FR3060070A1 - ADJUSTING OR ACTUATION SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY FOR AERATOR - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is an adjustment or actuation system comprising a device (1) for transmitting motion between a rotary operating member (2) and a sliding driven element (3), said device (1) incorporating a connecting rod. (6) kinematically connecting a pivoting arm (7) of the rotary member (2) to the sliding member (3), said link (6) being connected to the pivoting arm (7) by a spherical connection (8) . System characterized in that the cavity (11) receiving the ball has an opening allowing the introduction and extraction of the ball joint, this opening being partially closed by an insert defining a calibrated opening adapted and intended to retain the ball in the housing (11) allowing the end portion (6 ') of the body of the rod (6) adjoining said ball joint to pass, with the possibility of free inclination of said link (6) around a central position, at least on a limited range, and in that the link (6) is arranged and connected so as to transform the rotational movement of the member (2) in sliding movement of the driven member (3).

Description

(57) The subject of the present invention is an adjustment or actuation system comprising a device (1) for transmitting movement between a rotary actuator (2) and a sliding driven element (3), said device (1). integrating a link (6) kinematically connecting a pivoting arm (7) of the rotary member (2), to the element (3) driven by sliding, said link (6) being connected to the pivoting arm (7) by a spherical connection (8).

System characterized in that the cavity (11) receiving the ball joint has an opening allowing the insertion and extraction of the ball joint, this opening being partially closed by an attached part defining a calibrated opening suitable and intended to retain the ball joint in the housing (11) allowing the end portion (6 ') of the body of the link (6) adjoining said ball to pass, with the possibility of free inclination of said link (6) around a central position, at least on one limited range, and in that the link (6) is arranged and connected so as to transform the rotational movement of the member (2) into the sliding movement of the driven element (3).

- 1 DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the field of mechanical adjustment or actuation systems, in particular in relation to motor vehicle equipment, such as aerators with diffusion and / or shutter fins, and relates to an adjustment system. or actuator and an aerator comprising such a system.

Many embodiments of transmission systems between an adjusting or operating member and one or more driven elements, with or without transformation of movement, are already known.

However, these known motion transmissions having kinematics limited to one direction or at least to a single plane, and therefore have degrees of freedom in a limited number and impose a predetermined arrangement of elements or components kinematically connected, thereby limiting constructive possibilities.

Thus, in the embodiments known from documents CN 2054 17093, JP 2013 180 708 and KR 101583988, there are systems which have the abovementioned limitations, and which incorporate a link connecting the operating member (rotary) and the driven element ( translative).

We also know constructions of spherical or ball joints or joints with three degrees of freedom (limited) in rotation, as for example by documents KR 2002 0042261, JP 3142 225 and TWI 334 906, in which the assembly of the ball joint with its receiving housing is locked by an additional locking insert of the compression ring, clamp or clip ring type, ensuring the maintenance of the ball joint in its housing.

However, in these known solutions, the maintenance of the ball joint / housing coupling is ensured by the same elastic stress which occurs for the mounting of the locking insert.

Thus, a high resistance of the seal or spherical connection created is obtained at the expense of the smoothness and the ease of movement of said seal, and vice versa.

In addition, these known embodiments of spherical or ball joints or connections cannot prevent uncoupling

-2 inadvertent, have limited freedom of movement and do not allow precise adjustment of the play in the joint.

The present invention aims, in particular in the context of the aforementioned technical field, to propose a solution at least to the main limitations of the state of the art mentioned above.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an adjustment or actuation system comprising a movement transmission device between a rotary adjustment or maneuvering member and a driven element that is sliding or that can be moved in translation, for example between a button or a handwheel and a common linkage and kinematic transmission of the fins of an aerator, said motion transmission device incorporating a rod, preferably elongated and substantially rectilinear, kinematically connecting a pivoting arm, integral with the member rotary, to the sliding driven element, said rod being connected to the pivoting arm by a seal or a spherical connection, system characterized in that at least one of the longitudinal ends of the rod comprises a ball joint, in that a cavity constituting a housing for receiving this ball joint is formed in said pivoting arm, at its free end, in that said cavity has an opening allowing the insertion and extraction of the patella, this opening being partially closed by an attached part defining a calibrated opening, possibly in cooperation with a portion of wall of the cavity, suitable and intended to retain the ball joint in the housing while allowing the extremal part of the body of the rod adjoining said ball to pass, this with the possibility of free inclination or angular movement of said rod around a central position, at least over a limited range , and in that the link is arranged and connected so as to transform the rotational movement of the member into sliding movement of the driven element.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustment or actuation system according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating its essential constituent components;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views in two different directions of a part of the system shown in FIG. 1, comprising the adjustment member and the link;

Figures 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views of the system portion shown in Figures 2A and 2B;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial views of the system represented in FIG. 1, before (FIG. 4A) and after (FIG. 4B) installation of the insert forming a jumper;

Figure 5A is an elevational view of the link and Figure 5B is a perspective view of the insert forming a jumper, part of the system shown in Figures 1, 5A and 5B and shown on a different scale;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are detailed views, at different scales, and partially in section, of the link and of the ball or ball joint between the adjustment member and the link, forming part of the objects represented in FIGS. 1 , 2A, 2B, 4B, 5A and 5B;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are partial perspective and rear views of a fin aerator comprising an adjustment or actuation system according to the invention and as shown for example in FIG. 1, said aerator being illustrated in three positions different adjustment or maneuver, namely, aerator in the closed position (Figure 7A), half-open (Figure 7B) and open (Figure 7C);

FIGS. 8A to 8C are detailed views, in rear elevation, of the region of the aerator adjustment knob in FIGS. 7, these three figures corresponding respectively to the three positions or states of the system shown in FIGS. 7A to 7B;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front and bitter elevation views of a vehicle aerator, similar to that shown in FIGS. 7, the fins being in the closed position, and FIG. 10 is a partial schematic and transparent representation of a connection ball joint with parallelepiped cavity.

Figures 1, 4B, 7 and 8, and partially Figures 2 and 3, of the accompanying drawings show an adjustment or actuation system comprising a movement transmission device 1 between a rotary adjustment or maneuver member 2 and a driven element 3 sliding or capable of being moved in translation, for example between a button or a

-4 control wheel 2 and a common linkage and kinematic transmission of the fins 4 of an aerator 5.

This movement transmission device 1 incorporates a rod 6, preferably elongated and substantially rectilinear, kinematically connecting a pivoting arm 7, integral with the rotary member 2, to the sliding driven element 3, said rod 6 being connected to the pivoting arm 7 by a joint or a spherical connection 8.

According to the invention, at least one of the longitudinal ends 9, 9 ′ of the link 6 comprises a ball joint 10, in that a cavity 11 constituting a housing for receiving this ball joint 10 is formed in said pivoting arm 7, at its free end, in that said cavity 11 has an opening 11 'allowing the insertion and extraction of the ball joint 10. This opening 11' is partially closed by an insert 12 defining a calibrated opening 13 , possibly in cooperation with a wall portion 14 of the cavity 11, suitable and intended to retain the ball joint 10 in the housing 11 by letting the extremal part 6 ′ of the body of the rod 6 adjoining said ball joint 10, this with faculty free inclination or angular movement of said link 6 around a central position, at least over a limited range. The link 6 is arranged and connected so as to transform the rotational movement of the member 2 into a sliding movement of the driven element 3.

Thanks to the invention, and in particular to the definition of a calibrated opening 13 for the ball joint 10 by means of a part 12 attached to the cavity 11 housing said ball joint 10, it is possible to propose, within the framework of the aforementioned system , a spherical connection 8 easy to assemble and for which the maintenance of the ball joint in its housing is not dependent on any elastic force provided by the retaining insert 12, but is determined physically and geometrically, with a dimensional constraint loose and a clearance allowing free movement of the ball 10 in its housing 11.

In accordance with a very advantageous construction characteristic of the invention, particularly emerging from Figures 2B, 4B, 6A and 6B, the insert 12 comprises at least one wall 15 provided with a cutout 16 defining alone or forming by cooperation with a portion wall 14 of the cavity 11 participating in the delimitation of the opening 11 ′ of the ball joint housing, the calibrated opening 13.

The person skilled in the art understands that the assembly with locking of the ball joint 10 can be carried out very simply by its introduction into the housing 11 through the opening 11 ′, then by fitting the added piece 12, the cutout 16 determines alone, or by cooperation with part of the opening 11 ′ of the housing 11, the calibrated opening 13. Said ball joint 10 is then retained in said housing 11 by the wall 15, the shape and the size of the calibrated opening 13 determining the possibilities of movement of the ball joint 10 in the housing 11 and the freedom of articulation of the spherical link 8 thus formed. In any event, the ball joint 10 is securely retained by the wall 15 in the main biasing direction of the rod 6 during a positive actuation of the device 1.

In addition, the cutout 16 has a configuration such that it allows the fitting of the retention piece 12 after the fitting of the ball 10 in the cavity 11.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the calibrated opening 13 has a substantially circular configuration, the cutout 16 having a partially circular shape, preferably at least semi-circular.

According to a first embodiment, and as shown in the figures, the cavity 11 receiving the ball 10 has an internal volume of substantially spherical shape or inscribed in a sphere, the calibrated opening 13 having a substantially circular shape over at least half its periphery or at least one preferred direction of extension (determining at least one preferred direction of inclination).

According to a second variant embodiment, illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 10, the cavity 11 receiving the ball joint 10 has an internal volume of substantially parallelepipedal shape, preferably cubic, the calibrated opening 13 having a substantially circular shape over at least half of its perimeter or at least one preferred direction of extension.

In the context of the first constructive variant, the ball joint 10 is housed relatively tightly in the housing 11, the internal wall of the latter substantially matching the external shape of the ball joint 10 on at least part of its surface (surface contact) .

In the context of the second constructive variant, the ball joint 10 is trapped in a preferably cubic volume providing six breakpoints corresponding to the six tangent contact points between the ball joint

-6 spherical 10 and the six internal faces of this cubic volume (one of these faces being perforated for the passage of the end 6 'of the rod 6 and providing an opening 1Γ).

In the two aforementioned variants, the insert 12 provides at least one complementary portion of the wall of the housing of the ball joint 10 (at least the wall portion comprising the calibrated opening 13), preferably several portions or entire walls.

In order to limit the play in translation (in the longitudinal direction of the link 6) and to guide the movement of the ball joint 10 at the calibrated opening 13, the insert 12 may comprise, at the level of the inner face of the wall 15 having the cutout 16, preferably at least semi-circular, and around the latter, a rib or similar prominent formation 17, the wall portion 14 of the cavity 11 forming a housing for the ball joint 10 possibly also comprising a rib, preferably located in the extension of the aforementioned rib 17 (see in particular FIGS. 5B, 6A and 6C).

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert 12 is mounted by interlocking, preferably with elastic locking, on the free end 7 ′ of the pivoting arm 7 formed integrally with the rotary member 2, the nesting direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction DL 'of the rod 6 in the central position.

Thanks to this mounting configuration, the tensile forces exerted on the rod 6 during the actuating movement and the transmission of the forces to the driven element 3 have no direct effect on the fitting by fitting of the part. reported 12 on the free end 7 ', and therefore the possible locking in the mounted position is not requested by these forces.

It also follows that the cutout 16 will be open on one side to allow the portion of the calibrated opening 13 which it defines to be brought around the end portion 6 ′ of the link 6.

In accordance with an advantageous practical construction variant, emerging from the appended figures, the insert 12 consists of a stirrup or a perforated cap to be fitted onto the free end 7 ′ of the pivoting arm 7 of the rotary member 2, in the same manner as '' a jumper, and comprises at least one wall 15 provided with a cutout 16, preferably partially

-7 circular, and means 18, 18 ', 18 for engagement and / or locking engaging on or in the wall 14' of the cavity 11 forming a ball joint housing, such as lugs, fingers, notches , hooks and / or wings, optionally elastically deformable for at least one of them, said perforated wall 15 providing, if not all, at least the majority of the calibrated opening 13 retaining the ball 10 but authorizing the passage with clearance of the longitudinal end considered 6 ′ of the link 6.

The engagement and / or locking means may for example comprise a hook 18 of the stirrup 12 able to engage elastically on a flange of the end 7 ′ of the pivoting arm 7 (FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6A, 6B ), preferably from the wall 14 ′ of the housing 11, or alternatively an external projecting formation 18 from said wall 14 ′ coming into engagement in an opening 18 ′ of the stirrup 12 (FIGS. 3B, 5B, 6C).

In addition, the stirrup 12 can have different side walls coming to marry, by covering them, different parts of the wall 14 'of the housing 11.

Advantageously, the body of the cap 12 comprises at least one bottom wall 12 'and three side walls 12, and two opposite side walls 12 each have a cutout 16, preferably partially circular, these two cutouts 16 advantageously having opposite orientations. This last characteristic allows suitable mounting of the cap 12 on housings 11 of opposite orientations.

As illustrated in the figures, the cavity 11 can be formed in an extension 7 of the free end 7 'of the pivoting arm 7, said extension 7 extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction DL of said arm 7, forming with the latter one.

In addition, and in relation to the application illustrated without limitation in the drawings, provision may be made for the axis of rotation AR of the rotary member 2 to be substantially parallel to the axis of translation AT of the element. sliding drive 3, the link 6 constituting an angle return link.

In order to have a higher number of degrees of freedom and to be able to carry out more complex kinematics, it can also be provided that the rod 6 is connected to the sliding driven element 3, with an elongated structure, by a (e ) second ball joint or ball joint 19, the end of the body of the rod 6 connected to said elongated element 3 being

Advantageously provided with a ball joint 20 and the adjoining end of said elongated element 3 being provided with a housing with or for ball joint 21, possibly formed on a projection or a projecting part 21 'of said element 3.

Where appropriate, the ball joint housing 21 can be of the same type as the housing 11 and be provided with an insert similar to the part 12, that is to say in the form of a stirrup or cap fitted on the projection 21 'and defining a calibrated opening (not shown).

The mounting of the ball joints 10 and 20 in their housings 11 and 21 is such that the two spherical connections 8 and 19 of the connecting rod 6, with the pivoting arm 7 and with the elongated sliding element 3, are configured to support tensile forces and high intensity thrust in the longitudinal direction DL 'of said link 6, in the context of the envisaged application (configuration intended to withstand the maximum stresses foreseeable in the application).

According to another characteristic of the invention, in relation to the presence of two opposite walls 15 with cutouts 16, the insert 12 in the form of a stirrup or of an openwork cap has a symmetrical structure allowing reversible mounting on pivoting arms 7 having opposite orientations of the extension 7 of their free end 7 '.

Preferably, the wheel 2 with its pivoting arm 7, the insert 12, the link 6 and the link and drive bar 3 are parts made of one or more plastic material (s).

The subject of the invention is also, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, an aerator 5 in particular an aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a frame 22, possibly extending in the form of a portion of duct, in which are mounted a plurality of parallel fins 4, orientable around their respective longitudinal axes and whose orientation or inclination positions are determined by a common sliding bar 3 for connecting and transmitting movement, said aerator 5 also comprising a rotary adjustment 2, for example in the form of a wheel, operable from the living room by a user.

This aerator 5 is characterized in that it also comprises an adjustment or actuation system as described above, integrating the rotary member 2 and the sliding bar 3 (see FIGS. 7 to 9).

In agreement with the application shown in the appended figures, the axis of rotation AR of the rotary member 2 and the longitudinal and sliding axis AT of the bar 3 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the parallel fins 4 , the adjustment or actuation system comprising a link 6 advantageously forming an angle return link and preferably comprising a ball joint 10, 20 at each of its opposite ends.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Adjustment or actuation system comprising a device (1) for transmitting movement between a rotary adjustment or maneuvering member (2) and a driven element (3) sliding or capable of being moved in translation, for example between a button or an operating wheel (2) and a common linkage and kinematic transmission of the fins (4) of an aerator (5), said movement transmission device (1) incorporating a rod (6), preferably elongated and substantially rectilinear, kinematically connecting a pivoting arm (7), integral with the rotary member (2), to the element (3) driven by sliding, said link (6) being connected to the pivoting arm (7) by a joint or a spherical link (8), system characterized in that at least one (9) of the longitudinal ends (9, 9 ') of the link (6) comprises a ball joint (10), in that a cavity (11 ) constituting a housing for receiving this ball joint (10) is mé swam in said pivoting arm (7), at its free end, in that said cavity (11) has an opening (11 ') allowing the insertion and extraction of the ball joint (10), this opening (11 ') being partially closed by an insert (12) defining a calibrated opening (13), possibly in cooperation with a wall portion (14) of the cavity (11), suitable and intended to retain the ball joint (10) in the housing (11) letting the end portion (6 ') of the body of the link (6) adjoining said ball joint (10) pass, with the possibility of free inclination or angular movement of said link (6) around a position central, at least over a limited range, and in that the link (6) is arranged and connected so as to transform the rotational movement of the member (2) into sliding movement of the driven element (3). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (12) comprises at least one wall (15) provided with a cutout (16) defining alone or forming by cooperation with a wall portion (14) of the cavity (11), participating in the delimitation of the opening (1Γ) of the ball joint housing, the calibrated opening (13). 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the calibrated opening (13) has a substantially circular configuration, - 11 the cutout (16) having a partially circular shape, preferably at least semi-circular. 4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (11) receiving the ball joint (10) has in internal volume of substantially spherical shape or inscribed in a sphere, the calibrated opening (13) having a substantially circular shape over at least half of its periphery or at least one preferred direction of extension. 5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (11) receiving the ball 10 has an internal volume of substantially parallelepipedal shape, preferably cubic, the calibrated opening (13) having a shape substantially circular over at least half its circumference or at least one preferred direction of extension. 6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insert (12) comprises, at the inner face of the wall (15) having the cutout (16), preferably at least semi circular, and around the latter, a rib or similar prominent formation (17), the wall portion (14) of the cavity (11) forming a housing for the ball joint (10) possibly also comprising a rib, preferably located in the extension of the aforementioned rib (17). 7. System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the insert (12) is mounted by interlocking, preferably with elastic locking, on the free end (7 ') of the pivoting arm (7) formed in one piece with the rotary member (2), the fitting direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (DL ') of the rod (6) in the central position. 8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the insert (12) consists of a stirrup or a perforated cap to be fitted on the free end (7 ') of the pivoting arm (7) of the rotary member (2), in the manner of a jumper, and comprises at least one wall (15) provided with a cutout (16), preferably partially circular, and means (18, 18 ', 18) d 'engagement and / or locking engaging on or in the wall (14') of the cavity (11) forming ball joint, such as lugs, fingers, notches, hooks and / or wings, possibly elastically deformable for at least one - 12 of them, said perforated wall (15) providing, if not all, at least the majority of the calibrated opening (13) retaining the ball joint (10) but allowing passage with play of the longitudinal end considered (6 ') of the link (6). 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the body of the cap (12) comprises at least one bottom wall (12 ') and three side walls (12), and in that two opposite side walls (12) have each a cutout (16), preferably partially circular, these two cutouts (16) advantageously having opposite orientations. 10. System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said link (6) is connected to the sliding driven element (3), with an elongated structure, by a second ball joint. or ball joint (19), the end of the rod body (6) connected to said elongated element (3) being advantageously provided with a ball joint (20) and the adjoining end of said elongated element (3) being provided with a housing with or for a ball joint (21), possibly formed on a projection or a projecting part (2Γ) of said element (3). 11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the two spherical connections (8 and 19) of the link (6), with the pivoting arm (7) and with the elongated sliding element (3), are configured to support tensile and thrust forces of high intensity in the longitudinal direction (DL ') of said link (6). 12. System according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the insert (12) in the form of a stirrup or perforated cap has a symmetrical structure allowing reversible mounting on pivoting arms (7) having opposite orientations of the extension (7) of their free end (7 '). 13. System according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the wheel (2) with its pivoting arm (7), the insert (12), the link (6) and the connecting bar and d 'drive (3) are parts made of one or more plastic material (s). 14. Aerator (5), in particular aerator for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a frame (22), possibly extending in the form of a duct portion, in which are mounted a plurality of parallel fins (4), orientable around of their respective longitudinal axes and whose orientation or inclination positions are - 13 determined by a common sliding bar (3) for connecting and transmitting movement, said aerator (5) also comprising a rotary adjustment member (2), for example in the form of a wheel, actuable from the living room by a user , 5 aerator (5) characterized in that it also comprises an adjustment or actuation system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, integrating the rotary member (2) and the sliding bar (3). 15. Aerator according to claim 14, characterized in that 10 the axis of rotation (AR) of the rotary member (2) and the longitudinal and sliding axis (AT) of the bar (3) are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fins (4) parallel, the adjustment or actuation system comprising a link (6) advantageously forming an angle return link and comprising 15 preferably a ball joint (10, 20) at each of its opposite ends. 1/10