Air supply device

Abstract

Air supply device (1) with a slat (2) which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot bearing (3), wherein a sealing device (8) is assigned to the pivot bearing (3), characterized in that the sealing device (8) is assigned to a free end (7) of a bearing pin (4) extending from the slat (2) and which, to represent the pivot bearing (3), is arranged in a through hole (5) of a coupling device (10) which comprises at least one coupling rod (11) by means of which a plurality of slats (2, 12) are coupled to one another in terms of movement, wherein the sealing device (8) covers an annular bearing gap (6) between the bearing pin (4) and the coupling device (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air supply device with a lamella which is pivotably mounted by means of a pivot bearing, wherein a sealing device is associated with the pivot bearing.

[0002] German patent application DE 10 2014 104 499 A1 discloses an air flap assembly for a vehicle ventilation device, comprising an air flap having an axis and at least one blade, and a bearing formed in a base body in which the axis is rotatably mounted. A seal is arranged on the axis outside the bearing, and at least one projection is provided between the seal and the base body, which extends circumferentially around the axis in sections and supports the air flap against the base body. Swiss patent application CH 676 499 A5 discloses a regulating device for a flap frame, particularly for heating / ventilation and air conditioning systems, comprising at least one externally operable flap blade, wherein the flap blade is detachably and force-fitly connected to its bearing pin at least at one end.wherein the force connection is effected by a screw and a radially resilient sleeve. The German translation DE 698 33 474 T2 of European patent specification EP 0 925 969 B1 discloses an air passage switching system, comprising: a housing for forming an air passage through which air flows; a flap rotatably disposed in the housing for opening and closing the air passage, the flap including: a flap body; a rotary shaft for rotating the flap body, the rotary shaft having first and second ends in a longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft and being disposed at a central portion of the flap body; and a sealing element made of an elastic material and attached to the flap body, comprising a connecting element connected to the first end of the rotary shaft for rotating the rotary shaft; a first cylindrical portion,which is arranged in the flap body concentrically to the rotary shaft on an outer edge side of the first end of the rotary shaft; and a second cylindrical portion protruding from the housing to one side of the flap, wherein: the rotary shaft is coupled to the housing such that a gap is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion and an inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion and an end of the sealing element in the flap in a radius direction of the rotary shaft. German Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2008 023 418 A1 discloses a flap device, in particular in a ventilation or air conditioning system of motor vehicles, with a flap arranged in a housing, which has two bearing elements, and two bearing points formed in the housing, in which the bearing elements are mounted.wherein at least one of the bearing points is arranged in an end region of a concave region of the housing, viewed from the housing interior, wherein the concave region around the bearing point is hemispherical with a maximum inner diameter, and a sealing element with two annular sealing lips is arranged or formed on the bearing element assigned to the bearing point, wherein the sealing lips have a different outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the flap-side sealing lip is greater than or equal to the maximum inner diameter of the concave region, and the outer diameter of the outer-side sealing lip is smaller than the maximum inner diameter of the concave region. The American patent application US 2022 / 0 080 804 A1 discloses a bearing assembly with a first bearing component, comprising a bearing journal and a coupling journal, and a second bearing component,which are rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation, wherein the bearing pin extends along the axis of rotation and the coupling pin extends eccentrically to the axis of rotation, the bearing pin is received in a bearing opening of a wall, the coupling pin is received in a slotted guide of the wall and protrudes from the slotted guide, the second bearing component has a first opening in which the bearing pin is received, and a second opening arranged eccentrically to the first opening in which the coupling pin is received, the coupling pin is connected to the second bearing component via a locking means, and the second bearing component has a spring-loaded section which is supported on the wall.

[0003] The object of the invention is to functionally improve an air supply device with a lamella which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot bearing, wherein a sealing device is associated with the pivot bearing.

[0004] This object is achieved by an air supply device having the features of patent claim 1. The air supply device is preferably associated with a cooling air opening in the front end of a motor vehicle. Such a motor vehicle is disclosed, for example, in German patent application DE 10 2020 115 246 A1. The coupling device comprises at least one coupling rod, by means of which several slats are coupled to one another in terms of movement. This provides, among other advantages, that all slats can be adjusted, in particular pivoted, simultaneously using only one drive device. A drive device usable for this purpose is disclosed, for example, in German patent application DE 10 2020 120 614 A1.The claimed sealing device, for example, essentially has the shape of a circular disk or a right circular cylinder, which is arranged above the free end of the bearing journal and the surrounding bearing gap in such a way that unwanted dirt ingress into the bearing gap during operation of a motor vehicle equipped with the air supply device is effectively prevented. This advantageously ensures that the claimed air supply device, which may, for example, represent a cooling air flap module in the motor vehicle, functions properly under all climatic conditions and environmental influences. Wear on the pivot bearing, in particular unwanted seizure at the bearing points, is prevented.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the sealing device is designed as a protective cover that covers the free end of the bearing journal and the annular bearing gap between the bearing journal and the coupling device. The free end of the bearing journal can be flush with a surface of the coupling device. However, the free end of the bearing journal can also protrude slightly from the through hole in the coupling device. The protective cover can be firmly connected to the coupling device, for example, by means of a material bond or as a single piece.

[0006] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the protective hood is detachably attached to the coupling device. The protective hood is detachably attached to the coupling device, for example, by means of at least one clip connection or snap connection. With regard to the attachment of the protective hood, the term "detachable" means that it can be repeatedly and non-destructively separated from the coupling device. Designing the protective hood as a separate component simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the air supply device with the sealing device.

[0007] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the protective cover engages in an annular groove at the free end of the bearing journal to provide a captive locking device for the coupling device on the bearing journal, or vice versa. This easily prevents unwanted detachment of the slat from the coupling device or of the coupling device from the slat.

[0008] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the sealing device is designed as a collar that covers the annular bearing gap between the bearing journal and the coupling device. This effectively saves material for the sealing device.

[0009] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the collar is attached to the coupling device and engages in an annular groove at a free end of the bearing journal to provide a captive locking device for the coupling device to the bearing journal, or vice versa. The collar can be attached to the coupling device by a material fit, a force fit, or a form fit. The collar can also be integrally connected to the coupling device. A separate captive locking device can advantageously be omitted.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the collar is integrally connected to the coupling device. This simplifies the manufacture of the sealing device. The coupling device is designed, for example, as an injection-molded part made of a suitable plastic material. Depending on the design of the coupling device, the collar can also be made of a different material than the coupling device itself. Manufacturing it as a two-component part using the injection molding process is then advantageous.

[0011] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the collar, viewed in cross-section, is inclined toward the free end of the bearing journal. The collar is advantageously produced off-the-tool in an injection molding process on the coupling device. This allows for cost savings during production. When the collar engages in the annular groove, a slight overlap is advantageously provided. The overlap is advantageously selected such that when the coupling device with the sealing device is mounted on the bearing journal, the collar elastically expands until it engages in the annular groove on the bearing journal.

[0012] A further preferred embodiment of the air supply device is characterized in that the collar is combined with spring tabs extending from the coupling device and radially preloaded against the free end of the bearing journal. The spring tabs ensure that the collar engages in the annular groove and is also held securely in the annular groove.

[0013] The invention further relates to a louvre and / or a coupling device for a previously described air supply device. The louvre and the coupling device are sold separately.

[0014] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of an air supply device with two adjustable slats which are pivotally mounted on a coupling rod, wherein one of the pivot bearings is assigned a sealing device which covers an annular bearing gap; Fig. 2 a design of the sealing device as a protective hood; Fig. 3 a design of the sealing device as a collar; Fig. 4 a variant of the design of the protective hood from Fig. 2; Fig. 5 another variant of the protective cover from Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a perspective view with a loss prevention device comprising three spring tabs extending from the coupling rod and engaging in an annular groove on a bearing journal; Fig. 7 a perspective sectional view of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 an embodiment of the sealing device in which the spring tabs are combined with a collar to represent the sealing device; Fig. 9 a sectional view of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 shows a design of a collar connected in one piece with the coupling rod, which represents both the sealing device and a loss prevention device; and Fig. 11 a sectional view of Fig. 10.

[0015] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an air supply device 1 with a coupling device 10 in the area of ​​a pivot bearing 3. The air supply device 1 comprises two slats 2, 12, which are pivotably mounted on the coupling device 10, which is designed as a coupling rod 11.

[0016] The pivot bearing 3 shown in section comprises a bearing pin 4 rotatably mounted in a through hole 5. An annular bearing gap 6 is formed between the bearing pin 4 and the through hole 5.

[0017] The bearing journal 4 extends from the plate 2. A free end 7 of the bearing journal 4 is in Fig. 1 is arranged in a plane with a surface 9 of the coupling rod 11. The free end 7 of the bearing journal 4 and the annular bearing gap 6 are covered by a sealing device 8 indicated by a dashed rectangle.

[0018] The sealing device 8 prevents dirt and / or media, such as salt spray, from entering the bearing gap 6 during operation of the air supply device 1. The sealing device 8 ensures continuous and trouble-free operation of the air supply device 1 during operation.

[0019] At the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the sealing device 8 is designed as a protective cover 14. The protective cover 14 covers the free end 7 of the bearing journal 4 and the bearing gap 6. The protective cover 14 is firmly bonded, for example, by adhesive bonding, to the surface 9 of the coupling device 10. In another embodiment, the protective cover 14 is integrally connected to the coupling rod 11.

[0020] A loss prevention device 15 prevents unwanted detachment of the plate 2 from the coupling rod 11, and vice versa. The loss prevention device 15 comprises at least one projection 16, which projects radially inward from the coupling device 10 in the through-hole 5. The projection 16 engages in an annular groove 17 formed on the bearing pin 4.

[0021] At the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the sealing device 8 is designed as a collar 20. The collar 20 is particularly advantageously connected in one piece to the coupling rod 11. The coupling rod 11 with the collar 20 is particularly advantageously designed as an injection-molded part made of a suitable plastic material. The coupling rod 11 with the collar 20 is particularly cost-effectively manufactured off-the-tool in a suitable injection-molding tool.

[0022] The collar 20 can be made of the same material as the coupling rod 11. Depending on the plastic material, it may also be advisable to form the collar 20 from a softer and more elastic material. This can then also be implemented cost-effectively using a two-component injection molding process.

[0023] In Fig. 3 shows that the collar 20 is positioned at an angle against the bearing journal 4. The collar 20 engages with its free end in Fig. 3 upper edge area into the annular groove 17 on the bearing journal 4. In this way, the collar 20 can additionally provide loss protection without the need for an additional component.

[0024] In Fig. 4 is a variant of the Fig. The embodiment of the sealing device 8 shown in Figure 2 is shown as a protective cover 14. The protective cover 14 is detachably attached to the coupling rod 11 by means of several snap hooks 24, which are integrally connected to the protective cover 14. For this purpose, the snap hooks 24 engage or snap into correspondingly designed recesses in the surface 9 of the coupling rod 11.

[0025] At the Fig. In the variant shown in Figure 5, the protective cover 14 also performs the function of a captive device. For this purpose, an inwardly angled peripheral edge 25 of the protective cover 14 engages in the annular groove 17 on the bearing journal 4. Thus, the protective cover 14 represents both the sealing device 8 and the captive device between the lamella 2 and the coupling device 10.

[0026] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows that the anti-loss device can also comprise, for example, three spring tabs 26 extending from the coupling rod 11 of the coupling device 10. The spring tabs 26 are preloaded radially inward against the bearing pin 4.

[0027] The free ends of the spring tabs 26 engage in the annular groove 17 on the bearing journal 4. This reliably prevents unwanted detachment of the lamella 2 from the bearing journal 4, and vice versa. Open areas 27 are formed between two spring tabs 26.

[0028] In the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 shows that the open areas 27 can be filled in a highly functional manner with a collar 28, which serves to form the sealing device 8. The collar 28 is designed, for example, as a type of film or webbing between the spring tabs 26. With its Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 upper peripheral edge, the collar 28 engages in the annular groove 17 on the bearing journal 4.

[0029] In the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 shows that the sealing device 8 can also comprise a collar 30 without spring tabs. The collar 30 serves particularly advantageously not only as a sealing device 8 but also as a loss prevention device between the lamella 2 and the coupling device 10, and vice versa. Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 upper peripheral edge, the collar 30 engages in the annular groove on the bearing journal 4 to provide loss protection.

[0030] A sufficient overlap 31 ensures sufficient dirt protection and increased robustness of the loss-prevention device. However, this also increases the assembly force and the risk of the collar 30 tearing during assembly. Therefore, the overlap 31 is advantageously selected so that the collar 30 stretches within the elastic range during assembly. A suitable overlap dimension is in the range of 0.1 to 1.1 millimeters.

Claims

[1] Air supply device (1) with a lamella (2) which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot bearing (3), wherein a sealing device (8) is associated with the pivot bearing (3), characterized by in that the sealing device (8) is assigned to a free end (7) of a bearing pin (4) extending from the lamella (2), which is arranged in a through hole (5) of a coupling device (10) to represent the pivot bearing (3), which coupling device comprises at least one coupling rod (11) with the aid of which a plurality of lamellae (2, 12) are coupled to one another in terms of movement, wherein the sealing device (8) covers an annular bearing gap (6) between the bearing pin (4) and the coupling device (10). [2] Air supply device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the sealing device (8) is designed as a protective hood (14) which covers the free end (7) of the bearing journal (4) and the annular bearing gap (6) between the bearing journal (4) and the coupling device (10). [3] Air supply device according to claim 2, characterized by that the protective hood (14) is detachably attached to the coupling device (10). [4] Air supply device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the protective hood (14) engages in an annular groove (17) on the free end (7) of the bearing pin (4) in order to represent a loss prevention device (15) for the coupling device (10) on the bearing pin (4), or vice versa. [5] Air supply device according to claim 1, characterized by that the sealing device (8) is designed as a collar (30) which covers the annular bearing gap (6) between the bearing journal (4) and the coupling device (10). [6] Air supply device according to claim 5, characterized bythat the collar (30) is fastened to the coupling device (10) and engages in an annular groove (17) at a free end (7) of the bearing pin (4) in order to represent a loss protection for the coupling device (10) on the bearing pin (4), or vice versa. [7] Air supply device according to claim 6, characterized by that the collar (30) is integrally connected to the coupling device (10). [8] Air supply device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by that the collar (30), viewed in a cross-section, is inclined towards the free end (7) of the bearing journal (4). [9] Air supply device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by that the collar (30) is combined with spring tabs (26) which extend from the coupling device (10) and which are prestressed radially against the free end (7) of the bearing journal (4). [10] Slat (2,12) and / or coupling device (10) for an air supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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