Ventilation nozzle

Abstract

The invention relates to a ventilation nozzle (1) which can be adjusted manually and with an actuator. The ventilation nozzle (1) has a first outer spherical crown (29) which can be pivoted about a first axis (8) and a second inner spherical crown (30) which can be pivoted about a second axis (10). By means of the first electric actuator (21), the second inner spherical crown (30) can be adjusted independently of the first outer spherical crown (29) by means of an actuator (16) arranged on the control rod (13). The manipulator (16) is formed by a first fork (25) and a second fork (26), wherein the forks form a bending joint on the control rod (13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a ventilation nozzle having the features of the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] Such a ventilation nozzle is known, for example, from the German publication DE 102005035248 A1. The known ventilation nozzle is a so-called "round nozzle". This round nozzle has two operating mechanisms for controlling the air flow in the vehicle interior. The first outer operating mechanism can be deflected about the X axis and the second inner operating mechanism can be deflected about the Y axis. The inner operating mechanism is arranged inside the outer operating mechanism. The operating mechanism can be adjusted not only manually but also with an actuator. The disadvantage of the ventilation nozzle of the prior art is that it requires a relatively complex adjustment kinematic mechanism to adjust the two operating mechanisms. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a ventilation nozzle which has an improved adjustment kinematics and which is also designed to be extremely compact and thus space-saving.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are contained in the dependent claims. The invention relates to a ventilation nozzle that can be adjusted manually and by an actuator for controlling the air flow in the interior of a vehicle. The term "control" for the air flow should particularly refer to turning the air flow "upwards and downwards" in the direction of the vehicle roof or footwell or "leftwards and rightwards" in the direction of the vehicle side. Throttling of the air flow is not excluded and is possible. The ventilation nozzle according to the invention has a housing having a first opening on the air inlet side and a second opening on the air outlet side. The air to be squeezed into the passenger compartment of the vehicle enters the ventilation nozzle through the first opening of the housing on the air inlet side and leaves the housing through the second opening on the air outlet side into the passenger compartment. The housing has a substantially circular cross section on the air outlet side and a substantially rectangular cross section on the air inlet side. In particular, when supported on the housing, the ventilation nozzle has a first ventilation member that can swing around a first axis and a second ventilation member that can swing around a second axis inside the first ventilation member. In particular, the second ventilation member is arranged in the first ventilation member. The first ventilation member is formed by a first substantially closed matrix, and the second ventilation member is formed by a second substantially closed matrix. "Closed matrix" should refer to the substantially closed outer surface of the first and second ventilation members, between which the air flows. The two matrices are particularly closed in an annular shape. The outer surface faces away from the open cross section that is surrounded by the corresponding matrix. The surrounded cross section of the second ventilation member arranged in the first ventilation member forms an open flow cross section and in particular forms a second opening, through which the air flow flows out into the vehicle interior. The closed matrix can have separate openings, grooves, elongated slots, etc.

[0005] At the first ventilation part, a control rod is arranged on one side of the first ventilation part facing the air inflow side with a radial spacing relative to the first axis. In particular, the control rod is rigidly connected to the first ventilation part. The control rod does not have to be completely straight. It can also have a deviation in the form of a bend or a similar structure along the extension direction to a small extent. In particular, two cantilevers are arranged on the first base body, and the cantilevers extend from the base body in the opposite direction of the flow direction. In particular, one end of the control rod is fixed to each of the corresponding ends of the cantilever. The connection between the cantilever and the control rod can be rigid or can also be rotatable. In other words, the control rod can be rotatably supported between the cantilevers. However, the control rod is always basically fixed in position with respect to the first ventilation part, in particular, so that the swing of the first ventilation part around the first axis is directly transmitted to the control rod and the control rod is therefore directly swung together. In particular, the control rod extends parallel to the first axis.

[0006] For the present invention, it is special that an actuator is movably arranged on the control rod for controlling the second ventilation element. The movement of the actuator along the control rod causes the second ventilation element to swing around the second axis. The actuator is guided on the control rod in a sliding fit and can be moved along the control rod not only manually but also by an actuator. It is also possible that the control rod and the actuator are coordinated with each other so that there is a certain friction for self-locking between the control rod and the actuator so that a predefined force must be consumed to move the actuator and the actuator cannot move on the control rod alone, for example due to gravity or vibrations, when the vehicle is running as planned. Self-locking prevents in particular the formation of unexpected noise between the actuator and the control rod, in other words, prevents "rattles" caused by the kinematic mechanism itself or by vibrations coupled into the kinematic mechanism.

[0007] The arrangement of the manipulator on the control rod allows a compact structural mode of the ventilation nozzle. In addition, the translational movement of the manipulator along the control rod can be converted into a rotational movement of the second ventilation piece around the second axis in a simple manner.

[0008] In a preferred design of the present invention, the manipulator includes a first and a second manipulator element, wherein the first manipulator element is operatively connected to the second ventilation element for swinging the second ventilation element around the second axis, and the second manipulator element is operatively connected to a drive element that can be driven by an actuator, in particular swingable around a third axis, for moving the first manipulator element on a control rod. If the drive element is swung around the third axis, this swinging motion is transmitted to the second manipulator element, which therefore slides along the control rod, in other words, moves translationally along the control rod. The translational motion of the second manipulator element is particularly directly transmitted to the first manipulator element, which thus also moves along the control rod. The translational motion of the first manipulator element is then transmitted to the second ventilation element in such a way that the second ventilation element swings around the second axis. The drive element is preferably rotatably supported at or in the housing.

[0009] The manipulator or the first and second manipulator elements are preferably designed so that only the second ventilation element is pivoted about the second axis by the manipulator or by a drive element that moves the manipulator along the control rod. The first ventilation element remains essentially stationary and does not pivot about the first axis. As a result, the control of the second ventilation element located in the interior is preferably decoupled from the control of the exterior ventilation element. The operator can thus adjust the interior and exterior ventilation elements manually or by means of an actuator independently of one another.

[0010] In order to optimize the kinematic structure of the ventilation nozzle, in another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and second manipulator elements are connected to each other in an articulated manner so that they can be pivoted around a control rod. The first and second manipulator elements thus form a kind of bending joint on the control rod. If the first ventilation element is pivoted around the first axis, the angular position of the first and second manipulator elements relative to each other changes, so that the pivoting movement of the first ventilation element is not transmitted to the second ventilation element. The first and second manipulator elements are bent relative to each other.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first axis of the first ventilation element is oriented orthogonally to the second axis of the second ventilation element. In particular, the third axis of the drive element is oriented orthogonally to the first axis. As a result, the pivoting movement of the drive element can be optimally transmitted to the second manipulator element, and the translational movement of the second manipulator element can be transmitted to the first manipulator element.

[0012] Preferably, the drive member is operatively connected to the first electric actuator. If the electric actuator is activated, the electric actuator can cause the drive member to swing around the third axis. This is especially done by a first gear transmission, which is constructed between the drive member and the first actuator. The gear transmission is not mandatory. The transmission of the motion can also be done by a guide slot transmission mechanism or a lever transmission mechanism or a mixed form consisting of the mentioned transmission mechanism types. Through the first actuator, the second ventilation member can be swung around the second axis by an actuator. In addition, it is still possible to manually adjust the second ventilation member around the second axis when the first actuator is deactivated. Here, the manipulator is moved on the control rod, so that the drive member is swung around the third axis and the first actuator is forced to move.

[0013] In a particularly preferred design of the present invention, the first manipulator element has a first fork and / or the second manipulator element has a second fork. The first fork is engaged in the strut of the second ventilation member in order to swing the second ventilation member. In particular, the first fork is open in the direction of the air outflow side. The strut is particularly arched in the direction of the air inflow side and is injection molded in the second ventilation member in a particularly central manner, especially extending in the direction of the second axis. The first fork is particularly centrally connected to the strut. Here, the fork and the strut are particularly coordinated with each other so that the strut is swung around the second axis as frictionlessly as possible when the first fork moves along the translation of the control rod. Here, the spacing of the strut relative to the bottom of the first fork may change. In other words, the strut can slide in the first fork along the flow direction. If the first ventilation member is deflected about the first axis, the first fork and the strut are particularly basically fixed in position relative to each other.

[0014] The second fork is particularly open in the direction of the air inflow side. Thus, the first fork and the second fork are particularly open opposite to each other. The second fork is connected to the drive member in such a way that the second fork and thus the first fork can move on the control rod through the drive member. The drive member can slide in the second fork in such a way that the distance between the drive member and the bottom of the second fork changes during the deflection of the drive member around the third axis. If the first ventilation member is swung, the second fork will inevitably be deflected relative to the control rod. This swinging movement is compensated by the second fork and is therefore not transmitted to the drive member.

[0015] Preferably, the fork length of the second fork is greater than the fork length of the first fork. Preferably, the fork length of the second fork is twice the length of the first fork. Due to the significantly longer second fork, reliable control by the drive element is ensured within the complete deflection stroke of the second ventilation element. In other words, during the deflection, the second fork and the drive element are always connected in a form-locking manner.

[0016] In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the drive member has a drive ring for driving the second fork. The second fork engages in the tab of the drive ring. The depth of the drive ring is coordinated with the fork length of the second fork so that the second fork never accidentally collides with the drive member or gets stuck in other ways during the driving of the second fork by the drive member.

[0017] The ventilation nozzle according to the invention is preferably a so-called round nozzle. Therefore, the first ventilation element is formed by a first outer spherical cap and the second ventilation element is formed by a second inner spherical cap. In particular, the two spherical caps are arranged concentrically with each other and the second inner spherical cap is supported in the first outer spherical cap in a manner that it can swing around a second axis. The second spherical cap can have inwardly and / or outwardly pointing webs. In addition, the second spherical cap can be made completely or partially of transparent plastic. In addition, it is possible that the second spherical cap is covered on the air outflow side by a ring made of non-transparent plastic.

[0018] As already described, the movement of the first ventilation element is decoupled from the second ventilation element. The first ventilation element can be moved not only manually but also by means of an actuator. In order to be able to adjust the first ventilation element by means of an actuator, in another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a second electric actuator is operatively connected to the first ventilation element. In particular, a second gear transmission is arranged between the second actuator and the first ventilation element, which converts the rotation of the second actuator into a swiveling movement of the first ventilation element about a first axis.

[0019] In order to prevent an unintentional adjustment of the first and / or second ventilation element, for example caused by gravity, in another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first friction brake can be arranged between the first ventilation element and the second ventilation element and / or a second friction brake can be arranged between the first ventilation element and the housing. The friction brake is preferably made of elastic plastic, wherein the friction brake is preferably spring-loaded in each case. In addition to an unintentional adjustment of the ventilation nozzle, the friction brake also ensures a low-noise movement of the first and second ventilation element, whereby "rattles" can be avoided as much as possible.

[0020] The features and feature combinations, embodiments and designs of the present invention mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively described or shown combination, but also in principle in any other combination or only individually. Embodiments of the present invention that do not have all the features of the dependent claims are possible. Individual features of the claims can also be replaced by other disclosed features or feature combinations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention is explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] in:

[0023] Figure 1 A ventilation nozzle according to the invention is shown in a perspective view;

[0024] Figure 2 The previous view shows Figure 1 The ventilation nozzle according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 Shown in perspective from the side and from behind Figure 1 and 2 components of a ventilation nozzle according to the invention; and

[0026] Figure 4 Another perspective view from above and from behind shows Figure 3 Components of the ventilation nozzle according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] exist Figure 1 Detailed Description of the Invention A ventilation nozzle 1 according to the invention which can be adjusted manually and by means of an actuator is shown in FIG. Figure 2 The ventilation nozzle 1 according to the invention is shown in a front view. Figure 3 and 4The components of the air nozzle 1 are shown. The air nozzle 1 has a housing 2, which has a first opening 3 on the air inlet side 4 and a second opening 5 on the air outlet side 6. The air to be diverted flows in through the air inlet side 4, is diverted in the ventilation nozzle 1 and flows out through the air outlet side 6 into the vehicle interior space (not shown). The housing 2 has a substantially circular cross-section at the air outlet side 6 and a substantially rectangular cross-section on the air inlet side 4. At the second opening 5 of the housing 2, the first ventilation member 7 is supported in the housing 2 in a manner that it can swing around a first axis 8. The first ventilation member 7 has a first base body 11 in the form of a first external spherical cap 29. The second ventilation member 9 is coaxially arranged inside the first ventilation member 7. The second ventilation member 9 has a second base body 12 in the form of a second internal spherical cap 30. The second ventilation member 9 is supported in the first ventilation member 7 in a manner that it can swing around a second axis 10. The first axis 8 is oriented orthogonally to the second axis 10.

[0028] The first friction brake 31 is arranged between the first ventilation element 7 and the second ventilation element 9 (see Figure 3 The first friction brake 31 is responsible for the defined friction resistance between the first ventilation element 7 and the second ventilation element 9. The second friction brake 37 (at Figure 3 ) is arranged between the housing 2 and the first ventilation member 7, wherein the housing 2 is Figure 3 Not shown in the figure. The second friction brake 37 includes a support sleeve 36 and a lateral friction element 34 supported in the support sleeve 36 and a central friction element 35. The friction elements 34 and 35 can be formed together in one piece. They are especially formed of soft rubber, which is placed in the support sleeve 36. The central friction element 35 rubs on the friction surface 33 of the first ventilation piece 7, thereby being able to adjust the operating force. The lateral friction element 34 acts together with the end stop 32 and limits the maximum deflection stroke of the first ventilation piece 7. The end stop 32 is used to minimize the noise generated when reaching the end stop 32 in cooperation with the lateral friction element 34.

[0029] The control rod 13 is arranged on the second ventilation element 9 at a radial distance from the first axis 8 and parallel to the first axis 8. In order to receive the control rod 13, two mutually spaced cantilevers 14 extend from the second ventilation element 9 in the direction of the air inflow side 4. The control rod 13 is supported on the respective ends of the cantilevers 14. If the first ventilation element 7 is pivoted around the first axis 8, the control rod 13 is also pivoted directly around the first axis 8.

[0030] On the control rod 13, a manipulator 16 is movably arranged. The manipulator 16 can move along the control rod 13, wherein the maximum movement stroke is limited to the area between the cantilever ends 15. The manipulator 16 is formed by a first manipulator element 17 in the form of a first fork 25 and a second manipulator element 18 in the form of a second fork 26. The fork length of the second fork 26 measured orthogonally to the control rod 13 is basically equivalent to twice the fork length of the first fork 25. Along the direction of the control rod 13, two forks 25, 26 have the same width. The openings of the first fork 25 and the second fork 26 are opposite to each other, but are oriented orthogonally to the control rod 13 respectively. Not only the first fork 25 but also the second fork 26 can be hinged around the control rod 13 swing. The first manipulator element 17 and the second manipulator element 18, precisely the first fork 25 and the second fork 26 thus constitute a kind of bending joint on the control rod 13. The first fork 25 is engaged in the strut 27 that is arched in the direction of the air inflow side 4 in an arched shape. The strut 27 is injection molded on the first ventilation member 7 in the center about the second axis 10. The movement of the manipulator 16 along the control rod 13 is transmitted to the strut 27 through the first fork 25. Thus, the second ventilation member 9 is swung back and forth around the second axis 10 and the air to be guided is thus turned to the side. During this movement, the first ventilation member 7 is basically kept fixed in position. The drive member 19 that can swing around the third axis 20 has a drive ring 28. This drive ring 28 is engaged in the second fork 26. If the drive member 19 and the drive ring 28 are swung around the third axis 20, this swinging motion is transmitted to the second fork 26, from the second fork 26 to the first fork 25 and therefore from the first fork 25 to the second ventilation member 9. The swinging of the drive member 19 is preferably carried out by the first electric actuator 21. The first electric actuator 21 is connected to the drive member 19 via a first gear transmission 23 (see Figure 4 The drive ring 28 is dimensioned in such a way that the second fork 26 cannot accidentally collide with the drive element 19 during deflection.

[0031] The design of the actuator 16 makes it possible to decouple the adjustment of the first ventilation piece 7 from the adjustment of the second ventilation piece 9. The first actuator element 17 and the second actuator element 18 are constructed as bending joints, whereby the movement of the first ventilation piece 7 around the first axis 8 is not transmitted to the second ventilation piece 9. The second ventilation piece 9 is thus held in a fixed position in the first ventilation piece 7 for a long time until the second ventilation piece 9 is actively adjusted by the actuator 16. During the swinging of the first ventilation piece 7 around the first axis 8, the first fork 25 and the second fork 26 change a bending angle relative to each other around the control rod 13, whereby the second fork 26 can freely move "upwards and downwards" in the drive ring 28 and the position of the second ventilation piece 9 relative to the first ventilation piece 7 does not change.

[0032] Both the first ventilation member 7 and the second ventilation member 9 can be adjusted manually and by means of an actuator. The adjustment of the second ventilation member 9 by means of an actuator is carried out as described by means of the first actuator 21. If the second ventilation member 9 is adjusted manually (which can be done by directly grasping the second ventilation member 9 on the air outflow side 6), the swinging movement of the second ventilation member 9 about the second axis 10 is transmitted to the strut 27, from the strut 27 to the first fork 25, from the first fork 25 to the second fork 26 and finally from the second fork 26 to the drive ring 28 of the drive member 19. This forces the first electric actuator 21 to move. The manual adjustment of the first ventilation member 7 about the first axis 8 is also carried out by directly grasping the first ventilation member 7. In order to deflect the first ventilation member 7 by means of an actuator, the second electric actuator 22 is connected to the first ventilation member 7 via a second gear transmission 24. For better graphical representation, in Figure 4 , only the second gear transmission 24 is shown, but the second electric actuator 22 is not shown. If the first ventilation element 7 is manually pivoted about the first axis 8 , the second electric actuator 22 is forced to be adjusted by the second gear transmission 24 .

[0033] By means of the ventilation nozzle 1 according to the invention, the air flow can be controlled not only manually but also by means of an actuator and more precisely in the direction of the vehicle side to the left and to the right via the second ventilation element 9 and in the direction of the vehicle roof or the footwell of the vehicle via the first ventilation element 7. As described, the adjustment of the first ventilation element 7 and the second ventilation element 9 is carried out independently of one another, which results in independent deflections of the air flow "upwards and downwards" or "leftwards and rightwards".

[0034] List of reference numerals:

[0035] 1 Ventilation nozzle

[0036] 2 Shell

[0037] 3 First opening

[0038] 4 Air inflow side

[0039] 5 Second opening

[0040] 6 Air outflow side

[0041] 7. First ventilation element

[0042] 8First Axis

[0043] 9 Second ventilation member

[0044] 10 Second Axis

[0045] 11. First Matrix

[0046] 12 Second Matrix

[0047] 13 Joystick

[0048] 14 Cantilever

[0049] 15 End of cantilever

[0050] 16 Manipulator

[0051] 17 First manipulator element

[0052] 18 Second manipulator element

[0053] 19 Drive element

[0054] 20 The Third Axis

[0055] 21 First Electric Actuator

[0056] 22 Second electric actuator

[0057] 23 First gear transmission

[0058] 24 Second gear transmission

[0059] 25 first fork

[0060] 26 Second fork

[0061] 27 Pole

[0062] 28 Drive ring

[0063] 29 First external spherical crown

[0064] 30 Second inner spherical cap

[0065] 31 First friction brake

[0066] 32 End stop

[0067] 33 Friction surface

[0068] 34 Friction element on the side

[0069] 35 Center friction element

[0070] 36 Support sleeve

[0071] 37 Second friction brake

Claims

1. A ventilation nozzle (1) which can be adjusted manually and by means of an actuator for controlling the air flow in the interior of a vehicle: A housing (2) is provided, wherein the housing (2) has a first opening (3) on an air inlet side (4) and a second opening (5) on an air outlet side (6); A first ventilation element (7) is provided which can be swung about a first axis (8) and a second ventilation element (9) is arranged inside the first ventilation element (7) and can be swung about a second axis (10). The first ventilation element (7) is formed by a substantially closed first base body (11), and the second ventilation element (9) is formed by a substantially closed second base body (12), A control rod (13) is arranged on the first ventilation element (7) at a radial distance from the first axis (8) on the side of the first ventilation element (7) facing the air inflow side (4), the control rod being connected to the first ventilation element (7) in an especially rigid manner, characterized in that: In order to actuate the second ventilation element (9), an actuator (16) is movably arranged on the control rod (13).

2. The ventilation nozzle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The manipulator (16) comprises a first and a second manipulator element (17, 18), wherein the first manipulator element (17) is operatively connected to a second ventilation element (9) for pivoting the second ventilation element about a second axis (10), and the second manipulator element (18) is operatively connected to a drive element (19) which can be driven by an actuator and can in particular pivot about a third axis (20) for moving the first manipulator element (17) on a control rod (13).

3. The ventilation nozzle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The first and second operating elements (17, 18) are connected to each other on the control rod (13) in an articulated manner so as to be pivotable about the control rod (13).

4. The ventilation nozzle (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The first axis (8) of the first ventilator (7) is oriented orthogonally to the second axis (10) of the second ventilator (9), and in particular the third axis (20) of the drive element (19) is also oriented orthogonally to the first axis (8).

5. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that The drive element (19) is operatively connected to a first electric actuator (21).

6. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The first operating element (17) has a first fork (25) and / or the second operating element (18) has a second fork (26), wherein the first fork (25) engages in a strut (27) of the second ventilation element (9) in order to pivot the second ventilation element (9), and / or the second fork (26) is connected to the drive element (19) in such a way that the second fork (26) and thus the first fork (25) can be moved on the control rod (13) via the drive element (19).

7. The ventilation nozzle (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The fork length of the second fork-shaped portion (26) is greater than the fork length of the first fork-shaped portion (25).

8. The ventilation nozzle (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The drive member (19) has a drive ring (28) for driving the second fork (26).

9. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first ventilator (7) is a first spherical cap (29) and the second ventilator (9) is, in particular, a second spherical cap (30) which is supported coaxially with the first ventilator (7).

10. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that The first fork-shaped portion (25) is open in the direction of the air outflow side (6), and the second fork-shaped portion (26) is open in the direction of the air inflow side (4).

11. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first ventilation element (7) is operatively connected to a second electric actuator (22) in order to pivot the first ventilation element (7) around a first axis (8).

12. Ventilation nozzle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that A first friction brake (31) is arranged between the first ventilation element and the second ventilation element (7, 9), and / or a second friction brake (37) is arranged between the first ventilation element (7) and the housing (2).

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