Wind direction adjustment device

Abstract

To provide a wind direction adjustment device that can be configured at low cost and adjust a wind direction in a short time.SOLUTION: A wind direction adjustment device 1 includes: one and the other fins 10, 11 disposed in a ventilation passage so as to be rotatable in directions intersecting mutually; a conversion mechanism 30 including one rotatable rotor 32 and a linkage 33 reciprocating to rotate the one fin 10 and converting the rotation of the one rotor 32 into the reciprocating motion of the linkage 33; and the other rotor 50 rotating with the other fin 11 in accordance with the rotation of the one rotor 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow direction adjustment device having first and second fins that are rotatable in directions intersecting each other. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, air conditioners used in vehicles such as automobiles include air direction adjustment devices that adjust the direction of air blown out. Air direction adjustment devices are also called air conditioner air blowing devices, air outlets, ventilators, registers, etc., and are installed in various parts of the vehicle, such as the instrument panel or center console, and contribute to improving comfort performance through heating and cooling.

[0003] For example, when motorizing an airflow direction adjustment device, it is possible to rotate the vertical fins and the horizontal fins separately using a motor, but in this case, two motors are required, which leads to an increase in size and cost.

[0004] Therefore, a fan that utilizes the forward and reverse rotation of a single motor to rotate either vertical or horizontal fins during forward rotation and either horizontal or vertical fins during reverse rotation is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-29186 A (Pages 5-13, Figures 1-3) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the above configuration may result in increased costs due to the complexity of the mechanism that links the motor with the vertical and horizontal fins, and because only the vertical and horizontal fins can be moved one at a time, it takes time to adjust to the desired wind direction.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to provide an airflow direction adjustment device that can be constructed at low cost and is capable of adjusting the airflow direction in a short period of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The air direction adjustment device described in claim 1 has one and another fins arranged in an air passage so as to be rotatable in directions intersecting each other, one rotatable rotating body, and a link for rotating the one fin by a reciprocating motion, and is equipped with a conversion mechanism that converts the rotation of the one rotating body into a reciprocating motion of the link, and another rotating body that rotates together with the other fin in response to the rotation of the one rotating body.

[0009] The airflow direction adjustment device of claim 2 is the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1, in which the conversion mechanism is a cam device having a rotating body which is a three-dimensional cam with a cam groove, and a link which is a follower with a protrusion that is inserted into the cam groove.

[0010] The airflow direction adjustment device of claim 3 is the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1 or 2, which is provided with a gear coaxially connected to one rotating body, and the other rotating body has a meshing portion that meshes with the gear. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the airflow direction adjustment device described in claim 1, one fin and the other fins can be rotated simultaneously in conjunction with the rotation of one rotating body, so that it can be constructed at lower cost than, for example, a configuration in which a drive device for rotating one fin and a drive device for rotating the other fins are provided separately, and the simultaneous rotation of one fin and the other fins makes it possible to adjust the airflow direction in a short time.

[0012] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1, the conversion mechanism can be configured inexpensively and compactly.

[0013] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 1 or 2, it is possible to easily rotate one rotating body in response to the rotation of the other rotating body with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing an airflow direction adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] In Figs. 1 to 4, 1 denotes an airflow direction adjustment device. The airflow direction adjustment device 1 is also called an air outlet, a ventilator, a register, etc., and adjusts the blowing direction of air from an air conditioner or the like. In the following, in order to clarify the explanation, the leeward side of the airflow direction adjustment device 1, which is the side from which airflow blows out, is defined as the front side, the front side, or the near side, and the opposite side, that is, the upwind side, which is the side that receives airflow, is defined as the rear side, the back side, or the far side, and the left-right direction or width direction as viewed from the front side, and the up-down direction are defined. In this embodiment, the airflow direction adjustment device 1 is applied to an air conditioner for a vehicle such as an automobile. The airflow direction adjustment device 1 may be disposed in any position, but in the drawings, the side indicated by the arrow FR is the front side, the side indicated by the arrow RR is the rear side, the side indicated by the arrow L is the left side, the side indicated by the arrow R is the right side, the side indicated by the arrow U is the upper side, and the side indicated by the arrow D is the lower side. These directions are merely illustrated as examples, and are to be changed as appropriate depending on the installation position and installation direction of the airflow direction adjustment device 1.

[0017] The airflow direction adjustment device 1 includes a case body 3. The case body 3 is also called a duct. The case body 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the case body 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the front-rear direction. In the illustrated example, the case body 3 is formed in a square cylindrical shape. The case body 3 surrounds an air passage 5 inside. The direction parallel to the central axis of the case body 3 is the ventilation direction of the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the ventilation direction of the air passage 5 is the front-rear direction, and air is ventilated from the rear to the front. That is, in the air passage 5, the rear side is the upstream side of the ventilation direction, and the front side is the downstream side of the ventilation direction. The cross section of the air passage 5 perpendicular to the ventilation direction is square.

[0018] An inlet 6 is formed at the rear end of the case body 3 to receive air, i.e., conditioned air, into the ventilation passage 5, and an outlet 7 is formed at the front end of the case body 3 to discharge the conditioned air from the ventilation passage 5. An air passage 5 is formed between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 to communicate them. The conditioned air passes from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7. The case body 3 may be formed integrally, or may be formed by combining a plurality of members. At least a portion of the case body 3 may be formed integrally with the installation portion of the air direction adjustment device 1.

[0019] A first fin 10 and another fin 11 are rotatably arranged inside the case body 3, i.e., in the air passage 5. The first and other fins 10, 11 are also called louvers, and rotate relative to the case body 3 to adjust the direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 in accordance with the rotation. The first and other fins 10, 11 are formed in a plate shape with one main surface and the other main surface serving as a straightening surface. The first fin 10 is located on the upstream side in the air passage 5, and the other fin 11 is located on the downstream side in the air passage 5. In the illustrated example, the other fin 11 is located facing the air outlet 7.

[0020] The first fin 10 and the second fin 11 are rotatable in a direction intersecting with each other, for example, perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the first fin 10 is arranged longitudinally in the left-right direction in the air passage 5 and is rotatable in one direction, that is, the vertical direction, and the second fin 11 is arranged longitudinally in the air passage 5 and is rotatable in another direction intersecting or perpendicular to the first direction, that is, the left-right direction. That is, in the illustrated example, the rotation axis of the first fin 10 is in the left-right direction, and the rotation axis of the second fin 11 is in the up-down direction. Note that the first fin 10 may be rotatable in the left-right direction and the second fin 11 may be rotatable in the up-down direction. Alternatively, the rotation direction of the first fin 10 and the rotation direction of the second fin 11 may be set in any direction as long as they intersect with each other depending on the arrangement posture of the airflow direction adjustment device 1.

[0021] Each fin 10 has a rotating portion 14. The rotating portion 14 is rotatably held by a rotating support portion 15. One of the rotating portion 14 and the rotating support portion 15 is an axle portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recess portion. In this embodiment, the rotating portion 14 is an axle portion, and the rotating support portion 15 is a round hole portion or a recess portion. The rotating support portions 15 are formed in the bearing portions 16. The bearing portions 16 may be integral with the left and right side wall portions of the case body 3, or may be separate from the case body 3. In this embodiment, the bearing portions 16 are spacers separate from the case body 3, and are held by the left and right side wall portions of the case body 3 in the air passage 5, respectively.

[0022] Similarly, the other fins 11 have a rotating portion 20. The rotating portion 20 is rotatably held by the rotating support 21. One of the rotating portion 20 and the rotating support 21 is an axle portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In this embodiment, the rotating portion 20 is an axle portion, and the rotating support 21 is a round hole portion or a recessed portion. The rotating support 21 is formed in each of the bearing portions 22. Each of the bearing portions 22 may be integral with the upper and lower end wall portions of the case body 3, or may be separate from the case body 3. In this embodiment, the bearing portions 22 are spacers separate from the case body 3, and are held by the upper and lower end wall portions of the case body 3 in the air passage 5, respectively.

[0023] In this embodiment, one fin 10 is provided in the center of the air passage 5 in the up-down direction, and one other fin 11 is provided in the center of the air passage 5 in the left-right direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the first and other fins 10, 11 may be composed of a plurality of fins connected by a link body so as to rotate in the same direction. In other words, the number of each of the first and other fins 10, 11 is not limited.

[0024] The first and second fins 10, 11 are rotated in conjunction with each other by an interlocking device 25. The interlocking device 25 is disposed outside the case body 3, i.e., outside the air passage 5. The interlocking device 25 may be electrically operated by a single driving device such as a motor, or may be manually operated.

[0025] In this embodiment, the interlocking device 25 has a conversion mechanism 30 for rotating one fin 10. The conversion mechanism 30 has a rotatable rotating body 32 and a reciprocating link 33. The conversion mechanism 30 is configured such that, when the one rotating body 32 is rotated, the rotation of the one rotating body 32 is converted into a reciprocating motion of the link 33 for reciprocatingly rotating the one fin 10.

[0026] The conversion mechanism 30 may be any mechanism, such as a slider crank mechanism, but in this embodiment, a cam device is used.

[0027] The first rotating body 32 is a three-dimensional cam that is a driving link of the cam device, and in the illustrated example, is a cylindrical cam or a cylindrical cam. The first rotating body 32 is formed in a columnar or cylindrical shape. The first rotating body 32 has a rotating part 34 on the central axis. The rotating part 34 is rotatably held by a rotation receiving part 35. The rotating part 34 and the rotation receiving part 35 are an axis part, and the other is a hole part or a recess part. In this embodiment, the rotating part 34 is a hole part, and the rotation receiving part 35 is an axis part formed in the case body 3. In this embodiment, the first rotating body 32 is provided to protrude upward from an upper end wall part that is one end wall part of the case body 3, and has a rotation axis in a direction parallel or approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the other fin 11. In the illustrated example, the first rotating body 32 has a rotation axis along the vertical direction.

[0028] A cam groove 37 for regulating the movement of the link 33 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the one rotating body 32. The cam groove 37 is formed in a continuous manner around the entire outer circumferential surface of the one rotating body 32. The cam groove 37 is formed to meander in the reciprocating direction of the link 33 in the circumferential direction of the one rotating body 32. In this embodiment, the cam groove 37 is formed in a sine wave shape. In the illustrated example, the cam groove 37 is set to reciprocate multiple times, for example, four times, in the vertical direction per revolution of the one rotating body 32. In other words, the reciprocating period of the cam groove 37 is set to 1 / 4 of one rotation period of the one rotating body 32. Therefore, the link 33 reciprocates four times per one rotation of the one rotating body 32, so that one fin 10 rotates reciprocating four times. The reciprocating period of the cam groove 37 with respect to one rotation period of the one rotating body 32 may be set arbitrarily.

[0029] The link 33 is a follower of the cam device, and is capable of reciprocating in the up-down direction, which is the rotation direction of one of the fins 10. The link 33 is located opposite one side wall of the case body 3. In this embodiment, the link 33 includes a guide receiving portion 39 that receives a guide portion 38 formed on one side wall of the case body 3, and is guided by the guide portion 38 so as to be movable in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the guide portion 38 is formed in a linear rib shape on one side wall of the case body 3, and the guide receiving portion 39 is formed in a groove shape in the link 33. However, the link 33 may be guided by providing a separate part or by providing the case body 3 with another shape.

[0030] The link 33 integrally has a fin side connecting portion 40 connected to one fin 10, and a rotating body side connecting portion 41 connected to one rotating body 32. The fin side connecting portion 40 and the rotating body side connecting portion 41 extend in directions intersecting or perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the fin side connecting portion 40 extends in the front-rear direction, and the rotating body side connecting portion 41 extends in the up-down direction. Therefore, the link 33 is formed in an L-shape when viewed from the side.

[0031] The fin side connecting portion 40 has a hole 44 formed therein into which a connecting shaft 43 formed in one of the fins 10 is inserted. The connecting shaft 43 is also called a connection pin, and is formed in one of the fins 10 at a position separated from the rotating portion 14, i.e., the rotation axis, and parallel or approximately parallel to the rotation axis. In this embodiment, the connecting shaft 43 is provided on one side of one of the fins 10, protruding from the rear end to one side. The connecting shaft 43 is inserted into an insertion hole 45 formed in the case body 3, and protrudes to the outside of the case body 3, i.e., to the outside of the air passage 5.

[0032] The insertion hole 45 is formed to extend in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of one fin 10. In the present embodiment, the insertion hole 45 extends in an arc shape vertically centered on the rotation axis of one fin 10. Therefore, the connecting shaft 43 moves vertically along the insertion hole 45 as the one fin 10 rotates.

[0033] The connecting shaft 43 is rotatably inserted into the hole 44. The hole 44 is formed in an elongated hole shape in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the link 33. That is, in this embodiment, the hole 44 is formed in an elongated hole shape in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the connecting shaft 43 of one fin 10, which is rotated in response to the reciprocating motion of the link 33, moves along the insertion hole 45, it is configured to slide back and forth inside the hole 44 with respect to the reciprocating direction of the link 33. The length of the hole 44 is set to be equal to or greater than the movable width of the connecting shaft 43 in the front-rear direction, i.e., the width between the front end and the rear end of the insertion hole 45.

[0034] The rotating body side connecting part 41 is formed with a protrusion 47 to be inserted into the cam groove 37 of one rotating body 32. The protrusion 47 is also called a connection pin, and protrudes from the rotating body side connecting part 41 toward the outer circumferential surface of one rotating body 32. In this embodiment, the protrusion 47 extends in the left-right direction. As the one rotating body 32 rotates, the protrusion 47 moves along the cam groove 37, causing the link 33 to perform a reciprocating motion.

[0035] The interlocking device 25 also has another rotating body 50 for rotating the other fin 11. The other rotating body 50 is connected to the other fin 11 and is capable of rotating integrally with the other fin 11. In this embodiment, the other rotating body 50 is formed integrally with the rotating portion 20 of the other fin 11. In the illustrated example, the other rotating body 50 is located at the upper part of the case body 3.

[0036] The other rotating body 50 rotates in response to the rotation of the one rotating body 32. In this embodiment, the other rotating body 50 is a gear portion having a meshing portion 53 that meshes with a gear 52 that rotates integrally with the one rotating body 32. The gear 52 is a reduction gear, and is disposed coaxially with the one rotating body 32. The gear 52 is located between the one rotating body 32 and the case body 3. In this embodiment, the gear 52 is located below the one rotating body 32, between the one rotating body 32 and an upper end wall portion of the case body 3.

[0037] The other rotating body 50 is formed in a fan shape and has a gear tooth-like meshing portion 53 on its outer periphery. The radius of the circle of the gear 52 and the radius of the circle of the other rotating body 50 are set to a predetermined ratio. This ratio, i.e., the reduction ratio by the gear 52, may be set arbitrarily, but is correlated with, for example, the ratio of one rotation period of the one rotating body 32 and the reciprocating period of the cam groove 37. In this embodiment, the ratio of the radius of the circle of the gear 52 and the radius of the circle of the other rotating body 50 is set to 1:4. Therefore, for one rotation, i.e., one period, of the gear 52, the other rotating body 50 rotates 1 / 4 of that, i.e., 90°. Therefore, for one rotation of the gear 52, the other rotating body 50 rotates 90°, so that the other fin 11 rotates 90° from one rotation end to the other rotation end.

[0038] In this embodiment, a guide portion 54 for smoothly rotating the other rotating body 50 is located between the other rotating body 50 and the case body 3. The guide portion 54 is formed, for example, on the upper end wall portion of the case body 3 in the shape of an arc rib centered on the rotation axis of the other rotating body 50, and is in sliding contact with the lower portion of the other rotating body 50 as the other rotating body 50 rotates, thereby linearly supporting the other rotating body 50.

[0039] A shut valve may be provided inside the case body 3, that is, in the ventilation path 5, which rotates relative to the case body 3 to open and close the ventilation path 5 in response to the rotation.

[0040] In the airflow direction adjustment device 1, when one rotating body 32 is rotated in the conversion mechanism 30 of the interlocking device 25, the link 33, in which the protrusion 47 is inserted into the cam groove 37 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the one rotating body 32, moves back and forth while being guided by the guide portion 38, as the protrusion 47 is guided along the cam groove 37 in accordance with the meandering of the cam groove 37. With the reciprocating movement of the link 33, the connecting shaft 43 of the one fin 10 inserted into the hole 44 of the link 33 is pushed in the reciprocating direction of the link 33, which is the up-down direction in this embodiment, and the one fin 10 rotates back and forth in the up-down direction so that the connecting shaft 43 moves along the insertion hole 45 of the case body 3.

[0041] At the same time, the gear 52 arranged coaxially with the one rotating body 32 rotates in the same direction and by the same angle as the one rotating body 32, so that the other rotating body 50, whose gearing portion 53 is meshed with the gear 52, rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the one rotating body 32 and the gear 52, and the other fin 11, which is integrally connected to the other rotating body 50, rotates in either the left or right direction together with the other rotating body 50. For example, in this embodiment, when the one rotating body 32 is rotated clockwise as viewed from above, the other rotating body 50 is rotated counterclockwise and the other fin 11 is rotated rightward, and when the one rotating body 32 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from above, the other rotating body 50 is rotated clockwise and the other fin 11 is rotated leftward.

[0042] Therefore, while one rotating body 32 rotates once, the other fin 11 rotates left and right by 90° and at the same time, the one fin 10 rotates back and forth in the vertical direction multiple times, four times in this embodiment. Therefore, by rectifying the flow of the one fin 10 and the other fin 11, the wind direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 is adjusted to a sine wave shape as seen from the front, as shown by the imaginary line A in Fig. 1.

[0043] Thus, according to one embodiment, the conversion mechanism 30 converts the rotation of the one rotating body 32 into a reciprocating motion of the link 33 for rotating the one fin 10, and rotates the other rotating body 50 together with the other fin 11 in response to the rotation of the one rotating body 32, so that the one fin 10 and the other fin 11 can be rotated simultaneously with the rotation of the one rotating body 32. Therefore, the one fin 10 and the other fin 11 can be rotated simultaneously by using only one driving device such as a motor for rotating the one rotating body 32, for example. Therefore, the configuration can be made at a low cost compared to a configuration in which a driving device for rotating the one fin 10 and a driving device for rotating the other fin 11 are separately provided, and the wind direction can be quickly adjusted in a short time by the simultaneous rotation of the one fin 10 and the other fin 11. Therefore, it is possible to relieve the stress of users such as passengers caused by the time required to adjust the wind direction to the desired direction.

[0044] By making the conversion mechanism 30 a cam device having a rotating body 32 which is a three-dimensional cam with a cam groove 37, and a link 33 which is a follower having a protrusion 47 which is inserted into the cam groove 37, the conversion mechanism 30 can be constructed inexpensively and compactly.

[0045] In addition, by meshing a gear 52 coaxially connected to one rotating body 32 with a toothing portion 53 formed on another rotating body 50, the other rotating body 50 can be easily rotated in response to the rotation of the one rotating body 32 with a simple configuration.

[0046] Therefore, by using a motor or the like as a drive device for rotating one of the rotating bodies 32, it is possible to motorize the air direction adjustment device 1 inexpensively and compactly.

[0047] Furthermore, by forming the cam groove 37 in a sine wave shape, the link 33 connected to the cam groove 37 by the protrusion 47 can be made to reciprocate smoothly.

[0048] In one embodiment, the airflow direction adjustment device 1 is not limited to being used in automobiles, and may be used for any other purposes. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, as an air direction adjustment device for an air conditioner in an automobile. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Wind direction adjustment device 5. Air passage 10. One Fin 11 Other Fins 30 Conversion Mechanism 32 One Rotating Body 33 Links 37 Cam groove 47 Protrusion 50 Other rotating bodies 52 Gear 53 Teething area

Claims

1. One and another fin are disposed in the air passage so as to be rotatable in directions intersecting each other; a conversion mechanism including a rotatable rotating body and a link for rotating the one fin by a reciprocating motion, the conversion mechanism converting the rotation of the one rotating body into a reciprocating motion of the link; Another rotating body that rotates together with the other fin in response to rotation of the one rotating body; A wind direction adjustment device comprising:

2. The conversion mechanism is a cam device having a rotating body that is a three-dimensional cam with a cam groove, and a link that is a follower that has a protrusion that is inserted into the cam groove.

2. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1.

3. A gear is coaxially connected to one rotating body, The other rotating body has a meshing portion that meshes with the gear.

3. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2.

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