Ventilation device for a motor vehicle roof

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle roof ventilator comprising a finned rotor (2) and a stator (4), the stator being configured to be fixed to an outer face (6) of a motor vehicle roof (8), the stator (4) comprising a first through opening (16) forming a first air circulation channel, the stator (4) comprising at least one member (18) for reducing the size of the first through opening (16) configured to be removably mounted in the first through opening (16). Figure for abstract: figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Ventilation device for a motor vehicle roof

[0001] The invention relates to ventilation devices for motor vehicles or trailers, more particularly rotating roof vents.

[0002] A rotary ventilator for a motor vehicle is an ventilator conventionally used to allow the extraction of air from the vehicle, for example from a space forming the useful volume of a utility vehicle.

[0003] Such a type of aerator is formed, at its part extending outside the vehicle, of a stator and a rotor. The stator is fixed, for example screwed, on an external face of the roof of the vehicle. The stator comprises a through opening which extends above a hole made in the roof of the vehicle. It comprises ball bearings (the latter can be carried by the stator or the rotor), for example two, allowing rotation of the rotor.

[0004] The rotor is fixed to the stator so that it can pivot around a central axis. It includes fins allowing it to rotate on itself thanks to an air flow, for example when the vehicle is moving. This rotation makes it possible to generate a depression and therefore a suction of air towards the outside of the vehicle, which is then ventilated.

[0005] Such an aerator is interesting because it does not require an electrical energy source to operate it.

[0006] There is a shutter located against the internal face of the vehicle roof. The latter makes it possible to control the suction capacity of the rotating roof ventilator. Conventionally, this shutter comprises a main body fixed, with or without an adapter, to the stator by fixing means passing through the roof, for example screws.

[0007] The main body of the shutter is perforated to form several air passages to the outside of the vehicle. A shutter member is placed between the main body and the internal face of the roof, being of a shape complementary to that of the main body. A user can, by a tab extending from the shutter member and passing through the main body, move the shutter member (by rotation or translation depending on the shape of the shutter) in order to allow or not the passage of air or to control the flow rate.

[0008] An air vent described above has a main drawback in terms of installation on a vehicle roof.

[0009] Indeed, a stator described above has a classic round shape and a through opening which is also round. Indeed, and on a flat motor vehicle roof, we favors the creation of a round hole (the most efficient shape), the round edge of the through hole extending around the hole made in the roof.

[0010] Mounting difficulties arise when the roof is not flat, but for example corrugated. The round shape of the stator poses a problem because it is often not possible to press the latter around an orifice in such a way as to ensure proper operation of the roof vent. The roof vent is in fact very often too large to fit only on a corrugation of a motor vehicle roof.

[0011] For example, if an oblong-shaped hole is made in the roof at a corrugation extending over a first level of corrugations and surrounded by two corrugations extending over a different level of corrugation, it is likely that the periphery of the through-hole of the stator extends above these two corrugations. As a result, the periphery of the through-hole of the stator cannot match the periphery of the hole made in the roof, which leads to poor plating of the stator preventing the roof vent from functioning properly (i.e. creating a depression to allow air to circulate through the roof vent). It may therefore be necessary to carry out a remedial step, for example by sealing existing spaces between the stator and the outer face of the roof (due to a plating defect), for example by mastication.

[0012] In other words, a stator as described above cannot adapt to all types of roof shapes. It is therefore necessary, to avoid any rework step, to choose a roof ventilator model that can be installed functionally on a motor vehicle roof to the detriment of its intrinsic performance, and this for the same user for example. As explained, it is alternatively possible to carry out a craft rework of the installed ventilator but this is not satisfactory, particularly on a high volume of installations.

[0013] The invention aims in particular to provide a motor vehicle air vent that can easily be adapted to several types of roof in a simplified manner compared to roof vents according to the prior art.

[0014] For this purpose, the invention relates to a motor vehicle roof ventilator comprising a finned rotor and a stator, the stator being configured to be fixed to an outer face of a motor vehicle roof, the stator comprising a first through opening forming a first air circulation channel, characterized in that the stator comprises at least one member for reducing the size of the first through opening configured to be removably mounted in the first through opening.

[0015] Thus, a motor vehicle roof ventilator is obtained comprising the same stator adapted for different types of roofs. Indeed, and depending on the shape of the roof, it is possible to make holes of different sizes on the roof of the vehicle at car and choose to mount the stator on the roof of the motor vehicle with or without a removable reduction member in order to ensure that the perimeter of the through opening of the stator matches the perimeter of the hole made. This ensures proper operation of the motor vehicle roof vent for different roof shapes without having to provide for a rework step after fixing the roof vent.

[0016] According to other optional characteristics of the roof ventilator according to the invention taken alone or in combination: - the removable reduction member comprises a second through opening forming a second air circulation channel of smaller size than that of the first air circulation channel; - the second through opening has a different shape from the first through opening. This allows for additional adaptation to the shape of the roof of a motor vehicle by allowing holes of different shapes to be made; - the removable reduction member is made of a more flexible material than that of a main body of the stator; - the removable reduction member comprises fixing pins collaborating with fixing holes carried by the main body of the stator. This allows the removable reduction member to be fixed securely and simply in the first through opening of the stator; - the stator comprises an air-tight member covering an interface between the main body of the stator and the removable reduction member. This prevents any passage of air which would be detrimental to the proper functioning of the roof ventilator; - the main body of the stator comprises a support structure for the removable reduction member on the main body of the stator. This ensures proper positioning of the removable reduction member and good rigidity of the assembly formed; - the roof ventilator comprises a member for locking the rotor in translation relative to the stator; - the roof vent comprises a shutter configured to be fixed on an inner face of a motor vehicle roof, the shutter comprising a fixed part and a movable part between an air passage position and an air closure position extending over the fixed part. Thus, a shutter is obtained which is easily handled by an operator and allows complete closure of the air passage; - the moving part comprises at least one guide pin extending in a guide slot provided in the fixed part of the shutter. This is an effective means of moving the moving part between the air passage position and the air closure position. The guide pin and the guide slot also allow adjustment between the fixed part and the moving part of the shutter; - the guide slot defines at least one intermediate position of the guide pin between a maximum opening position of the shutter and a maximum closing position of the air passage. This allows fine adjustment of the air flow passing through the roof vent; and - the fixed part includes edges for fixing and guiding the moving part. The presence of fixing edges makes it possible to design a more compact shutter than according to the prior art. Brief description of the figures

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an exploded view of a motor vehicle roof ventilator according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a front view of a stator comprising a reduction member mounted on a main body of the stator,

[0020] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a front view of a main body of a stator and a member reduction separated from the main body of the stator,

[0021] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a front view of the fixed and movable parts of a shutter of a motor vehicle roof ventilator according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a front view of portions of the fixed and movable parts of an object motor vehicle roof ventilator according to the invention, and

[0023] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a fixed part of a shutter of a motor vehicle roof ventilator according to the invention. Detailed description

[0024] Reference is now made to [Fig.l] showing an exploded view of a motor vehicle roof ventilator (referred to in the remainder of the description as “roof ventilator”).

[0025] This roof ventilator firstly comprises a rotor 2. This is a rotor with fins and comprising a turbine, the fins participating in the rotation of the rotor and thus in the creation of a depression for the ventilation of the motor vehicle. This rotation by the fins can be the result of the action of an air flow, classically wind, on the fins or even of air pressure exerted on the fins when the vehicle is in motion.

[0026] The rotor 2 is fixed on a stator 4 configured to be fixed on an outer face 6 of a roof 8 of a motor vehicle. The stator 4 comprises several orifices (four visible in FIGS. 2 and 3) allowing the stator 4 to be fixed to the outer face 6 of a roof 8 of a motor vehicle. Fixing means 5, for example bolts (other fixing means could be used), can pass through a shutter 12 (described later and visible in [Fig.l]) placed inside the motor vehicle, pass through the roof 8 and the fixing orifices 10 of the stator 4. The stator 4 is thus fixed to the outer face 6 of a roof 8 of a motor vehicle.

[0027] The rotor 2 is mounted to be able to rotate relative to the stator 4. For this purpose, the stator 4 may comprise a guide column 14 through which a metal rod passes, the rotor 2 comprising ball bearings, for example two, allowing it to rotate.

[0028] The operation of the roof ventilator, corresponding to the implementation of the principle of air extraction by rotation of a rotor equipped with a turbine, is known and will not be described further in the present application.

[0029] In order to allow air to pass through, the stator 4 comprises a first through opening 16. This first through opening 16 is preferably round in shape (preferred shape if its implementation is possible) and is the largest opening of all the configurations of the stator 4. The first through opening 16 forms a first air circulation channel.

[0030] The stator 4 further comprises at least one reduction member (hereinafter referred to as "removable reduction member 18") of the size of the first through opening 16 configured to be removably mounted in the first through opening 16. This removable reduction member 18 may comprise a second through opening 20 forming a second air circulation channel of a smaller size than that of the first air circulation channel. It could also reduce the size of the first through opening 16 without itself comprising a through opening forming a second air passage channel.

[0031] The term “removable” means a member that can be mounted and dismounted at will, for example by clipping, screwing, bolting, etc.

[0032] The number of removable reduction members 18 may vary. It is possible to envisage the presence of alternative removable reduction members 18 comprising through openings of different sizes or even several removable reduction members 18 mounted one inside the other so as to have different possible configurations within the same structure.

[0033] As explained above, the presence of one or more removable reduction members 18 makes it possible to envisage the production of holes of different sizes in the roof 8 while maintaining satisfactory contact between the stator 4 and the outer face 6 of the roof 8.

[0034] Preferably, the second through opening 20 has a different shape from the first through opening 16. This allows additional adaptation to the shape of the roof of a motor vehicle by allowing holes of different shapes to be made.

[0035] For example, and for a roof of corrugated shape, it may be preferable to make an oblong-shaped hole in the roof so that it is large enough to provide sufficient ventilation. Therefore, and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the removable reduction member 18 may be oblong-shaped in order to match the perimeter of an oblong-shaped hole made on the roof 8. The length of the second oblong-shaped through opening 20 may, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, be very close to the diameter of the first through opening 16 in order to obtain a second air circulation channel allowing the greatest possible air flow.

[0036] The mounting of the removable reduction member 18 in the first through opening 16 corresponds to a mounting of the latter on a main body 22 of the stator 4. The removable reduction member 18 can be made of a more flexible material than that of the main body 22 of the stator 4, for example by using a more flexible polymer than another polymer used to make the main body 22 of the stator 4.

[0037] For the purpose of fixing, the removable reduction member 18 may comprise fixing pins 24 (two in the example illustrated in the figures) collaborating with fixing orifices 26 carried by the main body 22 of the stator 4. This allows the removable reduction member 18 to be fixed on the main body 22. These fixing pins 24 also allow the removable reduction member 18 to be indexed and centered on the main body 22 of the stator 4. It is possible to produce fixing pins 24 of a size slightly larger than that of the fixing orifices 26, the fixing pins 24 being made of a more flexible material than that of the main body 22 in which the fixing orifices are provided (for example by being integral with the removable reduction member 18). This allows the removable reduction member 18 to be fixed to the main body 22 of the stator 4 by a tight fit.

[0038] The fixing holes 26 can be provided, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, on a support structure 28 of the removable reduction member 18 on the main body 22 of the stator 4. The support structure 28 also constitutes a reinforcement of the stator 4.

[0039] This support structure 28 can, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, be formed by four support rods 30 passing through the first through opening 16 and forming a cross carrying the guide column 14. The shape taken by the support structure 28 can obviously vary, for example by comprising several support rods parallel to each other and passing through the first through opening 16.

[0040] The support structure 28 can also be implemented without a fixing orifice 26. In all cases, it ensures proper positioning of the member. reduction 18 which comes to bear against it (which defines an end of installation of the removable reduction member 18), a fortiori if it includes fixing orifices 26.

[0041] It is possible for the stator 4 to comprise an air-tight member covering an interface between the main body 22 of the stator 4 and the removable reduction member 18. This makes it possible, in addition to a plating of the stator 4 on the periphery of the hole made in the roof 8, to ensure the proper functioning of the roof ventilator by ensuring the sealing of this interface. This prevents any passage of air detrimental to the proper functioning of the roof ventilator. It is also possible to put in place a second sealing member, for example a foam, between the stator 4 and the outer face 6 of a roof 8 of a motor vehicle.

[0042] The sealing member may for example be formed by a polyurethane foam placed at the aforementioned interface. It may be advisable to provide an adhesive, for example double-sided, for fixing the sealing member to the stator 4. This adhesive makes it possible to remove the sealing member in a simplified manner. The sealing member may also be cut to fit the aforementioned interface and put in place after cutting using this adhesive.

[0043] The roof ventilator may comprise a member for locking the rotor 2 in translation relative to the stator 4. It may, for example, be an assembly formed of a screw and a counter-screw extending from the shutter 12 to the rotor 2 in order to lock the assembly.

[0044] As seen above, the roof ventilator may comprise a shutter 12 configured to be fixed on an inner face 10 of a roof 8 of a motor vehicle, the shutter 12 comprising a fixed part 32 and a movable part 34 between an air passage position and an air closure position extending over the fixed part 32.

[0045] Thus, it is easy to move the movable part 34 (directly accessible to a user), covering the fixed part 32, in order to adjust, or even close off, the air flow passing through the roof ventilator. This is advantageous compared to a movable part placed under a fixed part, the air pressure tending to push this movable part away from the fixed part, which tends to prevent complete closing. In addition, the manipulation of a movable part 34 extending above the fixed part 32 makes it possible to do without the tabs described above.

[0046] The movable part 34 is preferably movable in translation and has a shape, for example rectangular, making it possible to obtain a compact shutter 12 and also able to adapt to different shapes of roof 8 of a motor vehicle. It is also possible to optimize the possibilities of installation of the roof ventilator according to the invention by adapting the width of the shutter 12. The shape of the shutter 12 as well that the mobility of the movable part 34 may vary compared to the example illustrated in the figures.

[0047] The fixed part 32 and the mobile part 34 have in the example described a complementary shape in order to be in contact with each other, in particular for the installation of guide means as will be described.

[0048] First of all, the movable part 34 may comprise at least one guide pin 36 extending into a guide slot 38 formed in the fixed part 32 of the shutter 12 (one could envisage the presence of several guide pins 36, each extending into a guide slot 38). This is a simple means of moving the movable part between the air passage position and the air closing position, the ends of the guide slot 38 forming stops for the guide pin 36, the two stops corresponding respectively to a maximum opening position of the shutter 12 and to a maximum closing position. The guide pin 36 and the guide slot 38 also allow an adjustment between the fixed part 32 and the movable part 34 of the shutter 12.

[0049] Advantageously, the guide slot 38 can define at least one intermediate position of the guide pin 36 between a maximum opening position of the shutter 12 and a maximum closing position of the air passage. This allows fine adjustment of the air flow passing through the roof ventilator. For example, the guide slot 38 can be notched, each notch defining a potential position of the guide pin 36. The implementation of a device generating noise during the movement of the guide pins 36, in particular when the latter comes to a stop in the guide slot 38, is advantageous as a device for informing a user of the placement of the movable part 34 in a particular position.

[0050] Advantageously, the fixed part 32 of the shutter 12 comprises fixing and guiding edges 40 of the movable part 34 of the shutter 12. The movable part 34 can therefore slide along the latter without jolts. This also makes it possible to produce a more compact shutter 12 than those of the prior art. List of references

[0051] 2: rotor

[0052] 4: stator

[0053] 5: fixing means

[0054] 6: outer face

[0055] 8: roof

[0056] 10: inner face

[0057] 12: shutter

[0058] 14: guide column

[0059] 16: first through opening

[0060]

[0061]

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067]

[0068]

[0069]

[0070]

[0071] 18: removable reduction member 20: second through opening 22: main body 24: fixing pins 26: fixing hole 28: support structure 30: support rods 32: fixed part 34: mobile part 36: guide pins 38: guide slot 40: fixing and guide edges

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle roof ventilator comprising a finned rotor (2) and a stator (4), the finned rotor (2) comprising a turbine, the fins participating in the rotation of the rotor (2) and thus in the creation of a vacuum for the ventilation of the motor vehicle and the finned rotor (2) being fixed on the stator (4), the stator being configured to be fixed on an outer face (6) of a motor vehicle roof (8), the stator (4) comprising a first through opening (16) forming a first air circulation channel, characterized in that the stator (4) comprises at least one reducing member (18) of the size of the first through opening (16) configured to be removably mounted in the first through opening (16), the removable reducing member (18) comprising a second through opening (20) forming a second air circulation channel of a size smaller than that of the first air circulation channel,the roof ventilator comprising a shutter (12) configured to be fixed on an inner face (10) of a roof (8) of a motor vehicle, the shutter (12) comprising a fixed part (32) and a movable part (34) between an air passage position and an air closure position extending over the fixed part (32).,

2. A roof ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the second through opening (20) has a different shape from the first through opening (16).

3. A roof ventilator according to any preceding claim, wherein the removable reduction member (18) is made of a more flexible material than that of a main body (22) of the stator (4).

4. Roof ventilator according to claim 3, in which the removable reduction member (18) comprises fixing pins (24) collaborating with fixing orifices (26) carried by the main body (22) of the stator (4).

5. A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the stator (4) comprises an air sealing member covering an interface between the main body (22) of the stator (4) and the removable reduction member (18).

6. Roof ventilator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the main body (22) of the stator (4) comprises a support structure (28) of the removable reduction member (18) on the body main (22) of the stator (4).

7. A roof ventilator according to any preceding claim, wherein the movable portion (34) comprises at least one guide pin (36) extending into a guide slot (38) provided in the fixed portion (32) of the shutter (12).

8. Roof ventilator according to claim 7, in which the guide slot (38) defines at least one intermediate position of the guide pin (36) between a maximum opening position of the shutter (12) and a maximum closing position of the air passage.

9. Roof ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fixed part (32) comprises fixing and guiding edges (40) of the movable part (34).

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