Wind direction adjustment device

Abstract

To provide a wind direction adjustment device that can accommodate various layouts while ensuring an operability of a louver.SOLUTION: A wind direction adjustment device 1 includes: a plurality of louvers 11 rotatably disposed in a ventilation channel 5, a rotation axis of which is biased in a ventilation direction of the ventilation channel 5; a connecting mechanism 22 connected to the louvers 11 at a position away from the rotation axis and rotating the louvers 11 in unison; and an operating force imparting mechanism 27 which operates in contact with the connecting mechanism 22 to impart a rotational operating force to the louvers 11 via the connecting mechanism 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airflow direction adjustment device having a louver rotatably arranged in an air passage. [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] In some louvers for adjusting the airflow direction, frictional resistance is applied to the pivot shaft to generate an appropriate operating force (operating torque) in order to improve the operability (operating feeling).As an example, a configuration is known in which a bearing part that rotatably supports the pivot shaft of the louver is formed from an elastic spacer, and the pivot shaft comes into sliding contact with the spacer during the pivot operation to apply an operating force, thereby enabling the louver to be operated with a stable torque (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-25551 A (Pages 4-9, FIG. 2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The spacer with the above configuration needs to have a constant plate thickness in the direction perpendicular to the axis all around the shaft hole for receiving the louver's pivot shaft. Therefore, for example, in a layout in which the louver's pivot shaft is biased to either the front or rear, part of the periphery of the spacer's shaft hole may end up protruding in front or behind the louver, making it difficult to secure a space in which to set the spacer, particularly for louvers located facing the air outlet.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has an object to provide a wind direction adjusting device that can accommodate a variety of layouts while ensuring the operability of the louvers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The air direction adjustment device described in claim 1 comprises a plurality of louvers rotatably arranged in an air passage, with their rotation axes positioned biased in the air passage's ventilation direction, a connecting mechanism connected to the louvers at a position away from the rotation axis and rotating the louvers in unison, and an operating force imparting mechanism that operates in contact with the connecting mechanism to impart a rotational operating force to the louvers via the connecting mechanism.

[0008] The airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 2 is the airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism contacts the operating force imparting mechanism in an arc shape.

[0009] The airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 3 is the airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting mechanism has a concave contact portion that comes into contact with the operating force imparting mechanism.

[0010] The airflow direction adjustment device according to claim 4 is the airflow direction adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation force imparting mechanism has a rotating body and a bearing body having elasticity and rotatably supporting the rotating body. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the air direction adjustment device described in claim 1, even in a layout in which the rotation axis of the louver is offset from the ventilation direction of the air passage, space can be secured for arranging the operating force imparting mechanism, so that the rotation operating force imparted by the operating force imparting mechanism can ensure the operability of the louver while accommodating a variety of layouts.

[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, even if the connecting mechanism connected to a position away from the rotation axis of the louver moves as the louver rotates, the strength of contact between the connecting mechanism and the operating force imparting mechanism is unlikely to change significantly, and good contact can be maintained.

[0013] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 2, a part of the operating force imparting mechanism can be arranged to overlap the connecting mechanism in the air flow direction of the air passage while maintaining good contact between the contact portion and the operating force imparting mechanism, thereby making it possible to arrange it in a more space-saving manner.

[0014] According to the airflow direction adjustment device of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the airflow direction adjustment device of any one of claims 1 to 3, the operating force imparting mechanism can be configured simply and inexpensively. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are side views showing a part of an airflow direction adjustment device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a neutral state of a louver and (b) shows a state in which the louver is swung in one direction. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a part of an airflow direction control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a part of an airflow direction control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] In FIG. 2, 1 is an airflow direction adjustment device. The airflow direction adjustment device 1 is also called an air outlet, a ventilator, a register, or the like, 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 from which the air blows out of the airflow direction adjustment device 1 is defined as the front side, the front side, or the near side, and the opposite side, that is, the upwind side from which the airflow is received is defined as the rear side, the back side, or the far side, and the two sides or width direction, which are the left and right directions as viewed from the front side, and the up and down directions 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] At the rear end of the case body 3, an inlet 6 is formed to receive air, i.e., conditioned air, into the air passage 5, and at the front end of the case body 3, an outlet 7 is formed to discharge the conditioned air from the air 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. In the illustrated example, the case body 3 has a case body main body 8 and a finisher 9 which is a cover body. The case body main body 8 is a square tube in which the air passage 5 is formed, and the finisher 9 is a design part in which the outlet 7 is opened and which is located at the most downstream part of the air passage 5. The finisher 9 may be formed integrally with the installation part of the air direction adjustment device 1. At least one of the case body main body 8 and the finisher 9 may be further divided into a plurality of members.

[0020] Louvers 11 are rotatably arranged inside the case body 3, i.e., in the air passage 5. The louvers 11 are also called fins, etc., and adjust the direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 in response to the rotation by rotating relative to the case body 3. Note that a valve (shut valve) that rotates relative to the case body 3 to open and close the air passage 5 in response to the rotation may be provided inside the case body 3, i.e., in the air passage 5.

[0021] The louvers 11 are formed in a plate shape with one and the other main surfaces serving as straightening surfaces. In this embodiment, the louvers 11 are set to one louver 11a and another louver 11b. The one louver 11a is also called a front fin or the like and is located downstream in the air passage 5, and the other louver 11b is also called a rear fin or the like and is located upstream in the air passage 5. In the illustrated example, the one louver 11a is located facing the air outlet 7.

[0022] The first louver 11a and the second louver 11b are rotatable in a direction intersecting with each other, for example, perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the first louver 11a is disposed 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 louver 11b is disposed 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 louver 11a is in the left-right direction, and the rotation axis of the second louver 11b is in the up-down direction. Note that the first louver 11a may be rotatable in the left-right direction and the second louver 11b may be rotatable in the up-down direction, or the rotation direction of the first louver 11a and the rotation direction of the second louver 11b 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, etc.

[0023] Louver 11 has a rotating portion 15 at one end in the longitudinal direction that sets the rotation axis. Rotating portion 15 is rotatably held by a rotation receiving portion. One of rotating portion 15 and the rotation receiving portion is an axle portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recess portion. In this embodiment, rotating portion 15 is an axle portion, and the rotation receiving portion is a hole portion or a recess portion. The rotation receiving portion may be formed directly on case body 3, or may be formed on a member such as a spacer that is separate from case body 3.

[0024] The louvers 11 are rotated by an operating unit 20. The operating unit 20 may be configured as desired, but in this embodiment, for example, it is an operating knob attached to one of the louvers 11a. The operating unit 20 is attached so as to be movable relative to the one of the louvers 11a in a direction along the rotation axis of the one of the louvers 11a, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the one of the louvers 11a, or along the left-right direction in the illustrated example. By rotating the operating unit 20 together with the one of the louvers 11a, the one of the louvers 11a rotates, and by moving the operating unit 20 along the one of the louvers 11a, the other of the louvers 11b rotates.

[0025] The number of the first louvers 11a and the other louvers 11b does not matter as long as there are at least a plurality of each of them. In this embodiment, the first louvers 11a are set in the vertical direction of the air passage 5, for example, three pieces, and the other louvers 11b are set in the horizontal direction of the air passage 5. In this embodiment, the operation unit 20 is attached to the one louver 11a located at the center in the vertical direction of the one louver 11a. The louvers 11 set in this manner are configured to rotate in the same direction while being parallel or approximately parallel to each other in conjunction with each other by the connection mechanism 22 shown in FIG. 1. In this FIG. 1, the connection mechanism 22, which is a link part that links the multiple first louvers 11a, is shown, but a similar connection mechanism 22 may be applied to the other louvers 11b.

[0026] In this embodiment, the rotation axis of one louver 11a is positioned offset toward the ventilation direction of the air passage 5 in this one louver 11a. In the illustrated example, the rotation axis of one louver 11a is set at the most downstream portion of the one louver 11a, i.e., the frontmost portion. In other words, the rotation portion 15 of the one louver 11a is at the frontmost portion, i.e., the front end portion, of the one louver 11a, and the flow straightening surface of the one louver 11a extends rearward relative to the rotation portion 15.

[0027] The connecting mechanism 22 is connected to the louver 11 at a position away from the rotation axis. The louver 11 has a connecting portion 24 formed at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the connecting mechanism 22 has a connecting receiving portion 25 formed to rotatably receive the connecting portion 24. One of the connecting portion 24 and the connecting receiving portion 25 is an axis portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recess portion. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 24 is an axis portion, and the connecting receiving portion 25 is a hole portion or a recess portion. In the illustrated example, the connecting portion 24 is formed at a position away from the rotating portion 15 at the left end portion of one louver 11a and rearward. For example, this connecting portion 24 is located forward of the rear end portion of one louver 11a.

[0028] The connecting mechanism 22 is located at the end of the louver 11 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., in the direction of the rotation axis, and is arranged as a plate having a thickness in the direction of the rotation axis of the louver 11. Thus, the connecting mechanism 22 is arranged so as not to interfere with the straightening of the flow by the straightening surface of the louver 11. For example, the connecting mechanism 22 is located close to the inner surface of the case body 3. The connecting mechanism 22 is located toward the rear of one louver 11a, and has no portion that protrudes forward relative to one louver 11a.

[0029] The connecting mechanism 22 has a contact portion 28 on the opposite side of the connecting portion 24 of the louver 11 with respect to the connecting receiving portion 25, the contact portion 28 being in contact with an operating force imparting mechanism 27 for imparting a rotational operating force (operating torque) to the louver 11. In the illustrated example, the contact portion 28 is formed in a concave shape. That is, the contact portion 28 is formed so as to be recessed toward the connecting receiving portion 25 side. For example, the contact portion 28 is in an arc shape when viewed from the rotation axis direction. The contact portion 28 is formed across both ends of the connecting mechanism 22.

[0030] The operation force imparting mechanism 27 operates in contact with the connecting mechanism 22 to impart a rotational operation force to the louvers 11 via the connecting mechanism 22. In this embodiment, the operation force imparting mechanism 27 includes one or more rotating bodies 30, and one of the rotating bodies 30 is configured to maintain a contact state with the connecting mechanism 22.

[0031] In the illustrated example, one rotating body 30 is set. The rotating body 30 is formed in a circular shape, and its outer periphery is in contact with the contact portion 28 of the connecting mechanism 22. In this embodiment, the rotating body 30 is a spur gear, and is meshed with the contact portion 28 formed in a gear shape. The radius of the rotating body 30 is set to be smaller than the radius of the arc of the contact portion 28. For example, the radius of the rotating body 30 is set to be half or less of the radius of the arc of the contact portion 28. Therefore, the portion of the rotating body 30 forward of the center portion that is the center of rotation, that is, the majority portion of the forward side, is positioned so as to wrap around the connecting mechanism 22 in the front-rear direction, which is the ventilation direction of the air passage 5.

[0032] The rotating body 30 is rotatably supported via a bearing body 31. The bearing body 31 is formed of a material such as a soft synthetic resin having elasticity. For example, the bearing body 31 is formed of a soft material such as an olefin-based elastomer (TPO). In this embodiment, the bearing body 31 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a predetermined thickness. The bearing body 31 has a round hole portion 32. The rotating body 30 is rotatably supported by inserting a support shaft 33 into the hole portion 32. The rotation torque of the rotating body 30 is set by the fit between the hole portion 32 and the support shaft 33, that is, the sliding resistance between the outer circumferential surface of the support shaft 33 and the inner circumferential surface of the hole portion 32, and the connecting mechanism 22, which contacts the rotating body 30 via the contact portion 28, is integrally connected to the louver 11, so that a rotation operation force (operation torque) is applied to the louver 11. Therefore, the rotation operating force applied to the louver 11 by the operating force applying mechanism 27 is set according to the amount of overlap between the hole 32 and the support shaft 33. The hole 32 is set in the center of the bearing body 31. In other words, the bearing body 31 is formed to have a predetermined thickness or more around the entire circumference of the hole 32 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the support shaft 33.

[0033] A bearing body 31 is provided on either the rotating body 30 or a support body, such as the case body 3, that rotatably supports the rotating body 30, and a support shaft 33 is provided on the other. In this embodiment, the bearing body 31 is attached integrally to the rotating body 30, and a hole 32 is located in the center of the rotating body 30. In the illustrated example, the center of the rotating body 30 is at a height position equal to or approximately equal to the rotation axis of one louver 11a to which the operating unit 20 is attached.

[0034] In a neutral state (the state shown in Figure 1 (a) for one louver 11a), the louvers 11 are parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and by straightening the air-conditioning air along their respective straightening surfaces, the air-conditioning air is blown out in a straight line from the air outlet 7 into the vehicle cabin.

[0035] When the operating unit 20 is operated from the neutral state, the multiple louvers 11 rotate in the same direction in unison via the connecting mechanism 22, controlling the direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 to the direction in which their flow straightening surfaces are inclined. One louver 11a rotates vertically to control the direction of the conditioned air blown up and down, and the other louver 11b shown in Fig. 2 rotates horizontally to control the direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 to the left and right. By controlling the direction of the one louver 11a and the other louvers 11b, the direction of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlet 7 can be set arbitrarily up, down, left, or right.

[0036] At this time, the rotation operation force of the louver 11 is set by the operation force imparting mechanism 27 shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b). In the case of one louver 11a, when the operation part 20 is rotated up and down integrally with the louver 11a to which the operation part 20 is attached, the connecting mechanism 22 connected to the connecting part 24 of the louver 11a via the connecting receiving part 25 moves in an arc in the vertical direction. The contact part 28 of the connecting mechanism 22 comes into contact with the rotating body 30 of the operation force imparting mechanism 27, and in this embodiment, is engaged with the rotating body 30, so that the rotating body 30 rotates. Then, when the bearing body 31 attached integrally to the rotating body 30 rotates relative to the support shaft 33, friction resistance is generated by the sliding contact between the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 33 and the inner peripheral surface of the hole part 32 of the bearing body 31, and the rotation torque of the rotating body 30 is set according to the resistance. Therefore, a rotational operating force is applied to each louver 11a via the connecting mechanism 22 which is in contact with the rotating body 30 at the contact portion .

[0037] Note that Figure 1(b) shows the operating state when one louver 11a is swung in one direction, for example, upward, but when one louver 11a is swung in the opposite direction, for example, downward, the above-mentioned operation is simply reversed, so detailed explanation and illustration will be omitted.

[0038] Moreover, it goes without saying that by setting the connecting mechanism 22 and the operating force imparting mechanism 27 in the same manner as for the first louver 11a, it is possible to impart a rotation operating force to the other louver 11b in the same manner as for the first louver 11a.

[0039] Thus, according to the first embodiment, the connecting mechanism 22, which rotates multiple louvers 11 in unison, is brought into contact with the operating force imparting mechanism 27, and the operating force imparting mechanism 27 operates in this contact state, thereby imparting a rotational operating force to the louvers 11 via the connecting mechanism 22. Therefore, there is no need to directly set an operating force imparting means for imparting the rotational operating force to the louvers 11, and space can be secured for the arrangement of the operating force imparting mechanism 27 even in a layout in which the rotation axis of the louvers 11 is positioned offset in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5. In particular, in the case of a layout in which the rotation axis (rotating section 15) of one louver 11a facing air outlet 7, which is the most downstream section of air direction adjustment device 1, is positioned biased toward the front, there is no space in front of one louver 11a, making it difficult to set an operating force imparting means such as a spacer that imparts a rotation operating force by friction resistance to rotating section 15. In contrast, in this embodiment, a mechanism can be configured in which connecting mechanism 22 located behind one louver 11a is brought into contact with operating force imparting mechanism 27 to impart a rotation operating force by effectively utilizing the space in air passage 5. Thus, while the operating feel of louver 11 is ensured by the rotating operating force imparted by operating force imparting mechanism 27, a variety of layouts can be accommodated and the appearance of air direction adjustment device 1 can also be improved.

[0040] Because the connecting mechanism 22 contacts the operating force imparting mechanism 27 in an arc shape, even if the connecting mechanism 22, which is connected to a position away from the rotation axis of the louver 11, moves as the louver 11 rotates, the strength of contact between the contact portion 28 of the connecting mechanism 22 and the operating force imparting mechanism 27 (rotating body 30) is unlikely to change significantly, and good contact can be maintained.

[0041] Furthermore, since the connecting mechanism 22 has a concave contact portion 28 that comes into contact with the operating force imparting mechanism 27, good contact between the contact portion 28 and the operating force imparting mechanism 27 (rotating body 30) can be maintained while a part of the operating force imparting mechanism 27, for example the rotating body 30, is arranged so as to overlap the connecting mechanism 22 in the ventilation direction of the air passage 5, which in this embodiment is the front-to-rear direction, thereby making it possible to arrange it in a more space-saving manner.

[0042] The operation force imparting mechanism 27 can be constructed simply and inexpensively by configuring it to include the rotating body 30 and the bearing body 31 that has elasticity and rotatably supports the rotating body 30. Also, for example, a bearing body that generates rotation resistance in the rotating part of the louver of a conventional air direction adjustment device can be used as the bearing body 31 of the operation force imparting mechanism 27 of this embodiment, so that parts can be standardized.

[0043] Note that the target to which the operating force is applied by the operating force applying mechanism 27 is not limited to the louver 11. For example, as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a contact portion 36 that comes into contact (meshes) with the rotating body 30 of the operating force applying mechanism 27 is formed on the operating dial 35, which is an operating part for operating the opening and closing of the shut valve, and the rotating body 30 of the operating force applying mechanism 27 is configured to rotate in response to the rotating operation of the operating dial 35, so that the operating dial 35 can be given the same rotating operating force as the louver 11. Then, by setting the operating force applying mechanism 27 of the same structure as in the first embodiment to each of the one louver 11a, the other louver 11b, and the operating dial 35 of the louver 11, it is possible to unify the operating feel of the one louver 11a, the other louver 11b, and the operating dial 35. In other words, the operating feel of the entire airflow direction adjustment device 1 can be unified.

[0044] In addition, the operation force imparting mechanism 27 may have a plurality of rotating bodies 30. For example, even if a plurality of rotating bodies 30 are set and brought into contact with each other (meshing), and any one of the rotating bodies 30 is connected so as to contact the contact portion 28 of the connecting mechanism 22, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of each embodiment, such as being able to accommodate various layouts while ensuring the operability of the louver 11. In this case, it is sufficient that the bearing body 31 is set to at least any one of the rotating bodies 30. The bearing body 31 may be set to the rotating body 30 that directly contacts the contact portion 28 of the connecting mechanism 22, or the bearing body 31 may be set to the rotating body 30 that does not directly contact the connecting mechanism 22. In addition, for example, as in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bearing body 31 may be set to the plurality of rotating bodies 30, thereby making it possible to increase the rotation operation force imparted to the louver 11. For example, in cases where the rotational torque generated by the sliding resistance between the inner surface of the hole 32 of each bearing body 31 and the outer surface of the support shaft 33 is insufficient, the necessary rotational operating force can be secured by setting bearing bodies 31 on multiple rotating bodies 30 in this manner.

[0045] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the contact portion 28 of the connecting mechanism 22 and the rotating body 30 of the operating force imparting mechanism 27 are configured to mesh with each other, but this is not limiting and they may be configured to slide against each other, for example.

[0046] The airflow direction adjustment device 1 is not limited to being used in automobiles, but may be used for any other purposes. [Industrial Applicability]

[0047] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, as a wind direction adjustment device for an air conditioner in an automobile. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Wind direction adjustment device 5. Air passage 11 Louver 22 Connection mechanism 27 Operation force applying mechanism 28 Contact Part 30 rotations 31 Bearing body

Claims

1. A plurality of louvers are rotatably disposed in the air passage, the rotation axis of the louvers being positioned offset toward the air passage direction of the air passage; a connecting mechanism that is connected to the louvers at a position away from the rotation axis and rotates the louvers in conjunction with each other; an operating force imparting mechanism that operates in contact with the connecting mechanism to impart a rotation operating force to the louver via the connecting mechanism; A wind direction adjustment device comprising:

2. The connecting mechanism contacts the operation force imparting mechanism in an arc shape.

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

3. The connecting mechanism has a concave contact portion that comes into contact with the operation force imparting mechanism.

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

4. The operation force imparting mechanism includes: A rotating body, A bearing body having elasticity and rotatably supporting the rotating body.

4. The airflow direction adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the airflow direction adjusting device is a wind direction adjusting device.

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