WO2021206649A1

WO2021206649A1 - Diffusor structure that enables to control airflow direction

Info

Publication number: WO2021206649A1
Application number: PCT/TR2020/050550
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kaan MUMCUOĞLU; Çağatay ACIOĞLU
Original assignee: Ecoplas Otomoti̇v San. Ve Ti̇c. A.Ş.
Priority date: 2020-04-10
Filing date: 2020-06-26
Publication date: 2021-10-14
Also published as: TR202005745A1

Abstract

The invention is a diffuser (20) having a main body (21) and having an outer body (23) in an expanding form connected to the end of the main body (21), that enables to guide the air and the air outlet of air conditioning systems of vehicles located on the dashboard (10), characterized in that; it comprises an inner body (22) that is smaller than the width of the main body (21), having a narrowing form that is fixed in the main body (21), a channel (200) located between the main body (21) and the inner body (22), a continuously positioned guidance opening (201) at the area where the inner body (22) narrow section and the channel (200) is present, a tab (202) that limits the forward-backward movement of the outer body (23) where a section of the outer body (23) is located inside the main body (21), and a recess (203) that allows air passage from particularly the guidance opening (201) at said tab (202) section.

Description

DIFFUSOR STRUCTURE THAT ENABLES TO CONTROL AIRFLOW DIRECTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is related to diffuser structure that enables to change the airflow direction of air conditioning systems.

PRIOR ART

The direction of air used in heating or cooling the inside of the cabin in vehicles, is directed via diffusers. Flow rate is provided to the heated or cooled air by means of a source and the air is passed through a diffuser. Flaps that can move in two independent directions from each other are located on the diffuser. Generally these flaps are positioned horizontally and vertically and air is directed up and down by means of the horizontal flaps and the air is directed from right to left by means of the vertical flaps. Usually a projection is provided in the mid section of said flaps and the user is enabled to determine the airflow direction via the projection.

In such diffusers airflow is cut off by means of the damper and airflow is controlled with a separate mechanism. Mechanisms are also present which enable control said damper electronically in accordance with the developed technology. In the application of the prior art, the diffusers occupy a large area on the cockpit and they are not suitable in terms of visual aesthetics of the cockpit. Moreover it does not meet the desire to electronically control the airflow direction of users.

In addition trim noises are faced which is received from the cockpit in relation to the aging time of vehicles. If the wings are light, flexible and durable against heat changes, this increases extra production costs. When mechanical air direction procedures are being carried out, this leads to pressure losses in airflow and noise is created on the surface onto which the fluid collides. For this reason novelty is required in said field.

Particularly a touch screen panel is provided on the front dashboard of vehicles and there is not enough space for said touch screen panel. Besides this users demand to control the air conditioning system using only this panel or using a few buttons. Vehicles diffusers are products that attract attention on the front dashboard of the vehicle and that increase the perception of quality. The diffusers that are being used nowadays are out of date, they consume too much space on the front dashboard, they create noise and they cannot be controlled electronically which is one of the necessities of our era.

In the PCT document with the publication number WO2018106351 the deflection of air using the flaps positioned in the inner section of the diffuser is disclosed.

In the USPTO patent document with the publication number US20170253107 a diffuser having an opening for the flow of air is disclosed. The diffuser is formed of two openings at the bottom section and it enables to direct air by colliding two airflows. For example at the bottom section of the air outlet channel a second channel is provided and it allows the airflow direction received from the main channel to be changed in the up-down direction according to the flow rate of the air received from the second channel. Moreover a damper structure is provided inside the dashboard within said system, in order to direct the airflow direction right or left and the regional movement of air is enabled.

As a result all of the solutions mentioned above have made it necessary to provide a novelty in the related field.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to eliminate the problems mentioned above and to provide a technical novelty in the related field.

The main aim of the invention is to provide a diffuser structure on the vehicle dashboard which enables to control the direction of airflow, which creates less noise, which can be controlled electronically, which takes up less space and visually more aesthetic.

Another aim of the invention is to minimize the friction sound created during airflow. Another aim of the invention is to open up space to essential components such as a screen by using smaller diffuser structures on the dashboard.

Another aim of the invention is to ensure for the diffuser flaps to have a longer lifespan.

Another aim of the invention is to eliminate the usage of airflow deflection flaps in diffusers used in vehicles, and to provide a new generation diffuser structure which is an alternative to diffusers with flaps that have high error tolerances and production difficulties.

Another aim of the invention is to ensure economic diffuser production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention mentioned above which has been provided to reach the aims that can be construed from the detailed description is an airflow direction controller system for air conditioning systems and a diffuser structure providing said control.

The invention is a diffuser having an outer body in an expanding form connected to the end of the main body, that enables to guide the air and the air outlet of air conditioning systems of vehicles located on the dashboard, characterized in that; it comprises an inner body that is smaller than the width of the main body, having a narrowing form that is fixed in the main body, a channel located between the main body and the inner body, a continuously positioned guidance opening at the area where the inner body narrow section and the channel is present, a tab that limits the forward-backward movement of the outer body, where a section of the outer body is located inside the main body, and a recess that allows air passage from particularly the guidance opening at said tab section.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at the section where the tab is present at the outer section of the narrow part of the outer body, a recess has been provided which interrupts the continuity of the tab that has been positioned to have a shorter length from the radius of the periphery of said section. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two elastic parts have been provided which allows the bearing of the outer body on the main body and radial movement thereof.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two symmetrically positioned openings have been provided which allow the bearing of the outer body on the main body via the elastic part and which enable to fix said elastic parts on the main body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention at least two inner body mounting tabs have been provided at the channel section on the inner body, where said tabs fix the inner body into the inner section of the main body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, in the main body, at least two inner mounting slots have been positioned at the channel section, which enable the inner body to be fixed to the main body, from the inner section thereof, by means of the inner body mounting tabs comprised in the inner body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention an outlet opening has been provided which enables to close the inner space of the diffuser at the wide section of the outer body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention an outlet opening has been provided having a grasping surface that acts as a handle in order to move the outer body at the wide section of the outer body, on the main body at a linear or radial direction.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a grasping surface made of elastic material is present.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the diffuser has a wide-narrow-wide form having a narrow section that intersects with the narrowing sectional surface of the main body, having an outer body that expands from the narrow section, where said throat portion enables to increase static pressure at the intersection region.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the diffuser comprises a recess that is limited with a tab that allows changing the pressure at the throat portion, and allows controlled airflow at said region. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a tab having a protrusion that limits the linear movement of the outer body inside the main body and prevents the outer body from being detached from the main body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two outlet opening mounting tabs have been provided that allow the coupling of the outlet opening to the outer body.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the invention comprises at least two outlet opening mounting slots located on said body that allow the coupling of the outlet opening to the main body via the outlet opening mounting tabs.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises an elastic part that is fixed on the main body that is connected to the outer body, where said elastic part is made of elastic material that makes the movement of the outer body easier and that prevents trim noise by preventing the contact of said outer body with the main body.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention at least an outlet opening having at least a sensor that monitors the flow direction of air has been provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a main body, an inner body, an outer body and an outlet opening made of plastic.

The invention has a connection opening and an outlet opening in a diffuser which enables to discharge and direct air in a HVAC system; characterized in that it controls the direction of air passing from the outlet opening by forming pressure zones by means of bypassing the cross section via at least a channel, where said cross section is the widest and the narrowest at the area which narrows down towards said outlet opening from said connection opening.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention pressure difference formation in the throat region is provided by controlling the airflow passing from the channels.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention it is enabled for the air to be directed towards the low pressure zone by forming low air pressure and high air pressure in certain zones at the circular area in the throat region by controlling airflow that passes through the channels. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the direction of air being discharged out of the outlet opening depending on the pressure difference at the throat region is enabled by controlling the airflow rate of the air passing from the channels.

In a preferred alternative embodiment of the invention the diffuser configuration can be used in HVAC systems independent from size. Air control can be carried out by forming pressure differences in the narrowest section via the bypass line between the widest section and the narrowest section inside the narrowing inner volume of the HVAC system.

A throat portion is present at the inner structure of the diffuser, by means of the narrowing form of the inner body and the expanding form of the outer body, at the section where the inner body and the outer body intersects. The guide opening of the throat is smaller than the connection opening of the ventilation channel. The difference between said opening widths is provided by means of the body structure. Said body has an angled form at the top and bottom section. The narrowing structure located between the throat and the ventilation channel connection opening located at the rear section is provided by means of said body.

The air guidance within the scope of the invention is provided by means of pressure control carried out at the throat section. When air passage from the top section of the channel is prevented and the air passage from the lower section is unhindered, while low pressure is created at the top section of the throat, high pressure is created at the bottom section. In such a case air tends to move from the high pressure zone towards the low pressure direction.

The protection scope of the invention has been defined in the claims and the invention cannot be limited to the illustrative embodiments mentioned in the brief and detailed description. It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can convey similar embodiments under the light of the descriptions made above without deviating from the main scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows the exemplary positioning of the diffusers on the vehicle dashboard. Figure 2, shows the cross section view of the two operating positions of the diffuser.

Figure 3 A and B shows a schematic view of air being directed by the diffuser in two directions.

Figure 4, shows the front view of the diffuser.

Figure 5, shows the exploded detailed view of the components of the diffuser.

Figure 6, shows the section view describing guidance of air at a direction with the diffuser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS SHOWN IN THE FIGURES

10. Dashboard

20. Diffuser

200. Channel

201. Guide opening

202. Tab

2021. Protrusion

203. Recess

21. Main body

210. Inner mounting slot 211. Opening

22. Inner body

221. Inner body mounting tab

23. Outer body

231. Outlet opening mounting slot

24. Outlet opening 241. Indicator

242. Grasping surface

243. Outlet opening mounting tab 25. Elastic part

30. Throat portion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the diffuser (20) structure that enables to control airflow direction subject to the invention has been described for further clarification of the subject with illustrative examples that shall not limit the scope of the invention.

The invention is related to an airflow deflection method for air conditioning systems used in vehicles and to a diffuser (20) structure which deflects airflow.

The invention is a diffuser (20) located on the dashboard (10) which enables to guide the air and air outlet of air conditioning systems of vehicles, characterized by comprising; the diffuser (20) having a main body (21) and having an outer body (23) in an expanding form connected to the end of the main body (21), an inner body (22) that is smaller than the width of the main body (21), having a narrowing form that is fixed in the main body (21), a channel (200) located between the main body (21) and the inner body (22), a continuously positioned guidance opening (201) at the area where the inner body (22) narrow section and the channel is present, a tab (202) that limits the forward-backward movement of the outer body (23) where a section of the outer body (23) is located inside the main body (21), and a recess (203) that allows air passage from particularly the guidance opening (201) at said tab (202) section.

In Figure 1 , the diffuser (20) configurations on the vehicles have been illustrated. The diffuser (20) mentioned within the scope of the invention, enables to control the direction of airflow by being mounted on the dashboard (10) in a vehicle, wherein at least one diffuser or a plurality of diffusers can be mounted according to preference. The airflow rate can also be controlled via the diffuser (20) mentioned in alternative configurations of the invention. The present invention can, not only be used in vehicles but it can also be used to direct airflow of alternative HVAC systems.

In Figure 5, the blown-up perspective view of the diffuser (20) subject to the invention has been shown and in Figures 2A and 2B, the section view of the mentioned diffuser (20) has been shown. The diffuser (20) has at the outer section thereof, at least a main body (21) having a diameter that has a narrowing form and an inner body (22) that is formed of at least one part, having a diameter that has a narrowing form that can be disposed inside the main body (21). The inner body (22) can be fixed into the inner mounting slot (210) that is available in the main body (21) via the at least two inner body mounting tabs (221). By means of said structure, a channel (200) is formed particularly around the external periphery of the inner body (22), between the main body (21) and the inner body (22) as can be seen in Figure 2A.

The outer body (23) of the invention preferably is formed such that its diameter is increasing and the surface area thereof which is fixed to the main body (21) has a narrower structure relative to the surface area located at the front section. The outer body (23) forms a bearing with the main body (21) via the at least two openings located on said main body (21), where said openings (211) are symmetrically positioned to have a 90° angle between them. The fixing process is partially carried out, and the outer body (23) can linearly or rotatably move according to preference on the main body (21). Preferably the fixing is carried out by means of an elastic part (25). The tab (202) of the outer body (23) is mounted from the inner section on the front wall of the main body (21) and by means of the protrusion (2021) of the tab (202), it is ensured that the outer body (23) does not separate from the main body (21) during its backward movement. The elastic part (25) that has been positioned between the main body (21) and the outer body (23) provides a soft friction during the movement of the outer body (23) and prevents trim noise from the outer body (23) during the movement of the vehicle. Said elastic part (25) has been illustrated in Figure 5. Particularly, by means of the form it has, it can grip the cylindrical structure of the outer body (23) from its external surface, and thereby optimum contact with the main body (21) is ensured.

In figure 4, the front view of the diffuser (20) has been given. At the front section of the diffuser (20) an outlet opening (24) has been provided for decorative purposes and/or to optimally distribute airflow and/or to act as a cover in order to prevent the contact of fingers/hand/parts into the diffuser (20). The mentioned outlet opening (24) also functions to adjust the position of the diffuser (20) and to allow the observation of the airflow direction. Said outlet opening (24) is fixed to said outer body (23) via the outlet opening mounting slot (231) located on the outer surface of the outer body (23) by means of the at least two outlet opening mounting tabs (243). Said outlet opening mounting tab (243) and outlet opening mounting slot (231) have been positioned to be at least two, preferably four, and have been positioned symmetrically.

At least a sensor (241) has been provided at the opt section of the outlet opening (24) of the invention. The direction of airflow, flowing out of said outlet opening (24) of the diffuser (20) can be observed by means of said sensor. The outlet opening (24) has a circular form and a grasping surface (242) has been provided at its outer surface. Said grasping surface (242) preferably has an indented structure which enables easy grasping of the outlet opening (24). The grasping surface (242) in a preferred embodiment of the invention is produced from an elastic high friction coefficient material which increases its ergonomic usage.

As it can be seen in the detailed view of the outer body (23) in Figure 5, the tab section

(202) has a radial shape located at the section where the outer body (23) is fixed to the main body (21) is truncated. At least a recess (203) has been provided at the section where the tab (202) is present. The recess (203) preferably has a radial form, that can be located between the tab (202) and the outer body (23) or that can be located at a deeper level. The recess (203) illustrated in Figure 2B, can be seen in detail. By means of the recess (203) a guide opening (201 ) that is an air passage area formed between the inner section of the inner body (22) the radial shaped channel (200) located between the main body (21) and the inner body (22).

The outer body (23) of the invention, can move in a limited way, linearly on the main body (21), towards the main body (21) or away from the main body (21). The movement away is constrained with a tab (202) and the inwards movement is constrained with the intersection of the side wall of the outer body (23) and the recess

(203). Moreover, said outer body (23) can be moved radially on the main body (21) by bearing disposed in a bearing on preferably elastic parts (25).

The outer body (23) of the diffuser (20) can move bi-directionally as can be seen in Figure 3A and Figure 3B. As a result of the mentioned movement, the sectional views that show the position of the components of the diffuser (20) have been illustrated in Figure 3A and Figure 2B. In the position of Figure 2B, particularly by means of the tab (203) located at the edge section of the tab (202) of the inner body (23), the guide opening (201) located between the outer body (23) and the inner body (22), is brought to the open position. In this case, as it can be seen in Figure 6, the airflow direction is towards the opposite region where said guide opening (201) is provided.

When the diffuser (20) is brought to the position in Figure 2A, the airflow is transmitted linearly. The diffuser (20) comprises in radial form, a tab (202) located in the inner body (23) and a recess (203) that is shorter than the length of the protrusion (2021) located on the tab (202). The airflow direction changes according to the changing of the position of the recess (203) that is located on the diffuser (20), where said changing of the recess (203) position is carried out by a radial movement (Figure 4) using the outlet opening (24).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the channel (200) located between the main body (21) and the inner body (22) has a radial shape, and the guide opening (201) varies according to the position of the recess (203) of the outer body (23) located on said channel (200).

The airflow direction flowing from the outlet opening (24) of the diffuser (20) can be changed by means of the static pressure difference received from the channel (200) that is radially positioned around the centre of the diffuser (20), which is created at the throat portion (30) that narrows and expands, where said throat portion (30) is located at the intersection of the inner body (22) and the outer body (23) of the diffuser (20). The static pressure point that is created at the throat portion (30) is carried out by means of the airflow provided from the channel (200) via the guide opening (201). The airflow direction can be controlled by changing the position of the guide opening (201).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the position and/or the radial movement of the outer body (23) of the diffuser (20) can be performed with electricity.

Claims

1. A diffuser (20) located on the dashboard (10) which enables to guide the air and air outlet of air conditioning systems of vehicles, characterized by comprising; the diffuser (20) having a main body (21) and having an outer body (23) in an expanding form connected to the end of the main body (21), an inner body (22) that is smaller than the width of the main body (21), having a narrowing form that is fixed in the main body (21), a channel (200) located between the main body (21) and the inner body (22), a continuously positioned guidance opening (201) at the area where the inner body (22) narrow section and the channel is present, a tab (202) that limits the forward-backward movement of the outer body (23) where a section of the outer body (23) is located inside the main body (21), and a recess (203) that allows air passage from particularly the guidance opening (201) at said tab (202) section.

2. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1, at the section where the tab (202) is present at the outer section of the narrow part of the outer body (23), a recess (203) has been provided which interrupts the continuity of the tab (202) that has been positioned to have a shorter length from the radius of the periphery of said section.

3. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1 , comprising at least two elastic parts (25) have been provided which allows the bearing of the outer body (23) on the main body (21) and radial movement thereof.

4. The diffuser (20) according to claim 3, comprising at least two symmetrically positioned openings (211) have been provided which allow the bearing of the outer body (23) on the main body (21) via the elastic part (25) and which enable to fix said elastic parts (25) on the main body (21 ).

5. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1, comprising at least two inner body mounting tabs (221) have been provided at the channel (200) section on the inner body (22), where said tabs fix the inner body (22) into the inner section of the main body (21).

6. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1 or claim 5, comprising in the main body (21), at least two inner mounting slots (210) have been positioned at the channel (200) section, which enables the inner body (22) to be fixed to the main body (21), from the inner section thereof, by means of the inner body mounting tabs (221) comprised in the inner body (22).

7. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1, comprising an outlet opening (24) that enables to close the inner space of the diffuser (20) at the wide section of the outer body (23).

8. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1, comprising an outlet opening (24) having a grasping surface (242) that acts as a handle in order to move the outer body (23) on the main body (21) at the wide section of the outer body (23), at a linear or radial direction.

9. The diffuser (20) according to claim 8, comprising a grasping surface (242) made of elastic material.

10. The diffuser (20) according to claim 1, having a wide-narrow-wide form, having a narrow section that intersects together with the narrowing sectional surface of the main body (21), comprising an outer body (23) that expands from the narrow section, where said throat portion (30) enables to increase static pressure at the intersection region.

11. A diffuser (20) according to claim 1, comprising a recess (203) that is constrained with a tab (202) which allows changing the pressure at the throat portion (30), and allows controlled airflow at said region.

12. A diffuser (20) according to claim 2, comprising a tab (202) having a protrusion (2021) that limits the linear movement of the main outer body (23) at a direction inside the main body (21) and prevents the outer body (23) from being detached from the main body (21).

13. A diffuser (20) according to claim 7 which allows the outlet opening (24) to be connected to the outer body (23) and comprises at least two outlet mounting tabs (243).

14. A diffuser (20) according to claim 1 or 13 which enables the outlet opening (24) to be connected to the outlet body (23) via the outlet mounting tab (243), comprising at least two outlets on said outer body (23).

15. A diffuser (20) according to claim 3, that is fixed on the main body (21) which is attached onto the outer body (23) comprising an elastic part (25) made of elastic material that makes the movement of the outer body (23) easier, that prevents trim noise by preventing the contact of said outer body (23) to the main body (21 ).

16. A diffuser (20) according to claim 8 having an outlet opening that comprises at least a sensor (241 ) that enables to monitor the flow direction of air.

17. A diffuser (20) according to claim 1, comprising a main body (21), an inner body (22), an outer body (23) and an outlet opening (24) made of plastic material.