GB1564775A

GB1564775A - Ventilating device for mounting in the interior of motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1564775A
Application number: GB2638377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Priority date: 1976-06-25
Filing date: 1977-06-23
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: DE2628663C3; IT1078348B; FR2355684B1; DE2628663B2; FR2355684A1; DE2628663A1

Description

(54) VENTILATING DEVICE FOR MOUNTING IN THE INTERIOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a German Body Corporate, of BMW-Haus, Petuelring 130, 8 Miinchen 40, German Federal Republic, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a ventilating device for mounting in the interior of motor vehicles, the device having an air-discharge port divided into at least two portions one of which has adjustable means for changing the discharge direction of air emerging from that portion.

German Gebrauchsmuster No. 7,408,291 describes a ventilating device of the above construction. It has a flat, rectangular, airdischarge port and two annular frames which are rotatable about their central axes and have diffuser blades. These rotatable frames form a first portion of the discharge port with movable diffuser blades, while the remaining part of the discharge port has stationary parallel diffuser blades and forms the second portion. The air emerging from between the diffuser blades of the rotatable frames is deflected from the preset direction by the air which emerges from between the diffuser blades of the second portion, thus not only rendering correct adjustment of the air-flow more difficult but also producing only a relatively weak directional air-flow from the diffuser blades.Also, this air-flow is unable to effect any "aimed" fresh air ventilation in the presence of particularly hot ambient temperatures.

German Auslegeschrift No. 1,812,283 also describes a combine hot-air and fresh-air ventilating device of similar construction for vehicle side windows, but with separate connections for hot air and fresh air and with the direction of air-flow discharged from a portion of the two-part discharge port being adjustable. In this construction, the air-flow emerging from the adjustable portion can also be deflected from the desired direction by the air emerging from the non-adjustable portion so that reinforced and "aimed" fresh-air ventilation is impossible in the presence of particularly high ambient tempertures.

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a ventilating device which can be used to direct an air-flow at the passengers in a motor vehicle and in which, when the device is in use, the directional air-flow emerging from a first portion of the discharge port is not deflected by air emerging from the or a second portion thereof.

With this aim in view, the invention provides a ventilating device of the construction set forth in the opening paragraph of the Specification in which movable closing means for closing the or a second portion of the discharge port, or a duct leading to the or a second portion of the discharge port, is coupled to the adjustable means of the first portion so that the second portion or the duct is closed when the adjustable means are in a first end position of adjustment and the closing means is moved to a fully opened position when the adjustable means are moved to a second end position of adjustment, the first portion remaining opened for all adjustment positions of the adjustable means.

One particular aspect of the invention is directed to a motor vehicle having such a ventilating device mounted in the region of the vehicle dashboard or fascia.

Both the first and second portions of the discharge ports are fully open when the closing means are in the fully opened position, and in that position of the closing means, the adjustable means of the first portion of the discharge port are in their second end position. Adjusting the discharge direction of air from the first portion by moving the said adjustable means to their first end position also moves the closing element coupled thereto into an end position where it closes the second portion or a duct leading thereto. Air then emerges from the first portion only in a direction substantially parallel with the second portion.This allows a relatively slow air stream of large cross-section to be blown in, free of draughts, with the adjusting means in the second end position, while also allowing powerful air streams to be produced, with the adjusting means in the first end position, which are less affected by ambient air. The total discharge cross-section, which is reduced by closing of the closing means, produces a higher discharge velocity and therefore more compact and intensive air streams.

German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,507,530 describes means for coupling a closing element in a ventilating device to a discharge portion, whose flow discharge direction can be adjusted, but the closing element described therein has a completely different function. On the one hand, it is intended to close a space required for the pivoting motion of a frame that supports diffuser blades to avoid the discharge of by-pass air.

On the other hand, the said closing element effects complete closure of the entire discharge port in one end position of the frame to which it is linked. It is not therefore possible for air to emerge from the discharge port in all positions of the diffuser blades.

An example of a ventilating device in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a discharge grid of a ventilating device in duplex configuration for the driver and passenger in the interior of a motor vehicle, the device being installed in the middle part of a facia or dashboard.

Figure 2 is a side view of the ventilating device with the dashboard or facia omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the ventilating device with a flap thereof in the closed position; and Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 with the flap in its fully-open position.

The illustrated ventilating device is of duplex configuration and comprises an approximately L-shaped discharge grid 1 forming a discharge port which is sub-divided into a substantially vertically-arranged first portion 2 with adjustable means for changing the air-flow discharge direction and a substantially horizontal second portion 3.

The discharge grid 1 is let into the middle part 4, shown in dash-dot lines, of a motor vehicle facia or dashboard. A wall 5, defining a duct 6 which leads to the second portion 3, is shown in dash-dot lines in Figures 2 to 4 beneath the second portion 3.

The arrows 7 and 8 indicate the supply of air to the inside of the discharge grid 1, and the arrows 7' and 8' or 7" represent the discharge flow directions obtained in the end positions of the adjustable means of the first portion 2.

The first portion 2 comprises a base frame 10 with a top wall 11, a narrow bottom wall 12, side walls 13 and a middle wall 14, and two rectangular frames 16 which are tiltable therein about horizontal tilting shafts 15. The frames 16 bear sealingly on the walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the base frame 10. Each of the frames 16 supports a grid comprising two diffuser blades 18 which are integral with the grid and which extend parallel to the long sides of the frame 16, and seven diffuser blades 20 which extend parallel to the short sides of the frame 16 and which can be pivoted about their longitudinal axes 19.

The pivotable diffuser blades 20 of each frame 16 are coupled by a connecting rod 21 to each other so that they can be actuated by means of a knob 22 mounted on the middle diffuser blades 20. This knob also serves to move the frames 16 about their tilting shafts 15.

A spur gear segment 23 which meshes with a spur gear 25 constructed integrally with its shaft 24 is formed on the external circumferential surface of the underside of each frame 16. The spur gear 25 meshes with a spur gear 26 which is formed integrally with its shaft 27 and with a closing flap 28 the pivot axis of which is parallel to the tilting shaft 15 of the frame 16. The flap 28 is disposed beneath the second portion 3 in the duct 6 leading thereto. The spur gears 25 and 26 with the flap 28 are rotatably supported in bores 29 and 30 formed in lugs 31 which extend downwardly from the second portion 3.

The second portion 3 comprises longitudinal ribs 40 standing on edge which are integrally constructed with the base frame 10 and are connected to each other and stiffened on their underside by means of profiled cross-bars (not shown).

Each of the frames 16 can be pivoted by means of the knob 22 through an angle between substantially 30 and 40 about their horizontal tilting shafts 15, so that in a first end position (see Figure 3 or the lefthand part of Figure 1) the air flows substantially parallel with the second portion 3, while in a second end position of the frames 16 the air flows upwardly at an angle to the second portion 3 (see Figure 4 or the right-hand portion of Figure 1).In the first end position of each frame 16, the flap 28 coupled to the frame by the gear segment 23 and the spur gears 25 and 26 closes the duct 6 which leads to the second portion 3, so that the air emerging through the frame 16 or from the first portion 2 is able to flow practically horizontally from the first portion 2 without being deflected by air emerging from the second portion 3, the direction in the horizontal plane being adjustable by pivoting the seven diffuser blades 20. The entire quantity of air must emerge through the frame 16 (as the duct 6 is closed) so that a powerful air flow is produced.

If the frame 16 is tilted into its other end position, the flap 28 is simultaneously moved by means of the spur gear train 23, 25, 26 and at the end of that motion, assumes a position where it lies substantially parallel with the diffuser blades 18 which are integral with the frame 16. The air now flows from both portions 2 and 3 with a large discharge cross-section at an upward angle and is practically free of draughts. Lateral deflection of the air emerging from the first portion 2 is made possible by adjustment of the pivotable diffuser blades 20.

The gear train components may be made of synthetic plastics material. A belt, chain or lever transmission can be used in place of the spur gear train for coupling the motion of the frame 16 to the motion of the flap 28. The flap 28 can be replaced by blades which are arranged transversely in relation to the intended direction of flow of air through the duct 6 and can be tilted about their longitudinal axes and are situated in the second portion 3, or adjacent to the second portion 3 beneath the longitudinal ribs 40 and, like the diffuser blades 20, are coupled to each other to perform a common motion.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A ventilating device for mounting in the interior of motor vehicles, the device having an air-discharge port divided into at least two portions a first one of which has adjustable means for changing the discharge direction of air emerging from that portion in which movable closing means for closing the or a second portion of the discharge port, or a duct leading to the or a second portion of the discharge port, is coupled to the adjustable means of the first portion so that the second portion or the duct is closed when the adjustable means are in a first end position of adjustment and the closing means is moved to a fully opened position when the adjustable means are moved to a second end position of adjustment, the first portion remaining opened for all adjustment positions of the adjustable means.

2. A ventilating device according to claim 1, in which the first and second portion of the discharge port from an approximately L-shaped structure, the adjustable means of the first portion being adapted to produce an air-flow discharge in a direction substantially parallel with the second portion when the adjustable means are in the said first end position, and the first portion extending vertically when the device is mounted for use in the interior of a motor vehicle.

3. A ventilating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the closing means comprises a flap which is disposed in the duct leading to the second portion, and the adjustable means of the first portion comprise adjustable diffuser blades.

4. A ventilating device according to claim 3, in which the flap is pivotable about an axis which is parallel with a tilting shaft of a tiltable frame supporting the diffuser blades, the tiltable frame being coupled to the flap through a gear train.

5. A ventilating device according to claim 3 or claim 4, in which, in its fully opened position, the flap lies substantially parallel with the diffuser blades when the adjustable means are in the second end position of adjustment, in which the diffuser blades form an angle with the second portion of the discharge port.

6. A ventilating device according to claim 4, in which the gear train comprises a gear segment on the tiltable frame, an intermediate gear-wheel and a further gearwheel which rotates with the flap.

7. A venilating device according to any one of claims 4, 5 (when appendant to claim 4) or 6, in which the gear train comprises components made of synthetic plastics material.

8. A ventilating device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A motor vehicle having a ventilating device as claimed in any preceding claim mounted in the region of the vehicle dashboard or facia.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. first portion 2 without being deflected by air emerging from the second portion 3, the direction in the horizontal plane being adjustable by pivoting the seven diffuser blades 20. The entire quantity of air must emerge through the frame 16 (as the duct 6 is closed) so that a powerful air flow is produced. If the frame 16 is tilted into its other end position, the flap 28 is simultaneously moved by means of the spur gear train 23, 25, 26 and at the end of that motion, assumes a position where it lies substantially parallel with the diffuser blades 18 which are integral with the frame 16. The air now flows from both portions 2 and 3 with a large discharge cross-section at an upward angle and is practically free of draughts. Lateral deflection of the air emerging from the first portion 2 is made possible by adjustment of the pivotable diffuser blades 20. The gear train components may be made of synthetic plastics material. A belt, chain or lever transmission can be used in place of the spur gear train for coupling the motion of the frame 16 to the motion of the flap 28. The flap 28 can be replaced by blades which are arranged transversely in relation to the intended direction of flow of air through the duct 6 and can be tilted about their longitudinal axes and are situated in the second portion 3, or adjacent to the second portion 3 beneath the longitudinal ribs 40 and, like the diffuser blades 20, are coupled to each other to perform a common motion. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A ventilating device for mounting in the interior of motor vehicles, the device having an air-discharge port divided into at least two portions a first one of which has adjustable means for changing the discharge direction of air emerging from that portion in which movable closing means for closing the or a second portion of the discharge port, or a duct leading to the or a second portion of the discharge port, is coupled to the adjustable means of the first portion so that the second portion or the duct is closed when the adjustable means are in a first end position of adjustment and the closing means is moved to a fully opened position when the adjustable means are moved to a second end position of adjustment, the first portion remaining opened for all adjustment positions of the adjustable means.