air vents

Abstract

The invention relates to an air outlet (2; 102) for a motor vehicle (28), comprising a housing (4) having an air outlet opening (3) from which air can be discharged into a vehicle passenger compartment (29); an air guide frame (6; 106) which is bounded by a first wall (7) and a second wall (8) and is arranged within the housing (4), wherein the air guide frame (6; 106) is pivotably guided in the housing (4) about a pivot axis (12) which is arranged downstream of the air guide frame (6; 106), wherein a first flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening (3) can be adjusted via the pivot angle of the air guide frame (6; 106), and wherein several pivotably mounted air guide vanes (25) extend from the first wall (7) to the second wall (8) in the air guide frame (6;106) are arranged, spaced apart from each other, wherein a second flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening (3) can be adjusted via the pivot angle of the air guide vanes (25).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air outlet for a motor vehicle, from which an airflow is discharged into the vehicle passenger compartment. This airflow is, in particular, fresh air and / or recirculated air, for example, from the vehicle's air conditioning system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such an air outlet.

[0002] Numerous air outlets are known from the prior art, mostly circular or rectangular, whereby the direction of the expelled airflow can be adjusted via air guide vanes, which are located directly at an air outlet opening and are adjustable for the vehicle occupants, but also clearly visible.

[0003] Recently, the trend has shifted towards more discreet designs, where air outlets are kept as small as possible and the air vents are intended to be barely noticeable to vehicle occupants. However, these new designs require innovative adjustment mechanisms to direct the expelled airflow.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop air outlets from the prior art. This object is achieved by an air outlet according to claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, an air outlet for a motor vehicle is provided, comprising a housing with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening from which air can be expelled into a vehicle passenger compartment; an air guide frame, which is bounded by a first wall and a second wall and is arranged within the housing, wherein the air guide frame is pivotably guided in the housing about a pivot axis which is arranged downstream of the air guide frame, wherein a first flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening can be adjusted via the pivot angle of the air guide frame, and wherein furthermore several pivotably mounted air guide vanes extending from the first wall to the second wall are arranged in the air guide frame, which are spaced apart from one another.The pivot angle of the air guide vanes allows for a second flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet. This has the advantage that the upstream pivot axis of the air guide frame enables a very narrow air outlet opening, in which the steering of the expelled airflow is shifted further upstream than in prior art designs. Furthermore, both horizontal and vertical steering of the expelled airflow occur simultaneously or within the same flow section, allowing for a more compact design. This design ensures that the section within the air outlet where the direction of the expelled airflow is controlled is positioned further upstream of the air outlet.

[0006] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air outlet opening is elongated along a y-axis, in particular a horizontal direction (in a state installed in the vehicle). Specifically, the air outlet opening has a dimension along the y-axis that is at least three times, and in particular five times, as large as a dimension along a z-axis, in particular a horizontal direction, that is perpendicular to the y-axis. This creates a visually appealing, unobtrusive design.

[0007] In particular, a plane (xz-plane) within which the second flow angle (relative to the xy-plane) is spanned is perpendicular to a plane (xy-plane) within which the first flow angle (relative to the xz-plane) is spanned.

[0008] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air guide frame is guided in an arc-shaped, in particular circular arc-shaped, guide path of the housing.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the housing tapers towards the air outlet opening. This makes it particularly easy to integrate the air outlet into locations in the vehicle where little installation space is available.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one plate for controlling the air guide frame is arranged between the first wall and a first section of an inner surface of a housing wall, and between the second wall and a second section of the inner surface opposite the first section. This plate has both a control function and an air guidance function.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one plate is a closed plate that guides an airflow guided in the housing into the air guide frame, in particular essentially completely into the air guide frame.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the plate is pivotally connected to the first wall between the first wall and the first section, and the plate is pivotally connected to the second wall between the second wall and the second section.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the pivot angle of the air guide frame is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism comprising a first pair of plates and a second pair of plates, each pair of plates having two plates pivotally connected to one another, with one free edge of each pair of plates pivotally attached to an edge of the air outlet opening and the opposite free edge of each pair of plates guided in a guide track of the housing. In particular, a joint is arranged between the free edges of each pair of plates. In particular, the guide tracks extend along an x-axis. The x-axis is perpendicular to the y-axis and perpendicular to the z-axis.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air guide vanes are connected to each other so that they can be pivoted together or their pivoting movement is related.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention provides a motor vehicle with such an air outlet.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate the following: Fig. Figure 1 shows a dashboard with an air outlet according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the air outlet according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the air outlet. Fig. 2 cut through two guide vanes along an xz-plane at maximum deflection; Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the air outlet. Fig. 3 with the same cutting plane in an opposite maximum deflection; Fig. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the air outlet. Fig. 3 with the same cutting plane in a central position; Fig. Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide frame with the first (upper) wall shown transparently; Fig. Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of an air outlet according to a second embodiment of the invention with a transparently shown housing in a maximum deflection of the air guide frame; Fig. Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet. Fig. 7 in an opposite maximum deflection of the air guide frame; Fig. 9 shows a cut-open air guide frame with the plates attached to it; Fig. Figure 10 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide frame according to the second embodiment with the first (upper) wall shown transparently, and Fig. Figure 11 shows a motor vehicle.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a dashboard 1 with an air outlet 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The air outlet 2 has an elongated air discharge opening 3, the air discharge opening 3 extending elongately along a y-axis (in Fig. 1, in the installed state, in particular the vehicle's transverse axis) and along a z-axis is relatively small. In particular, a dimension along the y-axis is at least three times, and in particular at least five times, as large as a dimension along the z-axis that is perpendicular to the y-axis. Fresh air (coming from the vehicle's surroundings) and / or recirculated air (coming from a vehicle passenger compartment) is supplied to the vehicle passenger compartment via the air outlet 3. The air outlet 3 is located downstream of an interior heat exchanger (not shown) and can be heated or cooled. In particular, the air expelled from the air outlet 3 is air coming from an air conditioning system (including heating). The in Fig. The coordinate system shown in Figure 1 has an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis, all perpendicular to each other.

[0018] Fig. Figure 2 shows the air outlet 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The air outlet 2 has a housing 4 with an air inlet opening 5 and an air outlet opening 3. On the section of the housing 4 between the air inlet opening 5 and the air outlet opening 3, a housing wall forms a substantially closed airflow channel, which only has openings for mechanical control elements and / or cables for electrical control elements and / or sensors. The housing is, for example, made of plastic, and the air inlet opening 5 can be adapted for connecting air supply lines and / or air supply ducts. An outer contour of the housing 4 tapers along the x-axis towards the end of the air outlet opening 3.

[0019] Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the air outlet 2. Fig. 2 cut along an xz-plane. Inside the housing 4, an air guide frame 6 is arranged. This has a first wall 7 (in Fig. 3 the upper wall), a second wall 8 (in Fig. 3 the lower wall) as well as two opposing side walls 9, which connect the first and second walls 7, 8 to form a completely enclosed frame. The air guide frame 6 forms an airflow channel with a rectangular flow cross-section. On an inner side of the housing wall, arcuate webs 10, in particular circular arcuate webs, are formed, which create an arcuate guide track 11, in particular a circular arcuate guide track, in which the side walls 9 of the air guide frame 6 are guided, so that it is displaceable along the circular arc of the guide track 11. In this way, the air guide frame 6 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 12 (see Fig. 3) pivotable, which is arranged downstream of the air guide frame 6. In particular, the pivot axis runs parallel to the y-axis or parallel to the longitudinal direction (of the elongated shape) of the air outlet opening 3. For example, the pivot axis 12 runs centrally (with respect to the z-axis) in the air outlet opening 3 parallel to the y-axis, as shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0020] The position of the air guide frame 6 in the guide track 11 alters the pivot angle of the air guide frame 6, or of the first and second walls 7, 8, relative to the xy-plane. This, in turn, changes the first flow angle relative to the xy-plane of the airflow discharged from the air outlet 3. For example, if the air outlet is installed in the vehicle such that the air outlet 3 extends longitudinally along the vehicle's transverse axis, then adjusting the air guide frame 6 in the guide track 11 sets a vertical target region, namely whether the airflow discharged from the air outlet 3 is directed upwards, towards the head region of the vehicle occupants, or downwards, towards the chest / abdomen region of the vehicle occupants. With this installation orientation in the vehicle, the air guide frame 6 is in its lowest position, resulting in the discharged airflow being directed upwards to its maximum extent.In . Fig. 4 The air guide frame 6 is in its maximum upper position, which means that the expelled airflow is directed downwards as much as possible. In Fig. 5 the air guide frame 6 is in its central position, whereby the expelled airflow is directed straight to the rear, for example along the x-axis or the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0021] The position or swivel angle of the air guide frame 6 is controlled or adjusted via an adjustment mechanism comprising at least two plates 13, 14. A first plate 13 is arranged between the first wall 7 and a first section 15 of the inner side of the housing wall. A second plate 14 is arranged between the second wall 8 and a second section 16 of the inner side of the housing wall. In the first embodiment, the adjustment mechanism comprises two further plates 17, 18. A third plate 17 is pivotally connected to the first plate 13 via a hinge joint 19, and a fourth plate 18 is pivotally connected to the second plate 14 via a hinge joint 20. The axes of the hinge joints 19, 20 extend parallel to the y-axis.

[0022] A free end of the plate pair consisting of plates 13 and 17 is pivotally fixed to an outer edge of the air outlet opening 3 (with a pivot axis parallel to the y-axis) relative to the z-axis. A free end of the plate pair consisting of plates 14 and 18 is pivotally arranged at the opposite outer edge of the air outlet opening 3 (with a pivot axis parallel to the y-axis). The other free end of the plate pair consisting of plates 13 and 17 is provided on both sides with pins 21, each of which is guided in a cam track 22 running parallel to the x-axis, which is formed in the area of ​​section 15 on the inside of the housing 4.On the opposite inner side of the housing 4, in the area of ​​section 16, cam tracks 23 are formed which run parallel to the x-axis and in which pins 24 are guided, which are formed on both sides of the plate 14 at the free end of the plate pair of plates 14 and 18, which is opposite the free end at the air outlet opening 3.

[0023] The third plate 17 rests against the first wall 7, the fourth plate 18 rests against the second wall 8, so that the air guide frame 6 is held in position between the third plate 17 and the fourth plate 18.

[0024] By moving the pins 21 and 24 parallel to the x-axis under the guidance of the cam tracks 22 and 23, the position of the air guide frame 6 and thus the first flow angle of the airflow (which the airflow spans relative to the xy-plane) is set, as shown in the combined view of the Fig. Figures 3 to 5 are shown. The adjustment of the pins 21, 24 or the plates 13, 14 can be carried out electromechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or mechanically.

[0025] Plates 13, 14, 17, and 18 are designed as closed plates, so that they function not only as an adjustment mechanism but also as air guide surfaces. That is, due to their closed shape, plates 13 and 14 guide the air flowing from the air inlet opening 5 along an air guide path that tapers from the pins 21 and 24 towards the air guide frame 6 and into the air guide frame 6.

[0026] Plates 17 and 18, on the other hand, guide the airflow exiting the air guide frame 6 in a straight line to the outlet opening 3.

[0027] In the first embodiment described above, it was explained that the position of the air guide frame 6 is adjustable by means of the two pairs of plates 13, 17 and 14, 18. A second embodiment, in which the adjustment mechanism has only two plates 113, 114 instead of the two pairs of plates 13, 17 and 14, 18, is described by reference to the Fig. described in sections 7 ff.

[0028] Fig. Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide frame 6. The air guide frame 6 is frame-shaped with opposing walls 7 and 8 (first wall 7 and, opposite it, the second wall 8), which are each connected at their longitudinal ends via the side walls 9 to form a rectangular frame. The air guide frame 6 is formed in one piece, in particular monolithically. A plurality of air guide vanes 25 (only some are labeled) are arranged in the air guide frame 6, extending from the first wall 7 to the second wall 8. In particular, they are arranged perpendicular to these walls and, in particular, parallel to each other. The individual air guide vanes 25 are essentially rectangular plates.Furthermore, the air guide vanes 25 are pivotably fixed in the air guide frame 6, for example with pins 26 which are mounted in recesses in the material of the air guide frame 6, so that they can each pivot about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the first and second wall 7, 8.

[0029] The air guide vanes 25 are mechanically connected to each other so that they can pivot together. This mechanical connection can be a slide 27 that is hooked or inserted into all air guide vanes 25, so that a translational movement of the slide 27 results in the same adjustment of the pivot angle for all air guide vanes 25.

[0030] By adjusting the air guide vanes 25, a second flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening 3 (which the airflow spans relative to the xz-plane) can be set. In particular, a plane (xz-plane) within which the second flow angle (relative to the xy-plane) is formed is perpendicular to a plane (xy-plane) within which the first flow angle (relative to the xz-plane) is formed.

[0031] If, for example, the air outlet is installed in the motor vehicle such that the air outlet opening 3 extends elongatedly along the vehicle's transverse axis, then a horizontal target region is set by adjusting the air guide vanes 25, namely whether the airflow emitted from the air outlet opening 3 is directed to the right or left, i.e. more towards the passenger side or the driver's side.

[0032] The Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional view of an air outlet 102 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0033] The air outlet 102 according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment only in that the adjustment mechanism of the second embodiment has only two plates 113 and 114 instead of the two pairs of plates 13, 17 and 14, 18, which are directly pivotally fixed to the air guide frame 106.

[0034] This means that instead of hinge joints 19 and 20, plates 113 and 114 are directly connected to the air guide frame 106 via hinge joints 119 and 120. Apart from this difference, the air guide frame 106 corresponds to the air guide frame 6, and plates 13 and 14 correspond to plates 113 and 114. Likewise, regarding the adjustment of the air guide frame 106 by means of plates 113 and 114, reference is made to the description of the first embodiment. Plates 117 and 118 (third plate 117 and fourth plate 118) guide the airflow exiting the air guide frame 6 in a straight line to the outlet opening 3 and are not directly connected to plates 113 and 114. Plate 117 rests on the outside of the first wall 7, and plate 118 rests on the outside of the second wall 8. In particular, plates 117 and 118 are fixed to walls 7, 8 so as to be slidable parallel to them.

[0035] Fig. Figure 9 shows the air guide frame 106 in a cutaway manner, so that the air guide vanes 25 are visible.

[0036] Fig. Figure 10 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide frame 106. This differs from the air guide frame 6 in that Fig. 6 only by virtue of the presence of joint elements 130 (only some with a reference numeral) of the hinge joints 119 and 120. For further details, reference is made to the description of Fig. 6 referred.

[0037] Fig. Figure 11 shows a motor vehicle 28 in which the air outlet 6; 106 according to the invention is installed. The motor vehicle 28 is in particular a passenger car. The motor vehicle has a passenger compartment 29 in which the occupants sit on vehicle seats.

[0038] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description, this illustration and description is to be understood as exemplary and not as limiting, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiment. The mere fact that certain features are mentioned in various dependent claims is not intended to imply that a combination of these features could not also be used advantageously. Reference symbol list 1 Dashboard 2 air vents 3 air outlet openings 4 cases 5 air inlet openings 6 air guide frames 7 First wall 8 Second wall 10 bridges 11 Guide rail 12 swivel axes 13 First record 14 Second record 15 First section of the inside of the case 16 Second section of the inside of the case 17 Third record 18 Fourth Plate 19 First hinge joint 20 Second hinge joint 21 cones 22 First scenery railway 23 Second scenery track 24 cones 25 air guide vanes 26 cones 27 sliders 28 Motor vehicle 29 vehicle occupant compartment 102 air vents 106 air guide frames 113 First record 114 Second record 117 Third record 118 Fourth plate 119 Hinge joint 120 hinge joint 130 joint elements

Claims

[1] Air outlet (2; 102) for a motor vehicle (28), with a housing (4) with an air inlet opening (5) and an air outlet opening (3) from which air can be expelled into a vehicle passenger compartment (29); an air guide frame (6; 106) which is bounded by a first wall (7) and a second wall (8) and is arranged inside the housing (4), wherein the air guide frame (6; 106) is pivotably guided in the housing (4) about a pivot axis (12) which is arranged downstream of the air guide frame (6; 106), wherein a first flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening (3) can be adjusted via the pivot angle of the air guide frame (6; 106), and wherein several pivotably mounted air guide vanes (25) extending from the first wall (7) to the second wall (8) are arranged in the air guide frame (6; 106), which are spaced apart from each other, wherein a second flow angle of the airflow exiting the air outlet opening (3) can be adjusted via the pivot angle of the air guide vanes (25). [2] Air outlet (2; 102) according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet opening (3) is elongated along a y-axis. [3] Air outlet (2; 102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guide frame (6; 106) is guided in an arc-shaped guide track (11) of the housing (4). [4] Air outlet (2; 102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (4) tapers towards the air outlet opening (3). [5] Air outlet (2; 102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one plate (13, 14) for controlling the air guide frame (6; 106) is arranged between the first wall (7) and a first section (15) of an inner side of a housing wall and between the second wall (8) and a second section (16) of the inner side, which is opposite the first section (15). [6] Air outlet (2; 102) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one plate (13, 14) is a closed plate which directs an airflow guided in the housing (4) into the air guide frame (6; 106). [7] Air outlet (2; 102) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the plate (13, 14) is pivotally connected to the first wall (7) between the first wall (7) and the first section (15) and the plate (14) is pivotally connected to the second wall (8) between the second wall (8) and the second section (14). [8] Air outlet (2; 102) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pivot angle of the air guide frame (6; 106) is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism comprising a first pair of plates (13, 17) and a second pair of plates (14, 18), wherein each pair of plates comprises two plates articulated together and a free edge of each pair of plates is articulated to an edge of the air outlet opening (3) and an opposite free edge of each pair of plates is guided in a guide track (22, 23) of the housing (4). [9] Air outlet (2; 102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guide vanes (25) are connected to each other so that they can be pivoted together. [10] Motor vehicle with an air outlet (2; 102) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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