air vents

Abstract

Air outlet (10) comprising an air duct with an air outlet opening (20), wherein the air duct and the air outlet opening (20) have a greater longitudinal extent than their height, and longitudinally parallel deflection elements, wherein - two deflection elements are pivotably mounted in a housing (12) of the air outlet (10) and coupled to each other, - the deflection elements have at least one first, flat air guide surface (44) and two second, curved air guide surfaces (46), - the deflection elements essentially have the shape of a cylindrical segment (40, 42), - the first air guide surfaces (44) are formed by the flat surfaces of the cylinder segments (40, 42) and the second air guide surfaces (46) are formed by the curved wall sections of the cylinder segments (40, 42), - the second air guide surfaces (46) extend from the first air guide surface (44), - a pivot axis of the cylinder segments (40, 42) passes through a central vertical axis of an imaginary cylinder of the cylinder segments (40, 42), characterized in that - the first air guide surfaces (44) of the cylinder segments (40, 42) are arranged opposite each other and the cylinder segments (40, 42) are pivotably mounted about the vertical axis of the cylinders, and - the first air guide surfaces (44) of the cylinder segments (40, 42) are opposite each other in all positions of the cylinder segments (40, 42).

Description

[0001] An air vent is described which has an air duct with an air outlet opening, wherein the air duct and the air outlet opening have a greater extension in the longitudinal direction than in their height, and deflection elements aligned parallel in the longitudinal direction.

[0002] Air vents are used to deflect air provided by an air conditioning system or other ventilation device. Air vents are used particularly in vehicles to bring fresh air, temperate air and / or conditioned air into the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Vehicles can be, for example, motor vehicles such as cars, trucks or buses, trains, airplanes or ships. With air vents, in addition to controlling the deflection of air emitted, for example from an air conditioning system, the amount of air emitted can usually also be regulated. The amount of air supplied is regulated via a control device which is arranged next to an outlet opening, for example with an operating device for pivoting slats or separately from such an operating device.Air vents can be located on a vehicle dashboard or in the area of ​​the A, B or C pillar or on the roof of a vehicle. State of the art

[0003] Conventional air vents typically have louvers that serve to deflect the air. The louvers can be used to direct the air. The extent of air deflection depends on a variety of factors, such as the dimensions of the louvers, the number of louvers, the degree to which the louvers can be pivoted, etc.

[0004] Air vents should also have a visually appealing appearance. For this purpose, air vents designed as so-called joint vents are known, which are short in height compared to their length. Air deflection upwards and downwards is limited with such joint vents.

[0005] Conventional air vents are taller to ensure a sufficient number of louvers for air deflection. However, this is structurally impossible with joint vents, so longitudinally split louvers or so-called "flex" louvers have been proposed. "Flex" louvers are made of a flexible material and extend relatively far into the air vent to provide a larger deflection surface. The "flex" louvers are designed to be deformable under force and return to their original orientation when the force is no longer applied. Such designs are considered disadvantageous, as a force is always required to achieve air deflection. In addition, the flexible louvers extend far into the air duct and require more installation space.

[0006] Longitudinally split louvres have at least two louvre sections that are connected to each other by hinges. Split louvres therefore extend well into an air duct.

[0007] The air deflection via so-called vertical louvers, which are positioned in front of wide louvers in the air outlet area in the direction of air flow, is generally not impaired in joint vents, since the large width provides sufficient space for a large number of louvers.

[0008] An air vent with longitudinally divided slats is known, for example, from DE 10 2006 002 663 A1. DE 10 2006 002 663 A1 discloses an outlet nozzle for a fluid with a flow channel formed by a housing and several parallel slats arranged in the region of an outlet opening for directing a fluid flow. The slats are mechanically coupled to a coupling rod for joint pivoting. The coupling rod connects the front slat sections, with the rear slat sections being mounted in guide slots formed as elongated holes in the housing.

[0009] State-of-the-art solutions for joint vents, especially those with a very low height, allow only minimal air deflection. Greater air deflection is only achieved with state-of-the-art air vents if they feature "flex" louvers that extend far into the air duct or if they have split louvers.

[0010] In addition, it is often required that the moving components of an air vent be arranged in a way that is inaccessible or invisible from the outside. This serves to protect the air vent components, improves aesthetics, and also protects people from injury, as fingers (e.g., those of children) should not be able to get between the movable components.

[0011] EP 3 321 113 A1 discloses an air vent with drag slats which are coupled to one another via a spring device, wherein the drag slats can be individually pressed out of an air duct of the air vent via a slat against the force of the spring device.

[0012] DE 10 2017 113 906 A1 discloses an air vent with a rigidly arranged air guide element and pivotably mounted louvers that partially surround the air guide element. A shut-off device is arranged upstream of the air guide element and the louvers in the direction of air flow. This shut-off device comprises a shut-off wall formed as part of the outer surface of a cylinder.

[0013] DE 10 2017 111 011 A1 discloses an air vent with first air guide elements and a second air guide element rigidly arranged in the air duct, wherein the first air guide elements are positioned upstream of the second air guide element in the air flow direction. Furthermore, a first group and a second group of louvers are provided, each of which is located between the second air guide element and an opposite housing section of the air vent.

[0014] WO 2013 / 128 763 A1 shows an air vent with two louvers located opposite each other on the walls of the housing. These louvers have a profile in the shape of a circular segment and are rotatably mounted in the housing about the center axes of their circular segments. When not in use, they are located in recesses in the housing walls with their straight segment surfaces facing the airflow and thus do not restrict the cross-section of the housing. To change the airflow direction, the segment-like louvers are alternately pivoted and positioned into the airflow. In this process, one louver is aligned parallel to the desired airflow direction, while the other is blocked perpendicular to the airflow. The transversely positioned louver narrows the housing cross-section, and the air is directed to the other louver, which is aligned parallel to the desired airflow.This arrangement and coupling of the segment-like slats supports the air deflection of a central slat arranged between the segment-like slats. Task

[0015] The objective is therefore to provide an air vent that provides air deflection over a wide area while maintaining a low height and requiring only a small amount of installation space. Furthermore, the air vent should take into account aesthetic and safety-related aspects. Furthermore, an alternative solution to the air vents known from the state of the art should be provided. Solution

[0016] The above-mentioned object is achieved by an air vent, comprising an air duct with an air outlet opening, wherein the air duct and the air outlet opening have a greater extension in the longitudinal direction than in their height, and deflection elements aligned parallel in the longitudinal direction, wherein - two deflection elements are pivotably mounted in a housing of the air outlet and coupled to each other, - the deflection elements have at least one first, flat air guide surface and two second, curved air guide surfaces, - the deflection elements essentially have the shape of a cylinder segment, - the first air guiding surfaces are formed by the flat surfaces of the cylinder segments and the second air guiding surfaces are formed by the curved wall sections of the cylinder segments, - the second air guide surfaces extend from the first air guide surface, and - the pivot axis of the cylinder segments passes through a central vertical axis of an imaginary cylinder of the cylinder segments, - the first air guide surfaces of the cylinder elements are arranged opposite one another and the cylinder segments are pivotally mounted around the vertical axis of the cylinders, and - the first air guide surfaces of the cylinder segments are opposite each other in all positions of the cylinder segments.

[0017] The design of the deflection elements with a first, flat air guide surface and two second, curved air guide surfaces enables air deflection over a large area, even when the deflection elements only extend a short distance in the air duct. An air outlet channel is formed between the two deflection elements. Because the deflection elements are coupled to one another, they always pivot together. When the deflection elements pivot, the air outlet channel is shifted accordingly. The first, flat air guide surfaces of the deflection elements face each other in all positions of the deflection elements, so that the air outlet channel between the two deflection elements remains the same size. This also ensures that the air outlet speed remains essentially the same regardless of the position of the deflection elements.Differences in the air outlet velocity due to the position of air guiding elements as in the prior art are therefore avoided.

[0018] The housing of the air vent is designed and the deflection elements are arranged so that the deflection elements always run in the area of ​​the long edges of the air outlet opening. Therefore, the outflowing air only exits the air outlet opening between the two deflection elements.

[0019] Depending on the design of the air outlet and deflection elements, the second, curved air guide surfaces both concentrate the incoming air between the deflection elements and block the air outlet. The first, flat air guide surfaces serve to deflect the air, with a spot jet being emitted in a neutral position. If the deflection elements are pivoted, the emitted air is directed according to the deflection. The first two, flat air guide surfaces remain parallel to each other in all positions.

[0020] The design of the deflection elements with the first, flat air guide surfaces and the two second, curved air guide surfaces, as well as their arrangement in the region of the air outlet opening, provides an air vent that requires only a small amount of installation space. The extension in the air duct is essentially defined only by the first, flat air guide surfaces. This advantageously provides an air vent that provides air deflection over a very large deflection area with only two deflection elements. Compared to designs known from the prior art, less installation space is required, and the design of an air vent described here surpasses the deflection of discharged air by air vents from the prior art.

[0021] Because the air vent provides a very small air gap between the two deflection elements for the air to escape, personal injury and damage to the air vent are prevented. The moving components of the air vent are not freely accessible, and it is not possible to insert body parts into the air outlet channel between the flat first air guide surfaces of the deflection elements.

[0022] Furthermore, the air vent has an attractive appearance, as the interior of the vent is only visible through the air outlet gap formed between the deflection elements. Since the gap is very small, any components located behind it (such as vertical louvers, etc.) are not visible from the outside.

[0023] The deflection elements essentially have the shape of a cylinder segment, with the first air guide surfaces being formed by the flat surfaces of the cylinder segments and the second air guide surfaces being formed by the curved wall sections of the cylinder segments. Deflection elements designed in this way have two second, curved air guide surfaces, so that both a bundling of the inflowing air in the air duct to the first air guide surfaces for air deflection and a blocking of the area of ​​the air outlet opening that lies between opposite edges in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet opening and the opposite first air guide surfaces of the deflection elements are provided. The first air guide surfaces of the cylinder segments are arranged opposite one another, with the cylinder segments being pivotably mounted about the rotational or vertical axis or center axis of the cylinder.The cylinder segments are located in an area close to the air outlet opening, whereby in a neutral position of the cylinder segments the first air guide surfaces are congruently opposite each other and the second air guide surfaces can protrude partly into the air duct and partly into the air outlet opening.

[0024] Cylinder segments can have openings in the section opposite the first air guide surface, thereby reducing the weight of the cylinder segments. Furthermore, only the wall sections of the cylinder segments need to be designed as closed surfaces, which protrude into the air duct and are visible above the air outlet opening. Cylinder segments also have the advantage that they are less prone to tilting than louvres, since the axis of rotation runs essentially centrally through the cylinder segments, and the cylinder segments are mounted via the two second air guide surfaces on a corresponding guide of the housing or a correspondingly designed housing mount on two side walls.

[0025] One of the deflection elements can have an operating element. The deflection elements, which are coupled to one another, can be pivoted via an operating element. The operating element can protrude from the deflection elements and protrude from the air outlet opening or be accessible via it. A person can grasp the operating element and cause the deflection elements to pivot. The coupling of the deflection elements ensures that they pivot together, with the first air guide surfaces being aligned identically to one another in all positions of the deflection elements and having essentially the same distance from one another.

[0026] Behind the deflection elements, at least one slat can be arranged pivotably in the air duct and the at least one slat can be pivotable orthogonally to the deflection elements.

[0027] The at least one louvre serves to deflect the air orthogonally to the air deflection via the deflection elements. An air vent can be provided with a plurality of louvres, which are coupled together via a driver or a coupling rod.

[0028] The control element can be pivotably coupled to the first air guide surface and to the at least one slat. The control element therefore enables both pivoting of the deflection elements and air deflection via the at least one slat. The first air guide surface of a deflection element can have an opening or a bearing pin on which the control element is pivotably mounted. The control element can have a protruding section on its front side, i.e. facing the air outlet opening, which section serves for gripping and pivoting. At the opposite end, the control element is coupled to a driver which engages around a driver pin which is connected to the slat. The driver can be slidably received within a receptacle of the control element.The mount is designed such that when the control element pivots around its bearing point on the first air guide surface, the driver causes a corresponding pivoting of the slats, while pivoting the deflection elements does not cause the slats to pivot. The mount of the control element can therefore enable a compensating movement of the driver. Such couplings are known in various designs from the prior art and enable pivoting of the slats in all positions of the deflection elements.

[0029] The deflection elements can be coupled to one another via at least one coupling rod. The coupling rod generally runs at a distance from the rotation or pivot axis of the deflection elements. The coupling rod can preferably be located at a lateral end section of the deflection elements so that no deflection or turbulence of incoming air occurs via the coupling rod. In further embodiments, coupling rods or other drivers can be arranged on both sides of the deflection elements. In further embodiments, at least one deflection element can be coupled to a damping device. For this purpose, a deflection element can have a shaft or a pin which is fixedly coupled to the deflection element and on which a gear or pinion is mounted outside the air duct. This gear or pinion can be coupled to another gear or pinion of a damping device so that the pivoting orTwisting the deflection elements requires a defined force or a specific torque. Damping devices can, for example, have elements that provide a defined friction to generate a torque. Defined friction can be achieved, for example, through a silicone coating.

[0030] Since the two deflection elements are coupled to each other, it is usually sufficient if one of the deflection elements is coupled to a damping device.

[0031] In designs with cylinder segments, a chamfer can be provided in the area of ​​the air outlet opening. In such designs, the air outlet opening can preferably have a chamfer on the opposite sides, which runs parallel to the deflection elements. The at least one chamfer is aligned and designed such that it can provide an extension of the first air guide surfaces of the deflection elements.

[0032] Instead of a control element, the deflection elements can also be controlled by a motor, for example, an electric motor. For this purpose, an actuator can act on at least one deflection element and / or a slat, causing the deflection elements to pivot. Additionally, a closing flap can be provided that closes off the air duct and regulates the amount of air supplied. Such a closing flap can also be controlled manually or by a motor.

[0033] The air vent can also have a significantly greater height than its width, with the deflection elements then extending along the vertical axis of the air vent.

[0034] In further embodiments, the air vent can be illuminated, wherein for this purpose, lighting means can be provided in the region of the deflection elements or the deflection elements can be designed at least partially as light guides.

[0035] The essential components of the air vent can be manufactured from plastic using an injection molding process and can therefore be produced cost-effectively in large quantities.

[0036] Further advantages, features and design options emerge from the following description of figures of non-limiting embodiments. Short description of the characters

[0037] In the drawings shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air vent of a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the air vent of the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the first embodiment in a neutral position; Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the first embodiment with deflection elements pivoted upwards and designed as drag slats; Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the first embodiment with trailing slats pivoted downwards; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an air vent of a second embodiment; Fig. 7 is a schematic front view of the air vent of the second embodiment; Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the second embodiment in a neutral position; Fig. 9 a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the second embodiment with deflection elements pivoted upwards and designed as drag slats; Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the second embodiment with trailing slats pivoted downwards; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an air vent of a third embodiment; Fig. 12 is a schematic front view of the air vent of the third embodiment; Fig. 13 is a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the third embodiment in a neutral position; Fig. 14 is a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the third embodiment with upwardly pivoted deflection elements designed as cylinder segments; and Fig. 15 a schematic sectional view of the air vent of the third embodiment with cylinder segments pivoted downwards.

[0038] Parts designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings essentially correspond to one another unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, descriptions and illustrations of components that are not essential to understanding the technical teachings disclosed herein are omitted. Detailed description of embodimentsFirst embodiment

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an air vent 10 of a first embodiment. The air vent 10 can be installed, for example, in a vehicle dashboard. Air is introduced into a vehicle's passenger compartment via the air vent 10, with the direction of the outflowing air being variable. Furthermore, the amount of outflowing air can also be varied via a closing flap, for example, not shown in the figures. The air vent 10 is designed as a joint vent, with the air vent having a significantly greater width compared to its height.

[0040] The air vent 10 has a housing 12 with an air inlet opening 18 and an air outlet opening 20. The housing 12 is connected to an air duct via the air inlet opening 18, through which conditioned and / or tempered air is supplied from a ventilation device. The ventilation device can be a vehicle air conditioning system that supplies a plurality of air vents 10 with tempered and treated air. The air flows out of the air vent 10 via the air outlet opening 20. For air deflection, the air vent 10 has two trailing louvers 30 and 32 and louvers 60.

[0041] The slats 60 serve for lateral air deflection orthogonal to the air deflection via the drag slats 30 and 32. For this purpose, the slats 60 are pivotally mounted via bearing pins 62 in bearing openings 16 of the housing 12.

[0042] In the area of ​​the air outlet opening 20 of the air vent 10, a cover can additionally be arranged, which is either arranged on the housing 12 or, as part of the housing 12, is manufactured in one piece with at least parts of the housing 12. Such a cover can also be glued, screwed, or latched to the housing 12. A cover can also be formed by the surface of a trim part of a vehicle dashboard, with the housing 12 being attached to the trim part from behind or connected to it via a supporting structure.

[0043] In the area of ​​the air outlet opening 20, the housing 12 has sections with a chamfer 14 on the opposite sections along the longitudinal direction. When the trailing vanes 30 and 32 are pivoted, the chamfers 14 serve as an extension of the first air guide surface 34 and thus support air deflection or do not hinder it.

[0044] A damping device 70 is also arranged on the housing 12. The damping device 70 comprises a damper, a gear mounted on the damper, and a pinion connected to a shaft of a drag vane 30 or 32. When the drag vanes 30 and 32 are pivoted, the pinion, which engages with the gear of the damping device, is rotated, so that a specific torque is required to pivot the drag vanes 30 and 32 via an operating element 50. The damping device 70 also supports the air vent 10, preventing unintentional displacement of the drag vanes 30 and 32, for example, due to vibrations during travel. In the figures, the damping device 70 is shown with a cover. However, the design of such damping devices 70 is known in various embodiments from the prior art.The damping device 70 is therefore not limited to the variant described above.

[0045] For air deflection, the air vent 10 has drag louvers 30 and 32, which are mounted in the housing 12 such that first air guide surfaces 34 are opposite each other. The control element 50 is arranged on the upper drag louver 32 and serves both to pivot the drag louvers 30 and 32 and to pivot the louvers 60 mounted behind them.

[0046] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the air vent 10 of the first embodiment. The air vent 10 has a plurality of slats 60 arranged parallel to one another. The slats 60 are coupled to one another via a coupling rod 64, so that pivoting a central slat 60 via the control element 50 automatically pivots the other slats 60.

[0047] Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the first embodiment in a neutral position. In an area facing the air inlet opening 18, the slats 60 are pivotally mounted in the bearing openings 16 about the axis A via the bearing pins 62. The Fig. The middle slat 60 shown in Figure 3 also has a driver pin 58. The slat 60 is coupled to other slats 60 via the coupling rod 64, so that pivoting the middle slat 60 causes a synchronous pivoting of the other slats 60. The other slats 60 have driver pins that serve only to couple with the other slats 60 and are received in openings in the coupling rod 64. The drag slats 30 and 32 are arranged in a front region of the housing 12 facing the air outlet opening 20. The drag slats 30 and 32 each have a first air guide surface 34 and a second air guide surface 36. The second air guide surface 36 extends on a front edge of the trailing slats 30 and 32 facing the air outlet opening 20 and has a convex curvature.The second air guide surfaces 36 therefore limit the air duct to the area between the first air guide surfaces 34 in all positions of the trailing slats 30 and 32, and also prevent a view into the air duct via the air outlet opening 20. The second air guide surfaces 36 can therefore have a coating or color on their surface facing the air outlet opening that corresponds to the coating or design surrounding the air outlet opening 20.

[0048] The drag lamellas 30 and 32 are mounted around pivot axes, which are Fig. 3 are indicated schematically. The pivot axes of the drag slats 30 and 32 are located on the longitudinal edges of the first air guide surfaces 34, which face away from the air outlet opening 20. In order to accommodate a movement of the second air guide surfaces 36 when the drag slats 30 and 32 are pivoted, the housing 12 has free spaces 22. In the pivoted positions of the drag slats 30 and 32, the second air guide surfaces 36 are accommodated in the free spaces 22 depending on the direction in which the drag slats 30 and 32 are pivoted.

[0049] To prevent strong turbulence in the air duct due to the design of the drag louvers 30 and 32, the housing 12 is designed so that the section between the pivot axes of the drag louvers 30 and 32 and the adjacent housing walls is as small as possible. For this purpose, the design can be different from that in Fig. 3 show even smaller distances.

[0050] In Fig. 3 additionally shows a further bulge which extends rearwardly from the free spaces 22 in the direction of the air inlet opening 18. This recess serves to ensure that the control element 50, which has been pivoted when the drag slats 30 and 32 are pivoted, can continue to move freely. The control element 50 has a bearing 52. The bearing 52 is received in a corresponding opening in the drag slat 32. The control element 50 is therefore arranged on the drag slat 32 so that it can pivot about the bearing 52. The control element 50 has a longitudinally extending opening 54. The opening 54 is essentially designed as a slot, with a wedge-shaped front section of the driver 56 being guided in the slot. A rear end of the driver 56 has an opening in which the driver pin 58 is received.If the operating element 50 is pivoted about the bearing 52, the driver 56 follows this movement and causes the slat 60 to pivot about the axis A. In order to enable the slats 60 to pivot independently of the position of the drag slats 30 and 32, the driver 56 has the wedge-shaped front section which is always at least partially received between the two walls of the operating element 50 which define the opening 54.

[0051] The air vent 10 enables air deflection upwards and downwards over a wide area via the drag slats 30 and 32, without the need for components that extend far into the air duct.

[0052] Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the first embodiment with upwardly pivoted deflection elements designed as trailing louvers 30 and 32. In this maximum position, the control element 50 rests against the upper bevel 14. The second air guide surface 36 of the upper trailing louver 32 is completely accommodated in the free space 22, with the lower second air guide surface 36 essentially protruding from the free space 22. The trailing louvers 30 and 32 are connected to one another via a coupling rod extending away from the pivot axes, so that the trailing louvers 30 and 32 are always pivoted together and synchronously.

[0053] Air flowing in through the air inlet opening 18 is directed between the two first air guide surfaces 34 and discharged according to the position of the drag louvers 30 and 32. A downward airflow is prevented by the second air guide surface 36 of the drag louver 30. Furthermore, the second air guide surface 36 of the drag louver 30 blocks the view of the components or the air duct of the air outlet 10 when viewed from the front toward the air outlet opening 20.

[0054] Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the first embodiment with downwardly pivoted trailing slats 30 and 32. Analogous to the representation of Fig. 4, the air guide surface 36 of the drag slat 30 is now accommodated in the corresponding free space 22, with the second air guide surface 36 of the drag slat 32 protruding into the air outlet opening 20. Air flowing in through the air inlet opening 18 can therefore only exit between the first air guide surfaces 34 of the drag slats 30 and 32 and follows the position of the drag slats 30 and 32.

[0055] The representation of Fig. 5 illustrates the extension of the air guide surface 34 by the bevel 14 in the lower area.

[0056] The Fig. 3 - 5 show a cross section through the air outlet 10 in the area of ​​the control element 50. Apart from the areas with the air outlet 10, the control element 50 does not protrude into the air duct between the first air guide surfaces 34 and therefore does not hinder the air deflection.

[0057] The control element 50 can be used to pivot the slats 60 in all positions of the drag slats 30 and 32. The design of the driver 56 ensures that the slats 60 are not pivoted unintentionally and that pivoting of the slats 60 is possible in all positions of the drag slats 30, 32. Second embodiment

[0058] Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an air vent 10 of a second embodiment. The air vent 10 also has a housing 12, drag louvers 30 and 32, and louvers 60 that can be pivoted via an operating element 50. One of the drag louvers 30, 32 is coupled to a damping device 70, which specifies a required minimum torque for pivoting the drag louvers 30 and 32.

[0059] Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of the air vent 10 of the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the trailing louvers 30 and 32 extend across the width of the air outlet opening 20 of the air vent 10. The control element 50 is arranged centrally on the upper trailing louver 32 and is operatively connected to a central louver 60 mounted behind it. The louver 60 is coupled to the other louvers 60 via a coupling rod 64, so that pivoting the control element 50 to the left and right with respect to the air outlet opening 20 causes a corresponding pivoting of the louvers 60, and pivoting the control element 50 up and down causes a corresponding pivoting of the trailing louvers 30 and 32.

[0060] Fig. Figure 8 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the second embodiment in a neutral position. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the pivot axes of the trailing slats 30 and 32 extend through a front longitudinal edge of the first air guide surfaces 34 facing the air outlet opening 20, with the air guide surfaces 36 being arranged on the opposite longitudinal edge of the first air guide surfaces 34 and having a convex curvature. Furthermore, the air vent 10 of the second embodiment has a lower height in the region of the air outlet opening 20.

[0061] The height of the air outlet opening 20 defines the distance between the two opposite edges of the air outlet opening 20 of the housing 12 in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal edges of the first air guide surfaces 34 facing the air outlet opening 20 are located directly in the region of the opposite longitudinal edges of the air outlet opening 20. By rounding the front longitudinal edges of the first air guide surface 34, a seal can be achieved in all positions of the drag slats 30 and 32. Air flowing into the air duct can therefore not escape, or can only escape to a small extent, between the longitudinal edges of the air outlet opening 20 and the corresponding front longitudinal edges of the first air guide surface 34 of the drag slats 30 and 32. Seals can also be provided in this area. The seals can further impede the passage of air.

[0062] The housing 12 is designed such that, regardless of the position of the drag slats 30 and 32, no air can escape through any area other than between the first air guide surfaces 34. Covering or closing the air outlet opening 20 as in the first embodiment is therefore not necessary. In the second embodiment, the second air guide surfaces 36 serve to guide incoming air via the curved design of the air guide surfaces 36 into the section between the opposite first air guide surfaces 34. The housing 12 has correspondingly designed free spaces 22 for this purpose. The free spaces 22 serve to accommodate the second air guide surfaces 36 in the various positions. In addition, the free spaces 22 have a curvature such that the second air guide surfaces 36 can slide along them. This essentially prevents air from entering the free spaces 22.The free spaces 22 can additionally serve as a guide for the second air guide surfaces 36 of the drag slats 30 and 32.

[0063] The housing 12 of the air vent 10 has an additional free space in the area of ​​the air duct, which adjoins the upper free space 22 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12 only over a central section, so that the rear end of the control element 50 can be additionally pivoted about its bearing 52 when the drag slats 30 and 32 are pivoted upwards and no blocking occurs. Fig. Figure 10 shows such a position of the drag slats 30 and 32. In this maximally pivoted position, the rear end of the control element 50 also comes into contact with the inclined surface of the additional free space.

[0064] The pivoting of the drag slats 30 and 32 as well as the slats 60 takes place analogously to the air vent 10 of the first embodiment.

[0065] Fig. Figure 9 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the second embodiment with upwardly pivoted deflection elements designed as drag louvers 30 and 32. In this position, the driver 56 is pressed downward via the upper drag louver 32. However, this does not cause the louvers 60 to pivot, since the control element 50 has a receptacle 54 designed such that the front wedge-shaped section of the driver 56 can perform a compensating movement. The wedge-shaped design of the driver 56 in the front section supports the compensating movements in the various positions of the drag louvers 30 and 32.

[0066] In the Fig. In the upwardly pivoted position of the drag slats 30 and 32 shown in Figure 9, which are coupled to one another via a coupling rod and are therefore always pivoted synchronously with one another, the control element 50 comes into contact with an upper bevel 14. The bevel 14 forms an extension of the first air guide surface 34 of the upper drag slat 32.

[0067] Fig. 10 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the second embodiment with downwardly pivoted trailing slats 30 and 32. The representation of Fig. Figure 10 shows, in particular, the extension of the first air guide surface 34 over the bevel 14 for the lower trailing slat 30. This illustration also shows how the rear section of the control element 50 engages with the corresponding slope of a clearance. The clearance is only required for the upper half of the air duct, since the control element 50 is mounted on the first air guide surface 34 of the upper trailing slat 32 via the bearing 52. In the maximum downward pivoted position (see Fig. 9) the rear end of the section of the operating element 50 does not come into contact with the housing 12.

[0068] In Fig. 10, the driver 56 is only partially shown but is always still located between the two walls surrounding the opening 54 of the operating element 50.

[0069] When the drag slats 30 and 32 are pivoted, incoming air is guided via the second, curved air guide surfaces 36 into the air flow channel which is formed between the two first air guide surfaces 34 of the drag slats 30 and 32.

[0070] The design of the air vent 10 enables high air deflection upwards and downwards over a wide area without requiring components that extend far into the air duct. Furthermore, the air vent 10 has a simple structure and requires few components.

[0071] The trailing louvers 30 and 32 can also have integrally formed guide pins in the transition region from the first air guide surface 34 to the second air guide surface 36, essentially in the region of the longitudinal edge of the first air guide surfaces 34 facing away from the air outlet opening 20, which are received in guides 24 on opposite housing walls of the housing 12. The guide pins can also be subsequently attached to the trailing louvers 30 and 32. In addition, only one side wall of the housing 12 can have such guides 24, as shown in Fig. 10. Such guides 24 and guide pins can also be provided in the other embodiments. Third embodiment

[0072] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of an air vent 10 of a third embodiment. The air vent 10 of the third embodiment differs from the air vents 10 of the first and second embodiments in that the deflection elements are formed by cylinder segments 40 and 42. The cylinder segments 40 and 42 are designed such that the deflection elements have both second air guide surfaces 46, which provide the function of the air guide surfaces 36 of the first embodiment, and second air guide surfaces 46, which provide the function of the second air guide surfaces 36 of the second embodiment.

[0073] Accordingly, the housing 12 is also designed differently, as in Fig. 13. The further configurations and components of the air vent 10 essentially correspond to the air vents 10 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. For example, the air vent 10 of the third embodiment also has a housing 12 with an air inlet opening 18 and an air outlet opening 20, wherein conditioned and / or tempered air from a vehicle air conditioning system can be supplied via the air inlet opening 18. At least one of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 is in contact with a damping device 70, via which a certain required minimum torque for pivoting the cylinder segments 40 and 42 is provided. An operating element 50 is pivotably mounted on an upper cylinder segment 42 and serves to pivot the cylinder segments 40 and 42 as well as the slats 60 mounted behind them.

[0074] Fig. Figure 12 shows a schematic front view of the air vent 10 of the third embodiment. The slats 60 extend parallel to one another and can be pivoted synchronously via a coupling rod 64. A central slat 60 is connected to the control element 50 via a driver 56, wherein the driver 56 has a rear section with an opening in which a driver pin 58 is received.

[0075] Fig. 13 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the third embodiment in a neutral position. The pivoting of the slats 60 occurs analogously to the air vents 10 described for the first embodiment and second embodiment. For this purpose, the operating element 50 is rotatably mounted via a bearing 52 on the first air guide surface 44 of the upper cylinder segment 42 and has an opening 54 in which a front section of the driver 56 is received. The driver 56 also has the rear section with the opening, which is designed correspondingly like the drivers 56 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Therefore, the driver retains its position relative to the slat 60 because the driver pin 58 is received in the opening in the rear section of the driver 56.

[0076] At its front section, the driver 56 has a different design, which takes into account a pivoting of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 (see Fig. 14 - 15).

[0077] The cylinder segments 40 and 42 have a first air guide surface 44, from which the second air guide surfaces 46 extend. The pivot axis of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 runs through a central vertical axis of an imaginary cylinder of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 through the axis C.

[0078] The cylinder segments 40 and 42 have a guide pin on one of the two second air guide surfaces 46, which is received in a guide 24 and supports a steady mounting of the cylinder segments 40 and 42. The guide for the guide pins is incorporated into at least one of the side walls of the housing 12.

[0079] The deflection elements, designed as cylinder segments 40 and 42, enable air deflection over a wide adjustment range, similar to the first and second embodiments, without requiring components that extend far into the air duct. The cylinder segments 40 and 42 are coupled to one another, so that the first air guide surfaces 44 run parallel to one another in all positions of the cylinder segments 40 and 42.

[0080] The front second air guide surfaces 46, which are visible in the area of ​​the air outlet opening 20, partially conceal the air outlet opening 20. The rear second air guide surfaces 46 direct the incoming air flow in the air duct between the two first air guide surfaces 44, regardless of the position of the cylinder segments 40 and 42.

[0081] The housing 12 has curved clearances 22 depending on the design of the cylinder segments 40 and 42. These clearances 22 allow the cylinder segments 40 and 42 to be securely mounted, additionally preventing tilting during pivoting.

[0082] The housing 12 has corresponding free spaces 22 for the cylinder segments 40 and 42, which essentially correspond to the curvature of the cylinder segments 40 and 42, so that the cylinder segments 40 and 42 are also securely mounted by these spaces. In further embodiments, the second air guide surfaces 46 of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 can slide along the walls of the free spaces 22. For this purpose, coatings can be provided both on the walls of the free spaces 22 and on the surfaces of the second air guide surfaces 46.

[0083] Fig. Figure 14 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the third embodiment with upwardly pivoted deflection elements designed as cylinder segments 40 and 42. The reference to pivoting of the cylinder segments 40 and 42 also includes rotation about the axis of rotation. The design of the deflection elements as cylinder segments 40 and 42 requires that the driver 56 tapers to a point at its front end and has a flat configuration. Pivoting the slats 60 occurs analogously to the first and second embodiments, so this will not be discussed in more detail.

[0084] When the cylinder segments 40 and 42 are pivoted, the inflowing air is introduced via the curved, rear second air guide surfaces 46 into the air flow channel between the opposite first air guide surfaces 44. The inflowing air follows the orientation of the first air guide surfaces 44 and essentially maintains this. Fig. 14, the air is deflected upward. The front first air guide surface 46 of the cylinder segment 40 protrudes into the air outlet opening 20 and, on the one hand, blocks the air duct and, on the other hand, significantly restricts the view into the interior of the air duct, since the only connection to the air duct from the outside via the air outlet opening 20 is via the air flow channel between the first air guide surfaces 44.

[0085] Fig. Finally, Figure 15 shows a schematic sectional view of the air vent 10 of the third embodiment with cylinder segments 40 and 42 pivoted downwards. The design of the air vent 10 allows for a high level of air deflection downwards and upwards, or to the left and right when the air vent 10 is rotated by 90°, within a very small installation space, with the cylinder segments 40 and 42 extending only slightly into the air duct. Pivoting the control element 50 enables air deflection orthogonal to the air deflection via the first air guide surfaces 44.

[0086] The Fig.The various designs of an air vent 10 shown in Figures 1-15 also prevent fingers, such as those of a small child, from getting into the air duct. Furthermore, it prevents objects such as pens or pencils from being pushed into the air duct, which could damage or destroy the air vent 10. The air vents 10 therefore take into account not only aesthetic considerations but also safety-related aspects. Furthermore, the air vents 10 shown enable a large air deflection, which exceeds the air deflection of prior art joint vents, while significantly reducing the required installation space. The components of the air vents 10 can be made of plastic and can therefore be manufactured quickly and cost-effectively in large quantities using an injection molding process. The air vents 10 have few components, which further reduces the susceptibility of the air vents to failure. List of reference symbols 10 air vents 12 housings 14 chamfer 16 Warehouse opening 18 Air inlet opening 20 Air outlet opening 22 open space 24 Guide 30 drag lamella 32 drag lamella 34 first air guide surface 36 second air guide surface 40 cylinder segment 42 cylinder segment 44 first air guide surface 46 second air guide surface 50 Control element 52 warehouses 54 Opening 56 drivers 58 Driving pin 60 slats 62 bearing journals 64 coupling rod 70 Damping device A axis B axis C axis

Claims

[1] Air vent (10), comprising an air duct with an air outlet opening (20), wherein the air duct and the air outlet opening (20) have a greater extension in the longitudinal direction than in their height, and deflection elements aligned parallel in the longitudinal direction, wherein - two deflection elements are pivotably mounted in a housing (12) of the air outlet (10) and coupled to each other, - the deflection elements have at least one first, flat air guide surface (44) and two second, curved air guide surfaces (46), - the deflection elements essentially have the shape of a cylinder segment (40, 42), - the first air guide surfaces (44) are formed by the flat surfaces of the cylinder segments (40, 42) and the second air guide surfaces (46) are formed by the curved wall sections of the cylinder segments (40, 42), - the second air guide surfaces (46) extend from the first air guide surface (44), - a pivot axis of the cylinder segments (40, 42) runs through a central vertical axis of an imaginary cylinder of the cylinder segments (40, 42), characterized by that - the first air guide surfaces (44) of the cylinder segments (40, 42) are arranged opposite one another and the cylinder segments (40, 42) are pivotably mounted about the vertical axis of the cylinders, and - the first air guide surfaces (44) of the cylinder segments (40, 42) are opposite one another in all positions of the cylinder segments (40, 42). [2] Air vent (10) according to claim 1, wherein one of the deflection elements comprises an operating element (50). [3] Air vent (10) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein at least one slat (60) is arranged pivotably in the air duct behind the deflection elements and the at least one slat (60) is pivotable orthogonally to the deflection elements. [4] Air vent (10) according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the operating element (50) is pivotably mounted on the first air guide surface (44) and coupled to the at least one slat (60). [5] Air vent (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the deflection elements are coupled to one another via at least one coupling rod. [6] Air vent (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one deflection element is coupled to a damping device (70).

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