JP6955210B2 - Operation dial structure of air conditioning register - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operation dial structure applied to an air conditioning register in which the flow state of air conditioning air is adjusted by rotating the operation dial.

For example, the instrument panel of a vehicle incorporates an air-conditioning register that blows out air-conditioning air sent from an air-conditioning device. As one form of this air conditioning register, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a register including a retainer 71, an operation dial 72, and a click load applying unit 75 is known.

The retainer 71 has a ventilation path through which air for air conditioning flows. An air flow adjusting unit for adjusting the flow state of air conditioning air is arranged in the ventilation passage. Examples of the air flow adjusting unit include fins for adjusting the flow direction of air conditioning air, a shut damper for shutting off the air for air conditioning, and the like. The operation dial 72 has a dial body 73 supported by a retainer 71 by a support shaft 74, and is rotated when operating the air flow adjusting unit. The click load applying portion 75 applies a click load to the rotation operation when the operation dial 72 is rotated, and includes a protrusion 76 and an elastic portion 77. The protrusion 76 is provided on the retainer 71, and the elastic portion 77 is formed as a part of the dial body 73. The elastic portion 77 rotates around the support shaft 74 with the rotation of the operation dial 72, and elastically deforms by sliding contact with the protrusion 76 to generate an operating load. Then, when the elastic portion 77 gets over the protrusion 76, the operating load changes, so that a click load is applied to the rotational operation. By this click load, the operator of the operation dial 72 can recognize that the air flow adjusting unit has been activated.

The operation dial structure in which the protrusion of the click load applying portion is provided on the retainer and the elastic portion is provided on the operation dial is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-117842

However, in the conventional operation dial structure, for example, when a metal film is formed on the outer surface of the dial body 73 including the elastic portion 77 by plating, the dial body portion of the operation dial 72 becomes hard and the elastic portion 77 becomes elastic. It becomes difficult to deform. Therefore, the click load becomes larger than the appropriate value. The operation dial 72 must be rotated with an excessive force so that the elastic portion 77 can get over the protrusion 76, and the operation feeling deteriorates. The same problem may occur not only when the metal film is formed on the dial body 73 but also when the dial body portion is hard.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to apply a click load of an appropriate size to a rotation operation even if the dial body portion of the operation dial is hard. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation dial structure of an air conditioning register capable of improving an operation feeling.

The operation dial structure of the air conditioning register that solves the above problems is a retainer in which an air flow adjusting unit for adjusting the flow state of the air conditioning air is arranged in a ventilation path through which the air conditioning air flows, and the retainer by a support shaft. An operation dial that has a supported dial body and is rotated when the air flow adjusting unit is operated, and a click load is applied to the rotation operation when the operation dial is rotated. An operation dial structure of an air-conditioning register including a click load applying portion, wherein the click load applying portion is provided on a protrusion formed as a part of the dial main body and a retainer, and the operation dial is provided. It is provided with an elastic portion that elastically deforms when the protrusion is slidably contacted with the rotation of the above, and when the elastic portion gets over the protrusion, a click load is applied to the rotation operation. ..

According to the above configuration, when the operation dial is rotated to operate the air flow adjusting portion, the protrusion portion rotates around the support shaft in the click load applying portion. When the protrusion is slidably contacted with the elastic portion provided in the retainer along with this turning, the elastic portion is pressed by the protrusion to be elastically deformed, and an operating load is generated. The amount of elastic deformation of the elastic portion changes when the elastic portion gets over the protrusion. Along with this, the operation load also changes, and a click load is applied to the rotation operation of the operation dial.

Here, the elastic portion is provided on the retainer, and the protrusion is provided on the dial body. The dial body is not required to be elastically deformed in order to apply a click load. Therefore, even if the dial body portion of the operation dial is hard, it is possible to elastically deform the elastic portion to apply a click load of an appropriate size. It is not necessary to operate the operation dial with an excessive force so that the elastic portion can get over the protrusion, and the operation feeling is improved.

In the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, the dial body has a disk shape, the protrusion is provided on the dial body so as to project in the radial direction of the dial body, and the elastic part is the protrusion. It is preferable that the dial body is elastically deformed in the radial direction by being slidably contacted with the dial body.

According to the above configuration, when the protrusion that swivels around the support shaft is slidably contacted with the elastic portion by the rotation operation of the operation dial, the elastic portion is pressed by the protrusion in the radial direction of the dial body. Elastically deforms in the same direction. The operating load generated by this elastic deformation changes when the elastic portion gets over the protrusion, and a click load is applied to the rotation operation of the operation dial.

In the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, the dial body has a storage chamber that opens at least on the surface facing the retainer and extends in the circumferential direction around the support shaft, and the elastic portion has an elastic portion. The dial body is provided in the retainer in a manner capable of elastically deforming in the radial direction and is arranged in the storage chamber, and the protrusion is provided from one inner wall surface facing the radial direction in the storage chamber. It is preferable that it protrudes toward the other inner wall surface.

According to the above configuration, both the elastic portion and the protrusion portion in the click load applying portion are located in the accommodation chamber of the dial body. Moreover, the elastic deformation of the elastic portion in the radial direction due to the protrusion is also performed in the accommodation chamber. Therefore, the elastic portion and the protruding portion are difficult to be visually recognized from the downstream side of the air conditioning register, which is outward in the radial direction of the dial body. Therefore, the appearance of the operation dial structure and, by extension, the air conditioning register is improved as compared with the case where the elastic portion and the protrusion are provided on the outside of the dial body.

In the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, the elastic portion includes an elastic piece extending in the circumferential direction, and the elastic piece has one end in the circumferential direction as a fixed end and the other end free. It is preferably end-bonded to the retainer at the fixed end.

According to the above configuration, the elastic piece adopts a so-called cantilever support structure in which one end in the circumferential direction of the dial body is a fixed end and the other end is a free end. Therefore, when the free end of the elastic piece is pressed in the radial direction of the dial body when it gets over the protrusion, the elastic piece is elastically deformed in the same direction with the fixed end as a fulcrum. An operating load is generated by this elastic deformation. The amount of elastic deformation of the elastic piece changes when the free end gets over the protrusion. Along with this, the operation load also changes, and a click load is applied to the rotation operation of the operation dial.

In the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, the air flow adjusting unit is arranged in the ventilation path and supported by the retainer, and has an open position that opens the ventilation path in response to a rotation operation of the operation dial. , The elastic portion is provided with a pair of elastic pieces, and the fixed ends of both elastic pieces are in the circumferential direction of the dial body. Adjacent to each other, both elastic pieces extend in the circumferential direction and opposite to each other, and the tip portion is the free end, and the free end of one of the elastic pieces is the tilting shut. When the damper reaches the closed position and when the tilt is started from the closed position toward the open position, the protrusion is overcome, and the free end of the other elastic piece is such that the tilting shut damper is in the open position. It is preferable that the protrusion is overcome when the vehicle reaches the position and when the tilt is started from the same open position to the closed position.

According to the above configuration, the free end of one of the elastic pieces gets over the protrusion when the tilting shut damper reaches the closed position, and the shut damper starts tilting from the same closed position toward the open position. Overcome the protrusions when doing. In either case, the operating load changes and a click load is applied to the rotating operation. By this click load, it is possible to make the operator of the operation dial recognize that the shut damper has reached the closed position and that the shut damper has started tilting from the same closed position toward the open position. Is.

Further, the free end of the other elastic piece gets over the protrusion when the tilting shut damper reaches the open position, and the protrusion when the shut damper starts tilting from the same open position toward the closed position. Overcome. In either case, the operating load changes and a click load is applied to the rotating operation. By this click load, it is possible to make the operator of the operation dial recognize that the shut damper has reached the open position and that the shut damper has started tilting from the same open position toward the closed position. Is.

In the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, it is preferable that a metal film is formed on the outer surface of the dial body.
According to the above configuration, the dial body is decorated by forming the metal film.

In addition, the dial body portion of the operation dial is harder than that in which a metal film is not formed. However, as described above, since the elastic deformation is performed in the elastic portion provided in the retainer, the dial body is not required to be elastically deformed in order to apply the click load. Therefore, although the dial body portion of the operation dial is rigid, it is possible to elastically deform the elastic portion to apply a click load of an appropriate size.

According to the operation dial structure of the air conditioning register, even if the dial body of the operation dial is hard, a click load of an appropriate size is applied to the rotation operation to improve the operation feeling. Can be done.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view of an air conditioning register in an embodiment to which an operation dial structure is applied. A side sectional view of an air conditioning register in one embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation dial structure in one Embodiment, (a) is a bottom view when the protrusion is located between the free ends of a pair of elastic pieces, (b) is an enlargement of a part of FIG. 3 (a). Partial bottom view shown by. FIG. 3 (b) is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4. It is a figure explaining the operation of the operation dial structure in one Embodiment, and is the partial bottom view which shows the state before or after the free end of one elastic piece got over a protrusion. It is a figure explaining the operation of the operation dial structure in one Embodiment, and is the partial bottom view which shows the state in which the free end of one elastic piece is in the process of getting over a protrusion. It is a figure explaining the operation of the operation dial structure in one Embodiment, and is the partial bottom view which shows the state before or after the free end of one elastic piece got over a protrusion. It is a figure which shows the operation dial structure in one Embodiment, and is the partial bottom view which shows the state before or after the free end of the other elastic piece got over a protrusion. Bottom view showing the conventional operation dial structure.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodied in the operation dial structure of the vehicle air-conditioning register will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
In the following description, the traveling direction (forward direction) of the vehicle will be the front, the reverse direction will be the rear, and the height direction will be the vertical direction. Further, regarding the vehicle width direction (horizontal direction), the direction is defined based on the case where the vehicle is viewed from the rear.

In the vehicle interior, an instrument panel is provided in front of the front seats (driver's seat and passenger's seat) of the vehicle, and the air-conditioning registers of the present embodiment are incorporated in the central portion, both side portions, etc. in the vehicle width direction. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 (a), the air conditioning register 10 includes a retainer 11, a plurality of fins, a shut damper 41 as an air flow adjusting unit, a damper drive mechanism 45, and a click load applying unit 61. It includes an operation knob 62 and a transmission mechanism B1. Next, each part constituting the air conditioning register 10 will be described.

<Retainer 11>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer 11 is composed of a plurality of members formed of resin, and has a cylindrical shape with both ends open as a whole. The internal space of the retainer 11 constitutes a flow path (hereinafter referred to as "ventilation passage 12") of air conditioning air A1 sent from an air conditioner (not shown) through a ventilation duct. Here, regarding the flow direction of the air conditioning air A1 in the ventilation passage 12, the side closer to the air conditioner (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) is the upstream side, and the side far from the air conditioner (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). ) Is the downstream side. The downstream end of the ventilation passage 12 constitutes the air outlet 13 of the air conditioning air A1.

The ventilation passage 12 is surrounded by four walls of the retainer 11. These four wall portions are composed of a pair of vertical wall portions 14 facing each other in the vehicle width direction and a pair of horizontal wall portions 26 facing each other in the vertical direction.

<Fin>
The fins are for adjusting the flow direction of the air conditioning air A1, and are composed of a plurality of downstream fins 27 and a plurality of upstream fins 35.

Each downstream fin 27 includes a plate-shaped downstream fin main body 28 and a pair of downstream fin shafts 29. The downstream fin main body 28 and both downstream fin shafts 29 extend in the vehicle width direction, respectively. The plurality of downstream fins 27 are arranged in the vicinity of the upstream of the air outlet 13 in the ventilation passage 12 in a state of being separated from each other in the vertical direction.

Both downstream fin shafts 29 project in directions away from each other from both end faces in the vehicle width direction of each downstream fin main body 28. Each downstream fin 27 is tiltably supported by both vertical wall portions 14 on both downstream fin shafts 29.

In each downstream fin main body 28, a connecting shaft 31 is provided parallel to the downstream fin shaft 29 at a portion deviated upstream from one of the downstream fin shafts 29 (upper in FIG. 1). The connecting shaft 31 for each of the downstream fins 27 is connected by a long connecting rod 32 extending substantially in the vertical direction. The downstream fin body 28, the downstream fin shaft 29, the connecting shaft 31, and the connecting rod 32 constitute a parallel link mechanism LM1 that tilts all the downstream fins 27 in a synchronized state.

Each upstream fin 35 includes a plate-shaped upstream fin main body 36 and a pair of upstream fin shafts 37. In FIG. 1, each upstream fin shaft 37 is illustrated by dots (.). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upstream fin main body 36 and both upstream fin shafts 37 extend in the vertical direction, respectively. The upstream fin main body 36 is arranged upstream of the downstream fin 27 of the ventilation passage 12 in a state of being separated from each other in the vehicle width direction.

Both upstream fin shafts 37 for each of the upstream fins 35 project in a direction away from each other from the upper and lower end surfaces of the upstream fin main body 36. Each upstream fin 35 is tiltably supported by both side wall portions 26 on both upstream fin shafts 37.

In each upstream fin main body 36, a connecting shaft 38 is provided parallel to the upstream fin shaft 37 at a portion deviated upstream from one of the upstream fin shafts 37 (upper in FIG. 2). The connecting shaft 38 for each of the upstream fins 35 is connected by a long connecting rod 39 extending in the vehicle width direction. The upstream fin body 36, the upstream fin shaft 37, the connecting shaft 38, and the connecting rod 39 constitute a parallel link mechanism LM2 that tilts all the upstream fins 35 in a synchronized state.

<Shut damper 41>
The shut damper 41 adjusts the flow state of the air conditioning air A1 by allowing or blocking the flow of the air conditioning air A1 in the ventilation passage 12, and adjusts the flow state of the air conditioning air A1. The damper shaft 44 is provided. The damper main body 42 is arranged upstream of the upstream fin 35 of the ventilation passage 12. The seal portion 43 is formed of a soft material, for example, a soft foam such as a sponge, and is attached around the damper main body 42. The outer peripheral edge portion of the seal portion 43 is exposed to the outside of the outer peripheral edge portion of the damper main body 42. The damper shaft 44 projects from both end faces of the damper body 42 in the vertical direction in a direction away from each other. In FIG. 1, the damper shaft 44 is illustrated by dots (.).

The shut damper 41 is supported by the lateral wall portion 26 on both damper shafts 44, and can be tilted between the open position and the closed position. At the open position, the shut damper 41 is substantially parallel to both vertical wall portions 14, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and greatly opens the ventilation passage 12. In the closed position, the shut damper 41 is inclined with respect to both vertical wall portions 14 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1, and is in contact with both horizontal wall portions 26 and both vertical wall portions 14 at the seal portion 43, and is a ventilation path. 12 is closed.

<Damper drive mechanism 45>
As shown in FIG. 2, the damper drive mechanism 45 is a mechanism for tilting the shut damper 41, and includes an operation dial 46 and a rotation transmission unit 57. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the operation dial 46 includes a dial body 47 and a cover 56. The dial body 47 is formed of resin in a substantially disk shape. The dial body 47 is arranged below the lower side wall portion 26, and is rotatably supported by the side wall portion 26 by a support shaft 25. Locking recesses 49 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dial body 47 at two locations separated from each other in the circumferential direction. A metal coating 59 is formed by plating on the outer surface of the dial body 47.

The cover 56 is made of a material softer than the dial main body 47, that is, an elastomer in the present embodiment, and is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the dial main body 47. Both end portions 56a of the cover 56 in the circumferential direction are locked to the locking recess 49.

The operation dial 46 having the above configuration is rotated when the shut damper 41 is tilted from the open position to the closed position, or vice versa.
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation transmission unit 57 is for transmitting the rotation of the operation dial 46 to the shut damper 41. The rotation transmission unit 57 is composed of a link mechanism, a gear mechanism, and the like, and is provided between the operation dial 46 and the damper shaft 44 on the lower side of the shut damper 41. In the present embodiment, a transmission protrusion 54 is formed so as to project radially outward from the dial body 47. Further, an arm portion 44a extending outward in the radial direction is formed on the damper shaft 44 on the lower side of the shut damper 41. The transmission protrusion 54 and the arm 44a are connected by a link member 58. The rotation transmission portion 57 is composed of the transmission protrusion 54, the arm portion 44a, and the link member 58.

<Click load applying unit 61>
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the click load applying portion 61 is for applying a click load to the rotation operation when the operation dial 46 is rotated. It includes a protrusion 53 and an elastic portion 15.

The dial body 47 has a storage chamber 48 extending in the circumferential direction around the support shaft 25. The accommodation chamber 48 is composed of through holes that open on the upper and lower surfaces of the dial body 47. The upper surface of the dial body 47 faces the lower surface of the lower side wall portion 26. The accommodation chamber 48 has a pair of inner wall surfaces 51 and 52 facing each other in the radial direction of the dial main body 47. The protrusion 53 is formed as a part of the dial main body 47, and protrudes from the inner wall surface 51 on the outer peripheral side toward the inner wall surface 52 on the inner peripheral side. The protrusion height H1 from the inner wall surface 51 of the protrusion 53 is maximum at the central portion 53c in the circumferential direction of the dial main body 47, and gradually decreases as the distance from the central portion 53c toward both sides in the same circumferential direction.

The elastic portion 15 includes a pair of elastic pieces 16 and 21 arranged in the accommodating chamber 48 so as to project downward from the lower surface of the lower lateral wall portion 26. Both elastic pieces 16 and 21 are integrally formed on the lower side wall portion 26.

One elastic piece 16 has a fixed end 17 at one end in the circumferential direction and a free end 18 at the other end, and is connected to the lateral wall portion 26 at the fixed end 17. The entire elastic piece 16 is gently curved so as to bulge outward in the radial direction of the dial body 47. A hole 19 is formed in the lateral wall portion 26 above the portion of the elastic piece 16 excluding the fixed end 17. The free end 18 has a bulging portion 18a that bulges more toward the inner wall surface 51 provided with the protruding portion 53 in the radial direction of the dial body 47 than the other portion of the elastic piece 16 in the circumferential direction. ing. The bulging portion 18a bulges to a position where it interferes with the protruding portion 53 when the protruding portion 53 turns due to the rotation operation of the operation dial 46.

The other elastic piece 21 has a fixed end 22 at one end in the circumferential direction and a free end 23 at the other end, and is coupled to the lateral wall portion 26 at the fixed end 22. The entire elastic piece 21 is gently curved so as to bulge outward in the radial direction of the dial body 47. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, holes 24 are formed in the side wall portion 26 above the portion of the elastic piece 21 excluding the fixed end 22. The free end 23 has a bulging portion 23a that bulges more toward the inner wall surface 51 in the radial direction of the dial body 47 than other portions of the elastic piece 21 in the circumferential direction. The bulging portion 23a bulges to a position where it interferes with the protruding portion 53 when the protruding portion 53 turns due to the rotation operation of the operation dial 46. The portion between the bulging portions 18a and 23a of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 is located inward in the radial direction of the dial body 47 with respect to the protruding portion 53.

Both fixed ends 17 and 22 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction in the region sandwiched by the holes 19 and 24 in the lower surface of the lateral wall portion 26 in a state of being in contact with each other. Both elastic pieces 16 and 21 extend in the circumferential direction and in opposite directions to each other, and the tip portions thereof are free ends 18 and 23.

Each of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 is elastically deformed inward in the radial direction of the dial body 47 by the protrusion 53 being slidably contacted with the bulging portions 18a and 23a as the operation dial 46 is rotated. Then, the click load applying portion 61 applies a click load to the rotation operation when the free ends 18 and 23 get over the protrusions 53.

The shapes, sizes, and the like of the protrusions 53 and the elastic pieces 16 and 21 are set so as to satisfy the following conditions.
Condition 1: When the tilting shut damper 41 reaches the open position and starts tilting from the same open position toward the closed position, the free end 18 of the elastic piece 16 gets over the protrusion 53.

Condition 2: When the tilting shut damper 41 reaches the closed position and starts tilting from the closed position toward the open position, the free end 23 of the elastic piece 21 gets over the protrusion 53.

<Operation knob 62>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation knob 62 is a member that is operated when adjusting the blowing direction of the air conditioning air A1 from the air outlet 13. The operation knob 62 is slidably mounted in the vehicle width direction with respect to the downstream fin main body 28 of the downstream fin 27 in the central portion in the vertical direction.

<Transmission mechanism B1>
The transmission mechanism B1 is a mechanism for transmitting the sliding operation of the operation knob 62 to a specific upstream fin 35 near the central portion in the vehicle width direction and tilting the upstream fin 35 with both upstream fin shafts 37 as fulcrums. be.

Unlike the upstream fin main body 36 in the other upstream fins 35, the upstream fin main body 36 in the specific upstream fin 35 is formed with a notch portion 63. Further, at the downstream end of the notch 63, a transmission shaft 64 extending in the vertical direction along both upstream fin shafts 37 is provided.

A fork 65 is connected to the operation knob 62. The forks 65 have a pair of transmission pieces 65a extending upstream from the operation knob 62 in a state of being separated from each other in the vehicle width direction. The fork 65 sandwiches the transmission shaft portion 64 in both transmission pieces 65a.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1, when the shut damper 41 is in the closed position, the ventilation passage 12 is blocked by the shut damper 41. The flow of the air conditioning air A1 downstream of the shut damper 41 is cut off, and the blowing of the air conditioning air A1 from the outlet 13 is stopped. At this time, when the seal portion 43 comes into contact with both the vertical wall portions 14 in addition to the both horizontal wall portions 26, the shut damper 41 is sealed between the vertical wall portion 14 and the horizontal wall portion 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 53 is located at a position outside the free ends 18 and 23 of the elastic portion 15 in the circumferential direction of the dial body 47, and comes into contact with or approaches the bulge 23a. There is.

On the other hand, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, when the shut damper 41 is in the open position, each ventilation path 12 is fully opened, and the air conditioning air A1 is divided into both sides in the vehicle width direction with the shut damper 41 as a boundary. Flows. The air-conditioning air A1 that has passed through the shut damper 41 flows along the upstream fins 35 and the downstream fins 27, and then blows out from the air outlet 13. At this time, although not shown, the protrusion 53 is located at a position outside the free ends 18 and 23 of the elastic portion 15 in the circumferential direction of the dial body 47, and is in contact with or close to the bulge portion 18a. ..

The switching from the closed position to the open position and the switching from the open position to the closed position of the shut damper 41 are performed through the rotation operation of the operation dial 46. When the operation dial 46 is rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the shut damper 41 via the rotation transmission unit 57, and the shut damper 41 is tilted.

On the other hand, when the operation dial 46 is rotated, the protrusion 53 of the click load applying portion 61 rotates around the support shaft 25. When the protrusion 53 is located in the intermediate portion between the bulges 18a and 23a, the protrusion 53 is separated from the elastic portion 15 in the radial direction of the dial body 47 as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). In the process of turning, the protrusion 53 is slidably contacted with the bulges 18a and 23a at the free ends 18 and 23.

Here, in the present embodiment, each elastic piece 16, 21 has a so-called cantilever beam in which one end in the circumferential direction is a fixed end 17, 22 and the other end is a free end 18, 23. It has a support structure. Therefore, when the free ends 18 and 23 of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 are pressed inward in the radial direction of the dial body 47 when the free ends 18 and 23 get over the protrusions 53, the elastic pieces 16 and 21 have fixed ends 17 and 22. Is elastically deformed in the same direction with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and an operating load is generated. The amount of elastic deformation of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 changes when the free ends 18 and 23 get over the protrusion 53.

The situation in which the free end 23 of one elastic piece 21 gets over the protrusion 53 is when the shut damper 41 tilting toward the closed position reaches the closed position and when the shut damper 41 that has reached the closed position faces the open position. It happens when you start to tilt. The situation in which the free end 18 of the other elastic piece 16 gets over the protrusion 53 is that the shut damper 41 that tilts toward the open position reaches the open position and the shut damper 41 that reaches the open position faces the closed position. It happens when you start to tilt.

The amount of elastic deformation of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 changes according to the protrusion height H1 from the inner wall surface 51 at the contact points of the protrusions 53 with the bulging portions 18a and 23a. The amount of elastic deformation is small when the bulging portions 18a and 23a are in sliding contact with a portion of the protruding portion 53 having a low protruding height H1. The amount of elastic deformation increases as the protrusion height H1 of the protrusion 53 at the contact points with the bulges 18a and 23a increases.

In this respect, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the protrusion height H1 of the protrusion 53 is maximized at the central portion 53c in the circumferential direction, and is separated from the central portion 53c on both sides in the same circumferential direction. It is gradually decreasing according to. Therefore, the amount of elastic deformation is maximized when the free ends 18 and 23 slide into contact with the central portion 53c of the protrusion 53 (see FIG. 6). The amount of elastic deformation gradually decreases as the distance from the central portion 53c in the circumferential direction increases.

The operating load also changes as the amount of elastic deformation changes. The operating load becomes maximum when the bulging portions 18a and 23a slide into contact with the central portion 53c of the protruding portion 53 (see FIG. 6), and gradually decreases as the distance from the central portion 53c in the circumferential direction increases. As a result, the operating load when the operating dial 46 is rotated gradually increases until the sliding contact points of the free ends 18 and 23 with respect to the protruding portions 53 reach the central portion 53c. The operating load becomes maximum when the free ends 18 and 23 reach the central portion 53c (see FIG. 6). The operating load gradually decreases after the sliding contact points of the free ends 18 and 23 with respect to the protrusions 53 exceed the central portion 53c. When the free ends 18 and 23 get over the protrusion 53 due to the rotation operation of the operation dial 46, the operation load changes (increases or decreases) as described above, so that the operation dial 46 is clicked. A load is applied.

Specifically, in one elastic piece 21, when the tilting shut damper 41 reaches the closed position, the free end 23 gets over the protrusion 53 as shown in FIGS. 7 → 6 → 5. Further, in the elastic piece 21, when the shut damper 41 starts tilting from the closed position to the open position, the free end 23 gets over the protrusion 53 as shown in FIGS. 5 → 6 → 7. In either case, a click load is applied to the rotation operation. By this click load, the operator of the operation dial 46 is made to recognize that the shut damper 41 has reached the closed position and that the shut damper 41 has started tilting from the same closed position toward the open position. It is possible.

Further, in the other elastic piece 16, when the tilting shut damper 41 reaches the open position, the free end 18 gets over the protrusion 53 (see FIG. 8). Further, in the elastic piece 16, the free end 18 gets over the protrusion 53 when the shut damper 41 starts tilting from the open position to the closed position. In either case, a click load is applied to the rotation operation. This click load causes the operator of the operation dial 46 to recognize that the shut damper 41 has reached the open position and that the shut damper 41 has started tilting from the same open position toward the closed position. It is possible.

Here, in the present embodiment, since the metal coating 59 by plating is formed on the outer surface of the dial main body 47 including the protrusion 53, the dial of the operation dial 46 is compared with the one in which such a metal coating 59 is not formed. The main body becomes hard.

However, the elastic portion 15 is provided on the retainer 11 (lower side wall portion 26), and the dial body 47 is formed with a protrusion 53 that elastically deforms the elastic portion 15 as a part of the dial body 47. .. The dial body 47 is not required to be elastically deformed in order to apply a click load. Therefore, even if the dial body portion of the operation dial 46 is hard, the elastic portion 15 can be elastically deformed to apply a click load. Unlike the conventional technique shown in FIG. 9, a click load of an appropriate size can be applied to the rotation operation. It is not necessary to rotate the operation dial 46 with an excessive force so that the free ends 18 and 23 can get over the protrusion 53, and the operation feeling can be improved.

When each shut damper 41 is in the solid line of FIG. 1 and the open position shown in FIG. 2, when the operation knob 62 is slid on the downstream fin main body 28 in the vehicle width direction, the operation knob 62 moves. It is transmitted to the specific upstream fin 35 through the fork 65 and the transmission shaft portion 64. The specific upstream fins 35 are tilted in a direction (vehicle width direction) having the same tendency as the sliding direction of the operation knob 62 with both upstream fin shafts 37 as fulcrums. The tilt of the particular upstream fin 35 is transmitted to the remaining upstream fins 35 via the parallel link mechanism LM2. As a result, in conjunction with the specific upstream fin 35, the remaining upstream fin 35 is tilted in the same direction as the specific upstream fin 35 with both upstream fin shafts 37 as fulcrums.

Further, when each shut damper 41 is in the open position as described above, when a force is applied to the operation knob 62 in the thickness direction thereof, the force is applied to the downstream fin 27 provided with the operation knob 62. Be transmitted. The downstream fins 27 are tilted with both downstream fin shafts 29 as fulcrums. The tilt of the downstream fins 27 is transmitted to the remaining downstream fins 27 via the parallel link mechanism LM1. As a result, the remaining downstream fins 27 are tilted in the same direction as the operated downstream fins 27 with the downstream fin shaft 29 as a fulcrum in conjunction with the operated downstream fins 27. At this time, the movement of the fork 65 is not transmitted to the transmission shaft portion 64, and the upstream fin 35 is not tilted.

When each upstream fin main body 36 is inclined with respect to the flow direction of the air conditioning air A1 before passing through the upstream fin main body 36, the air conditioning air A1 can change the flow direction by flowing along the upstream fin main body 36. .. On the other hand, when the upstream fin main body 36 is not inclined with respect to the flow direction of the air conditioning air A1 before passing through the upstream fin main body 36, the air conditioning air A1 almost follows the flow direction when passing through the upstream fin main body 36. Can not change.

The downstream fin 27 is the same as the upstream fin 35. Then, the air conditioning air A1 that has passed through each of the upstream fins 35 and each of the downstream fins 27 is blown out from the outlet 13.
According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above.

The elastic portion 15 and the protrusion 53 are both located in the accommodation chamber 48 of the dial main body 47. Moreover, the elastic deformation of the elastic pieces 16 and 21 by the protrusion 53 is also performed in the accommodating chamber 48. Therefore, the elastic portion 15 and the protrusion 53 are difficult to be visually recognized from the downstream side of the air conditioning register 10 which is outward in the radial direction of the dial main body 47. Therefore, the appearance of the operation dial structure and, by extension, the air conditioning register 10 is improved as compared with the case where the elastic portion 15 and the protrusion 53 are provided outside the dial main body 47.

The rotation operation of the operation dial 46 is performed through the cover 56 mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the dial main body 47. The cover 56 is made of a material (elastomer) that is softer than the dial body 47. Therefore, the tactile sensation is improved and the slip is less likely to be slipped as compared with the one to which the cover 56 is not attached.

Since the metal coating 59 is formed on the outer surface of the dial body 47, the dial body 47 can be decorated with a metallic luster. The appearance of the operation dial 46 and, by extension, the air conditioning register 10 can be improved.

The portion between the bulging portions 18a and 23a of the elastic portion 15 is located inward in the radial direction of the dial body 47 with respect to the protruding portion 53.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the protrusion 53 swivels in the circumferential direction between the bulging portions 18a and 23a, the protrusion 53 is in sliding contact with the elastic pieces 16 and 21. do not. Only when the bulging portions 18a and 23a get over the protruding portions 53, the protruding portions 53 can be brought into sliding contact with the bulging portions 18a and 23a.

It should be noted that the above embodiment can also be implemented as a modified example in which this is modified as follows.
<About operation dial 46>
The structure of the operation dial 46 may be changed to a structure different from that of the above embodiment, provided that the operation dial 46 has at least a dial body 47 supported by the retainer 11 by the support shaft 25. For example, the cover 56 may be omitted, and the operation dial 46 may be configured only by the dial body 47.

The accommodation chamber 48 may be formed by through holes opened on both surfaces (upper surface and lower surface) of the damper main body 42 in the thickness direction as in the above embodiment, or may be formed on the retainer 11 (horizontal wall portion 26) side. It may be composed of recesses that open only on the surface (upper surface).

<About Shut Damper 41>
As the shut damper 41, a damper main body 42 composed of a single member may be used as in the above embodiment, but a damper main body 42 composed of a plurality of members may be used. You may. In the latter case, the damper body may include a pair of damper plates that are tilted in opposite directions between the open position and the closed position with the damper shaft on the same line as a fulcrum.

<About the click load applying unit 61>
The elastic portion 15 may be composed of only one of the elastic pieces 16 and 21.
The protrusion 53 may be formed on the inner wall surface 52 on the inner peripheral side of the accommodation chamber 48 so as to project toward the inner wall surface 51 on the outer peripheral side.

The protrusion 53 may be formed in a shape different from that of the above embodiment.
The elastic portions 15 may be coupled to the retainers 11 at both ends of the dial body 47 in the circumferential direction. In this case, in the elastic portion 15, the portion between both ends in the circumferential direction is a portion that is elastically deformed.

The elastic pieces 16 and 21 may be elastically deformed in the thickness direction of the operation dial 46 when the free ends 18 and 23 get over the protrusion 53.
The elastic portion 15 may be formed by a member different from the retainer 11 and may be assembled to the retainer 11.

The fixed end 17 of the elastic piece 16 and the fixed end 22 of the elastic piece 21 may be separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the dial body 47.
A protrusion 53 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dial body 47 as a part of the dial body 47, and an elastic portion 15 may be provided on the retainer 11 in the radial vicinity of the dial body 47.

<About the air flow adjustment unit>
-At least one of the upstream fins 35 and the downstream fins 27 that adjust the flow direction of the air conditioning air A1 may be used as the air flow adjusting unit. The operation dial structure may be applied to an air conditioning register in which the operation dial 46 is rotated when the fins used as the air flow adjusting unit are tilted.

For example, in an air conditioning register that allows air conditioning air to be blown out in a plurality of ventilation modes such as a diffusion ventilation mode and a centralized ventilation mode in addition to the parallel ventilation mode by devising the tilting mode of the plurality of fins. , This corresponds to the case where the operation dial is used to switch the ventilation mode.

In the parallel ventilation mode, as in the above embodiment, all the fins are tilted while maintaining a state of being parallel to each other. The air-conditioning air flows between adjacent fins in a direction along the fins and is parallel to each other, and is blown out from the outlet.

In diffuse ventilation mode, adjacent fins are tilted so that their upstream ends are spaced less apart than their downstream ends. In this case, the air-conditioning air flows between adjacent fins and the like along the fins, so that the air is diffused so as to spread over a wider area toward the downstream side. Weak air conditioning air is blown to a wider area of the occupant than when the parallel ventilation mode is selected as the ventilation mode.

In the centralized ventilation mode, adjacent fins are tilted so that their upstream ends are spaced apart from each other. In this case, the air-conditioning air flows between adjacent fins and the like along the fins, so that the air is converged so as to reach a narrower region toward the downstream side. Stronger air conditioning air is blown to a narrower part of the occupant than when the parallel ventilation mode is selected as the ventilation mode.

By applying the operation dial structure to such an air conditioning register, it is possible to make the operator recognize that the ventilation mode has been switched through the click load applied to the rotation operation of the operation dial.

<Applicable air conditioning registers>
The operation dial structure is also applicable to an air conditioning register in which a metal coating 59 is not formed on the outer surface of the dial body 47.

The operation dial structure is also applicable to a type of air conditioning register in which the operation dial 46 is arranged in an upright state and is rotatably supported with respect to the vertical wall portion 14 of the retainer 11.
-The above operation dial structure can be applied to a place different from the instrument panel in the vehicle interior, for example, an air conditioning register incorporated in a dashboard.

-The operation dial structure can be widely applied not only to the air-conditioning register for vehicles but also to various air-conditioning registers as long as it is an air-conditioning register provided with an air flow adjusting unit for adjusting the flow state of air-conditioning air.

10 ... Air conditioning register, 11 ... Retainer, 12 ... Ventilation path, 15 ... Elastic part, 16, 21 ... Elastic piece, 17, 22 ... Fixed end, 18, 23 ... Free end, 25 ... Support shaft, 41 ... Shut damper (Air flow adjusting unit), 46 ... Operation dial, 47 ... Dial body, 48 ... Storage chamber, 51, 52 ... Inner wall surface, 53 ... Projection, 59 ... Metal coating, 61 ... Click load applying part, A1 ... For air conditioning Air, H1 ... Protruding height.

Claims (3)

A retainer in which an air flow adjusting unit that adjusts the flow state of the air conditioning air is placed in the ventilation path through which the air conditioning air flows,
An operation dial that has a dial body supported by the retainer by a support shaft and is rotated when operating the air flow adjusting unit.
An operation dial structure of an air-conditioning register including a click load applying portion that applies a click load to the rotation operation when the operation dial is rotated.
The air flow adjusting unit is arranged in the ventilation passage and is supported by the retainer, and has an open position for opening the ventilation passage and a closed position for closing the ventilation passage in response to a rotation operation of the operation dial. Consists of shut dampers that are tilted between
The click load applying portion is
A protrusion formed as a part of the dial body and
The retainer is provided with an elastic portion that is elastically deformed when the protrusion is slidably contacted with the rotation of the operation dial.
When the elastic portion gets over the protrusion, a click load is applied to the rotation operation.
The dial body has a disk shape, and has at least one accommodation chamber that opens on the surface facing the retainer and extends in the circumferential direction around the support shaft.
The protrusion protrudes from one inner wall surface facing the dial body in the radial direction toward the other inner wall surface in the central portion of the accommodation chamber in the circumferential direction.
The height of the protrusion from the inner wall surface of one of the protrusions is maximum at the central portion in the circumferential direction, and gradually decreases as the distance from the central portion toward both sides in the circumferential direction increases.
The elastic portion, by the protrusion is sliding contact, provided on said retainer in a manner capable of elastically deformed in the radial direction of the dial body,
The elastic portion is arranged in the storage chamber and includes a pair of elastic pieces extending in the circumferential direction.
Both elastic pieces have one end in the circumferential direction as a fixed end and the other end as a free end, and are coupled to the retainer at the fixed end.
The fixed ends of both elastic pieces are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the dial body.
Both elastic pieces have an operation dial structure of an air-conditioning register that extends in the circumferential direction and is opposite to each other and has the tip end as the free end. The free end of one of the elastic pieces overcomes the protrusion when the tilting shut damper reaches the closed position and when the tilting starts from the closed position toward the open position.
The free end of the other elastic piece overcomes the protrusion when the tilting shut damper reaches the open position and when the tilting starts from the same open position toward the closed position. Operation dial structure of the air conditioning register described in. The operation dial structure for an air conditioning register according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a metal film is formed on the outer surface of the dial body.

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