FR2793194A1 - Incremental control part for automobile air conditioning system comprises rod connected to equipment adjusting means with spring system and notched wall interposed between rod and support wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The control part (4) comprises a rod (1) fixed to the means for adjusting the equipment. There is a spring and ball system (2,21,22) and a notched wall (40) interposed between the rod and a support wall (30). The spring exerts a pressure on the notched wall so that the rod moves by increments relative to the support wall. The notched wall is arranged in a part added to the control part provided with the support wall. It is thus possible to install an added part carrying a notched wall with a chosen number of notches and spaces between the notches without major modification of the control part structure.

Description

Motor vehicle equipment control unit, in particular

  The present invention relates to a control member of a

  motor vehicle equipment, including an installation

  ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. It relates more particularly

  a control unit by increments of this equipment.

  Control members of this type usually comprise a rod secured to means for adjusting the equipment, for example a cam lever of a mixing flap, or even a connector of a speed variation module of a blower. of the above installation. The control unit includes

  in addition to means forming a spring in compression, which

  stems from a substantially notched wall. The aforementioned spring means and the notched wall are generally interposed between the rod and a support wall that includes the control member. Thus, the rod moves in increments relative to the support wall, while the spring means exert a push on a notch by

  rod displacement increment.

  A control member of this type then provides a command

  in stages of the adjustment of the above-mentioned equipment.

  Known control members have a notched wall integrated into their structure, so that the support wall of the member, as well as the notched wall are usually made in one piece. Generally, the notched wall is molded to the support wall, or else

  formed in it. Thus, according to the requirements of the cons-

  automotive drivers, it is impossible to modify the notch of the control member, for example the number of increments provided, without changing the control member, this

which strikes their cost price.

  The present invention then improves the situation.

  It proposes a control member of the aforementioned type, which comprises, according to the invention, a notched wall arranged in an added part of the control member, while the control member comprises a housing of the added piece, provided with the aforementioned support wall. It is thus possible to mount an insert carrying a notched wall of spacings between notches and of selected number of notches, without major modifications to the structure of

the control unit.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned housing comprises means for fixing the insert to immobilize the part, while the rod carries the means forming a spring while keeping them in

  support on the notched wall of the insert.

  Alternatively, the insert carries the immobilizing rod.

  tion, so that the notched wall is substantially fixed relative to the rod, while the support wall carries the spring means by keeping them in abutment on the

notched wall.

  In the preferred embodiment, the aforementioned fixing means are of the type comprising screwing and / or latching means, so that said insert is removable. Alternatively, the insert is fixed in the housing by overmolding, in a later step of a

  method of manufacturing a control member according to the invention

  tion. In the preferred embodiment, the control member comprises a rotary button carried by the rod, which is substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the button. The notched wall of the insert is then of substantially circular shape, the center of which is substantially

crossed by the axis of rotation.

  As a variant, the control member comprises a linear cursor integral with the rod. The rod then moves

  linearly substantially along a predetermined direction

  born while the notched wall is substantially in a plane parallel to the predetermined direction. In the preferred embodiment, the notched wall is arranged in a lateral surface of the insert so that the spring means exert a thrust

substantially radial on the part.

  In a variant, the notched wall is produced in the form of a toothed sector, arranged on a top surface of the insert, while the spring means exert a thrust substantially parallel to the axis of

button rotation.

  Preferably, the spring means are produced in the form of a helical wire, provided in one of its

  ends of a ball resting on the notched wall.

  As a variant, the spring-forming means are produced in the form of a flexible blade, arranged to bear on the

notched wall.

  In the preferred embodiment, in which the control member comprises a rotary button, the rod has a substantially annular opening for accommodating the wire, which then carries at each of its ends a ball bearing on the notched wall, while this notched wall is

  fitted on an internal radial surface of the related part

  tee. The insert is preferably made of a flexible material chosen (plastic, elastomer, etc.), in particular of acoustic properties making it possible to reduce the sound level generated by a rotation of the insert, during an incrementation in different positions. In addition, the balls can be metallic or else

  molded in a suitable plastic material.

  Another advantage of the choice of these materials is that the increment between different positions gives a feeling of "softness" to the touch, due to the absorption of shocks between the different parts.

  made of such materials.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description below

  after, given by way of example, and appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded view of a control member according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, mentioned above; - Figure 2A shows a front view of the rotary button of the control member and the insert, according to the aforementioned preferred embodiment; - Figure 2B shows a view along section B-B of Figure 2A; - Figure 3 schematically shows part of

  the control member according to a variant of the embodiment

  preferred tion shown in Figure 1; - Figure 4 partially shows the control member according to another variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 3; - Figure 5 partially shows the control member according to another variant of the preferred embodiment, in which the spring means are made in the form of a flexible blade; - Figure 6 partially shows a control member according to the invention, with linear control in increments; - Figures 7A and 7B respectively show partial schematic front and side views of the control member according to another variant of the member shown in Figure 4, in which the spring means are made in the form of a flexible blade; and - Figures 8A and 8B respectively show partial schematic front and side views of the control member according to another variant of the member shown in Figure 3, in which the spring means bear

a rotating roller.

  The drawings essentially contain elements of a certain character. They can not only serve to make the invention better understood, but also contribute to its

definition, if applicable.

  We first refer to FIG. 1 to describe a control member according to the preferred embodiment of

the above invention.

  The member comprises a recess 100, forming a passage for the end 10 of a rod 11, intended to carry a rotary button (not shown in FIG. 1). The end 10 of the rod 1 is shaped to cooperate with means of

  adjusting the speed of a blower in a ventilation system

  tion, heating and / or air conditioning of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in the example described. In practice, the end 10 is arranged to cooperate with a switch (not shown) of a module for varying the speed of the blower. As a variant, the end 10 can also be arranged to cooperate with a lever of a cam of a mixing flap,

  or the distribution of an air flow in the passenger compartment.

  The aforementioned mixing shutter is generally intended to distribute an air flow between a branch of hot air and a branch of cold air of the installation, so as to obtain

  an adjusted temperature of ventilated air in the passenger compartment.

  The rod 1 further comprises a stop produced in the form of a substantially circular plate 12, coming to bear on a surface 32 of a housing 3 which comprises the control member. To carry out incremental controls for adjusting the speed of the aforementioned blower, the control member according to the invention comprises an insert 4 provided with a notched internal radial wall 40. The notched wall 40 then cooperates with means forming a spring, formed of a helical wire 2,

  carrying a ball 21, 22 at each of its ends.

  The spring 2 is introduced, when mounting the control member according to the invention, in the opening 11 of a sleeve

  that carries the rod 1, near the stop 12 in the example-

  ple shown in Figure 1. The insert 4 then comes to cap the abutment 12 and the aforementioned sleeve, while the spring 2 in compression presses the balls 21 and 22 against the notched wall 40 of the part 4, as shown in

Figures 2A and 2B.

  The rod 1 can then adopt a rotational movement around its axis, while it is immobilized in lateral translation by the support wall 30 which forms the housing 3 of the control member. The insert 4, for its part, is fixed, in the example described, by snap-fastening in the housing 3. The indexing and immobilization in rotation of the part 4 is ensured by the cooperation of its peripheral recess 42 with ribs forming stops, provided on the support wall 30 of the housing. Furthermore, the part 4 has an opening 41 communicating with an opening 31 provided on the support wall 30, in order to accommodate the spring 2 and the balls 21 and 22 during assembly of the member.

control according to the invention.

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  Thus, the insert 4 is fixed relative to the support wall 30 of the control member, while the rotary rod 1 can move angularly about its axis relative to the notched wall 40 of the insert 4. This movement is then carried out in increments, the balls 21 and 22 carried by the spring 2 jumping from one notch to the other of the notched wall 40. The spring 2 extends substantially over the diameter of the internal notched wall, substantially circular

  in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

  In the example shown in Figure 1, the control member according to the invention comprises other openings 103, 104, forming passages for lighting means of the control member, in particular for a night pipe. The housing 3 then forms a plate intended to receive an assembly

  comprising a power switch.

  Thus, the housing 3 includes power tracks making it possible to make electrical contact with a slider blade (not shown) arranged at the stop 12

  on the side of the end 10 of the rod 1.

  As a variant, the openings 103 and 104 can be arranged to form passages for other rods or control levers, for the adjustment of other elements of the ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation mentioned above, while the control member is intended to be fixed to the vehicle control panel (dashboard) and then has openings 101, 102 suitable for housing screws

fixation.

  Reference is now made to FIG. 3 to describe a variant of the preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1. In this variant, the rod 1 of the rotary button 13 carries a toothed sector 4 provided with a notched wall 40. The housing 3 formed in the control member carries, on one of its side walls 30, a spring 2, at least one of the ends of which is integral with a ball 21 which comes

8 2793194

  cooperate with the notched wall 40, while the other

  end of the spring 2 is secured to the support wall 30.

  In the example shown, the two ends of the spring carry balls 21, 22 which cooperate with the wall

notched 40.

  Referring to Figure 3, the housing 3 is shaped

  substantially oblong and carries a single spring 2. In varian-

  te, it may be provided two springs integral with two side walls of the housing 3, these two springs being symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation X-X of the rotary knob. There may also be provided a housing 3 of substantially circular shape and of diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the toothed sector 4, while the side walls of the housing 3 comprise a plurality of springs (at least two) whose ends carry balls 21

  coming to cooperate with the notched wall 40.

  Reference is now made to FIG. 4 to describe a variant of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in which at least one of the side walls of the housing 3 is extended by a top wall 30, to which the end is secured. of a spring 2. On the other end of the spring is fixed a ball 21 coming to cooperate with a notched wall 40 which comprises the added piece 4, on a summit surface. Thus, the notched wall 40, in this variant of the control member according to the invention, is produced substantially in the form of a ring gear arranged on the top surface of the insert 4, of substantially circular shape. There may also be provided a plurality of springs 2 secured to the top walls of the housing 3, while the springs 2 exert a thrust substantially parallel to the axis of rotation X-X of the

rotary button 13.

  Reference is now made to FIG. 5 to describe a control member according to a variant of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this variant, the wall

9 2793194

  notched 40 is arranged in an insert 4, while

  that the rod 1 carries the above-mentioned spring means.

  However, the rod 1 of the rotary knob 13 is here provided with a flexible blade 23, one of the ends of which comes to cooperate with the notched wall 40, while the other end of the blade 23 is integral with the rod 1. Thus , the flexible blade 23 constitutes the means forming a spring. It can be carried out in a metallic material, or in a

  material comprising plastics, substantially flexible.

  In this variant of the control member according to the invention comprising means forming a spring provided with a flexible blade, provision may also be made to arrange the notched wall on the top surface of the insert 4. With reference to the FIGS. 7A and 7B, the spring means comprise a flexible blade 23, secured to the support wall 30 by at least one of its ends 231 (two in the example shown), and comprising a spout 230 coming from

  cooperate with the notched wall 40.

  In the embodiment of the control member which appears in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the ball 21 of the spring means represented in FIG. 3 is replaced by an arm 210 bearing on the spring 2 in compression against the wall support 30. The arm 210 carries a rotary roller 211 capable of pivoting on the notched wall 40 when the rotary button 13 is actuated. It can also be provided to have two rotary rollers at the ends of the spring 2, able to pivot on a notched wall 40, of the type shown

in Figure 2A.

  Finally, reference is made to FIG. 6 to describe a variant of the control member according to the invention, in which the button 13 is a linear cursor, which moves along an axis Z-Z. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the rod 1 has a recess for accommodating a spring 2 provided at one of its ends with a ball 21 which cooperates with a notched wall 40 that carries the surface

  top of the patch 4. In this embodiment

2793194

  tion, the part 4 is produced substantially in the form of a rack, the major axis of which is parallel to the axis

Z-Z for moving the button 13.

  Thus, the arrangement of an insert 4 in a control member according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to modify the difference between the notches of its notched wall 40, or even to modify the number of notches between two extreme positions of the button 13 that comprises the member, while retaining the overall structure of the control member. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the insert 4 is fixed by means of screwing to the housing 3 that includes the member. The insert 4 is then removable and can be replaced if it is desired to modify the parameters of its notched wall 40 (spacing between notches and number of notches). Furthermore, this insert 4 can be made of a chosen material, with properties adapted to the needs of its application in the control member according to the invention (soundproofing, feeling to the touch

  during operation of the control button, etc.).

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example. She

extends to other variants.

  It will be understood that the added piece 4 can be added to

  the initial structure of the control member according to the invention

  tion (empty housing 3), by overmolding (welding or other).

  Thus, it is possible to keep an initial control structure, and then to add an added part

  4, in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturers.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the rod i has a housing 11 in which the spring 2 is inserted, while the two ends of the spring 2 carry the balls 21 and 22 which cooperate with the wall

  notched 40. As a variant, it may only be provided for an

  spring mite carrying a ball 21, while the other end is integral with the rod 1, which does not include

then no housing 11.

  In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, there may be provided a plurality of flexible blades constituting spring means which are then supported on a plurality of

notches of the notched wall 40.

  Finally, in the variant according to which the control member comprises a linear slider, two racks can be provided facing each other, while the rod 11 has an opening in which is housed a spring 2 provided with each of its ends of a ball 21, each cooperating with one of the racks. Thus, in this variant, the two racks and the spring 2 are substantially inscribed in a plane parallel to the axis of

  Z-Z displacement of the linear cursor.

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Claims (13)

Claims   1. Control member of a motor vehicle equipment, in particular of a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation of the vehicle cabin, of the type comprising a rod (1) secured to means for adjusting said equipment, as well that spring means (2; 23) and a substantially notched wall (40), interposed between said rod (1) and a support wall (30) that comprises the member, while the spring means (2; 23 ) are arranged to exert a push on said notched wall (40) so that the rod (1) moves in increments relative to the support wall (30), which makes it possible to control the adjustment of the equipment in increments , characterized in that the notched wall (40) is arranged in an insert (4) of the control member, while the control member comprises a housing (3) of the insert (4), provided with said support wall (30), which makes it possible to mount an insert (4) por both a notched wall (40) of spacing between notches and / or of number of selected notches, without major modification of the structure of the control unit.   2. Body according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (4) carries said rod (1) immobilized, so that the notched wall (40) is substantially fixed relative to the rod (1), while the support wall (30)   carries the spring means (2).   3. Body according to claim 1, characterized in that the   housing includes means for fixing the attached piece   tee (4) for immobilizing said part, while   the rod (1) carries the spring means (2; 23).   4. Body according to claim 3, characterized in that the insert (4) is fixed in said housing (3) by overmolding. 13 2793194   5. Body according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing means are of the type comprising screwing and / or latching means, so that said part reported (4) is removable.   6. Body according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises a linear cursor   pair of rod (1), and in that said rod (1) moves   linearly substantially along a predetermined direction   born (Z-Z) while said notched wall (40) fits   substantially in a plane parallel to said direction.   7. Body according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that it comprises a rotary button (13) carried by the rod (1) so that said rod (1) is substantially coincident with an axis of rotation (XX) of the button, while the notched wall (40) of the insert is of substantially circular shape, of center substantially crossed by said axis (X-X).   8. Body according to claim 7, characterized in that the notched wall (40) is arranged in a lateral surface of the insert (4) so that the spring means (2,21,22) exert a substantially radial thrust on the notched wall (40).   9. Body according to claim 7, characterized in that the notched wall (40) is produced in the form of a toothed sector, arranged in a top surface of the insert (4), while the means forming a spring (2 , 21,22) exert a thrust substantially parallel to the axis button (X-X).   10. Body according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said spring means are made in the form of a flexible blade (23), arranged for   be supported on the notched wall (40). 14 2793194   11. Body according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized   in that the spring means are produced in the form of a helical wire (2), provided, at at least one of its ends, with a ball (21) bearing on the notched wall (40).   12. Body according to claim 11, taken in combination   with claims 3 and 7, characterized in that the rod   (1) has a substantially annular opening (11) for accommodating the wire (2), and in that each end of the wire carries a ball (21, 22) bearing on the notched wall (40), while said notched wall (40) is arranged on a surface   internal radial of the insert (4).   13. Body according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized   in that the spring means are made in the form of a helical wire (2), provided, at at least one of its ends, with an arm (210) carrying a rotary roller (211)   able to pivot on the notched wall (40).