CN210911942U

CN210911942U - Compact vent for directing airflow

Info

Publication number: CN210911942U
Application number: CN201921077819.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·古贡; M·莫雷尔
Original assignee: Faurecia Automotive Industrie SAS
Current assignee: Adler Pelzer France Grand Est SAS
Priority date: 2018-07-10
Filing date: 2019-07-10
Publication date: 2020-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-10
Also published as: DE102018211373A1; FR3083850B1; FR3083850A1

Abstract

The utility model discloses a compact type ventilation hole, which comprises a shell, a plurality of ventilation holes and a plurality of ventilation holes, wherein the shell is used for guiding airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet; a wind guiding element arranged in the housing such that a first air flow channel is formed between the wind guiding element and a first wall section and a second channel is formed in the wind guiding element and a second wall section, the wind guiding element being movable in a direction of translation from the first wall section of the housing to the opposite second wall section of the housing; at least one wind guiding blade, which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of translation, wherein the wind guiding blade is arranged on the wind guiding element.

Description

Compact vent for directing airflow

Technical Field

The present patent application relates to the field of vents. In particular, the subject matter of the present patent application relates to a vent that utilizes a movable air-guiding element within a housing to direct airflow through two channels from an air inlet to an air outlet while allowing the outlet airflow to be directed vertically. Furthermore, at least one movable air guiding blade is connected to the air guiding element for horizontally guiding the air flow. In particular, the vent is suitable for use in a vehicle interior.

Background

In known vents for vehicles, the change of the direction of the air flow vertically is achieved by using a central element that divides the vent into two channels: one above the central body and the other below the central body. When the central body moves upwards, the air is directed upwards and vice versa. US2008/014855a1 and JP2007/196942A disclose the above-described mechanism of vertically changing the direction of the air flow.

One problem with this approach is that although this central movable element allows the air flow to be directed upwards or downwards, the air cannot be directed to the left or right unless vanes are arranged on the air inlet side or the air outlet side of the central element. Therefore, such a vent hole including the blade in order to guide air to the left or right side is much longer than a vent hole not having the blade installed.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The advantage of the present invention is that with a movable central element, when the size of one channel, more particularly its cross section perpendicular to the direction of the air flow, increases, the size of the other channel, more particularly its cross section perpendicular to the direction of the air flow, decreases and vice versa, thus making it possible to keep the total cross-sectional area through which the air passes constant. The effect of this is that the flow resistance of the vent, and more particularly the pressure drop across the vent during its use, can be kept constant or almost constant while the air flow is directed in different directions. The advantage is that the noise of the air flow also remains the same or almost the same.

The problem is therefore to provide a vent of compact design which allows to vary the vertical and horizontal direction of the airflow leaving the vent, while keeping the pressure drop constant or almost constant. A constant pressure drop is advantageous to maintain a constant outlet airflow and a constant noise level.

The subject of the present patent application is to provide a solution to this problem. The primary object of the subject matter of the present patent application is a vent that allows airflow from an air inlet to an air outlet of a housing while allowing the airflow direction to be changed horizontally or vertically. The air deflection element within the vent housing divides the inlet airflow into two airflow channels located on opposite sides of the air deflection element within the housing. One channel is located above the air guide element and one channel is located below the air guide element. In this case, the air guiding element is movable such that it can be moved in a vertical translational direction from a first wall section of the vent housing to an opposite second wall section. This allows the cross-section of each channel to be varied while maintaining the total cross-sectional area through which the air flow passes constant or nearly constant. Furthermore, at least one wind guiding blade is provided, which can rotate around an axis parallel to the translation direction. Preferably, at least one wind guiding blade is arranged at least partially between the wind guiding element and the housing first wall section and/or the wind guiding element and the housing second wall section to guide the air flow horizontally. In particular, this object is achieved by the independent claim 1.

One example of an embodiment of the subject matter of the present patent application is a vent comprising: a housing for directing a flow of air from an air inlet to an air outlet of the housing; a wind-guiding element arranged in the housing, which wind-guiding element is movable and can be moved from one wall section of the housing to the other, opposite wall section. The arrangement of the ventilation openings is such that the air flow is in one vertical direction, for example upwards, when the air guiding element abuts against the first wall section of the housing and in the opposite vertical direction, for example downwards, when the air guiding element abuts against the second wall section of the housing. The advantage of this design is that the total area of the air flow remains the same or almost the same when changing the direction of the air flow, i.e. moving the air guiding element in different directions. Furthermore, at least one wind guiding blade is arranged on the wind guiding element, and the wind guiding blade can move upwards or downwards together with the wind guiding element. The at least one wind-guiding blade can rotate around an axis parallel to the translation direction of the wind-guiding element. The at least one air guiding blade allows the outlet air flow to be directed in a horizontal direction, i.e. to the left or right.

Another example takes the form of a vent as in the first example, in which part of the area of the casing which is located in the area where the air guiding vanes extend forwardly from the air guiding element projects outwardly. In particular, the housing first wall section and the housing second wall section project outwardly to accommodate a movement of the air guiding element and the air guiding blades in the direction of translation.

Since the air guide blades are arranged on the air guide element, the air guide blades move up and down when the air guide element moves up and down vertically. In other words, the wind guiding blade is arranged to move together with the wind guiding element in a translational direction. The wind-guiding blade can rotate around an axis parallel to the translation direction of the wind-guiding element. The air guiding blade is movable in the direction of translation of the air guiding element. When the air guiding element and the air guiding blades are moved simultaneously in the translational direction, the total air flow area remains the same or almost the same. Because the wind-guiding blades are vertically arranged, space is required for vertical movement of the wind-guiding blades. In order to integrate the air guiding blades into the ventilation opening while keeping the design compact, it is necessary to leave space in the ventilation opening for the area where the air guiding blades extend forward from the air guiding element. The raised areas provide this space and act as grooves for the wind-guiding blades.

On the other hand, it should be noted that the front part of the air guiding element, which is remote from the air guiding blades and close to the end user, does not need to be convex. When mounted to, for example, a passenger vehicle, this design helps to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the vent, since the protruding portions of the vent are not visible to the end user, while the visible portions of the front of the vent are smooth and aesthetically pleasing.

Another example takes the form of a vent as in any of the above examples, wherein the first channel and the second channel are curved toward each other at the air outlet such that the air outlet flow direction of the first channel and the air outlet flow direction of the second channel intersect each other. This feature helps to easily change the direction of the airflow. The outlet air flow of the first channel and the outlet air flow of the second channel collide after passing through the air guiding element. The resulting airflow direction out of the vent will be determined by the ratio of the two airflows, which in turn is determined by the position of the air guiding element relative to the first and second wall sections. In a preferred embodiment, the air guide body has a convex shape.

A first air flow channel is formed between the air guiding element and the first wall section of the housing, and a second air flow channel is formed between the air guiding element and the second wall section of the housing. The dimensions of the channel, more particularly the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the air flow, vary depending on the position of the air guiding element. If the air guiding element is moved to the first wall section, the cross section of the first channel is reduced, while the cross section of the second channel is increased. Similarly, when the air guiding element is moved to the second wall section, the cross section of the second channel decreases and the cross section of the first channel increases. The total cross section perpendicular to the flow direction remains constant during the translational movement of the wind guiding element. Thus, the flow resistance and thus the pressure drop during use will remain constant or almost constant. Because the flow resistance of a single channel may be slightly different from the flow resistance of two parallel channels having the same cross-section as the single channel, a slight variation in pressure drop may occur.

The at least one wind guide blade is rotatably arranged on one side of the wind guide element facing the air inlet. Preferably, the ventilation opening comprises a plurality of wind-guiding blades, which are arranged on the flow direction upper side of the wind-guiding element. The arrangement of the air guiding blades on the air inlet side of the air guiding element has the advantage that the air guiding blades are not visible to a user viewing the ventilation opening from the air outlet side.

In a further embodiment, the air guiding vanes can be arranged on the air guiding element such that their axis of rotation is arranged between the side of the air guiding element facing the air inlet and the side of the air guiding element facing the air outlet. The vanes may be disposed entirely within the first and second airflow passages.

The air deflection blades include a groove or cutout that partially surrounds the air deflection element such that a portion of each blade is disposed between the housing air inlet and the air deflection element. In this embodiment, the blade comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are arranged between the wind guiding element and the first wall section and between the wind guiding element and the second wall section, respectively.

Another example takes the form of a vent in any of the above examples, wherein the housing further comprises an operating element. The operating element is used for controlling the movement of the air guiding element, so that the air can be guided upwards or downwards. By means of the operating element, the end user can change the vertical direction of the air flow by translating the air guiding element in a translation direction from the first wall section to the second wall section and in the opposite direction from the second wall section to the first wall section. The operating element can also be used to control the movement of the wind guiding blade or wind guiding blades attached to the wind guiding element, more particularly the rotation thereof, so that the air flow can be guided to the right or to the left. Thus, the end user can also change the horizontal direction of the air flow by means of the operating element. It should be noted that the movement of the operating element is limited to a translation in the horizontal direction as well as a translation in the vertical axis. The movement of the air guiding element can be achieved by using a motor, for example a linear motor, which is arranged on the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the housing and is connected to the air guiding element. Preferably, the engine is arranged outside the housing. The rotation of the air guide blades can also be achieved by using an engine. For the rotation, a rotary engine is preferably used, and the engine is directly connected to the rotation axis of the air guide blade. The engine can also be connected to the air guiding element by means of, for example, gears, so that the engine can be arranged on the left-hand side or on the right-hand side outside the housing.

Another example takes the form of a vent hole containing an operating element in any of the above examples, wherein the air-guiding element moves upwardly towards the first wall section of the housing when the operating element moves upwardly. In the final position, the air guiding element abuts against the first wall section of the housing. The pressing of the air guiding element against the wall section closes the first air flow channel. As the air guiding element moves upward, the channel height between the air guiding element and the second wall section of the housing, i.e. the second channel height, increases. At the same time, the channel height between the air guiding element and the first wall, i.e. the first channel height, is reduced. Reducing the height of the first channel results in a reduction of the cross-section of the first channel perpendicular to the flow direction of the channel. Thus, the airflow through the first passage is reduced and the downward component of the vent outlet airflow will be reduced.

Another example takes the form of a ventilation hole containing an operating element as in any of the examples above, wherein the air guiding element is moved downwards towards the second wall section of the housing when the operating element is moved downwards, thereby increasing the size of the passage between the air guiding element and the first wall section of the housing, more particularly the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of flow. In the final position, the air guiding element abuts against the second wall section of the housing. In the position in which the air guiding element presses against the second wall section of the housing, the second channel is closed. At the same time, the size of the passage between the wind guiding element and the second wall, more particularly the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction, decreases. Thus, the downward component of the outlet airflow increases while the upward component of the airflow decreases.

Another example takes the form of a vent containing an operating element as in any of the above examples, wherein when the operating element is moved to the left or right, the wind-guiding blade is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise about a rotation axis parallel to the direction of translation, so that the outlet airflow is also moved to the left or right, thus directing the airflow to the left or right, respectively. Preferably, the ventilation hole has a plurality of air guide blades, and the air guide blades are arranged in parallel along a line perpendicular to the translation direction. A plurality of air deflection blades are interconnected to one another, for example by rods, so that rotation of one blade causes the same rotation of the other blades.

Drawings

The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following description of various illustrative embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1a, 1b and 1c show front views of vent holes visible to an end user, with the handle in three different vertical orientations.

Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c show perspective views of the vent holes visible to the end user with the handle in three different vertical orientations.

Fig. 3a, 3b and 3c show an interior view of a ventilation opening, in which the air guiding element is located in three different directions.

Fig. 4 shows an interior view of the ventilation opening, with the connection of the wind guiding element to the wind guiding blades being highlighted.

Detailed Description

The disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Fig. 1a, 1b, 1c and fig. 2a, 2b, 2c show front and perspective views, respectively, of the vent visible to an end user. The end user may be a vehicle occupant. As shown, the end user is provided with an operating element 8, such as a handle, which projects forwardly from the vent. The handle is arranged on the air guiding element. By moving the handle, the user can change the direction in which the airflow from the vent hole into, for example, the interior of the vehicle is generated. In fig. 1a and 2a, the handle is in a central position for movement to the left/right and up/down so that the airflow is in the direction of the axis of the vent. In fig. 1b and 2b, the handle is in an upward direction, so that the air flow can be directed upwards. In fig. 1c and 2c, the air flow is directed downwards when the handle is in a downwards direction.

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show internal views of the vent hole not visible to the user. The three figures show a housing 1, which housing 1 has a first wall section 3 and a second wall section 4. It can be seen that the wall sections of the housing are bent towards each other such that the first wall section 3 points downwards while the second wall section 4 points upwards. Inside the housing, an air guide element 2 is provided which guides the air flow from the air inlet 13 to the air outlet 14. The air guide element has a convex shape. The air guiding element and the first wall section form the first channel. The air guiding element and the second wall section form the second channel. The first and second passages are configured such that the outlet airflow direction of the first passage and the outlet airflow direction of the second passage intersect with each other outside the vent hole. The figures also show raised areas 11.1 and 11.2 which can accommodate vertically arranged wind-guiding blades when the wind-guiding element is moved up and down. The vertically arranged wind-guiding blades are configured to move up or down simultaneously with the wind-guiding element in the direction of translation of the wind-guiding element. The wind-guiding blades rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the rotation axis parallel to the translation direction, so that the outlet airflow also moves to the left or right.

In fig. 3a, the air guiding element is located in the center of the housing. Two air passages can be observed. The first air channel 6 is located between the air guiding element and the housing first wall section 3. A second air channel 7 is formed between the air guiding element 2 and the second wall section 4. The total cross-sectional area through which air flows in the vent is given by the sum of the

areas

9 and 10, where the

areas

9 and 10 are identical. The

cross-sectional areas

9 and 10 together may represent, for example, one third of the total cross-section of the housing, when measured in the middle of the wind guiding element indicated by the

arrows

9 and 10.

In fig. 3b, when the end user pushes the handle upwards, the air guiding element is also moved upwards. Two points are noteworthy. Firstly, the wall section of the housing and the wind guiding element are curved to facilitate the change of the direction of the air flow. Secondly, the total gas flow volume remains the same and is still given by 9+10, since in fig. 3b the area of the second channel increases to 9+10 when the area of the first channel decreases to 0.

Due to the above feature, the noise level is not increased because the area through which the air flows is kept constant. Thus, the user does not experience interference when changing the direction of the airflow.

Similarly, in fig. 3c, when the end user pushes the handle downward, the air guiding element moves downward and the air flow direction changes downward.

Finally, fig. 4 shows a wind guiding blade 5, on which wind guiding element the wind guiding blade 5 is arranged. As shown, moving the handle to the right or left will cause the wind-guiding blade to rotate to the right or left, respectively. It can be seen that the air deflection vanes face toward the air inlet 13, away from the air outlet 14 and the end user. In this way, the projecting portion of the vent, which can accommodate the vertical wind-directing blades, is remote from the end user. Also shown is a translating guide 12, the translating guide 12 allowing movement of the air guiding element.

List of reference numerals:

1. vent housing

2. Wind guide element

3. First wall section of a housing

4. Second wall section of the housing

5. Wind-guiding blade

6. First air passage

7. Second air passage

8. Operating element

('airflow area in entire vent hole' - 'area of air guide element')/2

11.1,11.2 projection of casing to accommodate movement of air guiding blade and air guiding element

12. Translation guide

13. Air inlet

14. And an air outlet.

Claims

1. A vent, comprising:

a housing (1) for guiding an air flow from an air inlet (13) to an air outlet (14);

a wind guiding element (2) arranged in the housing (1) such that a first channel (6) is formed between the wind guiding element (2) and a first wall section (3) and a second channel (7) is formed between the wind guiding element (2) and a second wall section (4), wherein the wind guiding element is movable in a direction of translation from the first wall section (3) of the housing to the opposite second wall section (4) of the housing;

at least one wind guiding blade (5) which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the direction of translation, wherein the wind guiding blade is arranged on the wind guiding element (2).

2. A ventilation hole according to claim 1, characterized in that the first wall section of the housing and the second wall section of the housing (1) project outwards (11) in order to accommodate a movement of the air guiding element (2) and the air guiding blade (5) in a translational direction.

3. The ventilation hole as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the air guiding blade (5) is configured to move together with the air guiding element (2) in the direction of translation of the air guiding element (2).

4. The vent according to claim 1, wherein the first channel (6) and the second channel (7) are bent towards each other at the air outlet such that the air outlet flow direction of the first channel and the air outlet flow direction of the second channel cross each other.

5. The ventilation hole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one air guide blade is rotatably disposed on a side of said air guide member facing said air intake port.

6. A ventilation hole according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ventilation hole further comprises an operating element (8) for translating the air-guiding element (2) to direct the air flow upwardly or downwardly away from the ventilation hole and for rotating the air-guiding blade to direct the air flow leftwards or rightwards away from the air outlet.

7. The ventilation hole as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that it is configured in such a way that an upward movement of the operating element (8) causes an upward movement of the air guiding element and in such a way that a downward movement of the operating element (8) causes a downward movement of the air guiding element.

8. A ventilation hole according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ventilation hole is configured in such a way that pressing the air guiding element (2) against the first wall section (3) causes the first channel (6) to close, thereby blocking any downward air flow.

9. A ventilation hole according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ventilation hole is configured in such a way that pressing the air guiding element (2) against the second wall section (4) causes the second channel (7) to close, thereby blocking any upward air flow.

10. A ventilation hole according to claim 6, characterized in that it is configured in such a way that moving the operating element (8) to the left or to the right causes the wind-guiding blade (5) to rotate, thereby directing the air flow to the left or to the right, respectively.