JPH07232548A - Damper opening and closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the number of part items, to facilitate assembling of a damper operating lever to the strut of a case body and to eliminate the necessity of adjustment after assembling. CONSTITUTION:A damper, which opens and closes an air passage 13a, is rotatably provided inside of a case body 13 having a strut 13e erected on the outer surface near an air blow-off port 12a. An arm 16, having a rotation pivot 16a penetrating the case body 13 and fixed to the damper on one end, is provided along the outer surface of the case body 13. One end of a damper operating lever 17 is turnably mounted on the other end of the arm 16 and the damper operating lever 17 is pivoted to the strut 13e. A bush 18, having a flange 18a of a larger diameter than that of a fitting hole, is inserted into the strut 13e in the state of the lever 17 being fitted into it and also into the fitting hole, and a plurality of locking legs 13f, which are locked to the bush 18 in the state of the bush 18 being inserted into the fitting hole so that the lever 17 may not come off from the strut 13e, are erected on the outer surface of the case body 13 in the manner of surrounding the strut 13e.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner. More specifically, the present invention relates to a damper opening / closing device for adjusting the air volume provided at the outlet of an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner having an air conditioner such as a cooler unit and a heater unit to make the inside of the vehicle comfortable, and the air volume of the air outlet of the air conditioner is adjusted according to the passenger's preference. A damper opening / closing device is provided for the operation. Conventionally, as a damper opening / closing device of this type, an air volume adjusting damper is openably and closably provided inside a case body that constitutes an air passage having an air outlet, and a damper operating lever for opening and closing the damper is provided on the case body. Those which are rotatably provided on the outside are known (for example, actual opening Sho 60-135217, actual opening Sho 60-135218).

The damper operating lever is pivotally attached to a support column which is erected on the outer surface of the case body near the air outlet.
The structure for pivotally attaching the damper operating lever to the column is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the column 1a is erected on the lower surface of the case body 1, and the damper operating lever 2 is provided with a mounting hole that can be loosely fitted to the column 1a. 2a is formed, and a bush 3 having a flange 3a having a larger diameter than the mounting hole is inserted into the supporting column 1a and the mounting hole 2a in a state in which the mounting hole 2a is inserted into the supporting column 1a, and the bush 3a is inserted. Therefore, a structure in which the washer 4 having the locking claw 4a inside is fitted into the column 1a has been attempted. Once the locking claw 4a is fitted, it elastically digs into the central column 1a and prevents the damper operating lever 2 from coming off via the bush 3.

[0004]

However, in the structure for pivotally attaching the damper operating lever, when the bushing presses the operating lever strongly against the case body due to the excessive tightening of the washer.
If the sliding resistance of the operating lever increases and it becomes difficult for the damper to open and close smoothly, on the contrary, if the washer is too tight,
There was a problem that the feeling of moderation became poor when the operating lever was operated, and in some cases the damper was opened by the wind pressure from the fan of the air conditioner. Since it is very difficult to adjust the washer after it is fitted, it is necessary to pay close attention to the amount of the washer fitted when the operating lever is assembled. Further, the washer is a small part, and it was troublesome to increase the number of pivotally connected parts and manage the pivotally connected parts.

The object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts,
An object of the present invention is to provide a damper opening / closing device in which a damper operating lever can be easily assembled to a column of a case body without requiring adjustment after assembly.

[0006]

A configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object will be described with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment.

According to the present invention, the air outlet 12a is formed at the end, and the air passage 13a is formed inside the air outlet 12a.
A case body 13 in which a pillar 13e is erected on the outer surface in the vicinity,
A damper 14 that is rotatably provided inside the case body 13 so as to open and close the air passage 13a, and a damper 14 that is provided along the outer surface of the case body 13 and penetrates the case body 13 at one end. Damper rotating support shaft 16 fixed
an arm 16 having a, and one end rotatably attached to the other end of the arm 16 and an operating portion 17a for opening and closing the damper at the other end.
And a damper operating lever 17 pivotally attached to a column 13e, and a damper opening / closing device.

The characteristic structure is that the support 17 is attached to the lever 17.
A mounting hole 17b that can be loosely fitted in the 3e is formed,
The bush 18 is inserted into the support column 13e and the mounting hole 17e with the mounting hole 17b fitted therein, and the bush 18 has a flange 18a having a larger diameter than the mounting hole 17b.
A plurality of elastic locking legs 1 that are locked to the bush 18 in a state where the bush 18 is fitted and inserted so as not to come off from the column 13e.
3f is provided upright on the outer surface of the case body 13 so as to surround the column 13e.

[0009]

When the damper operating lever 17 is pivotally attached to the column 13e, the mounting hole 17b of the lever 17 is first inserted into the column 13e.
Insert into e. Next, when the bush 18 is fitted into the support column 13e, the bush 18 is fitted into the support column 13e and the mounting hole 17b after the flange 18a expands the plurality of elastic locking legs 13f. After the insertion, the elastic locking leg 13f is restored and locked to the bush 18.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 5, on the both sides of the instrument panel 11 of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, air outlets 12a,
12b, and an air outlet 12c is arranged in the center thereof. Air whose temperature is adjusted by a cooler unit, a heater unit and a blower (not shown) is blown into the vehicle from these outlets 12a to 12c. Hereinafter, the air outlet 12a on the left side will be described as a representative.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the air outlet 1
2a is a case body 13 in which an air passage 13a is formed.
Is provided at the end of. Inside the case body 13, a damper 14 for adjusting the air flow is rotatably provided so as to open and close the air passage 13a. The case body 13 is connected to a guide tube (not shown) that guides the air sent by the blower, and in this example, it is formed in a square tube shape by plastic molding. An insertion hole 13c is provided substantially in the center of the upper wall of the case body 13, and a hole 13d is provided at a position facing the insertion hole 13c of the lower wall of the case body 13 (FIG. 1). Further, a column 13e is erected on the lower surface of the case body 13 near the air outlet 12a.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the damper 14 is formed in a square shape corresponding to the inner shape of the case body 13, and the damper 14 is made of a soft silicone resin which can be closely attached to the case body 13 when closed. The seal member 14a is attached. Further, a protrusion 14b which is rotatable by being inserted into the insertion hole 13c of the case body 13 is provided at the center of the upper side of the damper 14. An arm 16 which is a plastic molded body is provided along the lower surface of the case body 13. A damper rotation support shaft 16a is provided at one end of the arm 16 and passes through the hole 13d and is fixed to the center of the lower side 14c of the damper 14, and an elongated hole 16b is provided at the other end. After the support shaft 16a is inserted into the hole 13d of the case body 13 on the outer surface of the rotation support shaft 16a, a pawl 16c is provided to engage with the hole edge (FIG. 2).
A groove 16d that fits into the lower side 14c of the damper 14 is provided at the tip of the support shaft 16a (FIG. 4). One end of a damper operating lever 17 is rotatably attached to the other end of the arm 16. That is, the convex portion 17d is provided upright at one end of the lever 17, and the convex portion 17d is loosely inserted into the long hole 16b provided at the other end of the arm 16. A fan-shaped operation portion 17a for opening and closing the damper is integrally formed at the other end of the lever 17.
The damper operating lever 17 is pivotally attached to the support column 13e of the case body 13 described above.

The characteristic structure of this embodiment is the pivot structure. That is, a mounting hole 17b is formed at the center of the operating portion 17a of the lever 17 so that the support 13e can be loosely fitted.
The bush 18 is fitted into the support column 13e and the mounting hole 17e with the mounting hole 17b fitted in the e. This bush 1
8 has a flange 18a having a larger diameter than the mounting hole 17b.
Bush 1 so that the lever 17 does not come off from the column 13e.
A pair of elastic locking legs 13f that lock with the bush 18 in a state in which 8 is fitted are provided upright on the outer surface of the case body 13 so as to surround the column 13e. The locking portion 13g of the locking leg 13f is curved along the peripheral edge of the flange 18a to enhance the locking force. The pair of locking legs 13f can be expanded to at least the outer diameter of the flange 18a by the elastic force thereof, and when restored, the locking legs 13f are made smaller than the outer diameter of the flange 18a.

In order to assemble the damper opening / closing device having such a structure, first, the protrusion 14b of the damper 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 13c of the case body 13, and then the support shaft 1 of the arm 16 is inserted.
The groove 16d of 6a is fitted in the center of the lower side 14c of the damper 14. This causes the damper 14 to rotate inside the case body 13 by swinging the arm 16. Next, the convex portion 17d of the damper operating lever 17 is loosely inserted into the elongated hole 16b at the other end of the arm 16, and at the same time, the mounting hole 17b of the lever 17 is fitted into the column 13e. Next, the bush 18 is fitted into the support column 13e, and the flange 18a expands the pair of elastic locking legs 13f so that the bush 18 fits into the pair of locking legs 13f. At the same time, as shown in FIG. And is fitted into the mounting hole 17b. After the insertion, the elastic locking leg 13f is restored, the locking portion 13g is locked to the flange 18a of the bush 18, and the bush 18 is pressed with a predetermined pressure. As a result, the lever 17 is pressed by the flange 18a of the bush 18 with a predetermined pressure.

In the damper opening / closing device thus assembled, the damper 14 provided in the air passage 13a is in parallel with the air flow in the normal state as shown in FIG. 4, and the conditioned air is blown out. It blows out from 12a. When the occupant stops blowing the air, the operating portion 17a of the operating lever 17 is rotated as shown by the solid line arrow as shown in FIG. Since the operating lever 17 is pressed by the locking leg 13f through the bush 18 with a predetermined pressing force, it rotates with a predetermined sliding resistance about the support column 13e provided on the case body 13 and moves to a position indicated by a chain double-dashed line. Rotate up to. With this rotation, the convex portion 17d provided on the operating lever 17 moves in the elongated hole 16b of the arm 16 and rotates the arm 16 to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line. As the arm 16 rotates, the rotation support shaft 16a rotates, causing the damper 14 to rotate about 90 ° inside the case body 13 to shut off the air passage 13a. When the occupant blows out the air, the above operation is reversed to open the air passage 13a again.

Although a pair of elastic locking legs is shown in the above embodiment, the number of elastic locking legs is not limited to one and may be three or more. Further, although the operating portion is formed in a fan shape in the above embodiment, the shape of the operating portion is not limited to this.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the damper operating lever is pivotally attached to the support of the case body by the elastic locking leg via the bush, the washer used conventionally. Can be eliminated and the number of pivotally connected parts can be reduced.
In addition, if the thickness of the bush for mounting the operating lever and the height of the locking leg are set appropriately beforehand, the unevenness of the sliding resistance of the lever caused by the variation in the assembly work will be eliminated, and the adjustment will not be necessary, and the workability will be improved. Excellent in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a damper opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally below.

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

FIG. 3 is a view seen from an arrow B in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a damper opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an instrument panel of a vehicle equipped with the damper opening / closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12a Air outlet 13 Case body 13a Air passage 13e Strut 13f Elastic locking leg 14 Damper 16 Arm 16a Rotating support shaft 17 Damper operating lever 17a Operating part 17b Mounting hole 18 Bush 18a Flange

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A case body having an air outlet (12a) at an end thereof, an air passage (13a) formed therein, and a column (13e) standing on an outer surface near the air outlet (12a). 13) and the case body (13) so as to open and close the air passage (13a)
A rotatably mounted damper (14) inside the
And an arm (16) provided along the outer surface of the case body (13) and having at one end a damper rotation support shaft (16a) penetrating the case body (13) and fixed to the damper (14). And one end rotatably attached to the other end of the arm (16) and a damper opening / closing operation part (17a) formed at the other end, and a damper operation lever (pivotally attached to the column (13e) ( 17), a damper opening / closing device including a mounting hole (17) that allows the lever (17) to be loosely fitted to the column (13e).
b) is formed, a bush (18) is fitted and inserted into the support column (13e) and the mounting hole (17b) in a state where the mounting hole (17b) is fitted into the support column (13e), and the bush (18) Has a flange (18a) having a diameter larger than that of the mounting hole (17b), and the bush (18) is inserted and inserted so that the lever (17) does not come off from the column (13e). A damper opening / closing device, characterized in that a plurality of elastic locking legs (13f) locking to (18) are provided upright on the outer surface of the case body (13) so as to surround the column (13e).