JP2000161764A - Wind direction regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wind direction regulator the external appearance and form of which can be improved by avoiding the formation of sink marks on the journal sections of louvers for guiding wind direction and the corresponding side wall section of an air-conditioner case, and the louvers of which can be attached easily and smoothly to an air conditioner case by reducing the inserting forces of the louvers. SOLUTION: A wind direction regulator is provided with a plurality of horizontal louvers 2,... and a plurality of vertical louvers 3,... which are supported in the rear of the louvers 2,... in such a state that the louvers 3,... can be interlocked with each other in a direction crossing the louvers 2,... and can be revolved. At the rear end sections of the horizontal louvers 2,..., elastic journal pieces 9 having journal holes 9a which become one journal sections of the vertical louvers 3,... are protruded in the air blowing-out direction and the other journal sections are formed through a housing 5 which is formed as the case of an air conditioner. The commercial value of the housing 5 as a product can be improved by eliminating the portions where recessed sections, such as sink marks, etc., are formed at molding time from the external wall surface of the housing 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wind direction adjusting device provided at an air outlet for air conditioning or ventilation of an automobile or the like and for adjusting a wind direction in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. The present invention relates to a wind direction adjusting device capable of increasing the ease and reliability of mounting and securing the appearance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an instrument panel of an automobile or the like is provided with an air outlet for blowing cold air from a cooling device or warm air from a heating device into a room, and the air outlet is vertically and horizontally. A wind direction adjusting device for adjusting the wind direction in the direction is mounted. A louver support portion for guiding the wind direction is formed on the inner wall surface of the case, and when the louver is mounted in the air-conditioning case, the side wall surface of the case is pushed and expanded in a substantially arc shape, and the louver is provided on the support portion. The rotating shaft is inserted and supported. When inserting the rotating shaft of the louver into the shaft support, if the louver is forcibly pushed in, there is a possibility that the support shaft of the louver or the shaft support of the case may be damaged or damaged. There is a problem that the rotation resistance increases due to breakage or damage, and the operation load increases.

[0003] Techniques for avoiding such inconveniences include:
For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-2436.
The wind direction adjusting device disclosed in the publication discloses a projecting portion which is a shaft support portion of a louver opposed to an inner surface of a side wall parallel to a longitudinal direction of the rectangular frame body as the air-conditioning case. A structure in which a shaft support hole is formed in the protruding portion, and the length of each support shaft of the louver having the same length is gradually shortened from the center support shaft to the support shafts on both sides. It was done.

When the louver having such a structure is attached to the rear portion of the frame, the opposing side walls of the frame are pushed open and curved in an arc shape as in the conventional case. According to this structure, the pivots of the louvers connected by the connecting rods through the thin portions to rotate the plurality of louvers all at once are separated from the pivots of the central louver on both sides. Since the louvers are gradually shortened toward the support shaft of the louvers arranged in the louvers, the plurality of louvers arranged side by side in the frame body can be deformed to a minimum without expanding the side walls more than necessary. The louver can be easily inserted and the support shaft of each louver can be easily inserted into each of the shaft support holes.

In addition, since the support shaft of the central louver is the longest, rotation resistance is generated only between this support shaft and the corresponding shaft support portion, and the other support shafts merely serve as guides. Therefore, the force applied to the thin portions of the plurality of louvers is extremely small, and an effect that there is no possibility of breakage can be exhibited.

[0006]

However, in the wind direction adjusting device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-2436, a louver is provided on the inner wall surface of the frame as an air-conditioning case in order to obtain the above-mentioned effects. Since the protruding portion which is the shaft support portion is formed, the total thickness of the coaxial support portion and the thickness of the frame body is locally increased, and a local sink mark is formed on the outer wall surface of the frame body during molding. And the appearance of the frame is impaired. For example, when the outer wall surface of the frame body is exposed to the interior of the vehicle by rotating the frame body left or right or up and down to adjust the wind direction, the sink marks are formed on the outer wall surface of the frame body. There is a problem that dents and the like enter the eye, impair the appearance and lower the commercial value.

Further, in order to mount a plurality of the louvers in the frame, the side walls of the frame which are opposed to each other are spread and bent in an arc shape as in the prior art so that the support shaft of the louver is connected to the frame. In order to insert and support the shaft support portion, if the frame body has a high rigidity and requires a considerable force to bend, when assembling the louver requires much labor and labor, it is the same as before. There is no change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the present invention avoids sinks at the time of molding that occur on a shaft support of a louver for guiding a wind direction and a wall of a corresponding air-conditioning case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wind direction adjusting device that can improve the external shape and can easily and smoothly mount the louver.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is provided at an air outlet,
A wind direction adjusting device for adjusting a direction of an air flow blown out from the air outlet, comprising: a plurality of front louvers supported in an air-conditioning case having front and rear openings; and the front louvers in the air-conditioning case. A plurality of rear louvers rotatably supported in a direction intersecting with the front louver behind the front louver and rotating in conjunction with each other by operating an operation lever, and a plurality of rear ends of the front louvers A shaft support piece extending in the rear direction of the air outlet and having elasticity protrudes from the portion, and a shaft support hole for rotatably supporting a support shaft of a rear louver is formed in the shaft support piece. The main configuration is a wind direction adjusting device characterized by the following.

[0010] According to the wind direction adjusting device having the above-described structure, the elastic supporting piece extending rearward of the air outlet at the rear end of the plurality of front louvers is provided with the air-conditioning case. Because it is protruding from a part separate from the inner wall,
It is possible to eliminate a portion that causes depressions such as sink marks on the outer wall surface of the air-conditioning case at the time of molding, it is possible to ensure a good appearance of the air-conditioning case, and it is possible to increase the commercial value.

Since the shaft support having the above structure is a thin plate made of a synthetic resin made of the same material as that of the air-conditioning case, it can be bent with elasticity, and the coaxial support supports the support of the rear louver. A shaft support hole for rotatably supporting the shaft is formed. Therefore, the rear louver can be easily and smoothly pressed by pushing the support shaft of the rear louver against the elasticity while elastically bending the shaft support piece without expanding the side wall portion of the air conditioning case. It is possible to attach to.

According to the present invention, since the shaft support piece extends to the rear end of the plurality of front louvers in the rearward direction of the air outlet substantially in parallel with the inner wall of the air conditioning case. Not only can the air distribution performance be secured without blocking the air passage of the air conditioning case, but also the shaft support piece is concealed from the outside, so that the appearance as a product is also excellent.

Further, according to the present invention, the shaft support is provided near one side wall of the air-conditioning case, and at least one support shaft of the rear louver is supported by the shaft support, and the other of the rear louver is provided. The support shaft may be supported by a shaft support hole or the like formed directly on another opposite side wall of the air conditioning case. Of course,
Axle support pieces may be provided in the vicinity of opposite side walls of the air conditioning case.

The air conditioning case can be made of a synthetic resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene, styrene resin) or PP (polypropylene resin). Further, the present invention is also applied to a wind direction adjusting device in which a vertical louver is arranged in front of the air outlet and a horizontal louver is arranged in a rear portion thereof, or a wind direction adjusting device in which a vertical louver and a horizontal louver are arranged opposite to each other. it can.

In the invention according to a second aspect, the tip end of the shaft support piece has a slope portion that is gradually increased toward the shaft support hole. According to this configuration, in addition to the effect, the support shaft of the rear louver can be fitted into the shaft support hole while sliding the support shaft of the rear louver along the slope. The rear louver can be securely and smoothly assembled. In addition,
The slope portion may be formed in a groove shape on the surface of the shaft support piece. In this case, the mounting operation of the louver is facilitated, and the louver is hardly detached after the mounting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the shaft support piece is projected from a rear end of the front louver adjacent to a wall of the air-conditioning case, which is visible when the air-conditioning case is rotated. ing. According to such a configuration, the air-conditioning case has a shape in which the side wall is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rear louver, which tends to cause unsightly sink marks and the like at the time of molding on both side walls, so that the bearing portion is thick, When one side wall of the air-conditioning case is likely to be in the field of view when the air-conditioning case is turned, each front side arranged at one side end of the air-conditioning case to avoid occurrence of unsightly sink marks during molding. The shaft support piece protrudes from the rear end of the louver.

Thus, even when the air-conditioning case is rotated, no sink marks or the like appear on the surface of the air-conditioning case, and the appearance can be improved and the commercial value can be enhanced. Of course, if the air-conditioning case has a structure in which both side walls are in the field of view every time the air-conditioning case is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the shaft support pieces may be protruded near each side wall.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 3 shows a typical embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire wind direction adjusting device, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a rear surface of an air-conditioning case applied to the wind direction adjusting device of the present invention and a rear louver mounted on the case.

The wind direction adjusting device according to the present invention mainly comprises an air conditioning case 1, a plurality of front louvers, horizontal louvers 2,... 2, 2 and three rear louvers, vertical louvers 3,. The feature of the invention lies in the structure of the shaft supporting portion for supporting the rear louver. In the following description, the front side of the air-conditioning case 1 is referred to as a front portion, the rear side is referred to as a rear portion, and the air-conditioning case 1 is referred to as up, down, left and right as viewed from the front. The present invention is also applicable to a wind direction adjusting device in which the vertical louvers 3 are pivotally supported at the front of the air outlet, and the horizontal louvers 2 are pivotally supported at the rear.

In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes an air-conditioning case made of a synthetic resin having open front and rear surfaces.
Has a bulging portion 1b which is expanded from a rectangular cylindrical main body 1a. At the front end of the bulging portion 1b, for example, four mounting portions 1c for mounting to an instrument panel 4 or the like of an automobile are integrally formed. A cylindrical housing 5 which is an air-conditioning case made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin or a PP resin is housed inside the bulging portion 1b. The housing 5 is vertically turned around the air-conditioning case body 1a by fitting a support shaft 5a projecting from the side wall of the housing 5 into a shaft support hole (not shown) formed in the side wall of the air-conditioning case body 1a. It is movably supported. The front surface of the housing 5 has a curved surface shape bulging forward, and a plurality of the horizontal louvers 2,..., 2 having different lengths are integrally formed horizontally and at equal intervals along the front surface of the housing 5. Is formed. The outer wall surface has a substantially fan-shaped front surface substantially equal to the inner wall surface of the bulging portion 1b of the air-conditioning case main body 1a.

In the illustrated example, three vertical louvers 3 of different lengths are provided inside the housing 5 in order to adjust the cooling and heating air flow from a cooling and heating device (not shown) to the left and right.
Are rotatably supported around a support shaft 3c integrally protruding from upper and lower side edges thereof, and a sliding lever 6 for adjusting the angle of the vertical louvers 3,. 2 ... 2
Of these, it is loosely fitted between two horizontal louvers arranged substantially in the center of the housing 5. The sliding lever 6
Has a bifurcated holding portion 6a for holding one vertical louver 3 in the middle of the three vertical louvers 3. A cutout hole 3a is formed at a position corresponding to the vertical louver 3 held by the holding portion 6a, and the forked holding portion 6 of the sliding lever 6 is formed.
The engaging pin 3b held by a is integrally formed.

In the assembled wind direction adjusting device, the mounting portion 1c is fixed to the back surface of the instrument panel 4 or the like by a screw or the like (not shown) so as to be exposed to the front surface of the instrument panel 4 or the like and the air conditioning is performed. A rear end side opening in the main body 1a of the case 1 is connected to an air outlet such as an air conditioning or heating duct 7 via a sealing material 8 such as polyurethane foam. In the wind direction adjusting device having such a configuration, the sliding lever 6 protruding from the horizontal louvers 2 is slid between the horizontal louvers 2 to rotate the center vertical louver 3 left and right. As a result, all of the vertical louvers 3 are connected via an interlocking link.
Are simultaneously rotated left and right, or vertically about the support shaft 5a of the housing 5 to adjust the wind direction. Each of the above-described components is conventionally known, and is not limited to the illustrated example.

The shaft supporting portion for supporting the rear louver according to the present invention is a rectangular thin plate-shaped shaft integrally protruding from the rear ends of the plurality of horizontal louvers 2 as shown in FIGS. It has a support piece 9. The coaxial support piece 9 is provided with a shaft support hole 9b for rotatably supporting the support shaft 3c of the vertical louver 3. The shaft support piece 9 is protruded from a rear end of the horizontal louver 2 adjacent to a wall of the housing 5 that is visually recognized by the rotation of the housing 5.

According to the present invention, both side walls of the housing 5 have a shape in which the side walls are inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rear louver, which tends to cause unsightly sink marks during molding, and the bearing portion is thick. If the outer wall portion of the housing 5 is easy to enter into the field of view when the housing 5 rotates, the shaft is attached to the rear end of the horizontal louver 2 disposed at one end of the housing 5. The support piece 9 is protruded. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of depressions such as sink marks at the time of molding on the outer wall portion of the housing 5 which is easily visible, for example, when adjusting the wind direction by rotating the housing 5 in the vertical direction. The housing 5 exposed in the vehicle interior
Eliminates unsightly local depressions such as sink marks on the outer wall of the
A desired external shape can be ensured, and the appearance of the housing 5 can be improved.

In the illustrated example, the shaft support piece 9 is provided at a predetermined interval at the rear end of each of the two horizontal louvers 2, 2 disposed adjacent to the inner wall above the housing 5. The shaft support holes 9b of the shaft support pieces 9 are provided at equal intervals in the inner wall portion below the housing 5 at the same intervals as the installation intervals of the shaft support holes 9b. The uppermost inner wall of the housing 5 is formed with a concave shaft support hole 5b for rotatably supporting the support shaft 3c of the vertical louver 3, and a lower shaft facing the uppermost inner wall. The shaft support hole 5 having a concave shape is formed in the inner wall portion.
The shaft support hole 5b is penetrated at the same interval as the distance b. In the present invention, when the side walls of the housing 5 have a structure in which they can be seen each time the housing 5 rotates in the forward and reverse directions, the shaft support pieces 9 are provided near the respective side walls. It can be protruded.

As shown in the drawing, the shaft support 9 extends rearward of the air outlet substantially in parallel with the inner wall of the housing 5, so that the shaft support 9 is hidden from the outside and The air passage of the housing 5 is not blocked. For this reason, the air distribution performance of the housing 5 can be ensured, and the appearance as a product is also excellent. Further, the shaft support piece 9 has elasticity and can be bent. According to this structure, the vertical louvers 3... Are pushed in against the elasticity of the shaft supporting piece 9 while bending the shaft supporting piece 9 without pushing and expanding the side wall portion of the housing 5. The support shaft 3c of the vertical louvers 3 can be mounted in the housing 5.

At the tip of the elastic support piece 9,
A groove portion for guiding the insertion when the vertical louver 3 is mounted is formed, and the groove portion has an inclined surface portion 9 a gradually rising in the front direction of the housing 5. According to such a configuration, when the vertical louver 3 is mounted, the support shaft 3c of the vertical louver 3 is slid along the slope portion 9a, so that the vertical louver 3 is inserted into the shaft support hole 9a of the shaft support piece 9. The support shaft 3c can be guided, and the vertical louver 3 can be easily and smoothly assembled.

In order to assemble the vertical louvers 3 of the wind direction adjusting device of the present invention configured as described above to the housing 5,
First, the vertical louver 3 is inserted into the shaft support hole 5b of the housing 5.
Insert and position the lower support shaft 3c. Next, with the support shaft 3c as a fulcrum, the support shaft 3c on the upper portion of the vertical louver 3 is used.
To the tip of the shaft support piece 9 to apply a pushing force at the time of pushing. Next, the vertical louver 3 is pushed into the shaft support 9 against the elasticity of the shaft support 9. At this time, the vertical louver 3
Is pushed in, the shaft support piece 9 gradually bends upward due to elasticity, and the upper support shaft 3a of the vertical louver 3 resists the elasticity of the shaft support piece 9 and has a concave slope portion 9a of the shaft support piece 9. Is guided along and pushed smoothly.

The support shaft 3a on the upper part of the vertical louver 3
Reaches the shaft support hole 9b of the shaft support piece 9, the lower support shaft 3a of the vertical louver 3 is fitted into the shaft support hole 5b of the housing 5, and the upper support shaft 3a is connected to the shaft support hole 5b. The sliding piece 9 is slidably fitted into the shaft supporting hole 9b, and the shaft supporting piece 9 returns to its original shape. The other vertical louvers 3 are similarly attached to the shaft support pieces 9. And predetermined horizontal louvers 2,
The holding portion 6a of the sliding lever 6 is pushed into the housing 5 from between the two, and the engaging pin 3b of the vertical louver 3 is held by the holding portion 6a. Engage and hold between 2 and 2.

In order to adjust the left and right wind directions, the slide lever 6 is rotated left and right along the horizontal louvers 2 and 2 as in the conventional case. With this rotation, the holding portion 6
The center vertical louver 3 held by the a through the engaging pin 3b rotates, and the vertical louvers 3, 3 on both sides simultaneously rotate right and left via the interlocking link. When adjusting the vertical wind direction, the direction of the horizontal louvers 2 is changed by rotating the housing 5 up and down.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the wind direction adjusting device of the present invention, the shaft having the elasticity extending rearward of the air outlet at the rear end of the plurality of front louvers. A support is projected from a portion separate from the inner wall of the air-conditioning case, and a shaft support hole is formed in the shaft support to rotatably support a support shaft of a rear louver. It is possible to eliminate a portion that causes depressions or the like on the outer wall surface of the air-conditioning case, so that the appearance of the product can be improved and the commercial value can be enhanced.

As in the present invention, the shaft support has elasticity and can be bent, and the coaxial support has a shaft support hole for rotating the rear louver. The support shaft of the rear louver is easily and smoothly inserted into the support hole of the air-conditioning case by bending the shaft support hole without expanding the shaft and pushing the rear louver against the elasticity of the shaft support piece. It is possible to attach to. In the case where the shaft support piece has a slope portion gradually inclined upward toward the shaft support hole of the shaft support piece, by sliding the support shaft of the rear louver along the slope portion. The support shaft of the rear louver can be guided to the shaft support hole, and the rear louver can be securely and smoothly assembled.

[0033] Further, since the shaft support piece extends to the rear end of the predetermined front louver in the rearward direction of the air outlet, substantially in parallel with the inner wall surface of the air-conditioning case. The air distribution performance can be ensured without blocking the air passage, and the shaft support piece is concealed from the outside, so that the appearance as a product is good.

Further, according to the present invention, the shaft support pieces may project from rear ends of front louvers adjacent to both side walls of the air-conditioning case, which are visually recognized by the rotation of the air-conditioning case. Since it is possible to avoid the occurrence of sink marks at the time of molding on both side walls of the air-conditioning case, which is easily visible, a desired external shape can be secured on the wall of the air-conditioning case. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but naturally includes a technical range that can be easily changed by those skilled in the art from those embodiments.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entirety of a wind direction adjusting device which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an air conditioning case applied to the wind direction adjusting device of the present invention and a rear surface of a rear louver mounted on the case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 air-conditioning case 1a air-conditioning case main body 1b bulging portion 1c mounting portion 2 horizontal louver as front louver 3 vertical louver as rear louver 3a cutout hole 3b engaging pin 3c support shaft of vertical louver 4 instrument panel 5 housing 5a housing 5b Housing shaft support hole 6 Sliding lever 6a Holder 7 Duct 8 Seal material 9 Shaft support 9a Slope 9b Shaft support hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wind direction adjusting device disposed at an air outlet for adjusting a direction of an air flow blown out from the air outlet, comprising a plurality of front portions supported in an air-conditioning case having front and rear openings. A plurality of rear louvers rotatably supported in a direction intersecting the front louvers behind the front louvers in the air conditioning case, and rotating in conjunction with each other by operating an operation lever. A rear end portion of the front louver is provided with a resilient shaft support protruding rearward of the air outlet, and the support shaft of the rear louver is rotatable on the shaft support piece. A wind direction adjusting device, wherein a shaft support hole for supporting the wind direction is formed. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the shaft support piece has a slope portion gradually inclined upward toward the shaft support hole.
The wind direction adjusting device as described. 3. The air conditioner case according to claim 1, wherein the pivot piece projects from a rear end of the front louver adjacent to an inclined wall portion of the air-conditioning case, which is visible when the air-conditioning case is rotated. Wind direction adjustment device.