MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A FLAP-ON PIPELINE EQUIPPED WITH TRACK STRUCTURES, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURED BY SUCH A VEHICLE
A ventilation duct system in motor vehicles achieves synchronized flap movements with a single control, addressing complexity and energy inefficiencies in existing systems by using a peg pin and sliding tracks to manage airflow effectively.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing ventilation flap systems in motor vehicles require multiple control mechanisms for different rotational movements, leading to increased complexity and energy consumption.
A ventilation duct system with synchronized shutter movements controlled by a single command, utilizing a peg pin connected to sliding tracks that move track structures to control both flaps simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple controls.
The system allows for synchronized flap movements with a single control, reducing user manipulations and energy consumption while enabling precise airflow management.
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A FLAP-ON PIPELINE RUNWAY STRUCTURE EQUIPMENT, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR SUCH A VEHICLE
[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle ventilation devices, and more particularly to ventilation flap devices (also called deflectors or fins) in a ventilation duct.
[0002] In this field, motor vehicles include ventilation flaps connected to a shaft coupled to a manual mechanical control means, or an electrical control via a motor. These mechanisms require synchronized movement of the flaps in a given direction of rotation, controlled by a single command.
[0003] Other mechanisms provide for flaps with different rotational movements, but require as many rotation controls as flap movements. In some cases, another control is provided for closing the air duct via the flaps.
[0004] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to offer a solution for different shutter movements while limiting the number of commands.
[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising a ventilation duct in a spatial frame of reference comprising a longitudinal axis along a direction of airflow of the ventilation duct; a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defining a right side and a left side; and a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, the ventilation duct comprising: - a right wall and a left wall laterally defining the ventilation duct in reference to the lateral axis; - a straight shutter mounted to rotate around a straight shutter axis oriented along the vertical axis, the straight shutter having a free straight edge that can come into contact with the straight wall; - a first shutter guide limiting the rotational movements of the right shutter between a closed position in which the right free edge comes into contact with the right wall, and an open position in which the right shutter is parallel to the right and left walls; - a left-hand flap mounted to rotate around a left-hand flap axis oriented along the vertical axis, the left-hand flap having a free left-hand edge that can come into contact with the left-hand wall; - a second shutter guide limiting the rotational movements of the left shutter between a closed position in which the left free edge comes into contact with the left wall, and an open position in which the left shutter is parallel to the right and left walls; - a control system operating said shutters, the control system comprising: - a rotary control means comprising a vertical control axis along the vertical axis; - a rotating pin mounted on the control axis, comprising a vertical pin along the vertical axis; - a straight track structure carrying a first sliding track which has at least one concavity oriented towards the control axis, the peg pin being connected to said first track and being able to slide in said first track; - a left track structure carrying a second sliding track which has at least one concavity oriented towards the control axis, the peg pin being connected to said second track and being able to slide in said second track; characterized in that the right track structure is connected to the right shutter preferably at the level of the first shutter guide; and the left track structure is connected to the left shutter preferably at the level of the second shutter guide, and in that when the peg pin moves in the sliding tracks, the peg pin applies a force which moves the track structures relative to each other in a synchronized manner to the left or to the right, the track structures being connected to the shutters move them accordingly to the right or to the left.
[0006] Advantageously, thanks to the mechanism of the invention, the movements of all the flaps are carried out by means of a single control or motor; the system is compact; and the closing of the duct is in line with the reduction of the air outlet.
[0007] Connecting the track structures to the same peg pin allows only one command to be given to both track structures so that they move in a synchronized manner, in order to be able to perform the four extreme positions of the flaps, as well as the intermediate positions which allow the flow rate to be managed.
[0008] Preferably, the rotary control means comprises a motor
[0009] This allows limiting user manipulations.
[0010] Preferably, the rotary control means includes a manual control means.
[0011] This helps to limit the energy consumption of the motor vehicle.
[0012] Preferably, the first sliding track has two concavities oriented towards the control axis, and the second sliding track has one concavity oriented towards the control axis.
[0013] This makes it easier to implement several different positions of the shutters.
[0014] Preferably, the sliding tracks extend from front to back with reference to the longitudinal axis, and the control system is mobile between four configurations: - in a first configuration, the ankle pin is pivoted forward with reference to the longitudinal axis, the right flap is in the open position and the left flap is in the closed position; - in a second configuration, the ankle pin is pivoted towards an intermediate front position with reference to the longitudinal axis, the right flap and the left flap are in the open position; - in a third configuration, the peg pin is pivoted to an intermediate rear position with reference to the longitudinal axis, the right flap is in the closed position and the left flap is in the open position; and - in a fourth configuration, the peg pin is pivoted to a rear position with reference to the longitudinal axis, the right flap and the left flap are in the closed position.
[0015] This makes it possible to predict these four successive configurations controlled by a single control means.
[0016] Preferably, the motor vehicle includes an air conditioning system which includes the ventilation duct.
[0017] This makes it easier to control the ventilation of such an air conditioning system.
[0018] Another object of the invention relates to a method for controlling flaps of a ventilation duct of a motor vehicle according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises at least one step of controlling the two flaps by means of the control means.
[0019] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a top view of a ventilation duct according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in an open configuration; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a top view of the ventilation duct from the previous figure, in a partially closed configuration on the left; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a top view of the ventilation duct from the previous figures, in a configuration partially closed on the right; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a top view of the ventilation duct from the previous figures, in a closed configuration; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a view in space of the ventilation duct of the previous figures, in the open configuration.
[0020] The invention proposes a motor vehicle which includes a ventilation duct described with reference to a frame of reference in space comprising a longitudinal axis X along a direction of air circulation of the ventilation duct; a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y.
[0021] The motor vehicle includes an air duct flap system.
[0022] The vehicle includes: - a motor 1 (or more generally a control which can be manual) having a control shaft; - a rotating pin 2 mounted to rotate around the control axis in two directions of rotation; the pin also has a pin axis perpendicular to the pin, and carrying a pin pin 3; - a first and a second track structures 4a, 5a each carrying a sliding track 4, 5, the peg pin 3 connecting the peg to the sliding tracks 4 and 5; - a first and a second flap 8, 9 rotating around a respective flap axis 10, 11 parallel to the control axis and the pin 3. Flap guides 8a, 9a are provided to limit the amplitude of the flap movements. A flap control pin 6, 7 springs from the flap and is inserted into the corresponding guide.
[0023] Motor 1 activates the rotation of the rotating pin 2. The control shaft is connected to the rotating pin 2. When the pin 3 moves in the sliding tracks 4, 5, it applies a force that moves the track structure 4a, 5a.
[0024] The track structures are connected at 3 points each, which allows their movement to be controlled. The track structure 4a, 5a is connected to the flap control pin 6, 7: when the track structure moves, it pushes or pulls the flap control pin 6, 7. Then, the flap 8, 9 can be moved by rotation around its axis of rotation 10, 11. This function makes it possible to move the flap 8, 9, in the duct 12a, 12b and to allow or prevent the flow of air through the duct.
[0025] The flaps 8, 9 are synchronized by the pin axis 3 sliding in the tracks 4, 5.
[0026] The action of the motor 1 on the rotating pin 2 causes the sliding of the pin 3 in the tracks 4, 5.
[0027] In the illustrated variant, one track is concentric with motor 1 and does not move. The other track moves.
[0028] The connection of track 4, 5 to the flap control pin 6, 7 causes track 4, 5 and flap 8, 9 to move at the same time as the track.
[0029] Thus, the flap 9 also moves following the position recorded in the system.
[0030] Sliding the pin 3 in the track 4, 5 allows adjustment of the flap 8, 9 in a first directivity illustrated in [Fig.2], or a first directivity illustrated in [Fig.3].
[0031] An overtravel of the flaps allows a closed position (illustrated in [Fig.4]) and no airflow passes through the duct.
[0032] The invention further relates to a method for controlling flaps of a ventilation duct of a motor vehicle, comprising control steps of the elements described above.
[0033] The method includes control steps for the two flaps 8, 9 via the control means 1, in the different directions.
Claims
1. Demands A motor vehicle comprising a ventilation duct in a coordinate system comprising a longitudinal axis (X) along a direction of airflow of the ventilation duct; a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) defining a right side and a left side; and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), the ventilation duct comprising: - a right wall (12a) and a left wall (12b) laterally defining the ventilation duct with reference to the lateral axis (Y); - a right flap (8) mounted to rotate around a right flap axis (10) oriented along the vertical axis (Z), the right flap (8) having a free right edge that can come into contact with the right wall (12a); - a first shutter guide (8a) limiting the rotational movements of the right shutter (8) between a closed position in which the right free edge comes into contact with the right wall (12a), and an open position in which the right shutter (8) is parallel to the right and left walls (12a, 12b); - a left flap (9) mounted to rotate around a left flap axis (11) oriented along the vertical axis (Z), the left flap (9) having a left free edge that can come into contact with the left wall (12b); - a second shutter guide (9a) limiting the rotational movements of the left shutter (9) between a closed position in which the left free edge comes into contact with the left wall (12b), and an open position in which the left shutter is parallel to the right and left walls (12a, 12b); - a control system operating said flaps (8, 9), the control system comprising: - a rotary control means (1) comprising a vertical control axis along the vertical axis (Z); - a rotating pin mounted on the control axis, comprising a vertical pin (3) along the vertical axis (Z); - a straight track structure (4a) carrying a first sliding track (4) which has at least one concavity oriented towards the control axis, the pin (3) being connected to said first track (4) and being able to slide in said first track (4); - a left track structure (5a) carrying a second sliding track (5) which has at least one concavity oriented towards the control axis, the peg pin (3) being connected to said second track (5) and being able to slide in said second track (4); characterized in that the right track structure (4a) is connected to the right flap (8) preferably at the level of the first flap guide (8a);and the left track structure (5a) is connected to the left flap (9) preferably at the level of the second flap guide (9a), and in that when the peg pin (3) moves in the sliding tracks (4, 5), the peg pin (3) applies a force which moves the track structures (4a, 5a) relative to each other in a synchronized manner to the left or to the right, the track structures (4a, 5a) being connected to the flaps (8, 9) move them accordingly to the right or to the left.;
2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary control means (1) comprises a motor.
3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary control means (1) comprises a manual control means.
4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first sliding track (4) has two concavities oriented towards the control axis, and the second sliding track (5) has one concavity oriented towards the control axis.
5. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sliding tracks (4, 5) extend from front to rear with respect to the longitudinal axis (X), and in that the control system is movable between four configurations: - in a first configuration, the pin (3) is pivoted forward with respect to the longitudinal axis (X), the right flap (8) is in the open position and the left flap (9) is in the closed position; - in a second configuration, the pin (3) is pivoted to an intermediate forward position with respect to the axis
6.
7. longitudinal (X), the right flap (8) and the left flap (9) are in the open position; - in a third configuration, the peg pin (3) is pivoted to an intermediate rear position with reference to the longitudinal axis (X), the right flap (8) is in the closed position and the left flap (9) is in the open position; and - in a fourth configuration, the peg pin (3) is pivoted to a rear position with reference to the longitudinal axis (X), the right flap (8) and the left flap (9) are in the closed position. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it includes an air conditioning system which includes the ventilation duct. Method of controlling flaps of a ventilation duct of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one step of controlling the two flaps by means of the control means (1).