Air vent for a vehicle

Abstract

An air vent for a vehicle includes a housing (10) and an air-guiding element (30), wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted in the housing (10) so as to be pivotable in different directions about at least one centre of rotation (D), wherein a first drive element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a first engagement point (A.sub.1), and a second drive element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a second engagement point (A.sub.2), wherein the second engagement point (A.sub.2) defines, with the at least one centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a first pivot axis (S1) about which the first drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30), and wherein the first engagement point (A.sub.1) defines, with the at least one centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a second pivot axis (S.sub.2) about which the second drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30).

Claims

1. An air vent for a vehicle, comprising a housing (10) and an air-guiding element (30), wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted in the housing (10) so as to be pivotable in different directions about at least one centre of rotation (D), characterized by a first drive element, which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a first engagement point (A.sub.1), and by a second drive element, which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at a second engagement point (A.sub.2), wherein the second engagement point (A.sub.2) defines, with the centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a first pivot axis (S.sub.1) about which the first drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30), and wherein the first engagement point (A.sub.1) defines, with the centre of rotation (D) of the air-guiding element (30), a second pivot axis (S.sub.2) about which the second drive element pivots the air-guiding element (30).

2. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein a ball joint-like mounting is formed at the first engagement point (A.sub.1) and/or in that a ball joint-like mounting is formed at the second engagement point (A.sub.2).

3. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-guiding element (30) is rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L), running through the centre of rotation (D), of the air-guiding element (30).

4. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotation of the air-guiding element (30) about a longitudinal axis (L), running through the centre of rotation (D), of the air-guiding element (30) is blocked.

5. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted on the housing (10) by means of a ball joint (38, 40) seated on the centre of rotation (D).

6. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted on the housing (10) by means of a cardan joint (100) seated on the centre of rotation (D).

7. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air-guiding element (30) is mounted on the housing (10) by guide means (22, 36) arranged on an outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30) and on an inner side of the housing by a cardan joint (200).

8. The air vent as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive element has a first drive (52, 300, 400, 600, 700, 808) and a first engagement element (56, 304, 406, 500, 604, 704, 800) connected to the first drive (52, 300, 400, 600, 700, 808), wherein the first engagement element (56, 304, 406, 500, 604, 704, 800) acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the first engagement point (A1), and/or in that the second drive element has a second drive (62, 302, 402, 602, 702, 810) and a second engagement element (66, 306, 410, 502, 608, 706, 802) connected to the second drive (62, 302, 402, 602, 702, 810), wherein the second engagement element (66, 306, 410, 502, 608, 706, 802) acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the second engagement point (A.sub.2).

9. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first engagement element has a first coupling rod (56, 304) which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the first engagement point (A1), and/or in that the second engagement element has a second coupling rod (66, 306) which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the second engagement point (A.sub.2).

10. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first drive has a stroke-generating motor (300), and/or in that the second drive has a stroke-generating motor (302).

11. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first engagement element has a first threaded rod which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the first engagement point (A1) and which interacts with a first thread movably mounted on the air-guiding element at the first engagement point (A1), and/or in that the second engagement element has a second threaded rod which acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the second engagement point (A2) and which interacts with a second thread movably mounted on the air-guiding element at the second engagement point (A1).

12. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first engagement element has a flexible first force-transmitting element (406) which acts under tension, wherein the first force-transmitting element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the first engagement point (A1), and/or the second engagement element has a flexible second force-transmitting element (410) which acts under tension, wherein the second force-transmitting element acts on the air-guiding element (30) at the second engagement point (A2).

13. The air vent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first engagement element has a first rotating element (604, 704, 800) which engages on the air-guiding element (30) at the first engagement point (A1) at an outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30), and/or in that the second engagement element has a second rotating element (608, 706, 802) which engages on the air-guiding element (30) at the second engagement point (A2) at an outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30).

14. The air vent as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first rotating element is a first toothed wheel (604) which interacts with a first toothing (606) arranged on the outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30), and/or in that the second rotating element is a second toothed wheel (608) which interacts with a second toothing (610) arranged on the outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30).

15. The air vent as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first rotating element is a first wheel (704, 800) which runs on the outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30), and/or in that the second rotating element is a second wheel (706, 802) which runs on the outer circumference of the air-guiding element (30).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to figures. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 a front view of an air vent according to the invention in a first embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 a rear view of the air vent from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 a side view of the air vent from FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 a sectional view through the air vent along the cut line marked C-C in FIGS. 1 and 2,

(6) FIGS. 5-7 the sectional views corresponding to FIG. 4 through the air vent with the air-guiding element in different positions,

(7) FIG. 8 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in a second embodiment,

(8) FIGS. 9-10 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in a third embodiment,

(9) FIG. 11 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in a fourth embodiment,

(10) FIG. 12 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in a fifth embodiment,

(11) FIG. 13 an air vent according to the invention in a sixth embodiment,

(12) FIGS. 14-15 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in a seventh embodiment,

(13) FIG. 16 a sectional view of an air vent according to the invention in an eighth embodiment, and

(14) FIGS. 17-19 an air vent according to the invention in a ninth embodiment.

(15) Unless indicated otherwise below, the same reference signs designate the same objects below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) The air vent shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 comprises a housing 10 with an inlet opening 12 and an outlet opening 16, and delimits an air channel 14 for air flowing from the inlet opening 12 to the outlet opening 16. The housing 10 has a substantially cylindrical housing portion 18 and a spherical housing portion 20 adjoining the cylindrical portion 18 downstream in the main flow direction H. In the main flow direction H, the air channel 14 widens at the transition from the cylindrical housing portion 18 to the spherical housing portion 20, and then narrows again towards the outlet opening 16. A cylindrical air-guiding element 30 is mounted in the spherical portion 20 of the housing 10. The air-guiding element 30 extends along a longitudinal axis L lying on the cylinder axis, and has air-guiding ribs 32, 34 also extending along the longitudinal axis L. The air-guiding ribs are divided into radial ribs 32, which run at least in portions along the cylinder radius radially to the longitudinal axis L, and circumferential ribs 34, which run around the longitudinal axis L at least in portions with a constant radial position. The casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30 is curved radially towards the outside, wherein the curvature of the casing surface 36 corresponds to the curvature of an inner face 22 of the spherical housing portion 20. The air-guiding element 30 thus forms a disc-like ball segment.

(17) The air-guiding element 30 is mounted inside the spherical portion 20 of the housing 10 so as to be pivotable arbitrarily about a center of rotation D. For this, the air-guiding element 30 is mounted on the housing via a ball joint sitting on the center of rotation D, wherein the ball joint comprises a mounting receptacle 38 which is arranged centrally in the air-guiding element 30 on the longitudinal axis L, and a mounting ball 40 which is connected to the housing 10. The mounting ball 40 sits with its center on the center of rotation D and is connected to the cylindrical portion 18 of the housing 10 via a connecting portion 42. Via the ball joint formed in this way, the air-guiding element 30 can be pivoted in different directions about the center of rotation D. The air-guiding element 30 is here tilted about pivot axes S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, as will be explained below. The casing surface 36 here slides along the inner face 22 of the spherical housing portion 20. The air-guiding element 20 thus serves to deflect the air stream flowing in the main flow direction H through the air channel 14 into any directions standing perpendicularly to the main flow direction H. This means that the air-guiding element 30 can give the air stream a direction component in any directions perpendicularly to the main flow direction H. When the air vent is installed in the vehicle, the air-guiding element may thus orient the air stream emerging from the outlet opening, for example upward or downward or to the sides or in any intermediate directions. The air stream here flows through passage openings 35 which are formed by the air-guiding ribs 32, 34 of the air-guiding element 30. The downstream ends of the passage openings 35 then form the air outlet, i.e. in particular together with the housing 10, they may form the outlet opening 16. Such air-guiding elements, which serve to deflect the air in any direction and not only on one axis, have always had to be adjusted manually in previously known air vents. The air vent according to the invention however allows adjustability in the manner of an actuator, in particular electrically, as will be explained below.

(18) The air vent according to the invention comprises a first drive element 50 and a second drive element 60. The first drive element 50 acts on the air-guiding element 30 at a first engagement point A.sub.1 which is arranged in a circumferential rib 34 of the air-guiding element 30, while the second drive element 60 acts on the air-guiding element 30 at a second engagement point which is different from the first engagement point and is also arranged in a circumferential rib 34 of the air-guiding element 30. Here, the second engagement point A.sub.2 together with the center of rotation D of the air-guiding element 30 defines a first pivot axis S.sub.1 about which the first drive element 50 may pivot the air-guiding element 30. The first engagement point A.sub.1 together with the center of rotation D of the air-guiding element 30 forms a second pivot axis S.sub.2 about which the second drive element 60 may pivot the air-guiding element 30. The first drive element 50 comprises as an electric drive an electric motor 52, a lever arm 54 mounted on a shaft of the electric motor 52 so as to be pivotable about a shaft axis W.sub.1, and a coupling rod 56 which is connected by a first end to the lever arm 54 and by a second end to the air-guiding element 30 at the engagement point A.sub.1. The second drive element 60 is constructed accordingly and has as an electric drive an electric motor 62, a lever arm 64 connected to a shaft of the electric motor 62 and pivotable about a shaft axis W.sub.2 of the shaft, and a coupling rod 66 which is connected by a first end to the lever arm 66 and by a second end to the air-guiding element 30 at the engagement point A.sub.2. The engagement points A.sub.1, A.sub.2 are situated at the same distance from the center of rotation D but are however offset to each other by a right angle. In other words, the engagement points A.sub.1, A.sub.2 lie at the same radial position on the longitudinal axis L and between them enclose an angle of 90°. The pivot axes S.sub.1, S.sub.2 thus stand at a right angle to each other. Also, the pivot axes S.sub.1, S.sub.2 stand at a right angle to the longitudinal axis L. Thus a pivot plane spanned by the pivot axes S.sub.1, S.sub.2 also stands perpendicularly on the longitudinal axis L. The electric motors 52, 62 are each mounted outside the air channel 14 on an outside of the cylindrical housing portion 18, wherein the lever arms 54, 64 protrude into the air channel 14 via passage openings 19 provided in the cylindrical housing portion 18. The coupling rods 56, 66 engage in the manner of hooks in passage openings provided in the circumferential rib 34 at the engagement points A.sub.1, A.sub.2. The electric motors 52, 62 are arranged on the outside of the cylindrical housing portion 18, offset to each other by 90°, corresponding to the offset of the engagement points A.sub.1, A.sub.2.

(19) This connection of the drive elements 50, 60 to the air-guiding element 30 according to the invention allows an electric adjustability of the air-guiding element 30 to be guaranteed in any directions about the center of rotation, as will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 4 firstly shows the air-guiding element 30 in a neutral position, in which the longitudinal axis L of the air-guiding element 30 runs parallel to the main flow direction H. An air stream flowing through the air channel 14 in the main flow direction H is accordingly not deflected from the main flow direction by the air-guiding element 30, since the air-guiding ribs 32, 34 or passage openings 35 also run along the longitudinal axis L in this position.

(20) In FIG. 5, the air-guiding element 30 has been pivoted about the first pivot axis S.sub.1 by the first drive element 50. For this, the lever arm 54 is pivoted to the right in FIG. 5 via the electric motor 52, so that the coupling rod 56 is pushed to the right in arrow direction P.sub.1. A side of the air-guiding element 30 carrying the engagement point A.sub.1 here extends at least partially out of the spherical housing portion 20; this side of the air-guiding element is thus moved downstream. The opposite side of the air-guiding element is however moved into the air channel, i.e. upstream. This is evident in particular since the pivot axis S.sub.2 is tilted about the center of rotation D due to the shifting of the engagement point A.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 5. Here no rotation takes place about the pivot axis S.sub.2. An air-guiding element adjusted in this way can now cause a deflection of the air stream from the main flow direction along the tilted pivot axis S.sub.2 towards the left when viewed onto the front of the air vent.

(21) In FIG. 6, starting from the neutral position shown in FIG. 4, the air-guiding element 30 is pivoted about the second pivot axis S.sub.2 via the second drive element 60. For this, the electric motor 62 has rotated the lever arm 64 about the shaft axis W.sub.2 such that the coupling rod 66 has been pulled upstream in arrow direction P.sub.2. As a result, the first pivot axis S.sub.1 is tilted about the second pivot axis S.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus now the air stream may be deflected from the main flow direction downward when viewed onto the front of the air vent, as indicated by the dotted line LS. Naturally, the coupling rod 66 may also be moved downstream against arrow direction P.sub.2. Also, the coupling rod 56 may be moved upstream against arrow direction P.sub.1, causing a deflection of the air flow to the sides and upward and downward.

(22) FIG. 7 shows the air vent with the air-guiding element 30 pivoted about both pivot axes S.sub.1, S.sub.2. Here, both the first coupling rod 56 is moved in arrow direction P.sub.1 as explained above, and the second coupling rod 66 is moved in arrow direction P.sub.2. This leads to tilting of both the first pivot axis S.sub.1 and the second pivot axis S.sub.2 about the center of rotation D. An air stream flowing through the air channel 14 is here deflected from the main flow direction H downward to the left when viewed onto the front of the air vent.

(23) The connection of the drive elements to the air-guiding element according to the invention allows, in a simple and effective fashion, an adjustability of the air-guiding element in the manner of an actuator, in particular electrically.

(24) A second embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIG. 8. This air vent differs from that presented above in that the air-guiding element 30 is mounted on the housing not via a ball joint sitting on the center of rotation D, but via a cardan joint 100 sitting on the center of rotation D. The cardan joint 100 comprises a connecting portion 102 connected to an inner wall of the housing 10, and a universal suspension adjacent thereto, with two elements 104, 106 which can be tilted about mutually perpendicular pivot axes S.sub.1, S.sub.2. The air-guiding element 30 is connected to the element 106. Here again, the air-guiding element is pivoted via the drive elements 50, 60 in the manner outlined above.

(25) A third embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This air vent differs the first embodiment in that the air-guiding element 30 is mounted on the housing 10 not via the ball joint sitting on the center of rotation D, but via a cardan joint 200 which is arranged on an outer circumference of the air-guiding element 30 and on the inner face 22 of the spherical housing portion 20. The cardan joint 200 comprises a mounting ring 202 which surrounds the air-guiding element 30 and is connected to the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30 via mutually opposing mounting pins 204 (only one of which is shown in the figures). The air-guiding element 30 is pivotable about the first pivot axis S.sub.1 inside the mounting ring 202. The mounting ring 202 is mounted on the spherical housing portion 20 by means of two outwardly extending mounting pins 206 arranged on opposite sides of the mounting ring 202. FIGS. 9 and 10 show different deflections of the air-guiding element 30. Here again, the air-guiding element 30 is pivoted via the drive elements 50, 60 in the manner explained above. The cardan suspension here forms two separate additional pivot axes, which allow free pivoting of the air-guiding element about the center of rotation. The cardan system thus finally forms the center of rotation D.

(26) A fourth embodiment of the air vent according to the invention is shown in FIG. 11. This air vent differs from the first embodiment in that as drive elements, stroke-generating motors 300, 302, for example linear or stroke-generating spindle motors, are provided which are arranged inside the air channel 14 and act on the air-guiding element 30 via a respective coupling rod 304, 306. The first coupling rod 304 can be moved upstream and downstream via the first stroke-generating motor 300, and hence the air-guiding element 30 can be pivoted about pivot axis S.sub.1. Similarly, the second coupling rod 306 can be moved upstream and downstream via the second stroke-generating motor 302, and hence the air-guiding element 30 can be pivoted about the second pivot axis S.sub.2.

(27) A fifth embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIG. 12. This air vent differs from the first embodiment in that as drive elements, drives 400, 402 are provided which are arranged inside the air channel 14 and act on the air-guiding element via cable pulls. A first cable pull comprises a first roller 404 driven in rotation by the first drive 400, and a first cable 406 running around the first roller 404. A second cable pull comprises a second roller 408 driven in rotation by the second drive 402, and a second cable 410 running around the second roller 408. The ends of the first cable 406 are connected to the air-guiding element 30 at the second engagement point A.sub.2 and at a fourth engagement point A.sub.4, while the ends of the second cable 410 are connected to the air-guiding element 30 at the first engagement point A.sub.1 and at a third engagement point A.sub.3. The rollers 404, 408 may be rotated about their respective rotation axes via the drives 400, 402, and hence a tension applied to the air-guiding element 30 via the cables 406, 410. The further engagement points allow a forward and back movement of the air-guiding element to be achieved despite the engagement elements acting only under tension, and hence allow pivoting in pivot directions about both pivot axes. In this case, the pivot axes are formed by the center of rotation and the respective two opposing engagement points of a cable (acting only under tension).

(28) A sixth embodiment of the air vent according to the invention is shown in FIG. 13. This air vent differs from the first embodiment in that as engagement elements, pushrods 500, 502 are provided which are arranged outside the air channel 14 and can be moved via drives (not shown), for example the stroke-generating motors mentioned above. A first pushrod 500 cooperates with a first peg 504 extending from the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30, and a second pushrod 502 cooperates with a second peg 506 extending from the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30. The pegs 504, 506 each protrude through an opening 508, 510 in the spherical housing portion 20. The respective engagement points A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 lie at the mounting points between the pegs and the pushrods. The opening 508 through which the first peg 504 extends is formed in the manner of an hourglass, in order to allow pivoting of the air-guiding element 30 about the first pivot axis S.sub.1 even when the air-guiding element 30 has already pivoted about the second pivot axis S.sub.2.

(29) A seventh embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. This air vent differs from the first embodiment in that as drive elements, drives 600, 602 are arranged outside the air channel 14 and act on the air-guiding element 30 by means of a toothed wheel mechanism. For this, as a rotating element, a first toothed wheel 604 connected to the first drive 600 cooperates with a first toothing 606 arranged on the outer circumference of the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30. A second toothed wheel 608, as a rotating element and connected to the second drive 602, cooperates with a second toothing 610 arranged on the outer circumference of the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30. Here the toothed wheels 604, 608 extend through the housing 10 on the spherical housing portion 20. A rotation of the toothed wheel 604 about its rotation axis, caused by the drive 600, pivots the air-guiding element 30 about its first pivot axis S.sub.1, and a rotation of the toothed wheel 608 about its rotation axis, caused by the drive 602, pivots the air-guiding element 30 about its second pivot axis S.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 15. On movement of the first toothed wheel 604, the teeth of the second toothed wheel 608 run along the second toothing 610 which is formed as a ring for this purpose. Also, the teeth of the first toothed wheel 604 run along the circular first toothing 606 when the second toothed wheel 608 is moved. In this way, the pivot axes evident in the figures are defined, wherein the engagement points A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each lie at the contact point of the toothed wheels with the toothing of the air-guiding element.

(30) An eighth embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIG. 16. This air vent differs from the first embodiment in that as engagement elements, wheels 704, 706 running on the casing surface 36 of the air-guiding element 30 are provided as rotating elements. Via drives 700, 702, the wheels 704, 706 are rotated about their rotation axes in the same way as the toothed wheels presented above, and hence the air-guiding element 30 is pivoted about the respective pivot axis S.sub.1, S.sub.2. The engagement points A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 lie at the respective contact points of the wheels 704, 76 with the casing surface 36.

(31) A ninth embodiment of an air vent according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 17 to 19. The actuation is here in principle identical to that shown in FIG. 16, wherein here the wheels 800, 802 are driven via drives 808, 810. In addition to the wheels 800, 802, opposite non-driven wheels 804, 806 are provided. In this way, the air-guiding element is in particular held stable against any tilting. The individual figures illustrate different deflections of the air-guiding element 30. The housing is not shown. The engagement points are here formed by the points at which the wheels touch the casing surface 36. Also the axes of the wheels are offset to each other, which prevents a shift of the air-guiding element in the longitudinal direction. Because the four wheels hold the air-guiding element on a casing surface from four sides with offset axes, no separate center of rotation is required, since the center of rotation is formed by the guidance of the casing surface between the wheels.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(32) 10 Housing 12 Inlet opening 14 Air channel 16 Outlet opening 18 Cylindrical housing portion 19 Passage opening 20 Spherical housing portion 22 Inner face 30 Air-guiding element 32 Radial rib 34 Circumferential rib 35 Passage opening 36 Casing surface 38 Mounting receptacle 40 Mounting ball 42 Connecting portion 50 First drive element 52 Electric motor 54 Lever arm 56 Coupling rod 60 Second drive element 62 Electric motor 64 Lever arm 66 Coupling rod 100 Cardan joint 102 Connecting portion 104, 106 Elements of cardan joint 200 Cardan joint 202 Mounting ring 204 Mounting pins 206 Mounting pins 300 First stroke-generating motor 302 Second stroke-generating motor 304 First coupling rod 306 Second coupling rod 400 First drive 402 Second drive 404 First roller 406 First cable 408 Second roller 410 Second cable 500 First push-rod 502 Second push-rod 504 First peg 506 Second peg 508 First opening 510 Second opening 600 First drive 602 Second drive 604 First toothed wheel 606 First toothing 608 Second toothed wheel 610 Second toothing 700 First drive 702 Second drive 704 First wheel 706 Second wheel 800 First wheel 802 Second wheel 804, 806 Wheels 808 First drive 810 Second drive H Main flow direction longitudinal axis LS Air stream D Center of rotation S.sub.1, S.sub.2 Pivot axes A.sub.1, A.sub.2 Engagement points W.sub.1, W.sub.2 Shaft axes P.sub.1, P.sub.2 Arrow directions