WARM AIR DISTRIBUTION COMPONENT FOR A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A COMPONENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a component for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle, in particular a mobile home or a caravan, and to a recreational vehicle with such a component.

[0002] EP 2 123 493 A1 discloses a mobile home or caravan with a warm air thermal floor. This floor comprises a lower, load-bearing covering layer coated with an underbody protection on the underside. A layer of tightly interconnected insulating panels is placed on top of this covering layer. These insulating panels are designed to guide a warm air flow. The insulating panels are covered at the top by an upper covering layer, forming cavities through which warm air flows. The cavities through which warm air flows are formed by channels incorporated into the insulating panels. The channels can be designed as milled channels.

[0003] DE 10 2011 106 603 A1 discloses a motorhome or caravan with a chassis comprising a left or right frame longitudinal member. A double floor is attached to the frame longitudinal members. The double floor has upper and lower support elements, the upper support element being a flat upper floor panel extending over the length of a living area and forming the floor of the living area. The double floor, which extends the length of the living area, serves to accommodate functional units, such as a gas cylinder or a heater.

[0004] From US 2 756 000 A a device for heating rooms with a distributor head for distributing an air flow and a connecting element is known.

[0005] A channel with lockable registers is known from US 2 417 463 A.

[0006] From DE 1 124 840 B an air heating system for motor vehicles is known in which the heating units provided with an air inlet are arranged in a recess in the vehicle floor and are connected to the interior of the vehicle by air outlet openings.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a component for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle, in particular a mobile home or a caravan, and a recreational vehicle, which enable an improved design and functioning.

[0008] The object is achieved by a component for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle according to independent claim 1.

[0009] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a recreational vehicle, in particular a mobile home or a caravan, with at least one such component, wherein the component is mounted under a floor.

[0010] It is advantageous that the warm air inlet is located near the first side of the vehicle when installed. This advantageously ensures design freedom within the recreational vehicle, thus opening up a wide range of applications for the component.

[0011] According to the invention, at least one further warm air duct is provided, wherein a further warm air inlet is provided, and wherein the warm air inlet and the further warm air inlet are arranged next to one another. In this way, warm air can be guided from one source both into the warm air inlet and into the further warm air inlet.

[0012] It is advantageous for the additional warm air inlet to be located in the region of the first side of the vehicle when installed. Thus, for example, a common pipe or the like, which feeds warm air into the warm air inlet and the additional warm air inlet during operation, can be arranged on and / or in a vehicle wall on the first side of the vehicle.

[0013] According to the invention, at least one further warm air outlet is provided which, in the assembled state, is arranged in the region of the second side of the vehicle, and that, in the assembled state, warm air supplied via the further warm air inlet can be guided through the further warm air duct from the further warm air inlet to the further warm air outlet. In this way, a certain amount of warm air can be specifically guided additionally via the further warm air duct to the second side of the vehicle. This makes it possible to take into account that different flow resistances can arise in the warm air duct with regard to the first warm air outlet and the second warm air outlet if, for example, the warm air outlets are of the same size.This also makes it possible to achieve an equal distribution of the warm air on the one hand to at least one warm air outlet on the first side of the vehicle and on the other hand via the second warm air outlet and at least the further warm air outlet on the second side of the vehicle.

[0014] It is also advantageous for the warm air duct and the additional warm air duct to run at least substantially alongside one another, with at least one partition wall being provided between the warm air duct and the additional warm air duct. This results in a compact design. Furthermore, heat loss can be reduced. This also allows the partition wall to be designed as a thin partition wall or from a thin material, such as a film.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one recess for at least one supply line is provided in the partition wall. This allows a supply line to be routed, particularly under the floor of the vehicle, crossing the component.

[0016] It is also advantageous that a surrounding housing wall is provided and that the warm air ducts are enclosed by the housing wall.

[0017] The housing wall can provide mechanical stability and protection against damage. It is also advantageous that at least one recess for at least one supply line is provided in the housing wall. This, in turn, advantageously enables the supply line to be laid, particularly under the floor of the recreational vehicle.

[0018] It is also advantageous to provide an at least substantially closed underside of the component. It is further advantageous to provide at least one positioning cutout on the underside, into which a vehicle part, in particular a part of the vehicle frame, engages when mounted. This allows for high mechanical stability of the component. Furthermore, high mechanical stability of the fastening can be achieved.

[0019] It is also advantageous to provide an at least substantially open upper surface, which can be closed by a floor when assembled. The floor can, in particular, be the running floor of the recreational vehicle. The open design allows for reduced material usage. In a modified design, however, the upper surface of the component can also be closed or partially closed.

[0020] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the schematic figures. Fig. 1 shows a component for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle in a schematic, spatial representation according to an embodiment, and Fig. 2 shows a recreational vehicle with such a component, wherein a section in the area of ​​a floor of the recreational vehicle is shown.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a component 1 for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle 2 ( Fig. 2 ) in a schematic, spatial representation according to an embodiment of the invention. The component 1 is preferably used for a recreational vehicle 2, which is designed as a mobile home or caravan.

[0022] The component 1 has a base body 3, which comprises a circumferential housing wall 4 and a closed bottom side 5. In this exemplary embodiment, the base body 3 has an open top side 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the base body 3 also has a partition wall 7, which is arranged within the circumferential housing wall 4.

[0023] The component 1 has a warm air inlet 8 and a first warm air outlet 9. Furthermore, a second warm air outlet 10 is provided. If the component 1, as in Fig. 2 illustrated, is mounted in the recreational vehicle 2, then warm air supplied via the warm air inlet 8 can be guided through a warm air duct 11 to the first warm air outlet 9 and to the second warm air outlet 10. In this case, the warm air from the warm air inlet 8 can pass the first warm air outlet 9 on its way to the second warm air outlet 10. In a modified embodiment, the warm air from the warm air inlet 8 can also be guided in different directions to the first warm air outlet 9 and to the second warm air outlet 10. In this way, the warm air duct 11 can be designed to suit the respective application.

[0024] The component 1 is mounted in the recreational vehicle 1 such that the first warm air outlet 9 is provided in the area 15 of a first vehicle side 16, which is illustrated by a broken line. Furthermore, the component 1 is mounted such that the second warm air outlet 10 is simultaneously arranged in the area 17 of a second vehicle side 18, which is also illustrated by a broken line. The first vehicle side 16 and the second vehicle side 18 are opposite one another. Specifically, the first vehicle side 16 or the second vehicle side 18 can be the left-hand side of the vehicle, whereby the other vehicle side can then correspondingly be the right-hand side of the vehicle.

[0025] In this exemplary embodiment, the warm air inlet 8 is designed such that, in the assembled state, it is located in the region 15 in which the first warm air outlet 9 is also located. The warm air inlet 8 is thus located in the region 15 of the first vehicle side 16 when the component 1 is installed.

[0026] This enables warm air to be distributed from one side of the vehicle to the other, with the warm air from the vehicle side 16 also being distributed to the vehicle side 18 in this exemplary embodiment. The component 1 can have a base body 3 made of a heat-insulating material. Furthermore, the base body 3 can be statically self-supporting. The component 1 is then particularly suitable for underfloor installation. In this exemplary embodiment, a further warm air duct 21 is provided. For this further warm air duct 21, a further warm air inlet 22 is provided, which is arranged next to the warm air inlet 8. In this exemplary embodiment, the further warm air inlet 22 is thus also arranged in the area 15 of the first vehicle side 16 when the component 1 is mounted. With regard to the further warm air duct 21, a further warm air outlet 25 is also provided, which is arranged in the area 17 of the second vehicle side 18 when the component 1 is mounted.In this exemplary embodiment, the additional warm air outlet 25 is provided next to the second warm air outlet 10. The warm air outlets 10, 25 point in the same direction, i.e., toward the front or the rear of the recreational vehicle 2. In a modified embodiment, the warm air outlets 10, 25 can also point in different directions, i.e., toward the front and toward the rear. During operation, warm air supplied via the warm air inlet 22 is guided through the additional warm air duct 21 to the additional warm air outlet 25. At least up to the additional warm air outlet 25, there is no significant mixing with the warm air guided through the warm air duct 11.

[0027] For this purpose, the warm air duct 11 and the further warm air duct 21 are at least substantially separated from one another by the partition wall 7. The warm air ducts 11, 21, which run at least substantially alongside one another, guide a portion of the warm air from the first vehicle side 16 to the second vehicle side 18.

[0028] In this embodiment, the partition wall 7 has a recess 26. At the recess 26, a preferably slight mixing of the warm air guided through the warm air ducts 11, 21 can occur. The partition wall 26 serves for a supply line 27 ( Fig. 2 ). In this context, recesses 28, 29 for the supply line 27 are also provided on the circumferential housing wall 4. This allows the supply line 27 to be guided, in particular, transversely through the component 1. The warm air duct 11 and the further warm air duct 21 can have depressions 31, 32 in the region 30, which in this exemplary embodiment is a central region 30 of the component 1, so that the free cross-sections for guiding warm air through the supply line 27, viewed along the warm air ducts 11, 21, are not significantly impaired. In particular, the recesses 26, 28, 29 can be designed with at least approximately a depth 33. The depressions 31, 32 can then be realized corresponding to the depth 33.

[0029] In this embodiment, positioning cutouts 35, 36 are also provided on the underside 5 of the component 1, into which a vehicle part engages in the assembled state, as shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated using vehicle part 37.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows the recreational vehicle 2 with the component 1, showing a section in the area of ​​the floor 38 of the recreational vehicle 2. The floor 38 can be the running floor. The component 1 is attached to an underside 39 of the floor 38, so that the floor 38 closes the component 1 at the open top 6. This also shows the supply line 27, which is mounted on the underside 39 of the floor 38, being guided through the component 1. Pipes can be connected to the warm air outlets 9, 10, 25, as is illustrated by a pipe 40 as an example.

[0031] The component 1 is particularly suitable for underfloor installation. In this case, the component 1 can be arranged at a suitable location on the recreational vehicle 2. With regard to the installation position, the base body 3, in particular, can be designed to be adapted. In this exemplary embodiment, sealing contours 45, 46 are provided on the base body 3 on the first vehicle side 16 and the second vehicle side 18, which can serve, for example, for a B-pillar. Vehicle parts 37 can, in particular, be parts of a frame of the recreational vehicle 2. The supply line 27 can, for example, be realized by a cable harness. The supply line 27 can, however, also be designed in a different way. Furthermore, several lines can also be laid here. The base body 3 can be designed in a trough-shaped manner with the partition wall 7, as shown in Fig. 1The base body 3 can be designed, for example, as a plastic part, in particular based on polypropylene. Specifically, the base body 3 can be formed at least substantially from a particle foam, in particular from polypropylene foam (EPP). However, other designs are also conceivable. Especially with a design based on EPP, advantageous thermal insulation results, which reduces heat loss.

[0032] Component 1 can be integrated into a chassis structure. The positioning cutouts 35, 36 allow for simple, tool-free assembly and positioning. Required distributor outlets can be integrated into component 1. Appropriate contours ensure simple sealing to the chassis and, in particular, to the floor 38. This allows the installation location to be both outside and inside the recreational vehicle 2. Component 1 is therefore suitable for a wide range of applications, particularly for recreational vehicle designs such as caravans, campervans, or compact camper vans. Depending on the design, one or more of the following advantages can be realized. Underfloor hose routing is no longer necessary. Loose cable routing around a chassis frame and other components is avoided. Driving and wind noise can be reduced.In contrast to a pure pipe installation, which has heat losses due to the large surface area and poor insulation, these can be reduced by component 1.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments.

Claims

1. Component (1) for warm air distribution for a recreational vehicle (2), in particular a motorhome or a caravan, with at least one warm air inlet (8) and a first warm air outlet (9), wherein at least one second warm air outlet (10) is provided, wherein, in the assembled state, warm air supplied via the warm air inlet (8) can be guided through a hot air duct (11) from the warm air inlet (8) to the first warm air outlet (9) and to the second warm air outlet (10), and wherein, in the assembled state, the first warm air outlet (9) is arranged in the area (15) of a first vehicle side (16) and the second warm air outlet (10) is arranged in the area (17) of a second vehicle side (18) opposite the first vehicle side (16), characterised in that at least one further hot air duct (21) is provided, in that a further warm air inlet (22) is provided and in that the warm air inlet (8) and the further warm air inlet (22) are arranged next to one another, in that at least one further warm air outlet (25) is provided, which, in the mounted state, is arranged in the area (17) of the second vehicle side (18), and in that, in the mounted state, warm air supplied via the further warm air inlet (22) can be guided through the further hot air duct (21) from the further warm air inlet (22) to the further warm air outlet (25).

2. Component (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that in the assembled state, the warm air inlet (8) is arranged in the area (15) of the first vehicle side (16).

3. Component (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that in the assembled state, the further warm air inlet (22) is in the area (15) of the first vehicle side (16).

4. Component (1) according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the hot air duct (11) and the further hot air duct (21) run at least substantially next to one another, wherein at least one partition (7) is provided between the hot air duct (11) and the further hot air duct (21).

5. Component (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that at least one recess (26) for at least one supply line (27) is arranged in the partition (7).

6. Component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a circumferential housing wall (4) is provided and in that the hot air ducts (11, 21) are surrounded by the housing wall (4).

7. Component (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one recess (28, 29) for at least one supply line (27) is arranged in the housing wall (4).

8. Component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that an at least substantially closed bottom side (5) is provided.

9. Component (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one positioning section (35, 36) is provided on the bottom side (5), into which a vehicle part (37) engages when assembled.

10. Component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that an at least substantially open upper side (6) is provided, which can be closed by a floor (38) in the assembled state.

11. Recreational vehicle (2), in particular motorhome or caravan, having at least one component (1) which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the component (1) is mounted under a floor (38).