GB2511330A - Air Guiding Device Of A Vehicle - Google Patents
Air Guiding Device Of A Vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2511330A GB2511330A GB201303567A GB201303567A GB2511330A GB 2511330 A GB2511330 A GB 2511330A GB 201303567 A GB201303567 A GB 201303567A GB 201303567 A GB201303567 A GB 201303567A GB 2511330 A GB2511330 A GB 2511330A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- air
- footwell
- guiding device
- guide element
- air guiding
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/34—Nozzles; Air-diffusers
- B60H1/3414—Nozzles; Air-diffusers with means for adjusting the air stream direction
- B60H1/3421—Nozzles; Air-diffusers with means for adjusting the air stream direction using only pivoting shutters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/34—Nozzles; Air-diffusers
- B60H2001/3471—Details of actuators
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
A compact air guiding device 12 for guiding air from an air-conditioning device to a footwell 10 of a vehicle comprises at least one air duct 14 having an outlet opening 18 via which the air duct opens into the footwell 10, the air guiding device 12 comprising at least one air guide element, eg pivotable guide vanes 26, movable between at least two different positions effecting different air flow directions 28 or 30. The guide vanes 26 may be moved from side to side by an electric motor which can be controlled to vary the speed at which the guide vanes 26 are moved depending on where the airflow is aimed. The position of the guide vanes may be adjusted according to seat position.
Description
Air Guiding Device of a Vehicle The invention relates to an air guiding device of a vehicle, in particular of a passenger vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
It is well-known from the series manufacture of vehicles and in particular of passenger vehicles to use air guiding devices for guiding air from an air-conditioning device to a footwell of the respective vehicle. Such an air guiding device can be found for instance in US 6 942 564 Bi. The air guiding device comprises at least one air duct having an outlet opening. Via the outlet opening the air duct opens into the footwell so that the air flowing through the air duct can flow out of the air duct into the footwell via the through opening.
Thereby, for example, the air heated by the air-conditioning device can heat up the footwell. Thus, a high comfort can be provided.
A particularly high comfort can be realised by creating a uniform heating and ventilation of . : the footwell. For this purpose, the air guiding devices known from the prior art usually comprise a plurality of through openings via which air from the air-conditioning device can flow into the footwell.
N?wadays, more and more components, for example, a knee airbags, are added to the vehicles wherein the components are arranged in the area of the footwell and in particular of the air duct. This usage of new components puts severe restrictions on the packaging of the air guiding device serving for guiding air to the footwell. Usually, space constraints resulting from the said restrictions result in a compromised design of the air guiding device which as a consequence can no longer ensure a uniform temperature distribution in the footwell.
It is therefore the object ofthe present invention to further develop an air guiding device of the aforementioned kind such that a particularly space-efficient and uniform supply of air from the air-conditioning device to the footwell can be realised.
This object is achieved by an air guiding device for a vehicle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
In order to create an air guiding device for a vehicle, in particular for a passenger vehicle, of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 which allows for a particularly space-efficient and uniform supply of air to the footwell, according to the invention the air guiding device comprises at least one air guide element which is movable between at least two different positions effecting a respective flow direction of the air flowing into the footwell via the outlet opening, wherein the flow directions are different from each other.
The movable guide element can permit the flow to be aimed at various targets or areas of the footwell so that the air flowing out of the single outlet opening can be distributed at least substantially uniformly across the footwell. Hence, multiple outlet openings are not required to ensure a uniform supply of air to the footwell. The at least substantially uniform supply of air to the footwell can be ensured, for example, by the use of the single outlet opening and by moving the guide element by means of which the ir is capable of being guided to different areas of the footwell. * a
In case of heating (he footwell, that means in case of supplying air heated by the air- * conditioning system to the footwell via the air duct, an at least substantially uniform temperature distribution in the footwell can be attained by moving the guide element while . : the heated air flows out of the air duct via the outlet opening. Thus, the single outlet * opening and the movable guide element are enough to realise an at least substantially uniform supply of air to the footwell so that installation space required by the air duct and by the air guiding device as a whole can be kept to a minimum. As a consequence, installation space in the area of the footwell and, in particular, above the footwell can be created, thus components of the vehicles such as, for example, a knee airbag can be arranged within this newly created installation space. A compromise between the use of a knee airbag and the supply of air to the footwell as mentioned above is not necessary anymore. Hence, the air guiding device of the present invention is compact but can ensure a very good and comfortable supply of air to the footwell.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the position of the guide element is adjustable in dependency of a position of a seat mounted in the interior of the vehicle.
Thus, the position of the guide element can be adjusted, for example, to the height of an occupant of the seat. This results in a very high comfort as well as in an energy-efficient regulation of the temperature in the footwell.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing. The features and cbmbinations of features set out above in the description and the features and combinations of features set out in the description of figures andIor displayed alone in the figures below can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 A schematic front view of a footwell in a passenger compartment of a passenger vehicle, wherein an air guiding device for guiding air from an air-conditioning device to the footwell is assigned to the footwell, the air guiding device comprising at least one air duct having a single outlet opening via which the air duct opens into the footwell, wherein the air guiding device comprises at least one air guide element which is movable between at least two different positions effecting a respective flow direction of the air flowing into the footwell via the outlet opening, the flow directions being different from each other; * * . Fig. 2 A schematic front view of the footwell according to Fig. 1; *:**.,E Fig. 3 A schematic front view of the footwell according to Figs. 1 and 2; ****** Fig. 4 A schematic perspective front view of the footwell according to Figs. 1, 2, 3; Fig. 5 A schematic further front view of the footwell; Fig. 6 A schematic top view of the guide element: and Fig. 7 A diagram illustrating a control of the movement of the guide element.
Fig. 1 in a schematic front view shows a footwell 10 in a passenger compartment of a passenger vehicle. The footwell 10 in the passenger compartment is the region where in the present case a front passenger can rest his feet. In order to.provide a particularly high comfort, an air guiding device 12 of the passenger vehicle is assigned to the footwell 10.
The air guiding device 12 serves for guiding air from an air-conditioning device of the passenger vehicle to the footwell 10. The air can be cooled or, in particular, can be heated by the air-conditioning device so that the footwell 10 can be supplied with cooled or heated air.
The air guiding device 12 comprises an air duct 14 which can be seen in Fig. 1 partially.
The air duct 14 is constrained by a duct element 16 of the air guiding device 12, the duct element 16 being made of plastic material. The air duct 14 has one single outlet opening 16 via which the air duct 14 opens into the footwell 10. The air flowing from the air-conditioning device through the air duct 14 thus can flow out of the air duct 14 into the footwell 10 via the outlet opening 18. The flow of the air flowing out of the air duct 14 via the outlet opening 16 is designated with reference 20.
As can be seen from Fig. 1, installation space available in the vertical direction of the * * vehicle above the footwell 10 is substantially restrained by a component 22 of the vehicle, the component 22 being arranged above the footwell 10. The component 22 is, for example, a knee airbag which serves for protecting the knees of the front passenge,r in * case of a crash, in particular, in case of a frontal crash. As a consequence of the use of the component 22 and its arrangement above of the footwell 10 only very little installation space 24 is available for arranging the air guiding device 12. However, in order to ensure an at least substantially uniform supply of air from the air-conditioning device to the footwell 10, the air guiding device 12 comprises guide elements in the form of guide vanes 26 which are movable between different positions effecting respective flow directions of the air flowing into the footwell 10 via the outlet opening 18, the flow directions being different from each other.
The guide vanes 26 are each pivotably held on the duct element 16 about a respective pivot axis. Moreover, the guide vanes 26, are coupled to one another, for example, by means of a coupling device. By means of the coupling device the guide vanes 26 can be pivoted simultaneously about the respective pivot axis, for example, by means of one single actuator. According to Fig. I * the guide vanes 26 are positioned in a respective first of the said positions, the first respective position effecting a corresponding flow direction of the air which is ilJustrated by a directional arrow 28. The respective first position is a respective first extreme position of the guide vanes 26.
According to Fig. 2, the guide vanes 26 are positioned in a respective second of the said positions, the respective second position effecting a flow direction of the air which is illustrated by a directional arrow 30. The respective second position is a respective second extreme position of the guide vanes 26. The Guide vanes are capable of being moved between the two said extreme position, for example, by means of the actuator.
The movement of the guide vanes 26 about the respective pivot axis is illustrated in Fig. 3 by a directional arrow 32. By pivoting the guide vanes 26 from side to side the footwell 10 can be supplied very uniformly by the single outlet opening 18, although only the little installation space 24 is available for arranging the air duct in its outlet opening 18 above the footwell 10. As can be seen form Fig, the respective pivot axis at least substantially extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
As can be seen from an overall view of Figs. 1 to 4, the air guiding device 12 has a very compact design and thus can easily be packed above the footwell 10. Nevertheless, a very high performance of regulating the temperature of the footwell 10 can be realised.
The component 22, for example, can also be a glove box. That means, for variants of the passenger vehicle without the knee airbag a particularly large glove box can be packaged.
According to Figs. 5 to 7, a control logic for controlling the movement of the guide vanes 26 is described. In order to realise a very comfortable and uniform supply of air to the footwell 10, the air guiding device 12 can comprise a motor as an actuator, in particular an electric motor, for moving the guide vanes 26 between the different positions. The guide vanes 26 by means of the motor are movable within a first adjusting range designated as -e and within a second adjusting range designated as +0. The ffrst adjusting range -o comprises first positions of the guide vanes 26. The second adjusting range +8 comprises second positions of the guide vanes 26. The first positions of the v vanes 26 effect respective first flow directions of the air flowing out of the air duct 14 via the outlet opening 18, the first flow directions being illustrated by the directional arrow 30.
The second positions of the guide vanes 26 effect respective second flow directions of the air, the second flow directions of the air being illustrated by the directional arrow 28. At least a part of the first flow directions in the transverse direction of the vehicle extend outwards, that means in the direction of a side door. At least a part of the respective second flow directions in the transverse direction of the vehicle is extend inwards, that means in the direction of the middle of the passenger vehicle.
The air guiding device 12 comprises a control unit coupled to the motor and not shown in the Figs., the control unit being configured to vary the speed at which the guide vanes 26 are moved across the adjusting ranges -8 and +8 while the guide vanes 26 are moved from side to side by means of the motor. In the present case, the controlled unit is configured to move the guide vanes 26 more slowly within the first adjusting range -e than within the second adjusting range +0 by means of the motor. This can be seen by Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 7 shows a diagram 33 having an abscissa axis 34 and an ordinate axis 36, the abscissa axis 34 showing the adjusting ranges -O and +0. The ordinate axis 36 shows the speed of the guide vanes 26, the speed being designated as V. By using this control logic to move the guide vanes 26, less air can be supplied towards the centre of the passenger vehicle and more air can be supplied towards the side of the passenger vehicle thus ensuring a uniform temperature distribution in the footwell 10.
That means that the flow of the air can be made to stay longer when aimed towards the side door and thus to colder regions and the flow of the air can be made to stay less :.. longer when aimed towards the centre of the vehicle and thus to warmer regions. In other * words, the speed of movement of the guide vanes 26 can be changed depending on where they are aimed at.
* In a further embodiment it can be envisaged that the respective position of the guide vanes 26 can be adjusted in dependency on a position of a seat mounted in the interior.
* Thereby, it is possible to direct the flow of the air to an appropriate location based on the seat position. *
The motor for moving the guide vanes 26 can be configured as a step motor which can, for example, move all of the guide vanes 26 simultaneously via the said coupling device.
Any other suitable mechanical arrangement like a cam-operated linkage can be envisaged alternatively.
Claims (5)
- Claims An air guiding device (12) for guiding air from an air-conditioning device to a footwell (10) of a vehicle, the air guiding device (12) comprising at least one air duct (14) having an outlet opening (18) via which the air duct opens into the footwell (10), characterized in that the air guiding device (12) comprises at least one air guide element (26) which is movable between at least two different positions effecting a respective flow direction - * * (26! 30) of the air flowing into the footwell (10) via the outlet opening (10), the flow directions being (28, 30) different from each other.
- 2. The air guiding device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the air guiding device (12) comprises a motor, in particular an electric motor1 for moving the guide element (26) between the at least two different positions.
- 3. The air guiding device (12) according to claim 2, characterized in that the air guiding device (12) comprises a control unit coupled the motor, the control unit being configured to vary the speed (V) at which the guide element (26) is moved between the positions while the guide element (26) is moved from one of the positions to the second position by means of the motor.
- 4. The air guiding device (12) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit is configured to vary the speed (V) at which the guide element (26) is moved between the positions in dependency of the at least two positions of the guide element (26).
- 5. The air guiding device (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide element (26) by means of the motor is movable within a first adjusting range (-0) comprising first positions of the guide element (26) and within a second adjusting range (÷8) comprising second positions of the guide element (26), the first positions effecting respective first flow directions (28) of the air and the second positions effecting respective second flow directions (30) of the air, wherein the re5pective first flow directions in the transverse direction of the vehicle extend outwards and the respective second flow directions in the transverse direction of the vehicle extend inwards, and wherein the control unit is configured to move the guide element (26) more slowly within the first adjusting range (-8) than within the second adjusting range (+0) by means of the motor. S. *S * * . * . S... * . ØS 50 * * S * * *0 0 * * * * .* *
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201303567A GB2511330A (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2013-02-28 | Air Guiding Device Of A Vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201303567A GB2511330A (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2013-02-28 | Air Guiding Device Of A Vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201303567D0 GB201303567D0 (en) | 2013-04-10 |
| GB2511330A true GB2511330A (en) | 2014-09-03 |
Family
ID=48092254
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201303567A Withdrawn GB2511330A (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2013-02-28 | Air Guiding Device Of A Vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2511330A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106585327A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-04-26 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Closed heating device of front seat |
| CN106585450A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-04-26 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Front seat-mounted anti-clamping heating device |
| CN106627045A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-05-10 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Adjustable heating device for front seat |
| CN107042776A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-15 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of front-row seats |
| CN107042746A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-15 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of front-row seats heating installation |
| CN107054003A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-18 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of variable heating installation of front-row seats wind direction |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0270519A (en) * | 1988-09-05 | 1990-03-09 | Hino Motors Ltd | Blow out direction control device for warm wind |
-
2013
- 2013-02-28 GB GB201303567A patent/GB2511330A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0270519A (en) * | 1988-09-05 | 1990-03-09 | Hino Motors Ltd | Blow out direction control device for warm wind |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106585327A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-04-26 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Closed heating device of front seat |
| CN106585450A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-04-26 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Front seat-mounted anti-clamping heating device |
| CN106627045A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-05-10 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | Adjustable heating device for front seat |
| CN107042776A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-15 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of front-row seats |
| CN107042746A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-15 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of front-row seats heating installation |
| CN107054003A (en) * | 2016-12-30 | 2017-08-18 | 芜湖瑞泰汽车零部件有限公司 | A kind of variable heating installation of front-row seats wind direction |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201303567D0 (en) | 2013-04-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |