EP3986729A1

EP3986729A1 - Ventilator for passenger compartment of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3986729A1
Application number: EP20743197.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédérick Reichheld; Christophe Cazes; François BOLLIER
Original assignee: Novares France SAS
Current assignee: Novares France SAS
Priority date: 2019-06-24
Filing date: 2020-06-09
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: FR3097473A1; FR3097473B1; WO2020260786A1

Abstract

Ventilator (100) for passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with at least one outlet opening (2) through which air flows, means for guiding air (3, 10a, 10b) which are able to direct the flow of air in at least one outlet direction, the ventilator (100) further comprising light emitting means (7) which are able to emit at least one beam of light aligned with the outlet direction and/or having a specific wavelength, the wavelength being a function of a parameter relating to the air passing through the ventilator (100).

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE INTERIOR VENTILATOR

The invention relates to an aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

Aerators are used to supply fresh air or hot air to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. They are usually located on the dashboard and can be manually operated to achieve the desired airflow. The user can usually adjust the air flow, the air temperature or the direction of the air flow by means of buttons or sliders on a center console, or a dashboard element or on the aerator itself. Once the settings are made, it is sometimes difficult for the user to know in which mode the aerator is operating. In particular, in the case of a motor vehicle equipped with an on-board computer managing all the functions of the vehicle, the user is generally obliged to consult a control screen again to find out the settings made previously. However, this consultation presents a certain danger when it is carried out by the driver because it distracts his attention from the road.

The invention therefore aims to provide an aerator which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks. In particular, the invention aims to provide an aerator allowing a user to easily and quickly know the operating mode of an aerator.

To this end, the invention relates to an aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing having at least one outlet opening through which an air flow circulates,

air guiding means suitable for orienting the air flow in at least one outlet direction, the air guiding means comprising a first air guiding element mounted to be movable in rotation about a pivot axis horizontal and capable of orienting the air flow in an outlet direction among at least three different outlet directions, namely an outlet direction inclined downwards, a horizontal outlet direction and an outlet direction inclined upwards, and a plurality of second air guide elements mounted so as to be able to rotate around vertical pivot axes and able to orient the air flow in an outlet direction from among at least three different outlet directions, namely a direction of exit inclined to the left, an exit direction inclined to the left straight line and an exit direction oriented at the center, and, for each of the positions of the first air guide element, the aerator further comprising light emitting means capable of emitting at least one aligned light beam with said at least one exit direction and / or having a specific wavelength, said wavelength being a function of a parameter relating to the air passing through the aerator, in particular the temperature of the air passing through the aerator or air flow through the aerator.

Thus configured, the invention will allow a user to easily and quickly know the operating mode of the aerator by simply observing the light beam or beams emitted by the light emitting means. In particular, the orientation of the light beam (s) will make it possible to know the orientation of the air flow at the outlet of the aerator. In addition, by emitting a beam of light at an appropriate wavelength, particularly in the visible range, it will be possible to indicate to the user whether the air leaving the aerator is hot or cold or whether its flow is high or low.

The aerator of the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in combination:

the first air guide element consists of a transverse bar extending in front of and upstream of said at least one outlet opening and having two opposite guide surfaces intended to form with two corresponding surfaces of the housing at least one channel d airflow, said cross bar supporting said light emitting means.

the light emitting means are constituted by a ramp of light emitting diodes housed inside an internal cavity of the transverse bar, said light emitting diodes being arranged so as to emit at least one light beam in the direction of a transparent wall of the transverse bar, the light emitting means are configured to emit at least one beam of light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 800 nm, in particular a wavelength between 400 nm and 600 nm when the temperature of the air passing through the aerator is less than 18 ° C and a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm when the temperature of the air passing through the aerator is greater than 25 ° C. the second air guide elements are formed by at least one group of air guide fins arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other, each of said fins being pivotally mounted on a fin carrier so as to be able to pivot about a vertical pivot axis, the fins being connected to each other by means of a finned comb which is axially movable.

the second air guide elements are formed by a first group, respectively a second group, of air guide fins arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other, each of said fins being pivotally mounted on a fin carrier so as to be able to pivot about a vertical pivot axis, the fins of the first group, respectively the fins of the second group, being connected to each other by means of a first fin comb, respectively a second finned comb, which is axially movable.

the aerator comprises displacement means able to axially move said finned comb, or said first and / or second finned combs, so as to orient said at least one group, or said first and / or second groups, of air guide fins at a specific inclination corresponding to a specific outlet direction of the air flow.

said displacement means comprise at least one maneuvering member movable axially under the action of a motor, said at least one maneuvering member being configured to drive a vertical rod integral with one of the air guide fins.

The aerator comprises a control unit, said control unit being adapted to control the actuation of the light emitting means so as to produce at least one light beam which is aligned with the exit direction defined by the second elements air guide.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an aerator as defined above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the non-limiting description which follows, given with reference to the appended figures. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an aerator according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerator shown in Figure 1 along the section plane P.

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the aerator of Figure 1. Figure 4a is a schematic side view of the aerator of Figure 1 in a first operational position of the crossbar.

Figure 4b is a schematic side view of the aerator of Figure 1 in a second functional position of the crossbar.

Figure 4c is a schematic side view of the aerator of Figure 1 in a third functional position of the crossbar.

FIG. 5a is a partial sectional view of the aerator of FIG. 1 according to the section plane AA indicated in FIG. 3, the air guide fins being oriented in a first functional position.

Figure 5b is a view similar to Figure 5a, the air guide fins being oriented in a second functional position.

Figure 5c is a view similar to Figure 5a, the air guide vanes being oriented in a third functional position.

In the following paragraphs, the terms horizontal, vertical, up, down, front and rear, left and right refer to air flow orientations for an aerator installed facing the driver's front seat of a motor vehicle cabin. Thus, a flow of air leaving such an aerator will be directed forwards and upwards if the driver wishes to preferentially ventilate his head, and to the right if he wishes to preferentially ventilate the left part of his face. The terms front / rear, and left / right therefore refer in this case to orientations contrary to those of the normal orientation of the vehicle.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown an aerator 100 according to the invention. This aerator 100 comprises a housing 1 in two parts, respectively a first part 1 forming a cover and a second part 1b forming a frame fixed to the rear of the first part 1a. The second part lb is connected at its rear open end to a pipe 16 supplying air to the aerator. The first part 1a is provided with an outlet opening 2 through which the flow of air circulating through the aerator can escape. As illustrated in Figure 3, the housing 1 has, at an outlet section SI adjoining the outlet opening 2, two guide surfaces 17 inclined towards the outlet opening 2. These guide surfaces 17 make it possible to direct the air flow either upwards or downwards, depending on the respective position of a horizontal bar 3, extending transversely in the housing 1 and facing the outlet opening 2. This bar 3 is formed in particular of a first part 5 facing the outlet opening 2, and of a second part 6 fixed to the first part 5, the first and second parts 5, 6 defining an internal cavity in which is arranged a ramp 7 of light-emitting diodes. The ramp 7 can be fixed to an internal wall of the bar 3 by any existing fixing means, and in particular by clipping. The wall 5a of the first part 5 facing towards the front of the outlet opening 2 and towards the rear of the ramp 7 is advantageously formed in a transparent material so as to allow the light beam (s) emitted by the light beams to pass. Light-emitting diodes of the ramp 7. This wall 5a has in particular two guide surfaces 18 having an inclination substantially identical to the guide surfaces 17 of the housing 1. As explained in detail below, the guide surfaces 18 make it possible to define, in combination with the guide surfaces 17, an air flow channel along which will flow the air coming from the pipe 16. At each of the opposite ends of the bar 3 is fixed a tab 4 having, at the third of its approximately length, a pin bearing 9 serving to receive a pivot pin 12 (shown in broken lines in Figure 1) by means of which the bar 3 is pivotally mounted on the side walls 13 of the second part lb of the housing 1. The pivoting movement of the axis 12, which generates the pivoting movement of the bar 3, can be produced by a motor 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. This motor 20 can advantageously be controlled by a control unit. control (not shown) of the motor vehicle so that the driver or one of the passengers can control the position of the bar 3, and, consequently, the direction of the air flow at the outlet of the aerator 100, via a control screen (not shown) electronically connected to said control unit.

As shown in Figures 4a to 4c, depending on the position of the bar 3 inside the housing 1, the air flow F circulating inside the aerator 100 can be directed, at the level of the 'outlet opening 2, either downwards, in the position shown in Figure 4a, or upwards, in the position shown in Figure 4c, or horizontally, in the position shown in Figure 4b. Thus, when the bar 3 is arranged in the center of the housing 1 (as in figure 4b), two flow channels are formed respectively above and below the bar 3 and the air flow F has a direction D2 which is substantially horizontal at the level of the outlet opening 2. On the other hand, when the bar 3 is tilted either downwards (as in FIG. 4a) or upwards (as in figure 4c), a single flow channel is formed either in the upper part of the housing 1 (as in figure 4a), or in the lower part of the housing (as in figure 4c), which directs the flow air F respectively downward, in a direction D1, and upward, in a direction D3. Each of the respective positions of the transverse bar 3 therefore defines a specific outlet direction of the air flow F. This outlet direction D1, D2 or D3 also corresponds to the direction of the light beam emitted by the ramp 7 of light-emitting diodes. Indeed, the ramp 7 is fixed inside the transverse bar 3 so that it is substantially parallel to the flat wall 5a of the bar 3. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c, this wall 5a is, whatever the position of the bar 3 inside the housing 1, substantially perpendicular to the exit direction of the air flow F. As a result, the ramp 7 emitting a light beam which is also perpendicular to the wall 5a, this light beam will be aligned with the outlet direction Dl, D2 or D3 of the air flow F. Thus configured, the aerator 100 of the invention will therefore make it possible to visually indicate the outlet direction of the flow air F, which will prevent the driver or one of the passengers having to consult the control screen to know the direction of the air flow F output.

To further improve the guiding of the air flow F inside the housing 1, the housing 1 also has, at an intermediate section S2 located upstream of the outlet section SI, opposite internal surfaces 19 having a rounded profile, said profile being substantially complementary to the external curved profile of two groups A and B of air guide fins 10a, 10b. In each of groups A and B, the fins 10a, 10b are arranged substantially parallel to each other and are axially spaced from each other. Each group A, B is disposed inside the housing 1 so as to modify the orientation of the air flow F circulating at the level of the intermediate section S2 according to the orientation of the air guide fins 10a, 10b relative to a vertical plane PI perpendicular to the axis 12. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5a, when the fins 10a and 10b are arranged parallel to the plane PI, they direct the air flow F upstream of the bar transverse 3 in a direction D4 which is parallel to the plane PI. In this case, the air flow F is not diverted to the left or to the left at the outlet of the aerator 100, but can still be diverted up or down depending on the position bar 3. To indicate to the driver or passengers of the vehicle that the air flow F has this specific orientation, the control unit may for example emit a light beam in activating all the light emitting diodes of the ramp 7. On the other hand, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5b, the fins 10a and 10b are inclined with respect to the plane PI following the axial displacement of finned combs 11a and 11b which will be described in detail in the following paragraphs. They therefore direct the air flow F upstream of the transverse bar 3 in a direction D5 which produces a deviation to the left of this air flow F. To indicate to the driver or passengers of the vehicle that the air flow F has this specific orientation, the control unit can for example emit a light beam by activating only the light-emitting diodes located in the left part of the ramp 7. Similarly, and as shown in Figure 5c, the fins 10a and 10b may be inclined with respect to the plane PI so as to orient the air flow F upstream of the transverse bar 3 in a direction D6 which produces a deviation to the right of this air flow F. To indicate to the driver or passengers of the vehicle that the air flow F has this specific orientation, the control unit can for example emit a light beam by activating only the light emitting diodes located in the right part ramp te 7.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the variable orientation of the guide fins 10a, 10b results from their pivoting mounting on respective fin supports 8a, 8b at an upstream end 101 and on respective finned combs 11a, 11b at a downstream end 102. The fin supports 8a, 8b and the finned combs 11a, 11b have substantially a rod shape and are arranged horizontally. The fin supports 8a, 8b are integral, at each of their ends, with the internal walls of the housing 1. Each of the finned combs 11a, 11b is slidably mounted on a support rod 11c joining the pair of tabs 4 on which is fixed the transverse bar 3. The finned combs 11a, 11b can thus slide along this support rod 11c parallel to the axis 12. The axial sliding of each of said combs 11a, 11b is caused by an operating member 14a, respectively 14b. This maneuvering member 14a, respectively 14b, may for example be moved axially by means of a worm 22a, respectively 22b, driven in rotation under the action of a motor 21a, respectively 21b, and may include a through opening 141 in which will be housed the upper end of a vertical rod 103a, 103b respectively, integral with one of the fins 10a, 10b respectively. Thus, when the maneuvering member 14a, respectively 14b, moves axially, it drives the rod 103a, respectively 103b, which causes the inclination of the fin 10a, respectively 10b, on which the rod 103a is fixed, respectively 103b, and, simultaneously, the axial displacement of the comb 11a, 11b respectively. The motor 21a, respectively 21b, can thus be controlled, via the aforementioned control unit, so as to produce a specific inclination of the air guide fins 10a, respectively 10b, which will generate an outlet direction of the air flow. F corresponding to the specific choices of the user. In another configuration (not shown) of the invention, it will also be possible to make the operating members 14a, 14b act directly on the finned combs 11a, 11b.

In another advantageous configuration of the invention, the light-emitting diodes of the ramp 7 can be configured to emit light of several colors, in particular a red light, that is to say having a wavelength of between 600 nm and 800 nm, in the case where the air leaving the aerator is hot, that is to say has a temperature above 25 ° C, and a blue light, that is to say has a wavelength between 400 nm and 600 nm, in the case where the air leaving the aerator is cold, that is to say has a temperature below 18 ° C. Of course, the variation in color of the light emitted by the light-emitting diodes may also correspond to variations other than the temperature of the air leaving the aerator. In particular, it will be possible to envisage varying the color of the light emitted by the electroluminescent diodes as a function of the flow rate of the air flow F leaving the aerator.

The invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiment described above. In particular, it will be conceivable to use other light emitting means than light-emitting diodes.

Claims

1. Ventilator (100) for a motor vehicle interior comprising: a housing (1) having at least one outlet opening (2) through which an air flow (F) circulates,

air guide means (3, 10a, 10b) capable of orienting the air flow (F) along at least one outlet direction (D1-D6), the air guide means comprising a first control element air guide (3) mounted so as to be able to rotate around a horizontal pivot axis (12) and capable of orienting the air flow (F) along one outlet direction among at least three different outlet directions, namely a downwardly inclined exit direction (D1), a horizontal exit direction (D2) and an upwardly inclined exit direction (D3), and a plurality of second air guide members (10a, 10b) mounted movable in rotation about vertical pivot axes and capable of orienting the air flow (F) in an outlet direction from among at least three different outlet directions, namely an outlet direction (D5) inclined to the left, an exit direction (D6) inclined to the right and an exit direction (D4) oriented to the center, for each of the positions of the first air guide element (3), said aerator (100) further comprising light emitting means (7) adapted to emit at least one beam of light aligned with said at least one exit direction ( D1-D6) and / or having a specific wavelength, said wavelength being a function of a parameter relating to the air passing through the aerator, in particular the temperature of the air passing through the aerator or the flow rate of air passing through the aerator.

2. Aerator (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first air guide element consists of a transverse bar (3) extending in front of and upstream of said at least one outlet opening (2) and having two opposed guide surfaces (18) intended to form with two corresponding surfaces (17) of the housing (1) at least one air flow channel, said cross bar (3) supporting said light emitting means (7).

3. Aerator (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said light emitting means are constituted by a ramp (7) of light emitting diodes housed inside an internal cavity of the bar. transverse (3), said light emitting diodes being arranged so as to emit at least one light beam towards a transparent wall (5a) of the transverse bar (3).

4. Aerator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting means (7) are configured to emit at least one beam of light having a wavelength of between 400 nm and 800 nm, in particular a wavelength between 400 nm and 600 nm when the temperature of the air passing through the aerator is less than 18 ° C and a wavelength between 600 nm and 800 nm when the temperature of the air passing through the aerator is above 25 ° C.

5. Aerator (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second air guide elements consist of at least one group (A, B) of air guide fins (10a, 10b ) arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other, each of said fins (10a, 10b) being pivotably mounted on a fin carrier (8a, 8b) so as to be able to pivot about an axis of vertical pivoting, the fins (10a, 10b) being secured to each other by means of a finned comb (11a, 11b) which is axially movable.

6. Aerator (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second air guide elements are constituted by a first group (A), respectively a second group (B), of air guide fins ( 10a, 10b) arranged substantially parallel to each other and spaced from each other, each of said fins (10a, 10b) being pivotally mounted on a fin carrier (8a, 8b) so as to be able to pivot around it. a vertical pivot axis, the fins (10a) of the first group (A), respectively the fins (10b) of the second group (B), being connected to each other by means of a first finned comb (11a), respectively of a second finned comb (11b), which is axially displaceable.

7. Aerator (100) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises movement means (14a, 14b) adapted to axially move said finned comb (11a, 11b), or said first and / or second finned combs (11a, 11b), so as to orient said at least one group (A, B), or said first and / or second groups (A, B), of air guide fins (10a, 10b) at an inclination specific corresponding to a specific outlet direction (D4, D5, D6) of the air flow

(F).

8. Aerator (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that said movement means comprise at least one operating member (14a, 14b) movable axially under the action of a motor (21a, 21b), said at least a maneuvering member (14a, 14b) being configured to drive a vertical rod (103a, 103b) integral with one of the air guide fins (10a, 10b).

9. Aerator (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control unit, said control unit being able to control the actuation of the light emitting means (7) so as to producing at least one light beam which is aligned with the exit direction (D4, D5, D6) defined by the second air guide elements (10a, 10b).

10. Motor vehicle comprising an aerator (100) according to any preceding claim.