Air diffuser duct.

Abstract

The invention relates to an air diffuser duct (1) for a motor vehicle passenger compartment designed to diffuse air into the passenger compartment coming from an air conditioning unit, the duct (1) comprising a hollow body (4), extending between a connection end (5), designed to connect the duct (1) to an air conditioning unit, and a closed distal end (6), the connection end (5) having an air inlet (7) to allow the supply of air into the body (4), the latter comprising a diffusion face (12) having a plurality of distinct diffusion openings, each opening being surrounded by an edge projecting from the diffusion face and extending in its own preferred direction, each opening and its edge allowing a flow of air, coming from the body (4), in the preferred direction of the opening by forming an angle with the diffusion face (12), in order to direct the flow of air towards a particular zone. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Air diffuser duct.

[0001] The technical field relates to air diffuser ducts, motor vehicle interiors comprising at least one such duct, as well as motor vehicles having such a passenger compartment.

[0002] Car manufacturers pay great attention to the comfort of their vehicle's passengers. Among the essential comfort criteria is obviously the management of the air inside the passenger compartment, in particular the control of temperature, humidity level and air quality.

[0003] For this purpose, vehicles are commonly equipped with an air conditioning unit designed to manage the quality of the air in the passenger compartment. The air conditioning unit organizes, with the help of ventilation ducts connected to the air conditioning unit, the circulation and treatment of the air in the passenger compartment, in particular by replacing air evacuated by an air extractor outside the passenger compartment with air coming from outside. Known ventilation ducts allow air to be diffused into the passenger compartment but do not always allow homogenization of the air in an area of ​​the passenger compartment that they supply, in particular when they supply the footwells of the passenger compartment where the pedals or the feet of the front passengers are housed.

[0004] On the other hand, in order to reduce development costs and the diversity of parts, automobile manufacturers, when developing a new vehicle, must strive to reuse as many pre-existing elements as possible and in particular reuse one of the existing air conditioning units. However, it sometimes happens that the position and direction of the air outlets of the chosen air conditioning unit are not adapted to the passenger compartment under development.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution that makes it possible to adapt an air conditioning unit to a developing passenger compartment and to obtain a homogeneous diffusion of the air blown by the air conditioning unit into the footwells.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide an air diffuser duct for diffusing air, coming from an existing air conditioning unit, homogeneously in one of the foot cellars.

[0007] For this purpose, the present invention relates to an air diffuser duct for a motor vehicle passenger compartment designed to diffuse air into the passenger compartment coming from an air conditioning unit, the duct comprising a hollow body, extending between a connection end, designed to connect the duct to an air conditioning unit, and a closed distal end, the connection end having an air inlet to allow air to be supplied into the hollow body, the body hollow comprising a diffusion face having a plurality of diffusion openings, spaced from each other, each opening being surrounded by an edge projecting from the diffusion face and extending in a specific preferred direction, each opening and its edge allowing a flow of air, coming from the hollow body, in the preferred direction of the opening by forming at least one angle with the diffusion surface, in order to direct the flow of air towards a particular zone of the passenger compartment, when the duct is mounted in the passenger compartment.

[0008] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprising an air conditioning unit and at least one air diffuser duct according to the invention, the connection end of each duct being connected to an air outlet sleeve of the air conditioning unit to allow the air conditioning unit to blow air through the air inlet into the hollow body of each duct, each opening and its edge being arranged and shaped to allow a flow of air specific to the opening following a specific preferred direction in order to direct the flow of air towards a particular zone of the passenger compartment associated with the opening.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the air diffuser duct according to the invention makes it possible to diffuse air blown by the air conditioning unit through the diffusion openings. The presence of the edges surrounding each opening makes it possible to direct an air flow in a specific preferred direction. Thus, by choosing all of the preferred directions as well as their numbers, automobile manufacturers have a diffuser duct capable of diffusing air evenly and precisely in the passenger compartment and in particular in one of the footwells. Furthermore, by adapting the shape of the hollow body, the diffuser duct is adaptable to each air conditioning unit. In addition, the presence of a closed distal end makes it easier to change the direction of the air flow circulating in the hollow body when passing each diffusion opening.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, each edge has a hollow cylindrical shape, the preferred direction corresponding to the axis of the cylindrical shape.

[0012] Advantageously, each opening has a circular or oblong outline.

[0013] According to one possibility, the diffusion face is substantially planar and the hollow body extends along a median curve dividing the diffusion face into two halves.

[0014] Advantageously, each opening has an axis of symmetry partly coincident with the center line.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the duct, the specific lengths of each opening, measured along the median curve, increase with the distance, measured along the median curve, between the opening and the air inlet.

[0016] According to one possibility, the hollow body is composed of two assembled half-shells together, each of which can be obtained by a molding operation, in particular a molding operation with free demolding. Such a hollow body is thus easy and inexpensive to produce.

[0017] According to one possibility of the passenger compartment, the duct comprises for each pedal at least one associated opening designed to direct an air flow towards the pedal, and an opening designed to direct an air flow towards the footrest.

[0018] Advantageously, the duct comprises an opening designed to direct an air flow between a left pedal and the footrest.

[0019] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of an air diffuser duct according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a view of the diffusion face of the conduit of [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a partial perspective view of a passenger compartment according to the invention showing the conduit of [Fig.l] assembled in the driver's footwell of the vehicle;

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] An air diffuser duct 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the figures, is designed for a passenger compartment 2 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, partially illustrated in [Fig.3],

[0025] The duct 1 is designed to diffuse air into the passenger compartment 2 coming from an air conditioning unit 3, partially visible in [Fig. 3], equipping a vehicle according to the invention. In particular, the duct 1 is designed to diffuse air into one of the footwells of the passenger compartment 2. For the same passenger compartment 2, generally two ducts 1 are necessary, one for each footwell.

[0026] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the air diffuser duct 1 comprises a hollow body 4 which extends from a connection end 5, designed to connect the duct 1 to the air conditioning unit 3. The hollow body 4 extends to a distal end 6, closed. The connection end 5 has an air inlet 7 to allow air to be supplied into the hollow body 4 by the air conditioning unit 3. The connection of the duct 1 is carried out, for example, by fitting an air outlet sleeve of the air conditioning unit 3 into the air inlet 7 of the duct 1.

[0027] In the example illustrated in the figures, the hollow body 4 has a first part 8 forming an elbow 9 making it possible to change the direction of the air flow ejected by the air conditioning unit 3, in this case from a direction directed towards the front of the passenger compartment 2 to a direction directed towards one side of the passenger compartment 2.

[0028] The hollow body 4 is, for example, composed of two half-shells 10 assembled together, each being obtainable by a molding operation, in particular a molding operation with free demolding.

[0029] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the hollow body 4 has a fixing plate 11 projecting from the distal end 6 allowing the hollow body 4 to be fixed in the passenger compartment 2.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the hollow body 4 comprises a diffusion face 12 having a plurality of diffusion openings 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, spaced apart from each other. Each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d is surrounded by an edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d projecting from the diffusion face 12 and extending in a specific preferred direction DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4.

[0031] In the example illustrated in the figures, the diffusion face 12 is substantially planar and the hollow body 4 extends along a curved median line Lm, dividing the diffusion face 12 into two halves. Each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d has an axis of symmetry partly coincident with the median line Lm.

[0032] In the passenger compartment 2, for example for the driver's footwell, each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and its edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d allow an air flow, coming from the hollow body 4, in the preferred direction DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4 of the opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d by forming at least one angle A1, A2, A3, A4 with the diffusion face 12, in order to direct the air flow towards a particular zone Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4 of the passenger compartment, illustrated in [Fig. 3], when the duct 1 is mounted in the passenger compartment 2. Thus, in the passenger compartment 2, the duct 1 comprises for each pedal 15a, 15b an opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d associated designed to direct an air flow towards the pedal 15a, 15b. The duct 1 also has an opening 13d designed to direct an air flow towards the footrest 16 of the passenger compartment 2.

[0033] As illustrated in [Fig.2], each edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d has a hollow cylindrical shape, the preferred direction DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4 corresponding to the axis of the cylindrical shape. In the example illustrated in the figures, the edge 14a has a cylindrical shape with a circular base while the other edges 14b, 14c, 14d have a cylindrical shape with an oblong base.

[0034] Advantageously, the shapes of each edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d are defined in order to allow natural demolding.

[0035] The opening 13a has a circular outline while the other openings 13b, 13c, 13d have an oblong outline. The outline of each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d corresponds to the shape of its corresponding edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, so that each edge 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d matches the outline of its opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, in particular [Fig.2], the lengths L1, L2, L3, L4 specific to each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, measured in following the median curve Lm, increase with the distance Dl, D2, D3, D4, measured following the median curve Lm, between the opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and the air inlet 7.

[0037] Thus, the air diffuser duct 1 according to the invention makes it possible to diffuse air, blown by the air conditioning unit 3, through the diffusion openings 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d. The presence of the edges 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d surrounding each opening 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d makes it possible to direct an air flow in a specific preferred direction DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4. Thus, by choosing all of the preferred directions DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4 as well as their numbers, automobile manufacturers have a diffuser duct 1 capable of diffusing air homogeneously and precisely in the passenger compartment 2 and in particular in the footwells. Furthermore, the presence of the elbow 9 makes it possible to propose a shape of the hollow body 4 adapted to the specificity of the air outlets of the air conditioning unit 3. The closed distal end 6 makes it easier to reorient the air flows which pass through the diffusion openings.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the air diffuser duct described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Air diffuser duct (1) for a passenger compartment (2) of a motor vehicle designed to diffuse air into the passenger compartment (2) coming from an air conditioning unit (3), the duct (1) comprising a hollow body (4), extending between a connection end (5), designed to connect the duct (1) to an air conditioning unit (3), and a closed distal end (6), the connection end (5) having an air inlet (7) to allow the supply of air into the hollow body (4), the hollow body (4) comprising a diffusion face (12) having a plurality of diffusion openings (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d), spaced from each other, each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) being surrounded by an edge (1a, 1b, 14c, 14d) projecting from the face of diffusion (12) and extending in a specific preferred direction (DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4), each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and its edge (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) allowing a flow of air, coming from the hollow body (4),following the preferred direction (DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4) of the opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) forming at least one angle (Al, A2, A3, A4) with the diffusion face (12), in order to direct the air flow towards a particular zone (Zl, Z2, Z3, Z4) of the passenger compartment (2), when the duct (1) is mounted in the passenger compartment (2).,

2. Conduit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each edge (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) has a hollow cylindrical shape, the preferred direction (DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4) corresponding to the axis of the cylindrical shape.

3. Conduit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) has a circular or oblong outline.

4. Conduit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the diffusion face (12) is substantially flat and in that the hollow body (4) extends along a median curve (Lm) dividing the diffusion face (12) into two halves.

5. Conduit (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) has an axis of symmetry partly coincident with the center line (Lm).

6. Conduit (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the lengths (L1, L2, L3, L4) specific to each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d), measured along the median curve (Lm), increase with the distance (D1, D2, D3, D4), measured along the median curve (Lm), between the opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and the air inlet (7).

7. Conduit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the hollow body (4) is composed of two half-shells (10) assembled together, each being obtainable by a molding operation, in particular a molding operation with free demolding.

8. Passenger compartment (2) of a motor vehicle comprising an air conditioning unit (3) and at least one air diffuser duct (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, the connection end (5) of each duct (1) being connected to an air outlet sleeve of the air conditioning unit (3) to allow the air conditioning unit (3) to blow air through the air inlet (7) into the hollow body (4) of each duct (1), each opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and its edge (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) being arranged and shaped to allow a flow of air specific to the opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) in a preferred direction (DPI, DP2, DP3, DP4) specific to direct the flow of air towards a particular zone (Zl, Z2, Z3, Z4) of the passenger compartment (2) associated with the opening (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d).

9. Passenger compartment (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the duct (1) comprises for each pedal (15a, 15b) at least one associated opening (13a, 13b, 13c) designed to direct an air flow towards the pedal (15a, 15b), and an opening (14d) designed to direct an air flow towards the footrest (16).

10. Motor vehicle having a passenger compartment (2) according to claim 8 or 9.