Further advantageous features of the invention and refinements emerge from
Claims 2 to 36.
Further details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description.
Die complete text of the claims is not reproduced above solely to avoid unnecessary repetition, but instead reference is made to them merely by referring to the claim numbers, as result of which, however, all these claim features should be considered as having been expressly disclosed at this point. Here, all the features which are mentioned in the above description and the following description, as well as the features which can be inferred solely from the drawing, are further components of the invention, even if they are not particularly emphasized and not mentioned in particular in the claims.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments which are shown in the drawings, in which:
Fig. I shows a schematic plan view of the floor component of an air box which Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Figs. 6 and 7 is arranged on the left in a vehicle passenger compartment, shows a schematic section along the line II-II in Fig. 1, shows a schematic plan view of the floor component of an air box which is arranged on the right in a vehicle passenger compartment, shows a schematic, partially sectional side view of the complete lefthand air box, shows a schematic section of a detail along the line V-V in Fig. 3 of a complete right-hand air box, each show a schematic plan view solely of the floor component of a left- 4 hand or right-hand air box for extending the latter to the rear in Fig. I or Fig. 3.
The drawings show a device 10 for distributing air in a vehicle passenger compartment 11 which is intended to serve in particular for distributing warm air. The vehicle passenger compartment 11 is that of, for example, a van, a minibus or the like.
The device 10 has a longitudinally extending air duct 13 which is provided for the right-hand side 12, and a longitudinally extending air duct 15 which is provided for the left-hand side 14, said air ducts 13 and 15 both extending in the region of the vehicle floor 16 which has, for example, a wooden floor covered with carpet, rubber matting or the like. Air, which is heated for example, is fed to each air duct 13, 15 via a floor-side air inlet opening 17 or 18, for which purpose an underfloor unit 19 in the form of a heating unit and/or air-conditioning unit is provided. Each air duct 13, 15 also has at least one first air outlet opening 20 or 21 which is located at the front and at the side. This respective front air outlet opening 20, 21 is assigned to a front vehicle footwell and is directed in each case towards the centre of the vehicle, which is indicated schematically by a central line 22. The front vehicle footwell is, for example, that of a front seat arrangement, for example bench seat, in the vehicle passenger compartment 11.
In addition, each air duct 13, 15 has at least one second air outlet opening 23 or 24 which is located at the rear and which is assigned to a rear vehicle footwell, for example that of a second seat arrangement, for example a row of seats, in the vehicle passenger compartment 11. The air which is introduced into the air duct 13 or 15 via the air inlet opening 17 or 18 passes out into the vehicle passenger compartment 11 via the respective air outlet openings 20, 23 or 21, 24.
The right-hand air duct 13 and the left-hand air duct 15 are each constructed in a longitudinally extending, flat air box 25 (Fig. 5) or 26 (Fig. 4) each of which has an approximately rectangular cross section and is of identical design. In the case of the right-hand air box 25, the first air outlet opening 20 and the second air outlet opening 23 are provided on the box side 27 which is on the left in Fig. 3 and which faces the vehicle passenger compartment 11, specifically the right-hand side 12. In the case of the left-hand air box 26, its air outlet openings 21, 24 are provided on its right-hand box side 28 which is directed towards the vehicle passenger compartment 11, specifically towards the left-hand side 14. The air boxes 25, 26 are mounted extending to the right and left on the vehicle floor 16 and are arranged in such a way that their air outlet openings 20, 23 or 21, 24 distribute the air into the respective footwell close to the vehicle floor 16. The emerging air brushes along the vehicle floor 16 and acts on the feet or tips of the feet of the passengers in the respective vehicle footwells with a selective action. If the air is heated, the feet or tips of the feet of the passengers are thus heated. Owing to the high air output speed, selective application of air, for example warm air, can also be achieved on the side of the vehicle which lies opposite to the respective air box 25, 26. Ile emerging, for example heated, air, is, as will be explained further below, sucked out of the vehicle passenger compartment 11 and fed back into the vehicle passenger compartment I I again as recirculated air. The design of the respective air ducts 13, 15 is favourable in terms of flow over the entire course of the air so that a large amount of air can be sucked in on the intake side for the recirculated air and thus also a large quantity of air can be output out of the air outlet openings 20, 23 and 21, 24 at a high output speed. In addition, very little noise is generated during operation.
Ile air boxes 25, 26, in particular their internal air ducts 13 and 15, are thus constructed in such a way that the air is distributed as uniformly as possible and at a high output speed. The unit 19, which is indicated in the case of the air box 26 (Fig. 4) is assigned to each air box 25, 26 or, in another embodiment which is not shown, is assigned to both jointly, said unit 19 being arranged under the floor and being connected to the air inlet opening 18 of the air duct 15 by an air outlet 29 which is located on the delivery side of the unit 19.
For recirculation mode, each air box 25, 26 has, preferably at the front end region, lateral and/or front inlets 30 and 31 for sucking in air from the vehicle passenger compartment 11. The inlets 30, 3 1, at least the lateral inlets, are composed of slits, break-throughs or similar openings in the respective side wall 32, 33 of the right-hand air box 25 or 34, 35 of the left-hand air box 26. The inlets 30, 3 1, for example in the form of vertical slits, may extend as far as the floor of the respective air box 25, 26. The front end of each air box 25, 26 is, for example, entirely open in order to form an inlet there. The side walls, 32, 33 and 34, 35 of the front end region extend obliquely from top to bottom in a way corresponding to an inverted trapezium.
6 Each air box 25 and 26 contains a front inlet chamber 36 or 37 which is connected to the inlets 30 and 3 1, is separated from the air duct 13 or 15 and is connected, via an outlet 38 or 39 provided in the base, to an air inlet of the underfloor unit 19, of which inlet only the air inlet 40 is visible in Fig. 4 at the unit 19 there. In the same way as the outlet 38, 39, the air inlet opening 17 or 18 is also provided in the base of the air box 25 or 26, the outlet 38, 39 being arranged in the front region and the air inlet opening 17, 18 being arranged in the rear region of the assigned air box 25 or 26. The outlets 38, 39 each have an oval shape. The same applies to the respective air inlet opening 17, 18 whose opening cross section is, however, greater in comparison to the outlet 38, 39. Each outlet 38, 39 has a neck which protrudes downwards beyond the base, as is merely indicated for the outlet 39 with reference to Fig. 4, said outlet 39 having a neck 41. The respective air inlet opening 17, 18 also has a corresponding neck, of which only the neck 42 of the air inlet opening 18 can be seen in Fig. 4. The unit 19 is provided at a corresponding point with a correspondingly shaped neck 43 or 44 in the region of the air inlet 40 and of the air outlet 29.
On the suction side of the unit 19 (at the front), the neck 41 of the outlet 39 engages in the neck 43 of the air inlet 40, whereas on the delivery side the neck 44 of the air outlet 29 engages in the neck 42 of the air inlet opening 18 of the air duct 15. The conditions also correspond in the right-hand air box 25. This makes the flow conditions more favourable.
Each air box 25, 26 has in each case a replaceable filter insert 45 or 46, at the front end region in the inlet chamber 36 or 37 there, between the inlets 30 and 31 and the outlet 38 or 39, by means of which filter insert the lateral and/or front inlets 30 and 31 are covered and air which is sucked in through them is filtered. The respective filter insert 45, 46 is constructed as a filter frame with filter grille. It has three wall components which are connected to one another to form an approximately Ushaped or V-shaped form, as is clear from Figs. 1 and 2. The sucked-in air is cleaned of coarse dirt by the filter inserts 45, 46 before it passes into the unit 19. Owing to the possibility of removing each filter insert 45, 46, the latter can be cleaned quickly and easily. The filter insert 45, 46 serves at the same time as a protection against objects, for example pebbles, toys etc., rolling in at the front end of the air box 25 or 26.
7 Figs. 6 and 7 show that an extension air box 65 or 66 can be connected to the, in Figs. 1 and 3, rear end of the air box 25, 26 there in order to extend it, only the lower base component of which air box 65 or 66 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The extension air boxes 65, 66 are also structurally identical. They are used if the vehicle has, in the vehicle passenger compartment 11, an additional third seating group, for example third row of seats, behind the second seating group, for example row of seats, the intention being that preferably warm air should also act in the footwell thereof. Each air box 65, 66 contains an air duct 67 or 68, which is open at the front and extends longitudinally is connected to the rear end via a rear wall 69 or 70 and has, in front of it in the rear end region on the box side pointing respectively towards the vehicle passenger compartment 11, at least a third air outlet opening 71 or 72 which is assigned to a second rear vehicle footwell there.
As is clear in particular from Figs. I and 3, the rear end of each air duct 13 and 15 of the respective front air box 25 and 26 is closed by means of a blockingoff wall 47 or 48 which is dispensed with to connect an extension air box 65 or 66, or is present, and can be removed where necessary, for example detached, broken off at predetermined break points or similarly removed.
Each air box 25, 26 or also 65, 66 has screw domes 49 (indicated only schematically) with inner passages 50 for screws, for example wood screws which may serve for making a screwed attachment to the vehicle floor 16, the screws simultaneously clamping together the floor component and lid component of the air boxes 25, 26 and 65, 66.
The air boxes 25, 26 and 65, 66 are formed from plastic. They are composed in particular of plastic injection-moulded components.
In each air box 25, 26 or 65, 66 the respective air duct 13 or 15 or 67 or 68 is bounded in the interior by longitudinally extending walls 51, 52 which are constructed as stiffening longitudinal profiles and are designed with favourable flow characteristics. In so far as is necessary, wall components which extend between them and which bring about an increase in stability and/or better air flow may also be provided.
In addition, each air box 25, 26 and 65, 66 has internal baffle walls 53 in the region of the respective at least one air outlet opening 20, 23 or 21, 24 or 71, 8 72. The baffle walls 53 are shaped, in particular curved, in such a way that as far as possible a low-loss air flow as far as the air outlet opening is achieved. The aerodynamics bring about a low noise level. The walls 51, 52 and baffle walls 53 extend over the entire height of the respective air box 25, 26, 65, 66 and are thus additionally effective as supporting elements and/or stiffening elements.
Each air box 25, 26 and also each extension air box 65, 66 is constructed as a symmetrical component which may be placed optionally on the left or right in the vehicle passenger compartment 11 and which has air outlet openings 20', 23' or 2V, 24' or 7V, 72' which are identical to the air outlet openings 20, 23 or 21, 24 or 71, 72 at the same location on each side of the box, that is to say on the left and right. Here, the air outlet openings which are located on the left-hand side of the box for use as the left-hand air box and the air outlet openings which are located on the right-hand side for use as the right-hand air box are blocked off or can be blocked off. Thus, in order to manufacture the air box 25, 26, which are therefore identical, only a single injection- moulding tool is necessary. Likewise, only a single tool is required to manufacture the extension identical air boxes 65, 66.
Each air duct 13, 15 in the case of the air box 25 or 26 contains a separate insert component 54 for optionally blocking off the second air outlet opening 23 or 24 on the left-hand or right-hand side of the box, said insert component 54 having an approximately U shape in plan view and its base component 55 serving to block off the associated air outlet opening. The insert component 54 can be plugged in in a different location as required. The insert component 54 is seated above the floor- side air inlet opening 17, 18, the U limbs 56, 57 extending transversely over the course of the air inlet opening 17, 18, leaving said opening clear on each side of the respective U limb 56, 57.
Each air duct 13, 15 contains a dividing wall 58 for optionally blocking off the first air outlet opening 20 or 21, said dividing wall 58 optionally blocking off the air duct 13, 15 in relation to the air outlet opening of the one side of the box or the other side of the box in the manner of a filter. In an analogous way, each air duct 67, 68 also contains a corresponding dividing wall 58 in the extension air box 65, 66.
The respective dividing wall 58 is either designed as an insert component and can be plugged in in a different location as required or instead is formed already 9 located in the respective position for the respective design of the air box 25, 26, 65, 66 when it is manufactured.
In order to design the air box 25 for the installation location on the right in the vehicle, all that is therefore necessary is a symmetrical component in which the insert component 54 is plugged in such a way that its base component 55 blocks off the air outlet opening 23'. In addition, a dividing wall 58 is required which is positioned in such a way that the latter blocks off the air duct 13 with respect to the air outlet opening 20' and clears it with respect to the other air outlet opening 20.
For the air box 26 for the installation location on the left in the vehicle, the same symmetrical component is required, in which the insert component 54 is merely inserted the other way round, specifically in such a way that its base component 55 blocks off the air outlet opening 24'. In addition, the dividing wall 58 is positioned here in such a way that the latter blocks off the air duct 15 in relation to the air outlet opening 21'.
For the extension air box 65, all that is required is one additional symmetrical component in which the dividing wall 58 is positioned in such a way that it blocks off the air outlet opening 71'. For the other air box 66, an identical symmetrical component is used in which the dividing wall 58 is merely placed in a different position so that it blocks off the air outlet opening 72'.
Each air box 25, 26 is formed from a base component 59 and a lid component 60 which is seated thereon, which components are premounted, connected to one another by means of clips, for example, and can be connected by means of screws which penetrate the screw domes 49 of the two components and can be attached to the vehicle floor 16 by means of said screws and/or by means of external lateral flanges, flange eyelets or the like (not shown).
The extension air boxes 65, 66, only the base component 61 of which can be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, are also formed in the same way. The base component 59, 61 has the longitudinally extending walls 51, 52, which bound the air ducts 13, 15, 67, 68 and are in the form of longitudinal profiles, and the baffle walls 53 and, in addition, the front outlet 38, 39 with associated neck 41, and the rear air inlet opening 17, 18 with associated neck 42 as components which are integral with the latter. At the front end region of the air box 25, 26, the base component 59 is fitted with the side walls 32, 33 or 34, 35 on each side, which have inlets 31 contained therein in the form of slits, break-throughs or similar openings as components which are integral therewith.
The lid component 60 has essentially an inverted U-shaped cross section and is fitted onto the base component 59. Here, the lid component 60 is provided in the region of the air outlet openings 20, 20', 23, 23' and 21, 21', 24, 24' in its side walls on each side with corresponding cut-outs, of which only the cut-outs 62 and 63 can be seen in Fig. 4.
At the front end region, the lid component 60 is constructed, by means of a film hinge 64, as a pivotable lid 74 for clearing the filter insert 45, 46 in order to change it. Securing closing means, for example screws, have to be previously loosened in order to open the lid 74.
As is clear in particular from Figs. 4 and 5, approximately half of the length of the screw domes 49 is provided on the base component 59 and approximately half on the lid component 60, respectively, in which case each may rest one on the other in a supporting fashion or instead may also be plugged one into the other. In addition, a pressure-intensifying effect is thus obtained.
The previously described particular features also apply to the same extent to the extension air boxes 65, 66 in Figs. 6 and 7.
By virtue of the extension air boxes 65, 66, the device 10 easily permits a kit-like adaptation to vehicles with more than two rows of seats and thus to vehicles with two or three different wheelbases.
The described design of the air boxes 25, 26 in the front end region on the intake side for recirculated air permits a large quantity of air to be sucked in owing to the large intake cross section with little generation of noise and provides at the same time protection against mechanical damage to the filter insert 45, 46 located behind it, for example as result of unintentional kicks from a foot or the like. This ensures that the filter insert 45, 46 will have a long service life. The intake side including the filter insert 45, 46 permits as large an intake cross section as possible, specifically by virtue of the fact that not only is air sucked in at the front but that this also takes place on each side in the region of the side walls 32 to 35. By virtue of the oblique profile of the side walls 32 to 35, air can also be sucked in on the side which faces the internal panelling of the vehicle, that is to say for example also on the left-hand side in Fig. 1 11 and on the right-hand side in Fig. 3, considered in each case in the direction of travel. As a result, a large quantity of air can be sucked in in this front intake region for recirculated air.
In addition, it is advantageous that each air box 25, 26 and 65, 66 constitutes a very torsionally rigid component and thus has a high degree of strength. The floor component 59, 61 is of correspondingly rigid design by virtue of the longitudinally extending profiled walls 51, 52 and, under certain circumstances, is also of correspondingly rigid design by virtue of the baffle walls 53. By virtue of this profiling, which extends as high as the lid component 60, a high degree of resistance to blows from feet is also provided. This is important since the, for example, 50 mm high air box 25, 26 is screwed tight to the vehicle floor 16 in the step area and must withstand a greater or lesser degree of pressure loading there. The plastic material used may be the substance PP T20 which is designed for a high temperature range of -40" to +90"C. The air box 25, 26 can also easily be retrofitted depending on the design of the vehicle.
In another embodiment (not shown), each air box is constructed as a onepiece U section with an inverted cross section which is attached to the vehicle floor, for example to the floorplate, with the U opening directed downwards. In this case, the respective floor component 59 is thus dispensed with, and there is only the respective lid component 60 which is shaped as the previously mentioned U section. Here, this U section may have the external lateral walls with the air outlet openings 20, 23, 20', 23' or 21, 24, 21', 24' on each side, these walls forming the U limbs of the U section. In addition, the U section may have the rear blocking-off wall 47, specifically in the same modification as explained above. Furthermore, the U section may have the longitudinally extending walls 51, 52 and the baffle walls 53, as well as the side walls 32 to 34, on each side of the front end region, with the inlets 30 to 31 contained therein. The U section can also have the screw domes 49. All these aforementioned elements may extend here over the entire height of the U section. In addition, the movable dividing wall 58 and the movable insert component 54 are then also part of this U section. Depending on the design, the necks 43, 44 of the unit 19 may extend through the vehicle floor 16 to such an extent that they form the outlet 38, 39 of the front inlet chamber 36, 37 in the region of said chamber, and that they form 12 the air inlet opening 17, 18 in the, in Figs. I and 3, left-hand region. It may be advantageous here if, for the additional supporting effect, not only the walls 51, 52 and/or the baffle walls 53 and/or the dividing walls 58 but also the screw domes 49 extend over the entire height of the U section.
13 Claims 1. A device for distributing air in a vehicle passenger compartment, having a longitudinally extending air duct which is provided for the right-hand side and a longitudinally extending air duct which is provided for the left-hand side, said air ducts each being provided at the same time in the region of the vehicle floor and to which in each case air can be fed via at least one air inlet opening and which have at least one first air outlet opening which is located at the front and at the side and is assigned to a front vehicle footwell. as well as at least one second air outlet opening which is located at the rear and is assigned to a rear vehicle footwell and via which the air can be output out of the air duct into the vehicle passenger compartment, the right-hand air duct and the left-hand air duct each being constructed in a longitudinally extending, flat air box in which in each case the at least one first air outlet opening and the at least one second air outlet opening are provided on the box side pointing towards the vehicle passenger compartment, and the air boxes being mounted extending to the right and left on the vehicle floor and being arranged in such a way that their air outlet openings distribute the air into the respective footwell close to the vehicle floor, wherein each air box is constructed as a symmetrical component which can be placed optionally on the left-hand side or right-hand side in the vehicle passenger compartment and has identical air outlet openings at the same location on each side of the air box, the air outlet openings which are located on the left-hand side of the box for use as the left hand air box and the air outlet openings which are located on the right- hand side for use as the right-hand air box being blocked off or being capable of being blocked off.