WO2006129976A1

WO2006129976A1 - Ventilation device for vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2006129976A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Goog Park
Original assignee: Won Goog Park
Priority date: 2005-06-01
Filing date: 2006-06-01
Publication date: 2006-12-07
Also published as: KR200393437Y1

Abstract

A ventilation device for a vehicle is provided, which includes a housing which is installed at a place where an inner-upper side of a front glass of a vehicle and an inner ceiling of the vehicle contact each other, and which comprises an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging external air into the vehicle, and a slave gear which is engaged with a driving gear rotating forwardly and reversely according to rotation of a drive motor and delivers the- driving force of the driving gear to the opening and closing member which opens and close the inlet. Thus, the external fresh air can be provided in the vehicle without opening windows .

Description

VENTILATION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a ventilation device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a ventilation device for a vehicle which has an opening and closing ventilator which is installed in at least one opening formed on the upper side of the front glass in the vehicle in order to allow the external air to flow into the vehicle and the internal air to be discharged out from the vehicle, respectively via the at least one opening.

Background Art

In general, a separate device for ventilating the polluted air in a vehicle is not equipped in the vehicle. Accordingly, in order to ventilate the polluted air in the vehicle, the windows of the vehicle should be opened and closed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an airflow using a window or windows at the time of ventilation in a conventional vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the external air which flows into the front windows of the running vehicle does not proceed to an operator an a passenger on the front seats, in other words, on the driver's andpassenger ' s seats, respectively, but flows toward the rear seats, at the time of ventilation of the vehicle using the windows. Accordingly, although the operator or the passenger of the front seat opens the front window, the operator or the passenger is unable to feel a particular ventilation effect.

Accordingly, since an air ventilation system such as an air-conditioner should be run for a comfortable environment in the vehicle, energy consumption becomes large.

In the meantime, a ventilation device named a 'sun roof may be mounted on the ceiling of a vehicle in order to solve the above-described problem. But, even in the case of the ventilation device such as a 'sun roof, the air flows toward the back seat of the vehicle. Accordingly, the operator or the passenger of the front seat is unable to feel a particular ventilation effect.

Disclosure of the Invention

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilation device for a vehicle, which is installed at a place where an inner-upper side of a front glass of a vehicle and an inner ceiling of the vehicle contact each other, in order to make the external fresh air directly flow into an operator and passengers at the state where no windows are opened to thereby maintain an agreeable interior atmosphere in the vehicle.

To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ventilation device for a vehicle, comprising: a housing which is installed at a place where an inner-upper side of a front glass of a vehicle and an inner ceiling of the vehicle contact each other, and which comprises an inlet for receiving external air in correspondence to an opening in the front glass of the vehicle and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet, in the front surface of the housing, and an outlet for making the external air flowed in through the inlet flow into the vehicle, in the rear surface of the housing; a drive motor which is provided in the housing and receives an operating voltage from an external voltage source thereby rotating forwardly and reversely; a driving gear which receives the driving force of the drive motor thereby- rotating forwardly and reversely; and a slave gear which is engaged with the driving gear and delivers the driving force of the driving gear to the opening and closing member which opens and close the inlet. Moreover, it is preferable that a switch is provided at the outside of the housing in order to generate an electric signal for allowing the drive motor to rotate forwardly and reversely. Moreover, it is preferable that a flange is formed in the outer circumference of the inlet so as to contact and support the opening of the front glass.

Moreover, it is preferable that the slave gear is fixed to and combined with the opening and closing member through a fixed bracket installed at the inner side of the opening and closing member. Moreover, it is preferable that the opening and closing member is combined with a hinge in the upper-inner side of the flange in order to open and close the inlet in an arch form at the time of the drive of the slave gear and driving gear.

Moreover, it is preferable that the opening and closing member includes a guide member which is installed at the inner side of the opening and closing member to guide and support the driving gear and is guided and supported by the guide member at the time of the drive of the slave gear and the driving gear, to then be transferred in a straight line and to open and close the inlet. Moreover, it is preferable that the ventilation device further comprises a safety net to prevent foreign materials from flowing into the housing through the inlet externally, and to prevent the drive motor, the driving gear, and the slave gear from being broken away from the inside of the housing to the outside thereof or from being introduced into the vehicle at the time of vibration or accident of the vehicle.

Moreover, it is preferable that an air filter for filtering air contaminant materials in the air flowing into the housing through the inlet. Moreover, it is preferable that a direction control member for controlling an outflow direction of the external air is installed in the outlet of the housing.

Moreover, it is preferable that a safety panel which is installed at the place where the inner ceiling of the vehicle contacts is extended on the upper surface of the housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an airflow using a window or windows at the time of ventilation in a conventional vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a ventilation device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the ventilation device of FIG. 2;

FIGs. 4A through 4C are a plan view, a side cross-sectional view, and a rear elevational view which show the internal configuration of the ventilation device of FIG. 2, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing an operating state of the ventilation device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows an airflow in a vehicle in which the ventilation device of FIG. 2 is applied; and

FIG.7 is a side sectional view showing a configuration and operation of an opening and closing member in a ventilation device according to a modification of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Hereinbelow, a ventilation device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings . The features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear to the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings . Terms or words which are used in the detailed description and claims have to be interpreted as meanings and concepts complying with the technical concept and spirit of the invention based on the principle that can appropriately define the concepts of terms so that the inventor illustrates its own invention as the best mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a ventilation device for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the ventilation device of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, the ventilation device for a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has a housing 100 including an opening 11 in an ellipse form, and which is installed at a place where an inner-upper side of a front glass 10 of a vehicle and an inner ceiling 20 of the vehicle contact each other. Here, the housing 100 has a front portion 101 which is inclined to contact the inner portion of the front glass 10 of the vehicle and a rear portion 102 which is inclined toward a bottom portion (not shown) of the housing, generally in a cubicle form. The housing 100 includes a drive motor 110 which is provided in the housing 100 and receives an operating voltage froman external voltage source 160 thereby rotating forwardly and reversely, a driving gear 120 which receives the driving force of the drive motor 110 thereby rotating forwardly and reversely, and a slave gear 130 which is engaged with the driving gear 120 and delivers the driving force of the driving gear 120 to an opening and closing member 103 which opens and closes an inlet 101a of FIG. 4A. In addition, a switch 150 is provided at the outside of the housing 100 in order to generate an electric signal for allowing the drive motor 110 to rotate forwardly and reversely.

A reference numeral 101b in FIG. 2 denotes a flange which contacts the opening 11, which will be described later. A reference numeral 103a in FIG. 2 denotes a hinge which is rotatably combined with the opening and closing member 103, which will be described later. A reference numeral 170 in FIG. 3 denotes a sensor for detecting the number of rotations of the drive motor 110 , which will be described later. FIGs. 4A through 4C are a plan view, a side cross-sectional view, and a rear elevational view which show the internal configuration of the ventilation device of FIG. 2, respectively, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing an operating state of the ventilation device of FIG. 2. δ

Referring to FIGs .4Athrough 5, the inlet 101a for receiving external air is provided in the front portion 101 of the housing 100 in the same shape and form as that of the opening 11, in correspondence to the opening 11 in the front glass 10 of the vehicle. An outlet 102a for making the external air flowed in through the inlet 101a flow into the vehicle, is provided in the rear portion 102 of the housing 100.

Here, the flange 101b is formed in the outer circumference of the inlet 101a so as to contact and support the opening 11 of the front glass 10. The opening and closing member 103 such as reinforced glass (for example, pyrex glass) for opening and closing the inlet 101a is rotatably coupled with the hinge 103a is coupled with the upper-inner portion of the flange 101b . The flange 101b is combined with the opening 11 of the front glass 10 of the vehicle by means of an attachment member such as an adhesive, to prevent the rain or the dew from permeating.

Moreover, a pair of fixed brackets 103b are fixedly installed in both sides of the inner-central surface of the opening and closing member 103 by means of a fixing member including a screw. The pair of the fixed brackets 103b are combined with one end of the slave gear 130 having an arch shape.

As shown in FIGs. 4A through 5, in the inner one-side of the housing 100 is provided with the drive motor 110 which receives an operating voltage from the external voltage source 160 thereby rotating forwardly and reversely. The driving gear 120 whichreceives the driving force of the drive motor 110 through a driving shaft 111 and rotates forwardly and reversely, is engaged with the slave gear 130 of the arched shape. Therefore, the slave gear 130 of the arched shape makes the opening and closing member 103 which is rotatably coupled with the hinge 103a rotate by the driving gear 120 which rotates at the time of the drive of the drive motor 110120, thereby allowing the inlet 101a to be opened and closed in an arched form, that is, a in a form where a folding fan is folded and unfolded by the opening and closing member 103.

As shown in FIGs. 4A through 5, in the inner one-side of the housing 100 is installed a safety net 180 in the lengthy direction, to prevent foreign materials such as a small-sized stones or injurious insects or bugs whichmay threaten health or safety of operators or passengers from flowing into the housing 100 through the inlet 101a externally, and to prevent the drive motor 110, the driving gear 120, and the slave gear 130 from being broken away from the inside of the housing 100 to the outside thereof or from being introduced into the vehicle at the time of vibration or accident of the vehicle. An air filter 190 for filtering air contaminant materials in the air flowing into the housing 100 through the inlet 101a is installed in one side of the safety net 180 in the lengthy direction of the housing 100. In addition, another safety net 180 is installed in the inner side of the inlet 101a to prevent the drive motor 110, the driving gear

120, and the slave gear 130 from being broken away from the inside of the housing 100 to the outside thereof at the time of vibration or accident of the vehicle. Here, the safety net 180 includes a throughhole (not shown) through which the slave gear 130 penetrates . As shown in FIGs. 4A through 5, a direction control member 102b for controlling an outflow direction of the external air passing through the inlet 101a, and the safety net 180, and the air filter 190 is installed in the outlet 102a of the rear side 102 of the housing 100.

Here, the rear side 102 of the housing 100 is formed in a rounding structure turning toward the bottom of the housing 100, so that the external air flowing in from the outside can flow out toward the vehicle passengers. In the meantime, the front portion 101 of the housing 100 is attached to the front glass 10 of the vehicle which has the opening 11 of an ellipse form by means of a bonding member such as an adhesive. The upper portion 104 of the housing 100 is combined with a safety panel 104a which is coupled with an inner frame 21 of the ceiling 20 of the vehicle by a separate coupling member, to thereby prevent the housing 100 from being seceded from the opening 11 due to the collision or severe vibration of the vehicle.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the ventilation device for a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, will be described in more detail.

Referring to FIGs. 4A through 5, firstly, when an electric signal for opening and closing the inlet 101a 101a is input from the switch 150 equipped in the outer one-side of the housing 100, the drive motor 110 which receives an operating voltage from the external voltage source 160 being an electric power source. Accordingly, the driving force of the drive motor 110 is delivered to the driving gear 120 along the driving axis 111. Thereafter, the opening and closing member 103 which is rotatably combined with the hinge 103a is transferred back and forth in the upper side of the flange 101b of the front portion 101 of the housing 100 by the slave gear 130 engaged with the driving gear 120 according to the forward/reverse rotation of the driving gear 120, to thereby allow the inlet 101a to be opened and closed.

Here, it is desirable that the drive motor 110 continues to rotate during the time when the electric signal of the switch 150 is input. In addition, it is preferable that the present invention further includes a sensor 170 for sensing the number of rotation of the drive motor 110 in order to prevent the transfer motion of the opening and closing member 103 from overrunning by the continuous rotation of the drive motor 110, for example, to prevent the range that the slave gear 130 can be engaged with the driving gear 120 from being seceded due to the continuous rotation of the drive motor 110. Accordingly, the electric power from the electric power source 160 is automatically blocked if the drive motor 110 rotates as many as the number of rotation which is set up in advance. In the meantime, FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a configuration and operation of an opening and closing member in a ventilation device according to a modification of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Up to now, inthe case of the ventilation device for a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening and closing member 103 which opens and closes the inlet 101a in housing 100 is combined rotatably with the hinge 103a in the upper inner side of the flange 101b formed in the outer circumference of the inlet 101a, and is fixedly coupled with one end of the slave gear 130 of an arch form so as to be transferred along an arch. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a ventilation device according to a modification of the preferred embodiment of the present invention does not includes a rotational coupling member such as the hinge 103a. Instead, a slave gear 130 whose one end is fixed to an opening and closing member 103 is engaged with a driving gear 120, where the slave gear 130 is formed in a linear shape or in a straight line and the driving gear 120 is guided and supported by a guide frame 130a whose one end is fixed to and combined with the opening and closing member 103, where the guide frame 130a is formed in a linear shape or in a straight line. Accordingly, the opening and closingmember 103 is transferred in a straight line with respect to the inlet 101a in order to open and close the inlet 101a. FIG. 6 shows an airflow in a vehicle in which the ventilation device of FIG. 2 is applied. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the ventilation device for a vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is installed in the upper portion of the front glass of the operator ' and/or passenger ' seats and thus the external fresh air directly flows in toward the operator and passengers to thereby maintain a more comfortable atmosphere in the vehicle. As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention provides an effect of maintaining a more comfortable atmosphere in the vehicle since the external fresh air directly flows in towardthe operator andpassengers through the ventilation device which is installed in the upper portion of the front glass of the operator' and/or passenger' seats. Moreover, the air conditioner is not unnecessarily operated in the vehicle, to thereby save the energy greatly.

Moreover, the child or children or the pet can be left in the vehicle even in the case that all windows in the vehicle are in the closed state, since the external fresh air can communicate with the inside of the vehicle through the ventilation device according to the present invention. As a result, he child or children or the pet can be prevented from the death of suffocation due to the heat concentration in the vehicle. Further, since no windows need to be opened for refreshing air in the vehicle, valuables left in the vehicle can be prevented from theft in advance.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a ventilation device for a vehicle which has an opening and closing ventilator which is installed in at least one opening formed on the upper side of the front glass in the vehicle in order to allow the external air to flow into the vehicle and the internal air to be discharged out from the vehicle, respectively via the at least one opening.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilation device for a vehicle, comprising: a housing which is installed at a place where an inner-upper side of a front glass of a vehicle and an inner ceiling of the vehicle contact each other, and which comprises an inlet for receiving external air in correspondence to an opening in the front glass of the vehicle and an opening and closing member for opening and closing the inlet, in the front surface of the housing, and an outlet for making the external air flowed in through the inlet flow into the vehicle, in the rear surface of the housing; a drive motor which is provided in the housing and receives an operating voltage from an external voltage source thereby rotating forwardly and reversely; a driving gear which receives the driving force of the drive motor thereby rotating forwardly and reversely; and a slave gear which is engaged with the driving gear and delivers the driving force of the driving gear to the opening and closing member which opens and close the inlet.

2. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a switch is provided at the outside of the housing in order to generate an electric signal for allowing the drive motor to rotate forwardly and reversely.

3. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a flange is formed in the outer circumference of the inlet so as to contact and support the opening of the front glass.

4. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the slave gear is fixed to and combined with the opening and closing member through a fixed bracket installed at the inner side of the opening and closing member.

5. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the opening and closing member is combined with a hinge in the upper-inner side of the flange in order to open and close the inlet in an arch form at the time of the drive of the slave gear and driving gear.

6. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the opening and closing member comprises a guide member which is installed at the inner side of the opening and closing member to guide and support the driving gear and is guided and supported by the guide member at the time of the drive of the slave gear and the driving gear, to then be transferred in a straight line and to open and close the inlet.

7. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a safety net to prevent foreign materials from flowing into the housing through the inlet externally, and to prevent the drive motor, the driving gear, and the slave gear from being broken away from the inside of the housing to the outside thereof or from being introduced into the vehicle at the time of vibration or accident of the vehicle.

8. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an air filter for filtering air contaminant materials in the air flowing into the housing through the inlet.

9. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a direction control member for controlling an outflow direction of the external air is installed in the outlet of the housing.

10. The ventilation device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a safety panel which is installed at the place where the inner ceiling of the vehicle contacts is extended on the upper surface of the housing.