AIR OUTLET FOR A HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilator for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. [Previous technique]

[0002] Such an aerator, known for example from French patent application FR 2 956 065, typically comprises: a hollow body defining a duct capable of channeling an airflow to an outlet opening into the vehicle's passenger compartment; at least a first set of deflection fins mounted pivotally inside said duct along parallel axes between two extreme angular positions, the latter being rotationally fixed to each other by means of at least one linking member; and an actuating member intended to ensure the rotational control of at least said first set of fins via a control mechanism.

[0003] Such a ventilator is also equipped with means of occlusion designed, in a particular configuration, to prevent as much as possible the channeled airflow circulating in the duct from escaping through the outlet opening.

[0004] Documents FR3081778, FR3081384 and DE2012000 describe ventilators with a dial controlling the movement of flaps in order to change their orientation.

[0005] According to a first well-known solution of the prior art, these means of occultation are constituted by the deflection fins of a set which are able to occupy a closure configuration in which they partially overlap so as to obstruct the conduit.

[0006] The main drawback of using such blackout-type fins, which provide both directional and blackout functions, is that they significantly alter the flow rate of the air entering the passenger compartment depending on the orientation of these fins, so that users experience some difficulty in finding the right compromise in their adjustment.

[0007] According to a second solution also well known from the prior art, the means of occultation consist of a single occultation flap mounted pivoting in the duct upstream of the set or sets of fins between a maximum opening position and a closed position preventing the channeled airflow from escaping through the outlet opening.

[0008] The rotational control of this flap is then ensured by a knob accessible from the front face of the hollow body and connected to a second control mechanism.

[0009] However, the main drawback of this solution is that it requires two different control mechanisms driven by two different actuation devices, which generates additional manufacturing costs. [Description of the invention]

[0010] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0011] For this purpose, it offers an air vent for automotive heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, comprising: a hollow body defining a duct suitable for channeling an airflow to an outlet opening into the passenger compartment of said vehicle, at least a first set of deflection fins mounted pivoting about parallel axes inside said duct between two extreme angular positions, the latter being further rotationally connected to each other by means of at least one connecting rod, a blackout flap mounted pivoting in said duct upstream of said first set of fins between a maximum opening position and a closed position preventing the channeled airflow from escaping through said outlet opening; the aerator further comprising a geared mechanism driven by a single drive knob, said mechanism being configured such that the The rotation of said knob through a first part of its angular travel controls the rotation of the vanes of said first set between their two extreme angular positions, and such that the rotation of said knob through the remaining second part of its angular travel controls the rotation of said flap between its maximum opening position and its closed position. Said knob comprises a first external toothed arc meshing with a second external toothed arc provided on a rotating wheel, said wheel carrying a first guide finger traveling in a first cam track formed on at least one connecting rod, so as to cause, during the rotation of said knob through the first part of its angular travel, the displacement of this connecting rod, causing the progressive pivoting of the vanes of said first set between their two extreme angular positions.

[0012] By allowing sequential control of the airflow directionality via the rotation of conventional deflection vanes and the obstruction of the duct via the rotation of the flap using a single dial, the aerator according to the invention ensures optimal user comfort while limiting the cost price.

[0013] Furthermore, this aerator has the advantage, when equipped with a second set of fins arranged downstream of those of the first set, of avoiding the need for a slider mounted on one of these fins of the second set to ensure the adjustment of the orientation of the two sets of fins but preventing the application of any decorative coating on these same fins (the repeated friction between this actuator and the fin on which it is mounted causing a progressive disappearance of this coating and thus negatively impacting the level of quality perceived by users).

[0014] According to preferred characteristics of said aerator according to the invention: the profile of said first cam track is arranged so that the rotation of said wheel on the second remaining part of its stroke does not cause any displacement of said connecting rod in order to avoid the continued pivoting of the fins of said first set; said wheel includes a third external circular arc toothing adapted to cooperate, during the rotation of said wheel on the second remaining part of its stroke, with a fourth external circular arc toothing centered on the pivot axis of said flap and provided on a drive plate rigidly linked to this flap, so as to cause, during the rotation of this wheel on this second remaining part of its stroke, the progressive pivoting of this flap between its maximum opening position and its closed position;said wheel carries a second guide finger adapted to cooperate, during the rotation of said wheel over the second remaining part of its stroke, with a second cam track provided on said plate, so as to allow perfectly synchronized and smooth engagement of said third toothing on said fourth toothing; said wheel carries, on an angular sector extending opposite the first external toothing and at least equal to that of the latter, an external coating having a plurality of gripping notches; said mechanism is arranged so that the first part of the stroke of said wheel extends over an angular sector larger than that of the second remaining part of this stroke; the first part of the stroke of said wheel extends over an angular sector at least twice as large as that of the second remaining part of this stroke;and / or the aerator also includes a second set of deflection vanes mounted to pivot inside said duct, downstream of the vanes of said first set and along axes of rotation perpendicular to those of the latter. ;

[0015] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such ventilator. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed example of an embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings, on which: [ Fig 1 ] represents a three-quarter perspective view of a motor vehicle air vent according to the invention; Fig 2 ] is a perspective view from below and three-quarters rear of the motor vehicle air vent of the figure 1 ; Fig 3 ] represents a partial perspective view of the aerator of the figure 1 devoid of its hollow body to allow a better view of the gear-driven control mechanism and the knob; [ Fig 4 ] is a simplified top view of the aerator of the figure 1 in a first configuration where the knob is at the beginning of its travel with the fins of the first set occupying their first extreme angular position and the flap occupying its maximum opening position; Fig 5 ] is a simplified top view of the aerator of the figure 1 in a second configuration where the wheel has traveled the first part of its stroke with the fins of the first set occupying their second extreme angular position and the flap occupying its maximum opening position; and [ Fig 6 ] is a simplified top view of the aerator of the figure 1 in a third configuration where the wheel has traveled its entire stroke with the fins of the first set occupying their second extreme angular position and the flap occupying its closed position. [Detailed description]

[0017] In the figures, we define an orthogonal coordinate system XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular to each other in pairs, namely: an X axis, defining a longitudinal direction, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a Y axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane, and a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the horizontal XY plane.

[0018] THE figures 1 à 6 represent an air vent 1 intended to be installed in the dashboard (not shown) of a motor vehicle in order to distribute into the passenger compartment of this vehicle the forced air from a ventilation and / or air conditioning system.

[0019] This ventilator 1 comprises a body 2 defining a conduit 3 of substantially rectangular shape and capable of channeling an airflow F to an outlet opening 4 leading into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, as well as two perpendicular sets 5, 6 of airflow deflection fins F housed inside this conduit 3.

[0020] In the remainder of this description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" used to characterize the position of certain elements of the aerator 1 are to be considered in relation to the direction of circulation of the airflow F in the duct 3.

[0021] The set 5, located in the vicinity of the outlet opening 4 of the conduit 3, consists of six transverse fins 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F distributed at regular intervals one above the other over the entire height of this conduit 3.

[0022] These latter, mounted pivotally along parallel transverse axes, are further rotationally fixed by means of a connecting rod 7 linking them together and visible on the figure 3 .

[0023] The rotation control of this set 5 of transverse fins 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F is ensured by a gripping member 8 rigidly attached to one of these fins (in this case to fin 5C located approximately halfway up this ventilator 1), so that its rotational movement by a user up or down causes the simultaneous pivoting of all these transverse fins and causes a change in the vertical orientation of the airflow exiting the duct 3 through the outlet opening 4.

[0024] This gripping organ is in this case constituted by an outgrowth 8 made from a single piece of molding with the fin 5C and projecting longitudinally downstream of the latter so as to facilitate its manipulation by a user.

[0025] Set 6, located upstream of set 5 and outlet opening 4, consists of four vertical fins 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D distributed at regular intervals next to each other across the width of conduit 3.

[0026] These latter, mounted pivoting around parallel vertical axes, are further united in rotation by means of two connecting rods linking them together, namely a first connecting rod 9 linking the lower ends of the fins 6B, 6C, 6D and a second connecting rod 10 linking the upper ends of the fins 6A, 6B.

[0027] It will be noted that the presence of this second connecting rod 10 is dictated here by the particular geometry of the conduit 3 resulting in a shortening of the fin 6A whose lower end is raised relative to those of the fins 6B, 6C, 6D.

[0028] Alternatively, depending on the geometry of the duct and the vertical fins 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, it will be understood that a single connecting rod may be necessary to ensure the rotational locking of all these vertical fins.

[0029] The aerator 1 also includes a blackout flap 11 mounted pivoting about a vertical axis in the duct 3 upstream of these two sets 5, 6 of longitudinal and transverse fins, between a maximum opening position ( figures 2 à 5 ) and a closing position ( figure 6 preventing the channeled airflow F from escaping through the outlet opening 4.

[0030] In its fully open position, as illustrated by the figures 2 à 5 , this flap 11 extending along a vertical plane substantially parallel to the internal lateral walls of the duct 3 so as to disturb as little as possible the channeled airflow F passing through this duct.

[0031] In its closed position illustrated by the figure 6 , each of its two lateral ends rests against a respective internal rim formed at the level of a corresponding lateral wall of the duct 3, so as to obstruct this duct 3 and to prevent as much as possible the channeled airflow F from escaping through the outlet opening 4.

[0032] The peripheral edge of this flap 11 is further advantageously overmolded by an elastically deformable lip 11A made of elastomeric material, allowing for excellent contact of the flap against the internal perimeter of the duct 3 and an almost perfect seal against the passage of air.

[0033] According to the invention, the rotation control of the set 6 of vertical fins 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D as well as that of the blackout flap 11 are ensured by a gear control mechanism driven by a drive wheel 12 mounted to rotate around a vertical axis below the conduit 3 and partially projecting downstream of the outlet opening 4.

[0034] This wheel 12, which can be moved in rotation over a predefined angular stroke of for example between 80 and 100°, has a first external toothing in the shape of a circular arc 14 extending over an angular sector corresponding to the stroke of this wheel 12 and being meshed with a second external toothing in the shape of a circular arc 16 of the same angular sector provided on a wheel 15 mounted also to rotate around a vertical axis below the conduit 3.

[0035] This wheel 15 carries a first vertical guide finger 17 (visible on the figure 3 ) traveling in a first cam track 18 formed on the connecting rod 9, so as to drive, during the rotation of the wheel 12 over a first part C 1 of its stroke and as illustrated by the figure 5 , the movement of this connecting rod 9 causing the vertical fins 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D to pivot between their two extreme angular positions.

[0036] The wheel 15 further comprises a third external circular arc toothing 19 extending away from the toothing 16 over a predefined angular sector and capable of cooperating, during the rotation of the wheel 12 over the remaining second part C 2 of its stroke, as illustrated by the figure 6 , with a fourth external circular arc tooth 20 centered on the vertical pivot axis of the flap 11 and provided on a drive plate 21 extending below the conduit 3 and being rigidly linked to this flap 11, so as to drive, during the rotation of this wheel 12 on this second remaining part C 2 of its stroke, the progressive pivoting of this flap 11 between its maximum opening position and its closing position, the latter position being reached at the end of the stroke of the wheel 12.

[0037] It will be noted that the profile of the first cam track 18 is arranged so that the rotation of the wheel 12 (and therefore that of the guide finger 17) on the second remaining part C 2 of its stroke does not cause any movement of the connecting rod 9, so as to avoid the continuation of the pivoting of the vertical fins 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D of the set 6.

[0038] The gear mechanism is arranged so that the first part C 1 of the stroke of the wheel 12 extends over a larger angular sector than that of the remaining second part C 2 of this stroke (preferably at least twice as small), so as to allow both fine adjustment of the orientation of the vertical vanes 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and rapid opening or closing of the shutter flap 11.

[0039] The wheel 15 also advantageously carries a second vertical guide finger 22 (visible on the figure 3 ) extending from a peripheral protrusion 24 located near the fourth tooth and able to cooperate, when the wheel 12 is rotated over the second remaining part C 2 of its stroke, with a second cam track 23 provided on the plate 21, so as to ensure a compensation of the backlash allowing a perfectly synchronized and smooth engagement of the third tooth 19 on the fourth tooth 20.

[0040] Advantageously, the wheel 12 carries, on an angular sector extending opposite the first external toothing 14 and at least equal to that of the latter (for example between 150 and 180°), an external coating 25 having a plurality of notches intended to facilitate its grip by a user.

[0041] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the gear mechanism controlling the rotation of the fins of set 6 and flap 11 can be constructed differently.

[0042] According to other embodiment variants, the number of fins in at least one of the two sets is different.

[0043] According to yet other embodiment variants, the aerator has only one set of 6 fins controlled by the wheel 12 (set 5 being absent).

[0044] Of course, the present invention is defined by the attached claims and is not limited to the embodiments described and represented.

Claims

1. Aerator (1) for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system system of a motor vehicle, comprising: hollow body (2) defining a conduit (3) adapted to channel an air flow (F) as far as an exit opening (4) opening into the passenger compartment of said vehicle, at least one first set (6) of deflexion fins (6 A, 6 B, 6 C, 6 D) mounted to pivot about parallel axes inside said conduit (3) between two end angular positions, the latter also being constrained to rotate with one another by means of at least one connecting rod (9, 10), an occulting flap (11) pivotally mounted in said conduit (3) upstream said first set (6) of fins (6 A, 6 B, 6 C, 6 D) between a maximum opening position and a closing position preventing the channelled air flow (F) from escaping through said exit opening (4); the aerator (1) further comprising a gear mechanism (15, 18, 21) controlled by a single drive knob (12), said mechanism (15, 18, 21) being configured such that the rotation of said knob (12) over a first part (C 1) of its angular travel makes it possible to order the rotation of the fins (6 A, 6 B, 6 C, 6 D) of said first clearance (6) between their two end angular positions, and such that the rotation of said knob (12) over the second remaining part (C 2) of its angular travel makes it possible to order the rotation of said flap (11) between its maximum opening position and its closing position, said knob (12) comprising a first outer toothing in the shape of an arc of a circle (14) meshed with a second outer toothing (16) provided on a wheel (15) mounted to rotate, wherein said wheel (15) gates a first guide finger (17) moving in a first cam path (18) provided on one (9) of the at least one connecting rod (9, 10), so as to drive, during the rotation of said knob (12) over the first part (C 1) of its angular travel, the displacement of this connecting rod (9) causing the progressive pivoting of the fins (6 A, 6 B, 6 C, 6 D) of said first clearance (6) between their two end angular positions.

2. An aerator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the profile of said first cam path (18) is arranged such that the rotation of said knob (12) on the second remaining part (C 2) of its travel does not cause any displacement of said connecting rod (9) in order to prevent the continuation of the pivoting of the fins (6 A, 6 B, 6 C, 6 D) of said first set (6).

3. An aerator (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said wheel (15) comprises a third outer toothing in the shape of an arc of a circle (19) adapted to cooperate, during the rotation of said knob (12) on the second remaining part (C 2) of its travel, with a fourth outer toothing in the shape of an arc of a circle (20) centred on the pivot axis of said flap (11) and provided on a drive plate (21) rigidly connected to this flap (11), so as to drive, during the rotation of this knob (12) on this second remaining part (C 2) of its travel, the progressive pivoting of this flap (11) between its maximum opening position and its closing position.

4. An aerator (1) according to claim 4, wherein said wheel (15) gates a second guide finger (22) adapted to cooperate, during the rotation of said knob (12) on the second remaining part (C 2) of its travel, with a second cam path (23) arranged on said plate (21), so as to allow perfectly synchronised and smooth meshing of said third toothing (19) on said fourth toothing (20).

5. An aerator (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said knob (12) gates, on an angular sector extending opposite the first outer toothing (14) and at least equal to that of the latter, an outer covering (25) having a plurality of gripping notches.

6. An aerator (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said mechanism (15, 18, 21) is arranged such that the first part (C1) of the travel of said knob (12) extends over an angular sector greater than that of the second remaining part (C2) of this travel.

7. An aerator (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first part (C1) of the travel of said knob (12) extends over an angular sector at least twice as great as that of the second remaining part (C2) of this travel.

8. An aerator (1) according to one of the previous claims, further comprising a second set (5) of deflexion fins (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F) pivotally mounted inside said conduit (3), in downstream with the fins (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) of said first set (6) and along rotational axes perpendicular to those of the latter.

9. Motor vehicle comprising at least one aerator (1) according to one of the previous claims.