AIR VENT FOR ARRANGEMENT IN THE INTERIOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An air vent includes a longitudinally extending housing forming a flow channel and an insert extending across channel within the housing. A longitudinally extending hollow shaft is arranged on the insert and is movable in the housing. An actuating element is guided on the shaft in a longitudinally displaceable fashion. Slats are arranged on an outer side of the shaft, connected to the actuating element and arranged on the insert in an adjustable or movable fashion. The slat can be adjusted in different configurations or alignments in the flow channel such that the flow characteristic of the air vent, namely the intensity of the air mass flow and/or the direction of the air flow discharged from the air vent, can be varied.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An air vent comprising: a longitudinally extending housing having a flow channel with a flow cross section; an insert disposed in the housing and extending over the flow cross section; a longitudinally extending hollow shaft arranged on the insert; an actuating element guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion in the shaft; and at least one slat arranged on an outer side of the shaft and connected to the actuating element.

17. The air vent according to claim 16, wherein the at least one slat is supported on the shaft such that the slat is movable between an open position such that the slat rests against an outer side of the shaft, and a closed position such that the slat protrudes from the shaft into the flow channel.

18. The air vent according to claim 16, further comprising a plurality of slats distributed over an outer circumference of the shaft, each slat guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner between an open position and a closed position along the shaft.

19. The air vent according to claim 16, wherein the insert comprises an outer ring resting against an inner wall of the housing.

20. The air vent according to claim 19, wherein the outer ring comprises a curved outer surface that is pivotably supported on a complementarily curvature section of the inner wall of the housing.

21. The air vent according to claim 19, wherein the shaft is concentric to and positioned within the outer ring and connected to the outer ring by a plurality of webs.

22. The air vent according to claim 22, further comprising an abutment for the slat formed by the webs and the outer ring, wherein the shaft protrudes from the abutment.

23. The air vent according to claim 16, wherein the shaft comprises at least one slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.

24. The air vent according to claim 23, further comprising a driving element extending through the slot and connecting the slat to the actuating element.

25. The air vent according to claim 24, wherein the slat has an inner edge corresponding to the outer circumference of the shaft.

26. The air vent according to claim 25, further comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent slats at least sectionally overlapping with an adjoining lateral edge.

27. The air vent according to claim 26, wherein a first lateral edge of each slat covers a second lateral edge of a circumferentially adjacent slat, wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are opposite edges of a respective slat.

28. The air vent according to claim 16, wherein the actuating element comprises a pull/push rod guided in a guide supported on an inner side of the shaft in a longitudinally displaceable fashion.

29. The air vent according to claim 28, wherein the guide comprises a bearing section pivotably arranged in a counter bearing section of an outflow element, which is arranged on a longitudinal end of the housing on the outflow side.

30. A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body defining an interior occupant compartment with a dashboard, and at least one air vent according to claim 16 disposed in the dashboard and in fluid communication with a blower.

31. An air vent comprising: a longitudinally extending housing having a flow channel with a flow cross section; an insert disposed in the housing and extending over the flow cross section wherein the insert includes an outer ring having a curved outer surface that is pivotably supported on a complementarily curvature section of the inner wall of the housing; a longitudinally extending hollow shaft arranged on the insert at least one slot extending in the longitudinal direction; an actuating element guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion in the shaft; a driving element extending through the slot and connecting the slat to the actuating element; and at least one slat arranged on an outer side of the shaft and connected to the actuating element, wherein the slat is supported on the shaft such that the slat is movable between an open position such that the slat rests against an outer side of the shaft, and a closed position such that the slat protrudes from the shaft into the flow channel.

32. The air vent according to claim 31, further comprising a plurality of slats distributed over an outer circumference of the shaft, each slat guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner between an open position and a closed position along the shaft.

33. The air vent according to claim 31, further comprising a plurality of webs connected to the outer ring and extending inwardly to concentrically position the shaft within the outer ring, and an abutment for the slat formed by the webs and the outer ring, wherein the shaft protrudes from the abutment.

34. The air vent according to claim 33, further comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent slats at least sectionally overlapping with an adjoining lateral edge, wherein each slat has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, and the first lateral edge of each slat covers a second lateral edge of a circumferentially adjacent slat.

35. The air vent according to claim 31, wherein the guide comprises a bearing section pivotably arranged in a counter bearing section of an outflow element, which is arranged on a longitudinal end of the housing on the outflow side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of an air vent suitable for the arrangement in the interior of a motor vehicle;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cross section through the air vent according to FIG. 2 along the line A-A;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an expanded view of the components arranged in or on the housing of the air vent according to FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the insert according to FIG. 2 along the line A-A, in which the slats arranged on the insert are in the closed position;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a cross section similar to FIG. 5 with the slats in the open position;

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a perspective representation of the slats arranged on the shaft in the open position;

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the configuration according to FIG. 7;

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a perspective representation similar to FIG. 7 with the slats in the closed position;

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a top view of the slats according to FIG. 9;

[0053] FIG. 11 shows an isolated side view of an insert; and

[0054] FIG. 12 shows a top view of the insert according to FIG. 11 in the closed position viewed from the inner side of the vent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] 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.

[0056] The motor vehicle schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 features an integral vehicle body 2, as well as an interior 3 that serves as an occupant compartment. Multiple seats for vehicle occupants are provided in the interior 3. In addition, multiple air vents 10 of the type illustrated in the form of a perspective representation in FIG. 2 are arranged in the interior 3, for example, in the region of a dashboard 4 that is merely indicated in FIG. 1. The air vent 10 features a housing 11 that forms a flow channel 5 for air supplied, for example, by a blower 8.

[0057] The air vent 10 is shown in its normal position in FIGS. 2-6 and features an outflow element 12 on an end 6 that lies on the outlet side, i.e. a downstream end. The outflow element 12 is presently realized in the form of a spoke rim of sorts. It features an approximately annular rim section 16, which corresponds to the inside geometry of the housing 11 and from which multiple webs 14 extend radially inward.

[0058] The inner ends of the webs 14 are connected to one another by a counter bearing 15. The counter bearing 15 is centrally arranged within the rim section 16. It effectively serves as hub of the spoke rim. In the installed position shown in FIG. 2, the counter bearing 15 is approximately arranged in the radial center of an outflow surface 18 of the air vent 10. A longitudinally extending guide 130 is pivotably supported on the counter bearing section 15 as illustrated, e.g., in FIG. 3.

[0059] An actuating end 31 is provided on the guide 130, which includes a hollow-cylindrical guide sleeve 34, and protrudes from the outer side of the outflow element 12. According to the cross-sectional representation in FIG. 3, this actuating end is provided with an actuating button 32. The actuating button 32 of the actuating end 31 is connected to an actuating element 30 featuring a pull/push rod 131, which is guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion in the guide 130, particularly in its guide sleeve 34.

[0060] Adjacent to the actuating end 31, the guide 130 features a bearing section 33 that is pivotably supported in the counter bearing section 15 of the outflow element 12 and accordingly can be pivoted in any direction relative to the outflow element 12. The guide 130 features the longitudinally extending guide sleeve 34 in an extension of the actuating end 31, but on an opposite, inwardly directed side of the bearing section 33.

[0061] A radially widened abutment ring 35 is arranged on an adjusting end 37 of the guide 130, which lies opposite of the actuating end 31. The abutment ring 35 is connected to the guide sleeve 34 by multiple radially extending webs. The adjusting end 37 may also feature an air-impermeable disk, which is radially widened relative to the rod section 34, instead of multiple webs 36. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the rear end 26 of the shaft 24, which lies in the interior of the housing, is closed with an end cap 39. The end cap 39 is air-impermeable and prevents supplied air from flowing through the shaft 24.

[0062] According to FIG. 3, the guide sleeve 34 and therefore the adjusting end 37 have a greater longitudinal extent than the actuating end 31 of the guide 130. The guide 130 extends through the outflow element 12 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction of the flow channel 5, and is pivotably supported on the outflow element 12 in the region of the bearing section 33, which lies relatively close to the actuating end 31. As a result, a comparatively slight pivoting motion or adjusting motion of the actuating end 31 and the guide 130 coupled thereto leads to a relatively extensive adjusting or pivoting motion of the adjusting end 37, as well as a corresponding pivoting motion of the insert relative to the housing 11 associated herewith.

[0063] The bearing section 33 may be realized in the form of a spherical segment. The correspondingly designed counter bearing section 15 of the outflow element 12 may feature a spherical socket. In this way, the guide 130 can be pivoted in any radial direction relative to the longitudinal extent of the housing 11, e.g., by the actuating element 30 and its actuating end 31.

[0064] In the presently described embodiment, the outflow element 12 may serve as a design element or decorative element. It may have a spoke-like or wheel-like geometry as shown in the figures. However, completely different air-permeable geometric shapes of the outflow element 12 may be adapted as the outflow element 12. The outflow element 12 can be fastened on the longitudinal end 6 of the housing 11 of the vent 10 by a peripheral annular rim 13. For example, it may be clipped on the housing 11 by the rim 13.

[0065] The insert 20 illustrated in the form of a perspective representation in FIGS. 7 and 9 features an annular and closed outer ring 28 which preferably has a curved outer surface 21. It is realized corresponding to the concave curvature section 17 on the inner wall 7 of the housing 11. The curvature section 17 and the corresponding outer surface 21 may also be realized in the form of spherical segments. The curvature section 17 may be at least partially realized in the form of a joint socket or spherical socket whereas the outer surface 21 is realized in the form of a spherical segment.

[0066] The mutually adapted geometric shapes of the outer surface 21 and the curvature section 17 make it possible to arbitrarily pivot the insert 20 relative to the rigid housing 11. The hollow-cylindrical housing 11 features a bevel 19, which widens radially outward, longitudinally adjacent to the curvature section 17 and toward the outflow element 12. In the extreme position of the insert 20 according to FIG. 7, this bevel 19 is approximately aligned with the outer section 27 and the air guiding element formed thereby.

[0067] In a downwardly directed end position of the insert 20, a largely turbulence-free flow of the air being discharged from the air vent 10 is thereby achieved. The bevel 19 is typically realized radially symmetrical. It can be regarded, for example, as a conical widening of sorts of the inner wall 7 toward the outflow surface 18.

[0068] The shaft 24 is arranged within the outer ring concentric to the outer ring 28. The shaft 24 is realized hollow-cylindrical. Multiple slats 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 are located on an outer side 29 of the shaft 24 and supported on the shaft 24 such that they can be selectively moved between a closed position S according to FIGS. 5, 9 and 10 and an open position O according to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

[0069] The shaft 24 has a greater extent in the axial or longitudinal direction than the outer ring 28 of the insert 20. The outer ring 28 and the shaft 24 may be integrally connected to one another. In this context, the entire insert 20 may be realized integrally except for the slats 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 arranged thereon. The shaft 24 is connected to the outer ring 28 by multiple webs 28. The webs 28 are distributed over the circumference of the shaft 24. They respectively extend radially outward from the shaft 24 and are connected to an inner side of the outer ring 28.

[0070] The longitudinally extending actuating element 30 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable fashion within the longitudinally extending shaft 24. The actuating element 30, particularly its pull/push rod 131, features an actuating end 31 with an actuating button 32, which protrudes from a front side 22 of the insert 20 in the longitudinal direction or in the axial direction, respectively. The longitudinally extending guide sleeve 34 is connected to the actuating end 31. An opposite end of the guide sleeve 34 features at least one driving element 54, 64 that protrudes radially outward and is mechanically coupled to the at least one slat 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.

[0071] The guide 130 is guided in a sliding fashion on an inner side 25 of the shaft 24 by the radially widened ring section 35. According to FIGS. 6 and 9, the shaft 24 features multiple longitudinal slots 27 that extend through the entire sidewall of the shaft 24. The actuating element 30 can be mechanically coupled to the slats 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 through these slots 27 or openings in the sidewall of the shaft 24. The mechanical coupling could also be realized, for example, by respectively providing driving elements 54, 64 in the form of projections, which protrude radially inward, on the inner edges 51, 61 of the slats 41, 48. The individual slots 27 distributed over the circumference of the shaft 24 extend parallel to one another.

[0072] Longitudinally extending slots 127 are likewise provided in the guide such that they correspond to the slots 27 in the shaft 24. The mechanical coupling between the actuating element 30 and the slat 41 extends through the slot 127, as well as through the slot 27. The driving elements 54, 64 protrude through the respective slots 27, 127 in the sidewalls of the guide sleeve 34 and the shaft 24. The driving elements 54, 64 may be directly connected to the pull/push rod 131 of the actuating element 30. It is conceivable that the actuating element 30 features an interlocking structure that can be connected to the driving elements 54, 64. The driving elements 64, 54 may also be integrally connected to the actuating element 30 and protrude outward through the slots 27, 127 in order to cooperate with the inner edges 51, 61 of the slats 41, 48 and thereby displace these slats in the axial direction.

[0073] Only the slats 41, 48 and their mechanical coupling to the actuating element 30 are discussed below in a representative fashion for all slats simply for illustrative purposes. The corresponding description applies accordingly to the remaining slats 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. However, the slat arrangement 40 formed by the slats 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 is not limited to the implementation of eight slats. In principle, the implementation of only a single slat already suffices for the functionality of the air vent 10. The overall number of slats can also vary in accordance with specific requirements. The air vent 10 may feature far more, but also far fewer than the eight slats provided in the exemplary embodiment. The slat arrangement 40 presently serves as a throttle device for throttling an air flow.

[0074] The slats 41, 48 are air-impermeable. In their open position O illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 8, they largely rest against the outer side 29 of the shaft 24 with their entire surface. In this case, the flow cross section of the flow channel 5, through which air can flow, is adjusted to its maximum. The individual slats 41, 48 tightly rest against the outer side 29 of the shaft 24 such that they partially overlap or cover one another. According to FIG. 6, the outer edges 50, 60 of the slats 41, 48 are axially spaced apart from an abutment 23 or abutment surface on the rear side of the insert 20.

[0075] The abutment 23 is formed by the webs 38 and by the outer ring 28. Starting from the open position illustrated in FIG. 6, the actuating element 30 can be pulled toward the left, i.e. in the axial direction and outward in the flow direction of the air vent 10. Due to the direct or indirect mechanical coupling of the actuating element 30 to all slats 41, 48, such a pulling motion causes the respective slat 41, 48 to carry out a corresponding leftward or distal motion in the flow direction.

[0076] During the course of this distal motion, the outer edges 50, 60 come in contact with at least one of the webs 38. Since the slats 41, 48 are pre-curved or slightly inclined relative to the axial or longitudinal extent of the shaft 24 as indicated in FIG. 6, the slats 41, 48 are supported on the webs 38 in such a way that they are pivoted radially outward with their outer edges 50, 60 as the motion in the distal direction continues. The inner edges 51, 61 respectively are pivotably connected to the shaft 24 and to the actuating element 30 such that all slats 41, 48 carry out a combined translation and rotation or pivoting motion during a transfer from the open position O into the closed position according to FIG. 5.

[0077] The outer edges 50, 60 of the slats 41, 48 abut on the outer ring 28 when the closed position S illustrated in FIG. 5 is reached. In this configuration, almost the entire flow cross section of the flow channel 5 is fluidically blocked by the extended slats 41, 48.

[0078] The illustration according to FIG. 9 shows that the adjacently arranged slats 41, 48 at least sectionally cover one another. The slat 41 has a left lateral edge 52 and an opposite right lateral edge 53. The slat 48 arranged adjacent thereto on the left likewise has a left lateral edge 62 and a right lateral edge 63. In this context, it is proposed that the first lateral edge 52 of the slat 41 covers the second lateral edge 63 of the adjacently arranged slat 48. However, the opposite lateral edge, i.e. the second lateral edge 53 of the slat 41, is covered by the lateral edge of the adjacently arranged slat 42.

[0079] In the illustrations according to FIGS. 9 and 10, all right lateral edges of the slats 41, 48 therefore are respectively covered by the left lateral edge of a slat arranged adjacent thereto on the right. The left lateral edges of all slats 41, 48 cover a right lateral edge of a slat arranged adjacent thereto on the left.

[0080] In this respect, an imbricated circumferential and mutual overlap of slats 41, 48 arranged adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction is achieved. Since the slats 41, 48 particularly have a significantly greater extent in the tangential or circumferential direction on the radially outer side, i.e. in the vicinity of the outer edges 50, 60, than on the radially inner edge 51, the slats 41, 48 can be arranged such that they tightly rest against the shaft 24 due to the at least sectional overlap of slats 41, 48 in order to thereby maximize the free flow cross section of the flow channel 5.

[0081] The longitudinally extending actuating element 30 may not only be guided on the insert 20 or on the outflow element 12 in the region of a rear end of the shaft 24, which protrudes from the abutment 23 on the rear side, but also in the region of the front side 22 of the insert 20. In this respect, the actuating element 30 is advantageously supported in the guide 30 such that it can be displaced in a sliding motion or translation only. A pivoting motion of the actuating element 30 caused by the actuating end 31 can be transmitted to the guide 130 due to the longitudinal guidance in the guide sleeve 34 and to the insert 20 due to the support by the abutment ring 35. The insert 20 can insofar be pivoted relative to the housing 11 by the actuating element 30.

[0082] An adjusting motion of the slats 41, 48 can be simultaneously initiated and controlled by pulling out the actuating element 30 from the insert 20 or pushing the actuating element into the insert 20. In this way, the air flow being discharged from the air vent 10 can be varied with respect to its direction, as well as with respect to its intensity or outflow characteristic, by the actuating element 30. The actuating element 30 therefore serves as a multifunctional control element for the air vent. All in all, the number of components required for realizing the air vent can be reduced. This in turn makes it possible to reduce the weight, as well as the manufacturing and assembly costs.

[0083] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a slight modification of the air vent. In this case, the individual slats 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 are not realized flat or plane, but rather curved. Accordingly, the abutment 23 has a corrugated structure in the region of the outer ring 28, against which the slats 41, 48 rest in a sealing fashion in the closed position S. In this case, the outer ring respectively features a concavely curved section for each of the slats 41, 48.

[0084] The illustration of the closed position of the slats 41, 48 according to FIG. 12 furthermore shows individual coupling elements 55, 56, which respectively protrude from a lateral edge of a slat 41, 48 in the tangential or circumferential direction and overlap with the adjacent slat. A few or even all slats 41, 48 can be mechanically coupled to one another by such coupling elements 56, 66. The connection of a single slat 41 or of two opposite slats 41, 45 to the actuating element 30 may already suffice for realizing the motion of the slats 41, 48 between the open position and the closed position.

[0085] 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, it being 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 and their legal equivalents.