; a first sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a first cutaway formed therein; a second sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a second cutaway formed therein, wherein the second sealing lips is spaced from the first sealing lip along the longitudinal axis; wherein the first and second cutaways are offset with respect to each other, and the base body cutaway is offset with respect to the first cutaway such that the base body cutaway is covered by the first sealing lip, wherein the base body of the vent cap lies flush against the outer wall of the vent body opposite the vent body plate such that the first and second sealing lips lie flush against the outer wall of the vent body forming a flow path with a first labyrinthine course in a radial direction and a second labyrinthine course in a vertical direction between the vent body plate and the base body.
8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the inner guide wall and the outer guide wall comprise an arcuate wall structure forming incomplete circles.
9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cap wall of the vent cap is partially flush with the inner guide wall of the vent body.
10. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a detent formed on the outer wall of the vent body received in the cutaway of the cap base body to releasably secure the vent cap to the vent body.
11. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the vent cap further comprised a third sealing lip extending radially from the outer circumferential surface substantially parallel to the flat base body and having a third cutaway formed therein, wherein the third sealing lips is spaced from the first and second sealing lips along the longitudinal axis.
12. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the sealing lips has exactly one cutaway formed therein.
13. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the vent cap further comprises a curtain wall extending inside the region of the inner surface of the cap base body encircled by the cap wall.
14. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cap base body is circular in shape and the cap wall is configured as a circular cylinder.
15. The assembly according to claim 7 further comprising a light housing, wherein the vent body extends from the light housing.
16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the vent body is integrally formed in the light housing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional cross section of a cap;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the cap of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a vent body;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional cross section of the vent body of FIG. 3;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an assembly with cap and vent body;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional cross section of the assembly of FIG. 5;
(8) FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the assembly of FIG. 5;
(9) FIG. 8 shows a modified representation of the assembly of FIG. 7;
(10) FIG. 9A-9J show cross sections of the assembly in at each of the planes A-J indicated in FIG. 8; and
(11) FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic cutaway view of the side of a motor vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.
(13) FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional cross section of a cap 10. Cap 10 includes a cap base body 14 having two cap base body cutaways 24a, 24b formed therein, of whichdue to the sectional viewonly one cap base body cutaway 24a is visible (cap base body cutaway 24b being positioned in front of the section plane). Cap base body 14 has an outer surface 18 and an inner surface 16. A cap wall 20 extends from inner surface 16. In the present case, cap wall 20 is arranged perpendicularly to inner surface 16. In the example shown here, several sealing lips 21, in particular a first sealing lip 21a, a second sealing lip 21b and a third sealing lip 21c, extend from the outer surface of cap wall 20, each of which is at a different distance from cap base body 14. The first sealing lip 21a is closest to cap base body 14, the second sealing lip 21b is located farther away from it, and the third sealing lip 21c is at the greatest distance from cap base body 14.
(14) Because of the section plane, two sealing lip cutaways are visible, specifically sealing lip cutaway 22a in first sealing lip 21a and sealing lip cutaway 22b in second sealing lip 21b. Both sealing lip cutaways 22a, b are discernible because the associated first sealing lip 21a and second sealing lip 21b do not continue as far as the section plane. Cap base body cutaway 24a lies in the region which is covered by the first sealing lip 21a. Accordingly, the first sealing lip 21a would be visible below cap base body cutaway 24a in a view through cap base body cutaway 24a along an axis parallel to cap wall 20.
(15) Sealing lip cutaway 22a is offset relative to cap base body cutaway 24a by 90 about the axis of cap wall 20. Sealing lip cutaway 22b is also offset relative to sealing lip cutaway 22a about the axis of cap wall 20. In the present case an angle of 180 exists about the axis of cap wall 20.
(16) Also represented in FIG. 1 is a curtain wall 26 in the form of an inner hollow cylinder. In the example shown here, the curtain wall is shorter than cap wall 20, and thus does not extend as far beyond inner surface 16 as cap wall 20 starting from cap base body 14.
(17) FIG. 2 shows the complete cap 10 of FIG. 1, so that in addition to the first cap base body cutaway 24a in FIG. 1, the second cap base body cutaway 24b is also visible in cap base body 14. A part of the component is obscured by cap base body 14, so that only the second sealing lip 21b with its sealing lip cutaway 22b and the third sealing lip 21c below that are visible.
(18) FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a vent body 12, in which contour lines have been provided as dotted lines to illustrate the surface shape. Also visible in FIG. 3 are an inner guide wall 28, an outer guide wall 30, which partially encircles inner guide wall 28, and an outer wall 32, which completely encircles outer guide wall 30. Two detents 34a and 34b are conformed on outer wall 32. Other structures which are not necessary for understanding are not identified with reference signs. In a view from above, inner guide wall 28 and outer guide wall 30 have the form of incomplete circles which are radially offset from each other so that the missing circle arcs are not congruent with each other.
(19) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view for comparison with FIG. 3, and reveals further details. In this representation, a ventilation opening 36 is visible and is partially encircled by inner guide wall 28, which in turn is partially encircled by outer guide wall 30. Outer wall 32 with its two detents 34a, b, of which only detent 34a is visible due to the section plane, since detent 34b is located in front of the section plane and therefore does not appear, encircles outer guide wall 30 completely. Ventilation opening 36 opens into a ventilation channel 40, which would lead into the interior of a light housingnot shownwhen vent body 12 is mounted on such a light housing.
(20) FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an assembly including a cap 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and vent body 12 according to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the chosen representation, apart from vent body 12, cap base body 14 with the two cap base body cutaways 24a, b, each of which is engaged with the two detents 34a,b of vent body 12, are also substantially visible from the outside.
(21) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional representation corresponding to FIG. 5, in which further details are visible. Cap 10 is placed over vent body 12. The static friction between the curtain wall 26 of cap 10 and the inner guide wall 28 of vent body 12 among other factors provides a certain retaining force. The actual fastening is assured by detents 34a, b, which are in engagement with the associated cap base body cutaways 24a and 24b, whereinbecause of the section planeonly detent 34a and cap base body cutaway 24a are visible in FIG. 6.
(22) Cap base body cutaway 24a represents a possible starting point of a flow path which passes inside cap 10 and vent body 12. The flow path first passes between the inner surface 16 of cap 10 and the first sealing lip 21a, until the air stream being guided therein can continue in the axial direction relative to cap wall 20 into the region between the first sealing lip 21a and the second sealing lip 21b at sealing lip cutaway 22a of the first sealing lip 21a. Then, in the same way at sealing lip cutaway 22b of the second sealing lip 21b, the air stream continues through the flow path enabled thereby into the region between the second sealing lip 21b and the third sealing lip 21c, after which, having followed this flow path it enters the region between the third sealing lip 21c and vent body plate 38 at sealing lip cutaway 22c of the third sealing lip 21c, which is not visible in FIG. 6. In the vent body 12 shown here, sealing lip cutaway 22c would be arranged behind the image plane and would be offset by an angle of 90 or 270 relative to sealing lip cutaway 22b. The flow path, which is dictated by the first, second and third sealing lips 21a, 21b and 21c, is routed in a plane that in turn extends perpendicularly to vent body plate 38 and accordingly is a flow path having a course which extends generally along the Z-axis in the coordinate system which is supplied to facilitate orientation. The air stream cannot flow axially except at the locations of sealing lip cutaways 22a,b,c.
(23) After passing the first, second and third sealing lips 21a, 21b, 21c and curtain wall 26 does not extend as far as vent body plate 38, but the air stream is prevented from advancing directly to the ventilation opening 36shown in a central position in the present exampleby inner guide wall 28, which extends from vent body plate 38. However, the air stream is able to reach ventilation opening 36 as soon as the inner guide wall 28 ends in the course of the flow path. The flow path between outer guide wall 30 and ventilation opening 36 is routed substantially in a plane parallel to vent body plate 38, which in FIG. 6 is parallel to the plane defined by the X-axis and the Y-axis.
(24) FIG. 7 shows a lengthwise section of the assembly of FIG. 5 with sectional surfaces being identified by hatching. To enable better comparability with FIG. 6, parts that are positioned behind the section plane are shown without hatching, and surface contours are indicated with dotted lines. Cap 10 has a cap base body 14 which has an outer surface 18 and inner surface 16 on the opposite side thereof. Cap wall 20, from whose outer surface multiple sealing lips 21, namely a first sealing lip 21a, a second sealing lip 21b and a third sealing lip 21c again extend substantially parallel to cap base body 14, extends perpendicularly from inner surface 16. In the cap wall 20 shown on the right side, the lengthwise section plane passes through sealing lip cutaway 22b of second sealing lip, 21b which follows behind the section plane and is not identified with a reference number to preserve clarity, in the cap wall 20 shown on the left side. The lengthwise section plane passes through sealing lip cutaway 22a of the first sealing lip 21a, which are also not identified with a reference number to preserve clarity. Detent 34a extends behind the section plane over the horizontal plane of outer surface 18 of cap 10 in FIG. 7.
(25) Ventilation opening 36 is located in the lengthwise section plane in vent body plate 38 of vent body 12, and serves as the entrance to a ventilation channel 40 which extends both in front of and behind the lengthwise section plane. In the representation of FIG. 4, which provides clearer illustration, outer guide wall 30 is visible to the right of the ventilation opening 36 and behind the lengthwise section plane, and on the left of ventilation opening 36 the inner guide wall 28 is visible, the left part of which is located in the lengthwise section plane and the right part of which is behind the lengthwise section plane. Cap 10 is placed over inner guide wall 28 with frictional connection with curtain wall 26, and over outer guide wall 30 with frictional connection with cap wall 20. The first sealing lip 21a, the second sealing lip 21b and the third sealing lip 21c lie flush against the outer wall 32 of vent body 12 in sealing manner, with the exception of the respective sealing lip cutaways 22a, b, c, of which only sealing lip cutaways 22a and 22b are in the section plane and thus visible.
(26) FIG. 8 again shows the representation of FIG. 7. The illustration has been elongated and most of the reference numbers have been omitted for purposes of clarity. A feature of FIG. 8 which has not been shown before are the cross sectional planes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J, when viewed in the axial direction relative to cap wall 20, corresponding to the arrow in FIG. 8 and the z-axis of FIG. 6. These cross sectional planes will be referenced in the following FIGS. 9A-9J. The outline of ventilation channel 40, which has a substantially rectangular profile when viewed from above from the direction of the Z-axis, is represented by dotted lines in the left half of all the partial graphics of FIGS. 9A-J as an orientation in said partial graphics.
(27) FIGS. 9A-J show cross sections through the assembly of FIG. 8. In FIG. 9A, corresponding to cross sectional plane A in FIG. 8, the cap base body 14 of cap 10 is substantially discernible. Cap base body 14 includes two cap base body cutaways 24a, b, into which the two detents 34a,b protrude. Cap base body cutaways 24a, b serve in the assembly as entry gates for a flow path from the surrounding atmosphere, for example the atmosphere surrounding a light housing or a motor vehicle, wherein inflowing air for cap base body cutaway 24a is illustrated for exemplary purposes with an dotted line arrow.
(28) Cross sectional plane B of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9B is located between the plane of cap base body 14no longer visible in this cross sectionand the plane of the first sealing lip 21a, which is not yet visible in this cross section. Accordingly, outer wall 32, cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 appear radially from the outside in with reference numbers. Air which has entered through base body cutaways 24a, b may move in this cross sectional plane between outer wall 32 and cap wall 20, as is indicated by two arrows drawn with dotted lines.
(29) Cross sectional plane C of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9C is located on the plane of first sealing lip 21a. Again, outer wall 32, first sealing lip 21a, which originates from cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 appear radially from the outside in with reference numbers. Inflowing air, which is only able to move within the plane delimited by cap base body 14 and first sealing lip 21a, can only move away from cap base body 14 in the axial direction, in other words leave the plane delimited by cap base body 14 and the first sealing lip 21a, through sealing lip cutaway 22a of the first sealing lip 21a.
(30) In FIG. 9D showing the cross sectional plane D of FIG. 8, the plane between the first sealing lip 21a and the second sealing lip 21b is shown. Radially from the outside in, and again identified with reference numbers, outer wall 32, cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 are represented. The air flowing in through sealing lip cutaway 22a, which cutaway is not visible in this cross sectional plane, can only move between outer wall 32 and cap wall 20. In the axial direction towards cap base body 14, the air stream is obstructed by first sealing lip 21a, not visible in this cross sectional plane except for the sealing lip cutaway 22a thereof, and in the axial direction away from the cap base body by sealing lip 21b, which is also not visible in this cross sectional plane, so the air stream can move in a plane substantially delimited by these two sealing lips 21a and 21b, which is again indicated by the two dotted line arrows.
(31) Cross sectional plane E of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9E extends inside the second sealing lip 21b, which is thus rendered visible. Represented radially from the outside in and identified with reference numbers, outer wall 32, second sealing lip 21b, which extends from cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 are shown. Inflowing air, which can flow within the plane delimited by the second sealing lip 21b and the first sealing lip 21a of cross sectional plane C, can only leave this plane in the axial direction at sealing lip cutaway 22b. As will be evident from a comparison between cross sectional plane C and cross sectional plane E, sealing lip cutaway 22a and sealing lip cutaway 22b are offset from each other by about 180 with reference to the axis of cap wall 20.
(32) Cross sectional plane F of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9F extends in the plane between the in second sealing lip 21b, which is no longer visible in this partial graphic, unlike partial graphic E, and the third sealing lip 21c, which is not yet visible in this partial graphic. Represented radially from the outside in and again identified with reference numbers, outer wall 32, cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 are shown. The air flowing in via sealing lip cutaway 22ano visible in this cross sectional planeaccording to partial graphic E can only move between outer wall 32 and cap wall 20. The air stream is blocked in the axial direction towards cap base body 14 by the second sealing lip 21b, which is not visible in this cross sectional plane with the exception of the sealing lip cutaway 22b thereof, and in the axial direction away from cap base body 14, by the third sealing lip 21c, which is also not visible in this cross sectional plane, so that the air can move in a plane which is substantially delimited by these two sealing lips 21b and 21c.
(33) Cross sectional plane G of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9G extends inside the third sealing lip 21c, which is thus rendered visible. In this case, represented radially from the outside in and identified with reference numbers, outer wall 32, the third sealing lip 21c, which originates from cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28 are shown. Inflowing air which is able to flow in the plane delimited by the second sealing lip 21b and the third sealing lip 21c of the cross sectional plane G, can only leave this plane in the axial direction at sealing lip cutaway 22c. As is revealed by a comparison of cross sectional plane E and cross sectional plane G, sealing lip cutaway 22b and sealing lip cutaway 22c are offset from each other by about 90 relative to the axis of cap wall 20.
(34) Cross sectional plane H of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9H extends below the plane of the third sealing lip 21c, which consequently lies outside of the section plane and is therefore no longer visible, and still within the plane of curtain wall 26, so that the visible elements represented radially from the outside in and identified with reference numbers are outer wall 32, cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30, curtain wall 26 and inner guide wall 28.
(35) Cross sectional plane I of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9I extends below the plane of curtain wall 26, which consequently lies outside of the section plane and is therefore no longer represented, but still within the plane of cap wall 20. Accordingly, the visible elements represented radially from the outside in and identified with reference numbers are outer wall 32, cap wall 20, outer guide wall 30 and inner guide wall 28.
(36) Cross sectional plane J of FIG. 8, illustrated in FIG. 9J extends below the plane of cap wall 20 but still above the plane of vent body plate 38.
(37) Accordingly, radially from the outside in only structures of vent body 12, namely outer wall 32, outer guide wall 30 and inner guide wall 28 are identified with reference numbers. Below the plane of cap wall 20, the air stream is able to enter between outer guide wall 30 and inner guide wall 28, and ultimately enter ventilation channel 40 within the region delimited by inner guide wall 28, as is indicated by the dashed arrow.
(38) When FIGS. 8 and 9A-J are considered collectively, it becomes apparent that a flow path is initially provided for an air stream flowing in through a cap base body cutaway 24a or 24b, which flow path is delimited in the radial direction relative to cap wall 20 by outer wall 32 on one side and cap wall 20 on the other side, and within this restricted space flows in through the first sealing lip 21a, the second sealing lip 21b and the third sealing lip 21c in the manner of a labyrinth in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to vent body plate 38. After exiting this labyrinth, the flow path is routed in labyrinthine manner along outer guide wall 30 and inner guide wall 28 in a plane that extends parallel to the vent body plate 38. The additional labyrinthine flow path provided by sealing lips 21a,b,c results in better separation of dirt particles and/or moisture, thereby making it more difficult for them to be transported as far as the ventilation opening, or preventing such entirely.
(39) FIG. 11 shows a schematic cutaway side view of a partially represented motor vehicle 42 having a light housing 44 in the form of a headlamp housing. Light housing 44 includes an assembly which in turn includes a cap 10 and a vent body 12. Cap 10 and vent body 12 are only represented in highly schematic fashion, thus omitting further details. The assembly allows an air stream from the atmosphere surrounding the light housing 44 to enter the interior thereof, for example, and conversely also allows an air stream to escape therefrom in the opposite direction.
(40) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment as contemplated herein. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
