Wind direction adjustment device

Abstract

Wind direction adjustment device (10), comprising: a housing body (12) through which a wind flows; an elongated outlet (13) from which the wind that has flowed through the housing body (12) is blown out; and at least three louvers (32, 33) arranged so that they can pivot in a short direction of the outlet (13), wherein the housing body (12) includes: a first section (22) located on a relatively forward side of the wind; and a second section (23) which is located on a downwind side in relation to the first section (22) and is extended in the short direction of the outlet (13) from the first section (22), and wherein the louvers (32, 33) comprise end louvers (32) each having a fixed end (32a) positioned along a longitudinal edge section (13a) of the outlet (13), and an intermediate louver (33) arranged between the end louvers (32), wherein the end louvers (32) and the intermediate louver (33) pivot in the same direction in conjunction with each other, and each end louver (32) is arranged such that it intersects an imaginary line (A) of a wind passage direction along a narrowest inner surface position in the short direction of the outlet (13) in the first section (22) in a state in which each end louver (32) has pivoted to one side of the second section (23), and wherein the first section (22) is formed from a narrowed section (25) which extends in the vertical direction in the ventilation duct (11) in the narrowest position within the housing body (12) is locatedand wherein the second section (23) is continuous with the narrowed section (25) and includes a first enlarged section (27), a second enlarged section (28) and a third enlarged section (29), wherein the third enlarged section (29) forms the anterior end section of the second section (23) and corresponds to the largest section among the three enlarged sections (27, 28, 29).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind direction adjustment device comprising louvers arranged in such a way that they are pivotable in an outlet from which a wind flowing through a housing body is blown out. Technical background

[0002] Traditionally, an air conditioning system used in a vehicle, such as an automobile, includes a wind direction adjustment device provided in an outlet for blowing out air, also referred to as an air outlet for conditioned air, an air outlet, a fan, a register, or the like, installed, for example, in any part of the vehicle, such as an instrument panel or center console section, and contributes to improving comfort when operating the air conditioning system. DE 20 2014 104 226 U1 relates to an air outlet for motor vehicles with parallel air guide elements. DE 10 2017 109 463 A1 relates to a device for adjusting the direction of an airflow from a narrow air outlet opening for a motor vehicle. DE 10 2014 001 959 A1 relates to an air outlet for installation in a motor vehicle.DE 10 2014 221 641 A1 relates to an airflow regulating nozzle for the ventilation of a motor vehicle interior.

[0003] This type of wind direction adjustment device is a flat variant in which the height of a ventilation duct is reduced. In such a flat wind direction adjustment device, it is not easy to adjust the wind direction accordingly, as the number of louvers for adjusting the wind direction vertically is limited. Therefore, a device is known in which the wind direction can be adjusted by pivoting a louver that, in the direction in which an actuating knob has been pivoted, is pivoted in the opposite direction to the other louver in a pair of louvers, in which a louver is inserted in the center that contains the actuating knob, even if the height of a ventilation duct and the number of louvers are limited (see, for example, PTL 1). References Patent specifications

[0004] PTL 1 International Publication WO 2013 / 069 316 A1 (pages 9 to 11 and Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) Brief description of the invention: Technical problem

[0005] In the case of the wind direction adjustment device described above, however, a structure such as one using a connecting link becomes complicated, as it has a special shape for pivoting the louver independently of the pivot direction of the other louver. Therefore, there is concern that manufacturing costs will increase. Furthermore, when the louver equipped with the operating button is pivoted downwards, the space between the operating button and the louver located on the underside, which pivots in the opposite direction, becomes narrow. Therefore, the airflow should not be compromised.

[0006] The present invention was developed with such a point in mind, and one object of it is to provide a wind direction adjustment device that can adjust a wind direction accordingly with a simple structure. Solution to the problem

[0007] A wind direction adjustment device, as described in a first aspect, comprises: a housing body through which a wind flows; an elongated outlet from which the wind flowing through the housing body is discharged; and at least three vanes arranged to pivot in a short direction of the outlet. The housing body includes a first section located on a relatively upstream side of the wind, and a second section located downstream of the first section and extending from the first section in the short direction of the outlet.The louvers include end louvers, each having a fixed end positioned along a boundary section of the outlet in a longitudinal direction, and an intermediate louver arranged between the end louvers, wherein the end louvers and the intermediate louver pivot in the same direction in conjunction with each other, and each end louver is arranged to intersect an imaginary line in a wind-pass direction along a narrowest inner surface position in the short direction of the outlet in the first section in a state in which each end louver has pivoted to a second section side, and wherein the housing body increases from the narrowest inner surface section to the downstream side, and wherein the housing body is largest at a front end section of the second section.

[0008] The wind direction adjustment device, which is described in a second aspect according to the first aspect, further includes: a retention section which is provided longitudinally in at least one of the edge sections of the outlet and which retains a wind leakage between the edge section and the fixed end of the end lamella near the edge section. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0009] According to the wind direction adjustment device of the first aspect, when one end lamella has pivoted to the side of the second section, the other end lamella pivots away from the second section, so that the end lamellae and the intermediate lamella interlock to pivot in the same direction. Since one end lamella is positioned to intersect the imaginary line of wind direction along the narrowest inner surface position in the short direction of the outlet in the first section, one end lamella receives the wind flowing through the first section to the outlet. Therefore, the wind can be directed between the end lamellae and the intermediate lamella, and a vortex is generated between the other end lamella and the second section. The vortex causes a change in the passage of the wind flowing through the first section to the outlet. Therefore, the wind can be directed between the end lamellae and the intermediate lamella.Therefore, a wind direction can be set accordingly with a simple configuration.

[0010] According to the wind direction adjustment device of the second aspect, the retaining section, in addition to the effect of the wind direction adjustment device of the first aspect, prevents wind leakage between the edge section of the outlet in the longitudinal direction and the fixed end of the end slat near the edge section. Therefore, the wind direction can be adjusted more appropriately and the generation of wind noise caused by wind leakage can be suppressed. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a neutral state of the slats in a wind direction adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. Figure 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which the slats of the wind direction adjustment device are pivoted upwards; Fig. Figure 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the slats of the wind direction adjustment device are pivoted downwards; and Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wind direction adjustment device. Description of embodiments

[0011] The following describes a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In the Fig. Reference numeral 10, found in references 1 to 4, denotes a wind direction adjustment device. The wind direction adjustment device 10 is provided for an air conditioning system that, for example, adjusts the direction of a wind, that is, the wind direction from an air conditioning system installed in a vehicle such as an automobile. Although not shown, the wind direction adjustment device 10 is installed in a component of the automobile, such as an installed section like an instrument panel, center console, overhead console section, center pillar, or door panel.

[0013] The wind direction adjustment device 10 comprises a housing body 12, which internally forms a ventilation duct 11 through which conditioned air flows, a cover plate 14, which is an opening element that includes an elongated outlet 13 and is attached to the housing body 12, and three or more louvers 15. Furthermore, the wind direction adjustment device 10 may include louvers located on the front side of the louvers 15.For clarity, the following explanation refers to the downstream side of the wind flowing through the ventilation duct 11 in the wind direction adjustment device 10, i.e., the passenger side, as the front (arrow direction FR), and the upstream side as the rear (arrow direction RR). The sides intersecting along a longitudinal direction of the outlet 13 (at right angles) are referred to as the left-right direction (arrow direction L and arrow direction R), and the sides perpendicular to the outlet 13 are referred to as the vertical direction (arrow direction U and arrow direction D). These directions, however, are modified depending on the installation position and orientation of the wind direction adjustment device 10.

[0014] The housing body 12 is cylindrical in shape. A rear end section of the housing body 12 serves as an inlet 20, which draws conditioned air from an air duct, such as a conduit, into the ventilation duct 11. Furthermore, the housing body 12 is integrally formed with the upstream section 22, which is a first section forming the rear side, and the downstream section 23, which is a second section that is continuous with the front side, which is the downstream side of the upstream section 22. In the present embodiment, two housing bodies 12 are arranged side by side in a left-right direction. However, only one housing body may be provided, or three or more housing bodies 12 may be arranged side by side.Since the interior of each housing body 12 has essentially the same shape, only one housing body 12 will be described, and the description of the other housing body 12 will be omitted.

[0015] The upstream section 22 is located on the relative rear side, which is the wind-facing side with respect to the downstream section 23. The upstream section 22 is formed in a rectangular tube shape and, in the illustrated example, has a substantially constant cross-sectional shape from the inlet 20 to the front. The front end section is tapered towards the front, meaning it narrows both upwards and downwards. Thus, the upstream section 22 of the present embodiment is formed from a tapered section 25, one end of which is the narrowest position in the vertical direction. The tapered section 25 is located in the vertical direction within the ventilation duct 11 at its narrowest position within the housing body 12. The tapered section 25 is formed in a flat shape with a predetermined distance along the front-to-back direction.Furthermore, the vertical dimension of the constricted section 25 is specified as being larger than the vertical dimension of the outlet 13. The constricted section 25 is also continuous with the downstream section 23. The constricted section 25 can be located at any position within the upstream section 22.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the downstream section 23 forms the downstream side of the housing body 12. That is, the downstream section 23 is arranged continuously with the cover plate 14. The downstream section 23 is designed such that it is larger in the vertical direction than the upstream section 22.The downstream section 23 of the present embodiment comprises a first enlarged section 27, which forms the rear end section of the downstream section 23 and is stepwise enlarged with respect to the narrowed section 25 of the upstream section 22; a second enlarged section 28, which is connected to the front end, which is the downstream end of the first enlarged section 27 and is gradually widened vertically towards the front, which is the downstream side; and a third enlarged section 29, which is connected to the front end, which is the downstream end of the second enlarged section 28 and forms the front end section of the downstream section 23. In the present embodiment, the first and third enlarged sections 27 and 29 each have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape that is larger than that of the upstream section 22.In the present embodiment, the second enlarged section 28 gradually widens from the first enlarged section 27 to the third enlarged section 29 at a substantially constant rate in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the second enlarged section 28 extends towards the front along a portion of the lower side that is longer than the upper side of the housing body 12. The third enlarged section 29 is adjacent to the cover plate 14, is located near the outlet 13 in the front-to-back direction, and is wider than the outlet 13 in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0017] The outlet 13 is formed by the cover plate 14. The outlet 13 is designed in a rectangular shape, comprising a pair of upper and lower edge sections 13a and 13b in the longitudinal direction and a pair of left and right end sections 13b and 13b in the short direction. Although the outlet 13 of the present embodiment is designed for each housing body 12, an outlet 13 can be designed that is connected via a plurality of housing bodies 12.

[0018] The cover plate 14, for example, is a design element that forms part of the automotive installation component. The cover plate 14 is plate-shaped and integrally attached to the front end section of the housing body 12. In the present embodiment, the cover plate 14 is arranged such that it is inclined from the top to the bottom and from the back to the front. In the present embodiment, a cover plate 14 is attached to the plurality of housing bodies 12, but a cover plate 14 can be attached to each housing body 12.

[0019] The lamella 15 is also referred to as a horizontal air flap, front air flap, or the like. The end lamellae 32 and 32 and the intermediate lamella 33, which is arranged between the end lamellae 32 and 32, are fixed in lamellae 15. In the present embodiment, the end lamellae 32 are a pair of upper and lower end lamellae, and an intermediate lamella 33 is arranged between the end lamellae 32 and 32. The end lamellae 32 and 32 and the intermediate lamella 33 are arranged such that they can pivot together in the same vertical direction via a connecting element.

[0020] Each end lamella 32 has a thickness in the vertical direction and is designed to extend longitudinally in a left-right direction. In the present embodiment, each end lamella 32 is designed such that its thickness gradually decreases from the side of the fixed end 32a, which is pivotally mounted, to the side of the free end 32b, which is a pivoting end that moves up and down. Each end lamella 32 is located within the housing body 12 (ventilation duct 11) and is arranged such that each fixed end 32a is located longitudinally along the edge section 13a of the outlet 13. The fixed end 32a of each end lamella 32 is located close to the edge section 13a of the outlet 13 in the longitudinal direction.Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the fixed end 32a of each end lamella 32 is located in a position that does not intersect the imaginary line A in the front-to-back direction, which is the direction of wind passage along the narrowest constricted section 25 of the upstream section 22 of the housing body 12 in the vertical direction. That is, the fixed end 32a of each end lamella 32 is arranged such that it is shifted longitudinally from the imaginary line A to the side of the edge section 13a of the outlet 13. The fixed end 32a of the upper end lamella 32 is located below the upper imaginary line A, and the fixed end 32a of the lower end lamella 32 is located above the lower imaginary line A. Furthermore, at least one of the edge sections 13a of the outlet 13 has a rib 35 as a retention section in the longitudinal direction near the fixed end 32a of each end lamella 32, in the present embodiment the lower edge section 13a.The rib 35 narrows a gap between the fixed end 32a of the end lamella 32 and the cover plate 14 and suppresses air leakage between the outlet 13 and the fixed end 32a of the end lamella 32. The lamella 35 projects from a rear surface of the cover plate 14. Furthermore, the free end 32b of each end lamella 32 is arranged such that it extends to the rear, which is the front side of the fixed end 32a. Furthermore, as in . Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, each end lamella 32 is arranged such that it intersects the imaginary line A in a state where the free end 32b has pivoted to the side of the downstream section 23. Therefore, each end lamella 32 faces the wind flowing straight ahead along the upstream section 22 in the direction of the outlet 13 in a front-to-back direction when the end lamella 32 has pivoted to the side of the downstream section 23. It is pivotable to be in a position where it receives the wind. That is, each end lamella 32 has a pivot range (first pivot range) in which the wind is received and directed by intersecting the imaginary line A, and a pivot range (second pivot range) in which the wind is directed without intersecting the imaginary line A.In a state where one end lamella 32 is in the first pivoting range, the other end lamella 32 is connected to it in order to be in the second pivoting range.

[0021] Similar to the end lamellae 32, the intermediate lamella 33 has a thickness in the vertical direction, which is designed to extend elongately in a left-right direction and is designed such that the thickness gradually decreases from one side of the fixed end 33a, which is pivotally mounted, to one side of the fixed end 33b, which is a pivoting end that moves up and down. The intermediate lamella 33 is arranged substantially parallel to the end lamellae 32. In the present embodiment, the intermediate lamella 33 is located in a central section of the upper and lower end lamellae 32 and 33b. Furthermore, the fixed end 33a of the intermediate lamella 33 is arranged vertically at the central section of the outlet 13. The free end 33b of the intermediate lamella 33 is arranged to extend towards the rear, which is the upstream side with respect to the fixed end 33a. Furthermore, the actuating button 37 is attached to the intermediate lamella 33.The actuating button 37 is a button that a vehicle occupant or the like grasps when the slat 15 is pivoted. The actuating button 37 is located longitudinally in the center of the intermediate slat 33. Furthermore, the actuating button 37 is formed with a fork section 38, which is a connecting section that is linked to the upstream slat. The fork section 38 is pivotably connected to a rear section of the actuating button 37, and a front side pivots in the opposite direction to the intermediate slat 33 in a state in which the intermediate slat 33 is pivoted vertically together with the actuating button 37, and the connection to the upstream slat is maintained.

[0022] The upstream louver is also referred to as a vertical air damper, rear air damper, or the like. The upstream louver is arranged, for example, within the upstream section 22 of the housing body 12. For example, a plurality of upstream louvers are arranged in the louvers 15 that intersect the left-right direction, and these are arranged such that they can be pivoted together in the same lateral direction via a connecting element or the like. The upstream louvers of the present embodiment are, for example, configured to pivot in the left-right direction by sliding the actuating button 37 along the intermediate louver 33 in the left-right direction.

[0023] Next, a functional sequence of the embodiment will be described.

[0024] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, each end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33 are arranged in a state in which the lamellae 15 are in the neutral position in the pivoting direction, along the front-back direction, and the wind taken in from the inlet 20 into the ventilation duct 11 is directed along the upstream lamellae and lamellae 15 and blown linearly out of the outlet 13.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the lower end lamella 32 pivots in a state where the lamellae 15 are pivoted vertically on one side, for example upwards, towards the side of the downstream section 23 and is located in a position that intersects the imaginary line A. Thus, the wind flowing through the lower side of the upstream section 22 is directed through the lower end lamella 32, flows between the lower end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33, and is blown upwards out of the outlet 13. Furthermore, when the upper end lamella 32 pivots away from the downstream section 23, a portion of the wind flowing through the upstream section 22 causes a vortex V between the upper end lamella 32 and the downstream section 23.Therefore, most of the wind flowing through the upper side of the upstream section 22 is blocked by the vortex V, changes its course and flows between the upper end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33, thus being blown upwards out of the outlet 13.

[0026] Similarly, the upper end lamella 32 pivots as in Fig.Figure 3 shows the louvers 15 pivoted vertically on the other side, for example downwards, towards the side of the downstream section 23, and is located in a position that intersects the imaginary line A. Thus, the wind flowing through the upper side of the upstream section 22 is directed through the upper end louver 32 and flows between the upper end louver 32 and the intermediate louver 33, thereby being blown downwards out of the outlet 13. Furthermore, if the lower end louver 32 pivots away from the downstream section 23, a portion of the wind flowing through the upstream section 22 causes a vortex V between the lower end louver 32 and the downstream section 23.Therefore, most of the wind flowing through the lower side of the upstream section 22 is blocked by the vortex V, changes its course and flows between the lower end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33, causing it to be blown downwards out of the outlet 13.

[0027] As described above, according to the embodiment, each end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33 pivot in the same direction in conjunction with each other, such that in a state where one end lamella 32 has pivoted towards the side of the downstream section 23, the other end lamella 32 pivots in a direction away from the downstream section 23. Therefore, one end lamella 32 is located in a position that intersects the imaginary line A in the wind direction along the narrowed section 25, which is the narrowest inner surface position of the outlet 13 in the upstream section 22 in the short direction. Therefore, one end lamella 32 receives the wind flowing through the upstream section 22 to the outlet 13, and the wind can be directed between the end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33, and the other end lamella 32 causes a vortex V in a space between the other end lamella 32 and the downstream section 23.The wind flow through the upstream section 22 to the outlet 13 is modified by the vortex V, and the wind can be directed between the end lamella 32 and the intermediate lamella 33. Therefore, for example, the wind direction can be adjusted accordingly with a simple configuration without using a complicated configuration where one end lamella 32 and another end lamella 32 are pivoted in opposite directions.

[0028] Furthermore, each end slat 32 is positioned so that the fixed end 32a does not intersect the imaginary line A, allowing for a large space between each end slat 32 and the downstream section 23. Therefore, when the slats 15 are pivoted up and down, the vortex V generated between the end slats 32 and the downstream section 23 increases, and the vortex V effectively changes the direction of the straight wind, thus enabling a more suitable adjustment of the wind direction.

[0029] Furthermore, the rib 35 suppresses air leakage between the edge section 13a of the outlet 13 in the longitudinal direction and the fixed end 32a of the end lamella 32 near the edge section 13a. Therefore, the wind direction can be adjusted more appropriately and the generation of wind noise due to wind leakage can be suppressed.

[0030] In the embodiment described above, the wind direction adjustment device 10 can also be used for a passenger, for example on a rear seat provided at the rear end section of the console box.

[0031] The number of intermediate louvers is not limited to one, and two or more intermediate louvers can be specified depending on the height of the ventilation duct 11.

[0032] The rib 35 can be provided longitudinally at the upper edge section 13a of the outlet 13 or can be provided at the upper or lower edge section 13a. Applicability in industry

[0033] The present invention can, for example, be used in a suitable manner as a wind direction adjustment device for an air conditioning system of an automobile. List of reference symbols 10 Wind direction adjustment device 11 Ventilation duct 12 Housing bodies 13 Outlet 13a marginal section 13b Final section 14 Cover plate 15 slats 20 Admission 22 Upstream section, which is the first section 23 Downstream section, which is the second section 25 narrowed section 27 first enlarged section 28 second enlarged section 29 third enlarged section 32 End lamella 32a Fixed end 32b Free End 32b Free End 33 Intermediate lamella 33a Fixed end 33b Free End 35th rib, which is the restrained section 37 Actuating button 38 Fork section A thought line

Claims

[1] Wind direction adjustment device (10), comprising: a housing body (12) through which a wind flows; an elongated outlet (13) from which the wind that has flowed through the housing body (12) is blown out; and at least three louvers (32, 33) arranged so that they can pivot in a short direction of the outlet (13), wherein the housing body (12) includes: a first section (22) located on a relatively forward side of the wind; and a second section (23) which is located on a downwind side in relation to the first section (22) and is extended in the short direction of the outlet (13) from the first section (22), and wherein the louvers (32, 33) comprise end louvers (32) each having a fixed end (32a) positioned along a longitudinal edge section (13a) of the outlet (13), and an intermediate louver (33) arranged between the end louvers (32), wherein the end louvers (32) and the intermediate louver (33) pivot in the same direction in conjunction with each other, and each end louver (32) is arranged such that it intersects an imaginary line (A) of a wind passage direction along a narrowest inner surface position in the short direction of the outlet (13) in the first section (22) in a state in which each end louver (32) has pivoted to one side of the second section (23), and wherein the first section (22) is formed from a narrowed section (25) which extends in the vertical direction in the ventilation duct (11) in the narrowest position within the housing body (12) is locatedand wherein the second section (23) is continuous with the narrowed section (25) and includes a first enlarged section (27), a second enlarged section (28) and a third enlarged section (29), wherein the third enlarged section (29) forms the anterior end section of the second section (23) and corresponds to the largest section among the three enlarged sections (27, 28, 29). [2] Wind direction adjustment device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising: a retention section (35) which is provided in at least one of the edge sections (13a) of the outlet (13) in the longitudinal direction and retains a wind leakage between the edge section (13a) and the fixed end (32a) of the end lamella (32) near the edge section (13a).

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