Kinematic shaft for an adjusting kinematics for adjusting at least one actuator of an air conditioning unit and air conditioning unit

Abstract

Kinematic shaft (1) for an adjusting kinematics (2) for adjusting at least one adjusting element (3) of an air conditioning unit (4), which is provided for conditioning an air flow (5) flowing through the air conditioning unit (4) and to be supplied to a passenger compartment (21) of a vehicle, comprising - at least one cylindrical shaft body (6) which can be at least partially washed around by the air flow (5), which has an outer circumferential surface (8) surrounding a central axis (7) of the shaft body (6), and - at least one air guiding element (13a, 13b) arranged to guide the air flow (5) and having a plate-like base body (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a kinematic shaft for an actuating kinematics for adjusting at least one actuating element of an air conditioning unit according to the subject matter of claim 1. The invention further relates to an air conditioning unit for a vehicle having at least one such kinematic shaft.

[0002] An air conditioning unit, also known among professionals as an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) unit, is primarily used to air-condition the passenger compartment of a vehicle. It typically features a duct system through which air can flow, comprising a cold duct with a cold air flow, a hot duct with a hot air flow, and a mixing chamber. To meet the user's temperature requirements, these air flows are mixed in the mixing chamber at a predetermined ratio, and the resulting mixed air flow is fed into the passenger compartment via an air outlet of the air conditioning unit. Actuators that interact fluidically with the air flows are used to control the air flows within the duct system.These are usually adjusted via a drivable actuating kinematics, which is arranged at least partially in the duct system for coupling with the actuators.

[0003] A comfort-oriented design of the air conditioning unit is currently achieved by optimizing a temperature characteristic defined by several so-called temperature control curves (TCCs). Depending on a selected operating mode of the air conditioning unit, which is defined by the position of the air conditioning unit's outlet flaps, the control curves map the air conditioning unit's outlet temperatures via an opening angle of the air conditioning unit's temperature mixing flaps. Optimizing this temperature characteristic is a significant effort and consumes a large portion of the total development time for air conditioning units.

[0004] One criterion used by the participating parties to evaluate the temperature characteristics within the control curves is the so-called stratification. This refers to the temperature difference occurring between the respective air outlets in a selected operating mode of the air conditioner. Different control curves, and thus different stratifications, are provided for each operating mode of the air conditioner. The stratification between the individual operating modes can be varied but cannot be fundamentally changed.

[0005] The object of the invention is to enable control of these stratifications independent of the operating mode of the air conditioning unit.

[0006] In the present invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0007] The object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a kinematic shaft for an actuating kinematics for adjusting at least one actuating element of an air conditioning unit, which is provided for conditioning an air flow flowing through the air conditioning unit and to be supplied to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising at least one cylindrical, preferably round-cylindrical, shaft body which can be at least partially washed around by a cold air flow flowing through the air conditioning unit and / or by a hot air flow flowing through the air conditioning unit, which shaft body has an outer circumferential surface running around a central axis of the shaft body, and at least one air guide element configured to guide the cold air flow and / or the hot air flow, having a plate-like base body.By means of the at least one air guiding element of the kinematic shaft according to the invention, the cold air flow and / or the hot air flow flowing through a flow-through duct system of the air conditioning unit during normal operation of the air conditioning unit can be controlled in a targeted manner.

[0008] The kinematic shaft preferably has two separate air guide elements, which are arranged on the outer surface of the shaft body at an axial distance from one another and are offset from one another in a circumferential direction running around the center axis. The two air guide elements can each protrude from the shaft body with respect to the center axis of the shaft body, preferably radially. A first air guide element of said air guide elements can be designed with a larger surface area than a second air guide element of said air guide elements. By means of the first, larger surface area air guide element, said hot air flow, which flows, for example, towards a side air outlet of the air conditioning unit, can be deflected, preferably towards a floor air outlet of the air conditioning unit. This ensures that the hot air flow does not flow out, or practically does not flow out, through the side air outlet of the air conditioning unit.By means of the second, smaller air guide element, the cold air flow can be blocked and thus prevented from flowing towards the floor air outlet of the air conditioner. As a result, a favorable stratification is predetermined between the floor air outlet and the side air outlet, which is independent of the current operating mode of the air conditioner, i.e. of the position of the air conditioner's outlet flaps arranged in the said air outlets (side air outlet, floor air outlet, center air outlet). The function or effect of the kinematic shaft can be activated by rotating the kinematic shaft in the circumferential direction, which can be implemented relatively easily, for example, using an actuator, and deactivated again by rotating the kinematic shaft in a direction opposite to the circumferential direction, or vice versa.

[0009] The kinematic shaft can have a further (third) air guide element that limits the hot air flow, for example, toward a central air outlet of the air conditioner. This ensures that the hot air flow does not, or practically does not, reach the central air outlet of the air conditioner, thus creating a beneficial stratification.

[0010] Furthermore, the shaft body can be realized as a solid body or as a hollow body. The kinematic shaft is preferably made of a plastic material, a metal material, or a composite material. Furthermore, the kinematic shaft is preferably monolithic, i.e., integral. Preferably, at least the shaft body and the base body of the at least one air guide element are monolithic.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the base body of the at least one air guiding element is arranged, preferably via a narrow side of the base body, at least or exclusively on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft body.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the at least one air guiding element protrudes away from the shaft body with respect to the center axis of the shaft body, preferably radially.

[0013] In particular, it can be provided that the at least one air guiding element, in particular the first, the second or the third air guiding element, is bent, preferably at the end. As a result, the at least one air guiding element preferably has two connected plate sections, wherein a first plate section of these plate sections, arranged on the shaft body, preferably projects radially away from the shaft body with respect to the center axis, and a bent second plate section, arranged on the first plate section, is, so to speak, bent over with respect to the first plate section. As a result, the guidance of the air flow through the at least one air guiding element can be improved. The term “end” preferably means an edge-side section of the base body of the at least one air guiding element that is spaced apart from the shaft body.

[0014] Furthermore, it can be provided in particular that the kinematic shaft has at least one first interface arranged on the shaft body, via which the kinematic shaft can be or is operatively connected to a preferably electromotive actuator of the air conditioning unit, and preferably at least one second interface arranged on the shaft body, via which the kinematic shaft can be or is operatively connected to the at least one actuator of the air conditioning unit.

[0015] Furthermore, the first interface can be arranged on an axial end face of the shaft body. Further preferably, the second interface can be arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft body and further preferably has an actuating arm projecting away from the center axis of the shaft body, preferably radially, and a bearing pin arranged on this actuating arm for arranging the at least one actuating element.

[0016] The object mentioned at the outset is further achieved by an air conditioning unit for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, for conditioning an air flow to be supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle, comprising a duct system provided for guiding the air flow with at least one passenger compartment-side air outlet (in particular with a lateral air outlet, a floor air outlet and a central air outlet), at least one actuating element, in particular a flap element pivotably mounted in the at least one air outlet or a sliding flap displaceably mounted in the at least one air outlet or an outlet flap, at least one actuating kinematics for adjusting the at least one actuating element, which has at least one or two or more kinematic shafts, which is or are designed according to the preceding description, and at least one, preferably electromotive,Actuator for driving the at least one actuator and the at least one actuating kinematic. This provides an advantageous air conditioning unit that utilizes the advantages of the kinematic shaft according to the invention described above.

[0017] The actuator is expediently a flap element or a sliding flap movably mounted in the at least one air outlet or an outlet flap.

[0018] The said duct system of the air conditioning unit can preferably comprise a cold duct, in which the air flow is a cold air flow at a relatively low temperature, a hot duct, in which the air flow is a hot air flow at a relatively high temperature, and a mixing chamber that fluidly connects the cold duct to the hot duct. In order to meet user temperature requirements, the said cold air flow and the said hot air flow are mixed together in the mixing chamber to form a mixed air flow by mixing the cold air flow with the hot air flow.

[0019] The at least one kinematic shaft according to the invention can expediently be arranged in the mixing chamber of the duct system, wherein the at least one air guide element of the at least one kinematic shaft optimizes the said mixing process from a fluidic point of view and / or can guide the mixed air flow obtained by the said mixing process in a targeted manner to the at least one air outlet of the air conditioning unit.

[0020] The at least one actuator is operatively connected to the at least one actuator via the at least one actuator kinematics and can be driven, for example, by an electric motor, to adjust the at least one actuator. Adjusting the at least one actuator enables the air flow supplied to the passenger compartment of the vehicle to be controlled.

[0021] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0022] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Components mentioned above and those to be mentioned below of a higher-level unit, such as a device, a device, or an arrangement, which are designated separately, may form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawings.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0024] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 in a perspective view two kinematic shafts according to the invention arranged coaxially one behind the other according to a preferred embodiment, Fig. 2 in a sectional view an air conditioning unit having the kinematic shafts from the Fig. 1.

[0025] The Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of two kinematic shafts 1 according to the invention arranged coaxially one behind the other, of a Fig. 2 apparent adjustment kinematics 2 for adjusting at least one, also in Fig. 2 of an air conditioning unit 4. The kinematic shafts 1 each have, by way of example, a round-cylindrical shaft body 6 which can be washed around at least in sections by an air flow 5 and which has an outer circumferential surface 8 which runs around a central axis 7 of the shaft body 6 and which is indicated by a dash-dotted line, as well as two mutually opposite, axial end faces 16.

[0026] In Fig. 1 that a first interface 9 and a second interface 11 are provided on each shaft body 6, wherein, via the first interface 9, for example, an operative connection can be formed with a preferably electric motor actuator 10 of the air conditioning unit 4 for driving the at least one actuator 3 as well as the actuating kinematics 2 or a bearing receptacle of the air conditioning unit 4. An operative connection with the at least one actuator 3 of the air conditioning unit 4 can be realized via the second interface 11. The first interfaces 9 are each arranged on one of the said axial end faces 16 of a shaft body 6. The second interfaces 11 are arranged on the outer circumferential surface 8 of the respective shaft body 6 and, in this case, are each designed as an actuating arm 17 projecting radially away from the center axis 7 of the shaft body 6 and having a bearing pin 18 for arranging the at least one actuator 3.

[0027] The two kinematic shafts 1 each further comprise two air guide elements 13a, 13b for guiding the air flow 5, each having a plate-like base body 12. The air guide elements 13a, 13b are each integrally arranged on the outer surface 8 of a respective shaft body 6 via a narrow side of their base body 12, wherein they are axially spaced from one another and offset from one another in a circumferential direction 20 extending around the central axis 7.

[0028] Furthermore, it is provided that the plate-like base body 12 of a first air guide element 13a of the two air guide elements 13a, 13b of one of the kinematic shafts 1 is substantially flat. A second air guide element 13b of the two air guide elements 13a, 13b is bent at the end. As a result, the second air guide element 13b has two connected plate sections 14a, 14b, wherein a first plate section 14a of these plate sections 14a, 14b, arranged on the shaft body 6, protrudes radially away from the shaft body 6 with respect to the center axis 7, and a second plate section 14b, arranged on the first plate section 14a and bent over with respect to the first plate section 14a.

[0029] The Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of an air conditioning unit 4 for a vehicle (not illustrated in detail) for conditioning an air flow 5 to be supplied to a passenger compartment 21 of the vehicle. The air conditioning unit 4 has a duct system 24 configured to guide the air flow 5, with at least one air outlet 22 on the passenger compartment side, at least one actuator 3, in particular a flap element 23 pivotably mounted in the at least one air outlet 22 or a sliding flap displaceably mounted in the at least one air outlet 22, at least one actuating kinematics 2 for adjusting the at least one actuating element 3, which comprises the two kinematic shafts 1 from Fig. 1, and at least one, preferably electromotive, actuator 10 for driving the at least one actuator 3 and the at least one actuating kinematics 2. List of reference symbols 1 kinematic shaft 2 Actuating kinematics 3 actuator 4 air conditioning unit 5 Airflow 6 shaft bodies 7 Center axis 8 Outer surface 9 first interface 10 Actuator 11 second interface 12 basic bodies 13a, 13b Air guide element 14a, 14b plate sections 16 Front side 17 Actuating arm 18 bearing journals 20 Circumferential direction 21 Passenger compartment 22 Air outlet 23 flap element 24 channel system

Claims

[1] Kinematic shaft (1) for an adjusting kinematics (2) for adjusting at least one adjusting element (3) of an air conditioning unit (4) which is provided for conditioning an air flow (5) flowing through the air conditioning unit (4) and to be supplied to a passenger compartment (21) of a vehicle, comprising - at least one cylindrical shaft body (6) which can be at least partially washed around by the air flow (5), which has an outer circumferential surface (8) surrounding a central axis (7) of the shaft body (6), and - at least one air guiding element (13a, 13b) arranged to guide the air flow (5) and having a plate-like base body (12). [2] Kinematic shaft (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the base body (12) of the at least one air guiding element (13a, 13b) is arranged at least or exclusively on the outer circumferential surface (8) of the shaft body (6). [3] Kinematic shaft (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that - the at least one air guiding element (13a, 13b) projects away from the shaft body (6) with respect to the central axis (7) of the shaft body (6), preferably radially. [4] Kinematic shaft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - at least one air guiding element (13a, 13b) is bent, preferably at the end. [5] Kinematic shaft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by - at least one first interface (9) arranged on the shaft body (6), via which the kinematic shaft (1) can be brought into operative connection with a preferably electromotive actuator (10) of the air conditioning unit (4), and - preferably at least one second interface (11) arranged on the shaft body (6), via which the kinematic shaft (1) can be brought into operative connection with the at least one actuator (3) of the air conditioning unit (4). [6] Kinematic shaft (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that - the first interface (9) is arranged on an axial end face (16) of the shaft body (6), - preferably the second interface (11) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface (8) of the shaft body (6) and has an actuating arm (17) projecting away from the central axis (7) of the shaft body (6), preferably radially, and a bearing pin (18) arranged on this actuating arm (17) for arranging the at least one actuating element (3). [7] Kinematic shaft (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - two air guiding elements (13a, 13b) are provided, which are arranged on the outer circumferential surface (8) of the shaft body (6) at an axial distance from one another and are offset from one another in a circumferential direction (20) running around the central axis (7). [8] Air conditioning unit (4) for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, for conditioning an air flow (5) to be supplied to a passenger compartment (21) of the vehicle, comprising - a duct system (24) provided for guiding the air flow (5) with at least one air outlet (22) on the passenger compartment side, - at least one actuator (3), in particular a flap element (23) pivotably mounted in the at least one air outlet (22) or a sliding flap displaceably mounted in the at least one air outlet (22), - at least one adjusting kinematics (2) for adjusting the at least one actuator (3), which has at least one or two or more kinematic shafts (1) which are designed according to one of the preceding claims, - at least one, preferably electromotive, actuator (10) for driving the at least one actuator (3) and the at least one actuating kinematics (2).

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