WO1991003681A1

WO1991003681A1 - Vent nozzle

Info

Publication number: WO1991003681A1
Application number: PCT/EP1990/001456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Kurt Weber
Original assignee: Walter Kurt Weber
Priority date: 1989-09-01
Filing date: 1990-08-31
Publication date: 1991-03-21

Abstract

An adjustable vent nozzle comprises first and second nozzle members (1, 2) turnable relative to one another. The first nozzle member (1) has an inlet opening (5) for communicating an interior of the nozzle with ambient atmosphere and a lower surface provided with guides (6). The second nozzle member (2) has an outlet opening (15) with a passage which is open in the outlet opening and formed to guide the guides (6) of the first nozzle member so that in an assembled condition when one of the nozzle members is turned relative to another of the nozzle members the guides (6) are guided in the air passage (14) in a predetermined angular position of the nozzle members relative to one another they can be fixed relative to one another to define a predetermined length of the passage (14) between the inlet opening (5) and the outlet opening (15) and therefore to adjust an air supply through the nozzle into an interior of a device to be vented communicating with the outlet opening (15).

Description

V en t Nozz l e

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to adjustable vent nozzles and particularly to vent nozzles for headlamps, othe lamps in the automotive field as well as other devices. Vent nozzles for venting interiors of lighting equipment as well as other devices are widely knovm and used. Depending on the volume of the interior of the device to be vented, specific operational conditions, as well as other factors, the throughput of the vent nozzle has to be adjuste to provide an optimal ventillation. Known vent nozzles for these purposes possess certain disadvantages and can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vent nozzle which can be easily adjusted to respective devices which have to be ventilated. In keeping with these objects and with others whi will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the presen invention resides, briefly stated, in a vent nozzle which two nozzle members rotatable relative to one another, one o the nozzle members being provided with an outlet opening fo discharging air into the interior of a device to be vented and also with a passage extending to the outlet opening, th other of the nozzle members having an inlet opening communi cating an ambient atmosphere with said passage of said one nozzle member and being turnable relative to the one nozzl member so as to vary the position of the inlet opening relative to the passage thereby to adjust an air supply to the interior of the device.

When the vent nozzle is designed in accordance wi the present invention it permits an easy adjustment of the throughput of the vent nozzle relative to the specific requirements of particular devices to be ventilated.

In accordance with another feature of the presen invention, the one nozzle member is provided with means fo mounting the vent nozzle on the device and including an expansible projection which can pass through a mounting opening in the device and expands to become anchored in t device.

When the vent nozzle is designed in accordance the present invention it permits an easy adjustment of th throughput of the vent nozzle relative to the specific requirements of particular devices to be ventilated. The mounting of the device is performed in an especially simp and advantageous manner. It suffices to insert the mount means of one nozzle member or the expansible projection through the hole of the device, and then the projection expands and becomes anchored in the hole of the device an the vent nozzle becomes reliably mounted on the device.

In accordance with a further feature of the pre invention, the other nozzle member or a cap has a main ca part provided with an inlet opening, and an auxiliary cap which is connected with the main part and turnable relati the main part so as to fit on the top of said main part, wherein the auxiliary part is provided with a passage hav one end arranged to communicate with the inlet opening of main cap part and another end which opens toward an inter of the vent nozzle.

When the cap is designed in accordance with the present invention, the interior of the device is sufficie vented through the vent nozzle, and at the same time undesirable water penetration through the vent nozzle is avoided .

The cap has means for connecting the main cap par and the auxiliary part with one another and including a flexible element formed so that the auxiliary part can be turned around an axis extending transverse to the flexible element to be fitted on the main cap part.

The flexible connecting element can be formed as film hinge, and the main cap part', the auxiliary cap part a the connecting means can be formed of one piece integral wi one another so that the cap is an integral one-piece elemen

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particula in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, togethe with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be bes understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the top surface of one pa of an adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with one embodime of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bottom surface of the nozzle part of FIG. 1;

FIGS . 3 and 4 are views showing sections of the nozzle parts of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the lines A-A and B-B in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a plan view of a bottom surface of the other part of the adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing sections of the p of FIG. 5 taken along the lines C-C and D-D in FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a view showing a section of the adjusta vent nozzle in accordance with the present invention in assembled condition;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the top surface of one p of an adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a bottom surface of the nozzle part of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views showing sections of th nozzle parts of FIGS. 9 and 10 taken along the lines A-A an B-B in FIG. 10; FIG. 13 is a plan view of a top surface of the oth part of the adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views showing sections of the part of FIG. 13 taken along the lines C-C and D-D in FIG. 1

FIG. 16 is a view showing a section of the adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with the present invent in assembled condition;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a cap for a vent nozzle accordance with a further embodiment, in a position before use;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a top surface of a main part of the vent nozzle in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 19 is a plan view of the bottom surface of th main cap part of FIG. 18;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are views showing sections of the main cap part of FIGS. 18 and 19 taken along the lines A-A a B-B in FIG. 19; FIGS. 22 and 23 are showing sections C-C and D-D taken in FIG. 17 through the auxiliary cap part;

FIG. 24 is a view showing a side view of the inventive cap for the vent nozzle; and

FIG. 25 is a view showing the inventive cap for t vent nozzle in an assembled condition. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An adjustable vent nozzle for headlamps, other la and other devices has two nozzle members identified as a wh with reference numerals 1 and 2. The nozzle member 1 is substantially cup-shaped and has a top wall 3 and a periphe wall 4. An inlet opening 5 extends through the top wall 3 and communicates the interior of the vent nozzle with the ambient atmosphere. The bottom surface of the nozzle membe is provided with two guiding projections 6 which are angula spaced from one another and also with an adjusting projecti 7 angularly spaced from the guiding projections. The guidi projections 6 are located on the same radius. The nozzle p 1 is also provided with engaging means which includes three plastic prongs 8 extending from the central area of the bottom surface of the nozzle member 1 and angularly spaced from one another. The free end of each of the prongs 8 is provided with a double conical projection 9 having two oppositely inclined conical surfaces.

The second nozzle part 2 is also cup-shaped and h a lower wall 11, an upwardly extending peripheral wall 12 a an inner partially circular wall 13. A passage 14 is forme between the walls 12 and 13. The passage 14 communicates w an outlet opening 15 formed in the bottom wall 11. A plurality of projections, for example two projections 16 extend from the bottom of the passage 14 and have a height which is smaller than the height o-f the passage 14. Overflow passages 17 are formed on the top of the projections 16 and communicate the portions of the passage 14 with one another. The overflow passages 17 have a depth which is smaller than the depth of the passage 14. The passage 14 is closed by a partition 18. The inner partially circular wall 13 has a stepped portion forming an abutment 19. The second nozzle member 2 can be a part of a housing 20 of a device to be vented and formed of one piece with the housing. The adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with the present invention operates in the following manner. The nozzle part 1 is placed on the top of the nozzle part 2 so that peripheral wall 4 of the nozzle part 1 engages aroun_d th peripheral wall 12 of the nozzle part 2. Then the nozzle part 1 is turned relative to the nozzle part 2 over a predetermined angle. During the turning the projections 6 are guided in the passage 14 and the projection 7 turns in t area before the abutment 19. At a desired location, the nozzle member 1 is pressed down so that the prongs 8 are pressed radially inwardly and the double-conical ends 9 extend downwardly beyond the lower surface 21 of the nozzle member 2. When the double-conical ends 9 are located below the surface 21 they spread radially apart and engage from below the surface so that the nozzle member 1 can no longer be withdrawn upwardly. The desired location, at which the nozzle member 1 is fixed with the nozzle member 2 is select in dependence upon the required ventilation of a respective device. Depending on the angular position of the inlet opening 5 relative to the passage 14 and the outlet opening 15, the length of the passage between the openings 5 and 15 changes and therefore the air supply is also adjusted. The partitions 16 form barriers for the air passage to also affect the conditions of air passage through the nozzle. T abutment 19 forms the limit for the projection 7. The height of the projections 6 and 7 is smaller than the depth of the passage 14, so that in the assembled condition air c pass underneath the projections 6 and 7 in the passage 14. The radial width of the projection 6 substantially correspo to the radial width of the passage 14 to provide the guidan during the turning of the nozzle part 1 relative to the noz part 2. The radial width of the projection 7 corresponds t the radial width of the pasage 14 in its wider area near t abutment 19.

FIGS. 9 - 16 show another embodiment of an adjustable vent nozzle for headlamps, other lamps and othe devices, which has two nozzle members identified as a whole with reference numerals 31 and 32. The nozzle member 31 i substantially cup-shaped and has a top wall 33 and a peripheral wall 34. An inlet opening 35 extends through t top wall 33 and communicates the interior of the vent nozz with the ambient atmosphere. The bottom surface of the noz member 31 is provided with two guiding projections 36 whic are angularly spaced from one another and also with an adjusting projection 37 angularly spaced from the guiding projections. The guiding projections 36 are located on th same radius. The nozzle part 31 is also provided with engaging means which includes three plastic prongs 38 extending from the central area of the bottom surface of t nozzle member 31 and angularly spaced from one another. T free end of each of the prongs 38 is provided with a doubl conical projection 39 having two oppositely inclined conic surfaces.

The second nozzle part 32 is also cup-shaped and a lower wall 41, an upwardly extending peripheral wall 42 an inner partially circular wall 43. A passage 43 is form between the walls 42 and 43. The passage 44 communicates an outlet opening 45 formed in the bottom wall 41. A plurality of projections, for example two projections 46 extend from the bottom of the passage 44 and have a height which is smaller than the height of the passage 44. Overf passages 47 are formed on the top of the projections 46 an communicate the portions of the passage 44 with one anothe The overflow passages 47 have a depth which is smaller tha the depth of the passage 44. The passage 44 is closed by partition 48. The inner partially circular wall 43 has a stepped portion forming an abutment 49.

The nozzle member 42 is provided with means for mounting the vent nozzle on the head lamp and other devices The mounting means 50 is formed as an expansible projectio which extends in the axial direction and has a plurality o slots 51 subdividing the projection into a plurality of prongs 52. As a result, the projection is expansible and compressible in the direction which is transverse to the a Each of the projections 52 has an end which is distal from the nozzle member 32 and is provided with an engaging formation 53. The engaging formations 53 can be inclined at an angle relative to the axis so as to conically conver in direction away of the nozzle member 32.

The adjustable vent nozzle in accordance with th embodiment of FIGS. 9 - 16 operates in the following manne

First of all, the nozzle part 32 is mounted on a headlamp or another device. For this purpose, the project 50 of the nozzle part 32 is pushed through a hole 54 of a wall 55 of the headlamp. Due to the transverse flexibilit of the projection 50, it is first transversely compressed and passes through the hole 54. When the engaging formati have passed the hole 54 and are located at the opposite si of the wall 55, the projection 50 spreads and the nozzle member 32 becomes reliably mounted on the wall 55. Then, nozzle part 31 is placed on the top of the nozzle part 32 that peripheral wall 34 of the nozzle part 31 engages aroun the peripheral wall 42 of the nozzle part. Then the nozzle part 31 is turned relative to the nozzle part 32 over a predetermined angle. During the turning the projections 36 are guided in the passage 34 and the projection 37 turns in the area before the abutment 49. At a desired location, th nozzle member 31 is pressed down so that the prongs 38 are pressed radially inwardly and the double-conical ends 39 extend downwardly beyond the lower surface 51 of the nozzle member 32. When the double-conical ends 39 are located bel the surface 51 they spread radially apart and engage from below the surface so that the nozzle member 31 can no longe be withdrawn upwardly. The desired location, at which the nozzle member 31 is fixed with the nozzle member 32 is selected in dependence upon the required ventilation of a respective device. Depending on the angular position of th inlet opening 35 relative to the passage 44 and the outlet opening 45, the length of the passage between the openings and 45 changes- and therefore the air supply is also adjuste The partitions 46 form barriers for the air passage to also affect the conditions of air passage through the nozzle. Th abutment 49 forms the limit for the projection 37. The hei of the projections 36 and 37 is smaller than the depth of t passage 44, so that in the assembled condition air can pass underneath the projections 36 and 37 in the passage 44. Th radial width of the projection 36 substantially corresponds the radial width of the passage 44 to provide the guidance during the turning of the nozzle part 31 relative to the nozzle part 32. The radial width of the projection 37 corr sponds to the radial width of the passage 44 in its wider a near the abutment 19.

FIGS. 17 - 25 sow a further embodiment of the present invention. It deals with the upper nozzle member o cap. The cap of this embodiment has two cap parts identifi as a whole with reference numerals 71 and 72. The main cap part 71 is substantially cup-shaped and has a top wall 73 a a peripheral wall 74. An inlet opening 75 extends through top wall 73 and communicates the interior of the vent nozzl with the ambient atmosphere. The bottom surface of the mai cap part 71 is provided with two guiding projections 76 whi are angularly spaced from one another and also with an adjusting projection 77 angularly spaced from the guiding projections. The guiding projections 76 are located on the same radius. The main cap part 71 is also provided with engaging means which includes three plastic prongs 78 extending from the central area of the bottom surface of th main cap part 71 and angularly spaced from one another. Th free end of each of the prongs 78 is provided with a double conical projection 79 having two oppositely inclined conica surfaces. The main cap part 71 is adjustably connectable wi a lower nozzle part, such as disclosed in the previous embodiments. The main cap part 71 is turnable relative to lower nozzle part and can be pressed down at desired locati so that the prongs 78 are pressed radially inwardly and th double-conical ends extend downwardly beyond the lower surf of the lower nozzle member. Then they spread radially apar and engage from below the surface so that the main cap part can no longer be withdrawn upwardly. The desired location selected in dependence upon the required ventillation of a respective device. Depending on the angular position of th inlet opening 75 relative to a passage and an outlet openin in the lower nozzle member, the length of the passage betwe the inlet opening and the outlet opening can be adjusted an therefore the air supply is also adjusted.

In accordance with the present invention, the cap provided with an auxiliary cap part 72. The auxiliary cap part 72 is generally cup-shaped and is provided with a pass 80. The passage 80 opens in an outlet opening 81. The auxiliary cap part 72 is connected with the main cap part 7 by an elastic connecting part 82 formed preferably as a fil hinge.

The auxiliary cap part 72 can be provided with an engaging formation 83. In a working condition, when the main cap part 71 is placed on the above mentioned lower nozzle part and eng with the latter, the inlet opening 75 of the main cap part opens upwardly. Then, the auxiliary cap part 72 is turned around an axis 85 and fitted over the main cap part 71 so the engaging formation 83 engages underneath the main cap 71. In this position the inlet opening 75 of the main cap part 71 communicates with the passage 80 which in turn communicates with the outlet opening 81 facing downwardly toward the interior of the vent nozzle. During water application to the device to be vented with the vent nozzl the water flow through the vent is significantly reduced o completely eliminated.

Claims

__ C______________L_______ __________________I____ ___M_________S__

1. An adjustable vent nozzle, comprising a first nozzle member; a second nozzle member, said nozzle members being turnable relative to one another, said first nozzle member having an inlet opening for communicating an interior of the nozzle with ambient atmosphere, said first nozzle member having a lower surface provided with guiding means, said second nozzle member having an outlet opening for communicating with an interior of a device to be vented and a passage which is open in said outlet opening and formed to guide said guiding means of said first nozzle member so that in an assembled condition when one of said nozzle members is turned relative to another of said nozzle members said guidi means are guided in said air passage in a predetermined angular position of said nozzle members relative to one another they can be fixed relative to one another to define predetermined length of said passage between said inlet opening and said outlet opening and therefore to adjust an air supply through the nozzle into an interior of a device t be vented communicating with said outlet opening.

2. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in clai wherein said guiding means includes a plurality of project extending from a bottom surface of said first nozzle membe and spaced angularly from one another.

3. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in clai wherein said second nozzle member is provided with a plura of partitions formed with said passage.

4. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in clai wherein said second nozzle member is provided with at leas one abutment for abutting at least one of said projections said first member thereagainst.

5. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in cla and further comprising means for fixing said nozzle membe relative to one another in the desired position.

6. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim 5 wherein said fixing means includes expansible element locate in a central area of said first nozzle member and engageable in said outlet opening of said second nozzle member to be fixed therein.

7. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim 6 wherein said expansible member has a plurality of prongs angularly spaced from one another elastically engageable in said outlet opening.

8. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim wherein each of said prongs has a free end having a double- conical shape, so that in an assembled condition said double conical ends extend downwardly beyond a lower surface of sai second nozzle member and engage therebehind.

9. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim wherein said first and second members have a joint axis and are rotatable relative to one another about said axis, said inlet opening having an axis and said outlet opening also having an axis, said axes of said inlet and outlet openings extending in the same direction as said axis of said nozzle members, said first nozzle member and said second nozzle member being connectable with one another by moving them toward one another in direction of said axis of said nozzle members.

10. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim wherein only said first nozzle member and said second nozzl member together form said vent nozzle so that no other memb are provided in said vent nozzle.

11. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in clai wherein said second nozzle member has means for mounting th vent nozzle on a device to be vented and including a trans- versely expansible projection arranged to expand through a hole of the wall of the device and anchor said second nozzl member in the device.

12. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim 11, wherein said expansible projection has a pluralit of longitudinal slots subdividing said expansible projectio into a plurality of elongated prongs which are flexible in the transverse direction.

13. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said prongs has an end which is distal from said second nozzle member and is provided with engaging formation arranged to engage behind the wall of t device when said projection passes through the hole of the wall of the device.

14. An adjustable vent nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said first nozzle member has a main cap part turnably mountable on said second nozzle member to ad a passage through the vent nozzle, said main cap part havi said inlet opening and an auxiliary cap part connected wit said main cap part and provided with a passage and said ou opening, said auxiliary part being formed so that it is fittable on said main cap part so that in a fitted conditi said passage communicates with said inlet opening of said main cap part and said outlet opening of said auxiliary ca part faces toward an interior of the vent nozzle in a direction opposite to said inlet opening of said main cap part.

15. A cap as detined in claim 14; and further comprising means for connecting said main cap part and sai auxiliary part with one another and including a flexible element formed so that said auxiliary part can be turned around an axis extending transverse to said flexible elem to be fitted on said main cap part.

16. A cap as defined in claim 15, wherein said flexible connecting element is formed as a film hinge.

17. A cap as defined in claim 14, wherein said main cap part, said auxiliary cap part and said connecting means are formed of one piece integral with one another so that the cap is an integral one-piece element.

18. A cap as defined in claim 15, wherein said auxiliary cap part has an engaging formation formed so that in the fitted position said engaging formation engages unde neath said main cap part and firmly retains said auxiliary cap part on said main cap part.

19. A cap as defined in claim 14, wherein said auxiliary part has an axis, said passage having a main por extending circularly around said axis and an end portion extending radially and provided with said outlet opening.