WO2019202224A1

WO2019202224A1 - Air vent for a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2019202224A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/050503
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felipe Dos Anjos; Marcelo Garcia; Marcos Alves
Original assignee: Psa Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2018-04-18
Filing date: 2019-03-06
Publication date: 2019-10-24
Also published as: FR3080330A1; AR114792A1; FR3080330B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an air vent for a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, including a housing (10) capable of channelling an airflow from an inlet opening intended for being connected to a pipe for conveying air to an outlet opening intended for leading into the passenger compartment of said vehicle, as well as at least one first set (20) of deflecting fins mounted so as to pivot on the housing (10) in order to modify the direction of the airflow at said outlet opening, the housing (10) including a main body (13) comprising an upstream section (13A) and a downstream section (13B), as well as a secondary body (14) having a shape that matches the inner face of said downstream section (13B) and being securely fitted to the latter, the deflecting fins of the at least one first set (20) being pivotably mounted on said secondary body (14).

Description

Title of the invention

AERATOR FOR HEATING, VENTILATION AND HEATING SYSTEM

AIR CONDITIONING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to aeration devices intended to diffuse into the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle air from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of said vehicle.

Background of the invention

Such a ventilation device, known for example from the French patent application FR 2 956 065, conventionally comprises at least one aerator comprising a casing molded from a thermoplastic material and adapted to channel a flow of air between an inlet opening for connection to a source of conditioned air and an outlet opening for opening into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and at least a first set of deflection vanes pivotally mounted on the housing.

Each aerator also comprises an actuator mechanically connected to these fins and allowing the user to control their rotation in order to change the direction of the air flow at said outlet opening.

The air flow contacts the vanes with a fairly high velocity usually between 2 to 4 m / s, which generates turbulence in the vicinity of the outlet opening of the housing, particularly at the level of the zones. articulation of these fins with this housing.

This turbulence causes spurious noises that tend to negatively impact the level of quality perceived by the vehicle users.

In order to reduce the sound intensity of these spurious noises, automotive suppliers manufacturing these ventilation devices are sometimes forced to make slight structural changes to aerators casings, which involves the design of new injection molds whose cost is particularly high due in particular to its rather large dimensions.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

It proposes for this purpose, an aerator for heating, ventilation and air conditioning of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing adapted to channel a flow of air from an inlet opening intended to be connected to a duct. supplying air to an outlet opening intended to open into the passenger compartment of said vehicle, as well as at least a first set of deflection wings pivotally mounted on this housing so as to modify the direction of said air flow at said outlet opening;

characterized in that said housing comprises a main body comprising an upstream section and a downstream section, and a secondary body having a shape match with the inner face of said downstream section and being fixedly fitted thereon, the deflection vanes of the at least said first set being pivotally mounted on said secondary body.

This two-part design of the housing makes it possible, when the parasitic noise generated by the aerator proves to be too great during the test phases, to make certain structural corrections on the latter at the level of the articulation zones of the fins with an additional cost. limited since only requiring the design of a new mold for the secondary body whose dimensions are significantly reduced in comparison with those of the housing as a whole.

According to preferred features of the aerator according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

- Said downstream section of the main body has a wider cross section than that of said upstream section, the two said sections being separated by a recess;

said secondary body comprises a frame resting in abutment with said recess of the main body, as well as two halves lateral extensions extending the two lateral sides of said frame to said outlet opening and on which the fins of said first set are hinged;

said aerator comprises a second set of deflection vanes pivotally mounted on said secondary body upstream of the fins of said first set and along axes of rotation perpendicular to those of the latter;

the fins of said second game are articulated on said frame of the secondary body;

said main body and said secondary body are each molded in one piece from a thermoplastic material optionally reinforced with mineral and / or synthetic fibers;

said secondary body is fitted securely on said downstream section of said main body by means of latching means comprising a plurality of fastening tabs formed on said secondary body and cooperating with complementary teeth provided on said main body; and or

said aerator comprises a plurality of metal clips fastened to the outer face of said main body and intended to allow it to be fixed detachably by snapping onto the dashboard of said vehicle.

The invention also provides in a second aspect, a ventilation device comprising at least one such aerator and a hub cap snapped onto the main body of the at least said aerator.

According to advantageous characteristics, said aeration device comprises two said identical aerators arranged side by side while being rotated 180 ° with respect to each other, said hubcap being nested by snapping on the main bodies of the two said aerators.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given hereinafter illustrative but not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of an aerator for a motor vehicle according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the aerator of Figure 1 in mounted configuration;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a ventilation device for a motor vehicle with two aerators identical to that of Figure 1 arranged side by side; and

- Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the ventilation device of Figure 3 mounted on a dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Detailed description of an embodiment

The aerator 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended to be mounted in an opening 2 formed in the dashboard 3 of a motor vehicle as shown in Figure 4.

As illustrated in these Figures 1 and 2, the aerator 1 comprises an open housing 10 adapted to channel a flow of air from an inlet opening 11 intended to be connected to an air supply duct 5 arranged in the dashboard 3 (see figure 4) to an exit opening

12 intended to open into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

In the remainder of this description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" used to characterize the position of certain elements of the aerator 1 are to be considered with respect to the direction of flow of the air flow in the housing 10.

This housing 10 which generally has a rotational symmetry at 180 ° along its longitudinal axis, is constituted by a main body

13 and a secondary body 14 each integrally molded from a thermoplastic material (preferably polypropylene) optionally reinforced with mineral and / or synthetic fibers.

The main body 13 comprises an upstream section 13A having an oblong transverse section, as well as a downstream section 13B extending to a smaller depth and having an oblong cross section slightly wider than that of the upstream section 13A.

The two upstream sections 13A and 13B downstream are separated by a recess 13C (see Figure 4).

Presenting a correspondence of shape with the inner face of the downstream section 13B against which it rests, the secondary body 14 is fixedly fitted by latching means on this downstream section 13B of the main body 13.

This secondary body 14 comprises an oblong frame 14A resting in abutment against the recess 13C of the main body (see FIG. 4), as well as two side panels 14B, 14C extending the two lateral sides of the frame 14A as far as the said outlet opening 12.

Said secondary body 14 also comprises a plurality of attachment lugs 15 (in this case, eight) cooperating by snapping with complementary teeth 16 formed on the main body 13 to ensure its attachment to the latter.

More specifically and as illustrated in FIG. 1, a first and a second pair of lugs 15 respectively extend upstream from the corresponding upper and lower sides of the frame 14A, while a third and a fourth pair of tabs 15 extend respectively upstream from the downstream edges of the side panels 14B, 14C.

The aerator 1 also comprises a first set of longitudinal deflection wings pivotally mounted along longitudinal axes on the telescope near the exit opening.

This first set 20 comprises in this case five longitudinal fins distributed at regular intervals one above the other over the entire height of the housing 10, namely a central fin 20A, a pair of two upper fins 20B, 20C joined by their ends , and a pair of two lower fins 20D, 20E also joined by their ends.

The central fin 20A, and the two upper pairs of fins 20B, 20C and lower 20D, 20E are each endowed at their ends. two longitudinal hinge pins 21 received in corresponding orifices 17 (see FIG. 4) formed in the two lateral panels 14B, 14C of the secondary body 14, close to the outlet opening 12.

These longitudinal fins 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E are further secured in rotation by means of a transverse rod 22 connecting them to each other.

The aerator 1 further comprises a second set of parallel transverse fins pivotally mounted on the secondary body 14 upstream of the fins 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E of the first set 20, and along transverse axes perpendicular to those of these last.

This second set 30 comprises in this case five transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E distributed at regular intervals next to each other over the entire length of the housing 10.

The fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E are each provided at their ends with two vertical hinge pins 31 received in corresponding holes 18 formed in the oblong frame 14A of the telescope 14.

These transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E are furthermore made integral in rotation by means of a longitudinal rod 32 connecting them to each other.

The aerator 1 also comprises a slider 40 intended to ensure the rotational control of the first set of longitudinal fins 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E and the second set of transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E.

In a conventional manner and as can be seen in FIG. 2, this slider 40 is mounted on the central fin 20A of the first set of longitudinal fins, so as to be integral in rotation with this fin 20A.

Thus, the rotational movement of this slider 40 up or down causes the simultaneous rotation of the longitudinal fins 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E and causes a change in the vertical orientation of the air flow out of the aerator 1.

Being able to slide along the central longitudinal fin 20A between two end positions, the slider 40 is further connected via hinge means, at the central fin 30A of the second set of transverse fins, so that its displacement in translation causes the simultaneous rotation of these transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E and causes a modification of the lateral orientation of the air flow coming out of the nozzle 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, these articulation means comprise in this case a longitudinal rack 41 formed along the upstream end of the slider 40 and being engrained with a pinion of transverse axis 33 formed at the end. downstream of the central transverse fin 30A.

The transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E are further shaped so as to occupy, when the slider 40 is slid towards one of its extreme positions, a closed position (see FIGS. 2 and 4). in which the latter overlap partially in pairs so as to completely block the housing 10 to prevent the flow of ducted air to escape through the outlet opening 12.

In order to obtain an almost perfect seal and to avoid the emission of unpleasant whistling in the passenger compartment of the vehicle when the transverse fins 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F come to occupy their closed position, each of between them is advantageously overmolded at least in part by an elastically deformable coating of elastomeric material.

The aerator 1 finally comprises a plurality of metal clips 50 fixed to the outer face of the main body 13 of the housing 10 and intended to allow its attachment detachably snap on the dashboard 3 as shown in Figure 4 .

Made from a sheet metal sheet cut and folded, each of these clips comprises an attachment base 50A moored to a corresponding protuberance 19 formed on the outer face of the main body 13, and a curved flexible tongue 50B s' extending longitudinally downstream of this base 50A and adapted to cooperate by snapping with an attachment hole 3A formed in an inner wall of the dashboard 3 (Figure 4). In this case, the aerator 1 comprises three metal fastening clips 50 respectively fixed to the top wall, to the bottom wall and to one of the side walls of the main body 13.

Preferably, these fixing clips are arranged so as not to be symmetrical two by two with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing 10 in order to avoid any risk of error of orientation of the aerator during its assembly on the dashboard.

The aerator 1 thus constitutes a modular element intended to constitute, with a hubcap, and possibly other identical elements, a ventilation device for a motor vehicle.

FIG. 3 thus represents an exemplary embodiment of such a ventilation device 100 intended to be mounted in the central part of an instrument panel and comprising two identical aerators 1 arranged side by side while being rotated by 180 ° one relative to each other, as well as a plastic hub cap 110 snapped onto the main body 13 of each of them.

According to alternative embodiments not shown, the ventilation device is intended to be mounted in the lateral part of a dashboard and then comprises only a single aerator.

According to other embodiments not shown, the conformation of the main body and / or that of the secondary body of the aerator are different.

According to other embodiments not shown, the aerator has only one set of fins and / or their number is different (for example equal to 2, 3 or 4).

According to still other embodiments of the invention, the means for controlling the orientation of the first series of longitudinal fins are dissociated from those of the second series of transverse fins.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but also encompasses all variants within the scope of those skilled in the art.

Claims

An aerator for a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10) capable of channeling a flow of air from an inlet opening (11) to be connected to an air duct. supplying air (5) to an outlet opening (12) intended to open into the passenger compartment of said vehicle, as well as at least a first set (20) of deflection vanes (20A, 20B, 20C , 20D, 20E) pivotably mounted on said housing (10) so as to change the direction of said airflow at said outlet opening (12); characterized in that said housing (10) comprises a main body (13) comprising an upstream section (13A) and a downstream section (13B), and a secondary body (14) having a shape match with the inner face of said downstream section (13B) and being fixedly fitted on the latter, the deflection vanes (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E) of the at least said first set (20) being pivotally mounted on said secondary body (14).

2. Aerator according to claim 1, characterized in that said downstream section (13B) of the main body (13) has a wider cross section than that of said upstream section (13A), the two said sections (13A, 13B) being separated by a step (13C).

3. Aerator according to claim 2, characterized in that said secondary body (14) comprises a frame (14A) abutting against said recess (13C) of the main body (13), and two side panels (14B, 14C). extending the two lateral sides of said frame (14A) to said outlet opening (12) and on which the fins (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E) of said first set (20) are hinged.

4. Aerator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a second set (30) of deflection vanes (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) pivotally mounted on said secondary body (14). ) upstream of the fins (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E) of said first set (20) and along axes of rotation perpendicular to those of the latter.

5. Aerator according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the fins (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E) of said second set (30) are articulated on said frame (14A) of the secondary body (14).

6. Aerator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said main body (13) and said secondary body (14) are each molded integrally from a thermoplastic material possibly reinforced in mineral and / or synthetic fibers.

7. Aerator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said secondary body (14) is fixedly engaged on said downstream section (13B) of said main body (13) by means of latching means comprising a a plurality of fastening tabs (15) provided on said secondary body (14) and cooperating with complementary teeth (16) provided on said main body (13).

8. Aerator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of metal clips (50) attached to the outer face of said main body (13) and intended to allow its fixing detachably by snapping on the dashboard (3) of the said vehicle.

9. Ventilation device comprising at least one aerator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and u n hubcap (110) snapped onto the main body (13) of the at least said aerator (1).

10. A ventilation device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises two said identical aerators (1) arranged side by side while being rotated 180 ° relative to each other, said trim (110) being snap-fitted on the main bodies (13) of the two said aerators (1).