FR2791114A1 - Device for controlling direction and flow of fluid for ventilating car interiors. comprises main pipe, connecting ring, and diffusion pipe mounted between them so that three components together form unbroken outer wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for controlling the direction and flow of a fluid comprises a main pipe (2) which can be connected to a diffusion pipe (4) with a central partition (25). The diffusion pipe can be pivoted from a position where the partition directs the flow of fluid to one where it shuts it off. A ring (3) with slightly smaller diameter than the main pipe can be mounted in it using pins (15) on the ring which locate into longitudinal grooves (13) on the pipe. It can then be connected to the diffusion pipe by engaging grooves (20) on it with a seating (27) on the diffusion pipe, so that the three components together form an unbroken outer wall.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling

  the flow of a fluid and the orientation of this flow. This device can in particular be an aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. A ventilator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle generally comprises means for opening or closing the duct for conveying air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a pivoting nozzle for orienting the

  air flow in the direction desired by the passengers.

  Said means for opening and closing the duct are conventionally constituted by a pivoting flap situated behind the nozzle, by a control wheel for this flap, placed near the nozzle on the facade comprising the aerator, and by a appropriate transmission

connecting the wheel to the shutter.

  The nozzle may be constituted by a pivoting frame comprising a series of fixed fins, and by a series of pivoting fins, perpendicular to the fins of the frame, which are situated behind the latter. These pivoting fins can be oriented by means of a

  cursor projecting beyond said frame.

  Aerators of this type have the essential drawback of having a complex structure, involving the manufacture and assembly of many parts, which has a significant impact on their cost price.

  as well as their operational reliability over time.

  There are also known aerators with pivoting diffusion nozzle, in particular the aerator disclosed by the German Utility Model No. 75 14 301. This aerator comprises a spherical general envelope nozzle pivotally mounted in an air flow duct , this nozzle being provided with a central wall parallel to the direction of flow of air through the nozzle. The latter can pivot not only so that said wall directs the air flow but also up to

  a position in which this wall closes the conduit.

  Some of the existing aerators have the disadvantage of having a relatively complex structure, including several parts which must be manufactured and assembled, and / or of having an average seal, and / or

  to be relatively complex to assemble.

  The present invention aims to remedy these essential drawbacks by providing a device which makes it possible to control the flow of a fluid and the orientation of this flow, this device having to have a particularly simple structure and be constituted by a reduced number of parts. , the latter must in particular be obtainable by molding a synthetic material and must be easy and quick to assemble. The invention also aims to provide a device having a perfect seal in the flow stop position, and having a perfect

  resistance to the various manipulations that he may be subjected to.

  Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a device having an aspect

original and pleasant visual.

  The device concerned comprises, in a manner known per se - a tubular body, delimiting a fluid flow conduit and comprising means for mounting pivoting about a first axis; and - a fluid diffusion nozzle, of general spherical envelope, this nozzle comprising means for its pivoting mounting in this body and being provided with a median wall parallel to the direction of flow of air through she; the nozzle can pivot not only so that said wall directs the fluid but also up to

  a position in which this wall allows to close the conduit.

  According to the invention: - the device comprises an annular element, provided with first means for a pivoting mounting, shaped to cooperate with said means for a pivoting mounting which the body comprises, and second means for a pivoting mounting around a second axis, shaped to cooperate with the means that the nozzle comprises for its pivoting mounting in the body; this annular element has, apart from said first means for pivoting mounting, an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the body; - The means that the nozzle comprises for its pivoting mounting in the body are arranged at the periphery of said median wall, and the latter is such that it fills the entire space delimited internally by the annular element when its mounting means cooperate with those of this element, so as to form, with

this element, a continuous wall.

  Thus, the device according to the invention comprises only three

  parts, namely the aforementioned body, annular element and nozzle.

  The nozzle is pivotally mounted on the annular element, and this annular element is pivotally mounted in the body, which makes it possible to adjust the orientation of the flow in two planes. Preferably, the various aforementioned mounting means are such that said first and second pivot axes are perpendicular, to allow very wide adjustment of

the orientation of the flow.

  The central wall of the nozzle and the annular element form a solid wall, the surface of which corresponds to the cross section of the flow duct, so that, when this solid wall is placed perpendicular to the axis of this duct, it ensures a tight closure of this conduit, which effectively stops any flow of the fluid. The conformations of the various parts are simple, and these parts are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, in particular in synthetic material, and to assemble. These parts have a resistance allowing them to largely support handling

  that the device may be subjected to.

  In addition, the annular element, since it is placed perpendicular to the flow conduit which the nozzle comprises, constitutes a manipulation member making it possible to orient the nozzle, and

  gives the aerator an original and attractive visual appearance.

  The body of the device can be in two parts, receiving the annular element therebetween and then being able to be assembled to trap this assembly element. Preferably, however, this body is made of a synthetic material having a slight possibility of elastic stretching, such as polypropylene, while said respective pivoting mounting means of the body and of the annular element are shaped to support without deterioration l engagement in force of the annular element in the body, until the coming in cooperation of these

mounting means.

  The installation of the annular element - nozzle assembly in the body is therefore particularly simple and quick to perform, by simple

commitment.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention in this case, the mounting means that comprises the annular element are constituted by pins while the mounting means that comprises the body are constituted by holes suitable for receiving these pins. The body of the device can advantageously comprise at least one groove extending between one of its end edges and said holes, the bottom of this groove being inclined and constituting a ramp which allows a progressive radial stretching of the body during the commitment

The annular element.

  Preferably, the respective mounting means of the annular element and of the nozzle are constituted by at least one rib projecting radially from one of these parts, and by a peripheral groove arranged in the other of these parts, this throat being clean to receive and

  to retain this rib, with the possibility of sliding thereof in it.

  Advantageously, in this case, the annular element is made of a synthetic material having a slight possibility of elastic stretching, such as polypropylene, so that it can receive the

nozzle by simple snap-on.

  The annular element may comprise a bandage on its outer face or a coating made of a resilient material, which has a

  external diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the body.

  This bandage thus constitutes a seal which comes into contact with the wall of the duct and ensures perfect closure of the duct. In addition, the resilient material is pleasant to the touch for handling

  the annular element for the orientation of the flow.

  For its proper understanding, the invention is again described below, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, a preferred embodiment of the device which it relates to, this device being, in this example, an aerator for

passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

  Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of this aerator Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, in the assembled state Figure 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view, in an open position of this aerator, allowing air flow; Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, in a closed position, in which the flow of air is prevented; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, in an open position similar to Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, in another position of the air diffusion nozzle that this aerator comprises; Figure 7 is a front view, according to an alternative embodiment, and Figure 8 is a front view of one of its parts

  constitutive, according to another variant.

  The elements which are found in these different variants, or which are similar from one variant to another, are designated by the

same reference numbers.

  The figures represent from different angles an aerator 1, comprising a body 2, an annular element 3 and a nozzle 4 for air diffusion. All of these parts 2, 3, 4 are made of material

  suitable synthetic, such as polypropylene.

  The body 2 has a tubular shape and delimits an air flow duct 7. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, this body 2 is intended to be fixed to a wall 10, in particular the dashboard of the vehicle, by one of its ends, its other end being intended to

  be connected to an air supply duct (not shown).

  Figures 1, 5 and 6 show that the body 2 comprises two diametrically opposite cylindrical housings 12, arranged in its wall, from the inside thereof, and two longitudinal grooves 13, also arranged in the wall of the body 2 , from inside of it. The bottom of each groove 13 is inclined. Each groove 13 begins, at its shallow end, in the immediate vicinity of a housing 12 and opens, at its deepest end,

  in one of the opening edges of the body 2.

  Element 3 has a slightly smaller external diameter

  to the internal diameter of the body 2 and comprises two coaxial pins 15.

  As can be deduced from FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, these pins 15 are shaped so as to be able to be engaged in the grooves 13, then to be slid by force in these grooves 13 so as to radially stretch the synthetic material from which the body 2, the inclined bottoms of the grooves 13 then constituting ramps which allow this stretch to be carried out gradually. This sliding in force is carried out until engagement of the pins 15 in the housings 12, and locking of these pins 15 in these housings 12 by elastic return of the material

  synthetic constituting the body 2.

  The element 3 further comprises three equidistant ribs 20,

  projecting radially from its internal peripheral face.

  The nozzle 4 has a generally spherical envelope. She

  comprises a flat central wall 25 and six curved side walls 26.

  The wall 25 has an external diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the element 3 and comprises a circular groove 27 arranged in

its thickness.

  The walls 26 are connected to the wall 25 by their longitudinal edges and define with this wall different conduits

air flow.

  As shown in the figures, the nozzle 4 is intended to be engaged in the element 3, and the respective dimensions of the ribs 20 and of the groove 27 are such that the ribs 20 can snap into this groove 27, following a slight elastic radial deformation of the element 3. These same dimensions are also such that the nozzle 4 can pivot relative to the element 3, by sliding on the ribs

  , along an axis B perpendicular to the axis A passing through the pins 15.

  In practice, after assembly, the element 3 protrudes from the aerator and can be grasped by a user to cause the pivoting of the element 3 - nozzle 4 assembly relative to the body 2, to allow adjustment to the left or to the right of the air flow. Figure 3 shows in solid lines a middle position of this assembly and in broken lines an oblique position thereof, for the orientation of the flow towards

the left of this figure.

  This same element 3 - nozzle 4 assembly can pivot to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the external peripheral face of the element 3 comes in close proximity to the wall of the duct 2. The continuous wall that this element constitutes 3 and the wall 25 then allows perfect closure of the duct 2 and, consequently, a total stop of

air flow.

  The pivoting of the nozzle 4 relative to the element 3, as appears by comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6, allows an adjustment of the air flow upwards or downwards. FIG. 6 shows in solid lines a position for orienting the flow downwards and in lines

  interrupted an upward flow orientation position.

  The aerator 1 shown in FIG. 7 is identical to that described above, except that the walls 26 are replaced by stepped semi-circular fins 30, connected to each other by the wall 25 and

by spacers 31.

  FIG. 8 shows a nozzle 4 in which these fins 30 do not

are not flat but wavy.

  The invention thus provides a device making it possible to control the flow of a fluid and the orientation of this flow, in particular an aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, which overcomes many drawbacks of the homologous devices of the prior art. Indeed, this device has a particularly simple structure, comprises a reduced number of parts, which can be obtained by molding a synthetic material and which are easy and quick to assemble, and makes it possible to obtain a perfect seal against flow. fluid when closed while having perfect resistance to

  various manipulations intended to orient this flow.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example, but on the contrary embraces all of the variant embodiments thereof. Thus, the element 3 could be placed in a horizontal plane, so that its pivoting allows the up-down adjustment of the flow while the pivoting of the nozzle would allow the left-right adjustment of this flow; the element 3 can be of monolithic structure, as shown in the figures, or can comprise a bandage of resilient material having an outside diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the body 2 for

  constitute a seal slightly crushed by the wall of the body 2.

  This bandage can be attached to element 3 by any means, and can

  particular to be molded on the latter.

Claims (8)

  1 - Device (1) for controlling the flow of a fluid and the orientation of this flow, comprising: - a tubular body (2), which delimits a conduit (7) for flow of the fluid and comprises means (12) for mounting pivoting about a first axis (A); and - a nozzle (4) for diffusing fluid, of general spherical envelope, which comprises means (27) for its pivoting mounting in the body (2) and which is provided with a central wall (25) parallel to the air flow direction through it; the nozzle (4) can pivot not only so that said wall (25) directs the fluid but also to a position in which this wall (25) makes it possible to close off the duct (7); device (1) characterized - in that it comprises an annular element (3), provided with first means (15) for a pivoting mounting, shaped to cooperate with said means for a pivoting mounting which the body (2) comprises, and second means (20) for a pivoting mounting around a second axis (B), shaped to cooperate with the means (27) that comprises the nozzle (4) for its pivoting mounting in the body (2); this annular element (3) has, apart from said first means (15) for pivoting mounting, an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the body (2); and - in that the means (27) that the nozzle (4) comprises for its pivoting mounting in the body (2) are arranged at the periphery of said median wall (25), the latter being such that it fills the entire interior space delimited by the annular element (3) when its mounting means (27) cooperate with those of this element (3), so as to form, with this element (3), a continuous wall . 2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the various aforementioned mounting means (12, 15, 20, 27) are such that said first and second pivot axes (A, B) are perpendicular. 3 Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the body (2) is made of a synthetic material having a slight possibility of elastic stretching, and in that said respective pivoting mounting means (12, 15) of the body (2) and of the annular element (3) are shaped to support without deterioration the force engagement of the annular element (3) in the body (2), up to   the coming in cooperation of these mounting means (12, 15).   4 - Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mounting means that comprises the annular element (3) are constituted by pins (15) while the mounting means that comprises the body (2) are constituted by holes (12) suitable for receiving these pins (15).   5 - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the body (2) comprises at least one groove (13) extending between one of its end edges and one of said holes (12), the bottom of this groove (13) being inclined and constituting a ramp which allows a radial stretching   progressive of the body (2) during the engagement of the annular element (3).   6 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that the respective mounting means of the annular element (3) and of the nozzle (4) consist of at least one rib (20) projecting radially from one of these parts (3), and by a peripheral groove (27) arranged in the other of these parts (4), this groove (27) being suitable for receiving and retaining this rib (20), with the possibility of sliding of this one in it.   7 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the annular element (3) is made of a synthetic material having a slight possibility of elastic stretching, so that it can   receive the nozzle (4) by snap-fastening.   8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that the annular element comprises a bandage on its outer face or a coating made of a resilient material, which has a diameter   external slightly greater than the internal diameter of the body.