DE102018209718B4 - Air outlet for a vehicle interior - Google Patents

Abstract

Air outlet (10) for a vehicle interior, the air outlet (10) having one or more essentially vertically and/or horizontally arranged, at least partially adjustable or non-adjustable air guiding slats (12, 14, 16) on its visible side adjoining the vehicle interior, characterized in that characterized in that at least one of the air guiding slats (12, 16) has at least one thickening (22, 24) along its vertical or horizontal longitudinal extent, which is not simultaneously designed as an adjustment handle, the adjustment handle and thickenings (22, 24) being at different positions with respect to the Longitudinal extent of the air guide fins (12, 14, 16) are formed.

Description

The present invention relates to an air outlet for a vehicle interior of a vehicle, in particular for the vehicle interior of a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1, and an air guiding lamella for such an air outlet according to patent claim 8.

Air outlets, also referred to as air vents or air registers (“air register”), are usually provided at various points in motor vehicles, in particular a central air register and lateral air registers.

These air outlets are supplied with temperature and humidity conditioned and usually filtered air from a vehicle ventilation or air conditioning system (HVAC). The flow speed and the exit angle can often be set directly by means of appropriate operating elements on the air outlet and adapted to the wishes and needs of a vehicle user.

In order to steer the air flow in a given direction and as a visual closure of the air outlet, it usually has several air guide slats; With a corresponding angular position, these can also be used in certain embodiments to close the air outlet.

Such air-guiding slats can be arranged either horizontally or vertically, with a combination of horizontal and vertical slats in a type of grid arrangement also being common, with either the horizontal or the vertical slats then generally receding somewhat.

The angle of attack of the air guiding slats can often be adjusted jointly via a coupling mechanism which can be operated by a user using an adjustment handle arranged on a slat. For reasons of cost and weight, the air guide slats are preferably made of plastic and are relatively elongated - especially in the case of low, rectangular air outlets - so that when the plastic slats are dimensioned to save space and material, they can easily bend or twist and, in an unfavorable case, depending on the actuation of the adjustment mechanism can fall out of their pivot bearings or even break.

Also, the inboard coupling mechanism of the airfoil louvers or other inboard mechanisms are often relatively clearly visible to the vehicle user through the airfoil louvers, which is perceived as aesthetically unsatisfactory.

Finally, the side air outlets in particular often serve two different purposes, firstly to direct an airflow towards a vehicle user if he so desires, but also or with the purpose of directing an airflow towards the windows in the vehicle doors, which in view of the Avoiding fogging of the windows or the like can be relevant.

In this context, there may be a desire to focus the air flow directed at the side windows so that it covers the windows optimally, i.e. over their entire extent if possible.

Air outlets with different designs of the air deflection blades are, for example, from the EP 2 006 132 A1 , the DE 103 35 219 B3 known.

US 2012/0 122 387 A1 discloses an air outlet for vehicles, the air outlet having a plurality of adjustable air guide slats on its visible side adjoining a vehicle interior. The air guide fins are rotatable and pivotable in a frame. In order to be able to move the air ducts accordingly, a handle is arranged on one of them. The air-guiding slats are coupled to one another, so that the air-guiding slats move in unison when the handle is operated.

The DE 196 35 165 A1 relates to a ventilation device for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. One can also speak of an air outlet, the air outlet having a plurality of adjustable air-guiding slats on its visible side adjoining a vehicle interior.

The DE 197 01 499 C1 discloses an air vent for vehicles. One can also speak of an air outlet, the air outlet having a plurality of adjustable air-guiding slats on its visible side adjoining a vehicle interior.

The DE 10 2013 108 071 A1 discloses a ventilation device for a vehicle passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. Air guide flaps are arranged parallel to one another and side by side in an air duct. The louvers direct airflow through the air duct in a lateral direction. Fins made of an elastomer are arranged in an air outlet opening of the air duct. At the air outlet opening, the air duct has a grille with struts that run essentially horizontally.

The invention is based on the object of improving an air outlet of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that greater stability of the air-guiding slats is achieved with optimized flow properties and improved visual appeal for the user.

The aforementioned task is solved by an air outlet with the features of patent claim 1 or by an air-guiding lamella with the features of patent claim 8.

Advantageous refinements of the invention are described in the dependent patent claims.

According to the invention, an air outlet for a vehicle interior is proposed, the air outlet having one or more essentially vertically and/or horizontally arranged, at least partially adjustable or non-adjustable air guiding slats on its visible side adjacent to the vehicle interior, with at least one of the air guiding slats along its vertical or horizontal longitudinal extension has at least one thickening which is not simultaneously configured as an adjustment handle, the adjustment handle and thickenings being configured at different positions with respect to the longitudinal extension of the air-guiding slats.

1. a) Zum einen kann hierdurch ein fokussierter und beschleunigter Luftstrom, beispielsweise zur intensiveren Anströmung eines Fahrzeugtürfensters durch einen seitlichen Ausströmer, realisiert werden, denn durch die aus den Verdickungen resultierende geringere Durchströmbreite der Luftleitlamellen wird der Luftstrom im Bereich der Verdickungen beschleunigt;
2. b) zum anderen kann durch eine derartige Verdickung, insbesondere, wenn sich diese über die Breite der Luftleitlamelle fortsetzt, eine Verbesserung der mechanischen Stabilität bzw. Steifheit der Luftleitlamelle erzielt werden, was insbesondere dann vorteilhaft ist, wenn mechanische Kopplungselemente zwischen den einzelnen Luftleitlamellen im Bereich der Verdickungen angeordnet sind, weil dann die Angriffsbereiche dieser mechanischen Kopplungselemente stabiler sind;
3. c) durch die Verdickungen können außerdem entsprechende mechanische Kopplungselemente optisch wenigstens teilweise verdeckt werden, so dass die ästhetische Anmutung des Luftauslasses verbessert wird.

Such a thickening can fulfill several functions:

1. a) On the one hand, this allows a focused and accelerated air flow, for example for a more intensive flow of air onto a vehicle door window through a side vent, because the air flow in the area of the thickenings is accelerated due to the narrower flow width of the air guide slats resulting from the thickening;
2. b) on the other hand, an improvement in the mechanical stability or rigidity of the air guide slat can be achieved by such a thickening, especially if it continues across the width of the air guide slat, which is particularly advantageous when mechanical coupling elements between the individual air guide slats in the area the thickenings are arranged, because then the engagement areas of these mechanical coupling elements are more stable;
3. c) corresponding mechanical coupling elements can also be optically at least partially covered by the thickenings, so that the aesthetic appearance of the air outlet is improved.

If the air vent has at least three parallel air-guiding slats (horizontal or vertical), of which a central air-guiding slat has an adjustment handle arranged approximately in the middle, it can preferably be provided that the other outer air-guiding slats each have a thickened area, with adjustment handles and thickened areas according to the invention are formed at different positions with respect to the longitudinal extension of the air guide slats.

Since the adjustment handle usually protrudes beyond the regular thickness of the corresponding air guide slat and thus narrows the air path, it is advantageous to provide the other thickenings in a different position (i.e. off-centre in the case of a central adjustment handle) so that the air passage is not obstructed too much overall .

If there are several air guiding slats with thickenings, in a preferred embodiment the thickenings can be formed in approximately the same positions with respect to the longitudinal extent of the air guiding slats.

In particular, the at least one thickening can be arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal extent of the corresponding air-guiding lamella. By arranging the thickening or thickenings in an outer lateral area in the case of a lateral air outlet, the proportion of the air flow directed towards the vehicle door window can be particularly focused, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one thickening is designed in such a way that the respective air guiding slat is only thicker on one side and is essentially flat on the other side, with several air guiding slats with thickenings and one central air guiding slat without thickening, the thickenings on both sides of the Central air-guiding lamella are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the central air-guiding lamella.

Due to this opposite orientation of the thickenings with respect to the middle lamella, a focusing (beam narrowing in the vertical direction) of the air flow in the area of the thickenings can be achieved.

In order to avoid sharp edges on the air-guiding slats, which would be unfavorable both optically and in terms of flow, the at least one thickening can essentially have a trapezoidal shape with (flat) inlet and outlet areas in relation to the air outlet side.

As already mentioned, mechanical elements provided within the air outlet, in particular coupling mechanisms between individual adjustable air deflection slats, can be arranged at least partially in the area of the longitudinal extension of provided thickenings, so that these mechanical elements are at least partially covered by the thickenings for a vehicle user. At the same time, this improves the stability of the adjustment mechanism.

In one embodiment, the thickenings can be made, at least on their visible side, at least partially from an optically lighter-looking material (e.g. a material with a silvery chrome appearance) or in a lighter color than surrounding elements (e.g. made from a black material) on the visible side of the air outlet.

Due to this deliberate optical contrast effect, mechanical elements provided inside the air outlet are even more difficult to perceive by a vehicle user, which is a desired effect.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one thickening of an air guiding lamella on the outlet side is approximately two to three times thicker than the regular thickness of the air guiding lamella, and/or the thickening extends over approximately 10% to 30% of the longitudinal extension of the air guiding lamella. The thickening is therefore usually more than a simple reinforcing rib, as can be provided for some plastic elements for purely static reasons.

An air guiding lamella proposed within the framework of the invention, preferably for an air outlet according to the invention as described above, has at least one thickened area over its longitudinal extent, which is not simultaneously designed as an adjustment handle.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen seitlichen Luftauslasses; und
• 2 eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Teils von 1.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic view of an embodiment of a lateral air outlet according to the invention; and
• 2 an enlarged view of part of 1 .

In 1 the invention is shown as a model using the example of a side air outlet 10 for a motor vehicle.

Even if a side air outlet is shown in the drawing, the invention can also be used for other air outlets in the vehicle area, for example a center air outlet or rear passenger air outlets.

The air outlet 10 shown has an essentially rectangular shape, the length being a multiple of the height. However, the invention can also be used with other shapes and configurations of air outlets, e.g.

the inside 1 The air outlet 10 shown from the visible side has a total of three horizontally arranged air guide slats 12, 14 and 16. In the figure, only the front areas of the air guide slats 12, 14, 16 are shown; these continue further into the interior of the air outlet than shown in the figures.

Of course, a different number of air-guiding slats is also possible, e.g. only two or four or five.

The air guide fins according to 1 can be aligned by a user using an adjustment handle 20 . Various mechanisms are known in the prior art for this purpose 1 are not shown in detail.

In one adjustment option, the angle of the air guide slats 12, 14 and 16 can be adjusted in relation to the longitudinal axis (“azimuth”) using the adjustment handle 20 arranged centrally on the middle air guide slat 14 in order to be able to adjust the exit angle of the air flow within certain limits. For this purpose, the air guiding slats 12, 14 and 16 are to be mounted pivotably and to be connected to one another with regard to the pivoting movement via a coupling mechanism (not shown) arranged further to the rear in the air outlet.

In an alternative adjustment mechanism - set back further behind the in 1 horizontal air guide slats shown - provided in the figures not shown several vertical air guide slats, the angle of attack for the purpose of right / left adjustment of the air flow by a lateral movement of the adjustment handle 20 can be adjusted. In order to then also be able to change the azimuthal outflow angle, the adjusting handle can either also allow the angle of attack of the horizontal slats 12, 14, 16 to be adjusted by an up-down movement, or the entire air outlet 10 can be pivoted in one direction arranged roller. All of these adjustment options are possible within the scope of the invention.

Further referring to the in 1 In the embodiment shown, the air outlet intensity can also be adjusted by means of a separate setting wheel 18 .

In the lateral outer area of the two outer air guide slats 12 and 16 (but not the central slat 14), as in 2 more clearly visible, thickenings 22 and 24 are provided in approximately the same position of the longitudinal extent of the slats, but on opposite sides of the slats.

These extend downwards in the case of the upper lamella 12 and upwards in the case of the lower lamella 16 . This accelerates the airflow through the narrowing of the resulting slit, which can make it easier to target a vehicle door window, for example.

Furthermore, this increases the stability or torsional rigidity of the air-guiding slats 12 and 16, as a result of which the device gives the user a more solid impression and damage is avoided.

Finally, mechanical elements (not shown) located behind the thickenings 22 and 24 are covered by deliberately reducing the width of the slot.

• Die schraffierten oder schwarzen Bereiche der Lamellen 12, 14 und 16 sind aus einem dunklen Kunststoff ausgebildet (genauso wie das sonstige Gehäuse des Luftauslasses und der Luftauslasskanal, wobei dies der Übersichtlichkeit halber dort nicht durch eine Schraffur dargestellt ist), wohingegen die Frontseiten der Verdickungen und jeweils ein Kantenbereich 26 bzw. 28 aus einem silbrigen Material mit Chromanmutung ausgebildet sind (in den Figuren weiß bzw. unschraffiert). Durch diesen starken Kontrast werden weiter innen liegende mechanische Elemente von einem Fahrzeugbenutzer weniger deutlich wahrgenommen, und es wird somit ein ästhetisch hochwertiger Eindruck geschaffen.

This is in the embodiment of 1 and 2 also supported by the choice of color and material:

• The hatched or black areas of the slats 12, 14 and 16 are made of a dark plastic (just like the rest of the air outlet housing and the air outlet duct, although this is not shown there by hatching for the sake of clarity), whereas the front sides of the thickened areas and an edge region 26 or 28 is formed from a silvery material with a chrome appearance (white or unshaded in the figures). Due to this strong contrast, mechanical elements located further inwards are perceived less clearly by a vehicle user, and an aesthetically high-quality impression is thus created.

The end faces of the thickenings 22 and 24 continue to have the shape of a flat trapezium. This means that the material thickness first increases continuously to a maximum value and then decreases again. Incidentally, in the exemplary embodiment, the outer sloping area is no longer made of a chrome-like material, but of the dark plastic material, hence the transitions 30, 32 between the materials.

The thickenings also continue over the depth of the air guide fins 12 and 16 (not shown). However, the extent of the thickening is then reduced up to the rear edge of the slats (not shown) down to the regular thickness of the slats in order to achieve the most laminar flow behavior of the air-guiding slats.

Since the width of the slot is narrowed only in sections within the scope of the invention and not continuously, the invention uses very little material and the total air throughput is hardly affected. In addition, a rather filigree appearance of the slats is guaranteed while at the same time improving stability.

Depending on the stability and flow requirements, several thickenings, e.g. a total of two thickenings in each of the two outer areas, can also be provided for each air guide slat.

Claims (8)

Air outlet (10) for a vehicle interior, the air outlet (10) having one or more essentially vertically and/or horizontally arranged, at least partially adjustable or non-adjustable air guiding slats (12, 14, 16) on its visible side adjoining the vehicle interior, characterized in that characterized in that at least one of the air guide slats (12, 16) has at least one thickening (22, 24) along its vertical or horizontal longitudinal extent, which is not simultaneously designed as an adjustment handle, the adjustment handle and thickenings (22, 24) being at different positions with respect to the Longitudinal extent of the air guide fins (12, 14, 16) are formed. Air outlet (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the air outlet (10) has at least three air guiding lamellas (12, 14, 16) arranged in parallel, with a middle air guiding lamella (14) having an adjustment handle (20) arranged approximately in the middle, and with the other outer air guiding lamellas (12 , 16) each have a thickening (22, 24). Air outlet (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that several air guide lamellas (12, 16) with thickenings (22, 24) are provided, in which the thickenings are formed in approximately the same positions with respect to the longitudinal extension of the air guide lamellas (12, 14, 16). Air outlet (10) after one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that at least one thickening (22, 24) is arranged eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal extent of the corresponding air-guiding lamella (12, 16). Air outlet (10) after one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the at least one thickening (22, 24) is designed in such a way that the respective air guiding lamella (12, 16) thickens only on one side and is essentially flat on the other side, with several air guiding lamellas (12, 16) with thickenings and a central air guiding lamella (14) without thickening, the thickenings on both sides of the central air guiding lamella (14) are essentially mirror-symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the central air guiding lamella (14). Air outlet (10) after one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the at least one thickening (22, 24) relative to the air outlet side essentially has a trapezoidal shape with inlet and outlet areas. Air outlet (10) after one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the at least one thickening (22, 24) of an air-guiding lamella (12, 16) on the outlet side is approximately two to three times the thickness of the regular thickness of the air-guiding lamella (12, 16), and/or that the thickening extends over approximately 10% to 30% of the length of the air-guiding lamella (12, 16). Air guiding lamella (12, 16) for an air outlet (10) for a vehicle interior according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the air guide lamella (12, 16) has at least one thickening (22, 24) over its longitudinal extent, which is not simultaneously designed as an adjustment handle.

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