Motor vehicle comprising an air outlet and a curved air-guiding element

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) comprising: a dashboard (4); an air outlet (6) arranged in the dashboard (4); and at least one curved air-guiding element (7) which is associated with the air outlet (6) and which is positioned relative to the air outlet (6) such that an airflow (8) exiting the air outlet (6) is guided along a convex surface (7A) of the at least one air-guiding element (7), wherein the at least one air-guiding element (7) is retractable and extendable relative to the dashboard (4).

Description

[0001] Motor vehicle with an air outlet and a curved air guide element

[0002] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an air outlet for supplying fresh air and / or recirculated air into a vehicle passenger compartment.

[0003] Air outlets are known in the art for supplying fresh air and / or recirculated air to a vehicle passenger compartment. Adjustable flaps on the air outlets allow the direction of the discharged airflow to be changed in a known manner. Such air outlets are normally relatively large. Recently, there has been a trend towards making air outlets as small as possible so that they can be integrated discreetly into the interior design. This requires novel adjustment mechanisms for setting the direction of the airflow discharged from the air outlets.

[0004] From CN 115570946 A, an air outlet is already known that has an air guide element with which the direction of the expelled airflow can be changed using the Coandé effect. However, the air guide element described therein appears to be difficult to integrate into a vehicle interior design.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by a motor vehicle according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to one embodiment of the invention, a motor vehicle is equipped with a dashboard; an air outlet arranged in the dashboard; and at least one curved air guide element associated with the air outlet and positioned such that an airflow exiting the air outlet, particularly due to the Coandé effect, is guided along a convex surface of the at least one air guide element, wherein the at least one air guide element is retractable relative to the dashboard. In this way, a novel adjustment mechanism is provided that only becomes visible when needed and can be retracted into the dashboard when not in use.

[0006] When fully retracted, the air guide element is at least partially, and in particular almost completely, recessed into the dashboard. "Almost completely" means that a maximum of 2 cm of the air guide element protrudes beyond the adjacent contour of the dashboard.

[0007] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the direction of the airflow can be changed by extending and retracting the at least one air guide element, so that, depending on the position set by extending and retracting, the airflow forms a different angle to an xy-plane of the motor vehicle.

[0008] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air outlet has air guide flaps with which the direction of the airflow can be changed, so that, depending on the position of the air guide flaps, the airflow forms a different angle to an xz-plane of the vehicle. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one air guide element is board-shaped or plate-shaped. The air guide element thus has the form of a curved plate or board. This allows the air guide element to be installed in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least two air guide elements are assigned to the air outlet, which are arranged side by side with respect to a transverse axis of the vehicle and can be extended and retracted independently of each other. This allows a single air outlet to generate both an airflow to the driver and a separate airflow to the passenger, which can be controlled independently of each other.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air outlet is arranged centrally in the dashboard, relative to a vehicle transverse axis, + / - 10% of the total length along the vehicle transverse axis. This reduces the number of air outlets required.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle is also equipped with a screen which, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, is arranged behind at least one air guide element. In this way, the air guide element is concealed by the screen and integrates better into the passenger compartment design.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, in an extended state of the air guide element, the end furthest from the air outlet of at least one air guide element is no more than 1 cm from an upper edge of the screen. This ensures that the air guide element is particularly well concealed by the screen. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the air guide element is made of transparent plastic. This allows the air guide element to be illuminated in different colors. In the unilluminated state, it blends better into the interior design.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one air guide element is arranged behind the air outlet, with reference to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one air guide element is curved in such a way that an axis of curvature, with reference to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, is arranged behind the air outlet.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one air guide element has the form of a curved plate with an end face (the far end), wherein the end face leads during extension, and the air guide element is guided on a path of movement during extension and retraction which has a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the air guide element.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one air guide element has a remote end which, at least in the fully extended state, represents an end of the air guide element that is furthest from the air outlet, and wherein the at least one air guide element is retractable relative to the dashboard such that, during retraction and extension, the remote end travels along a path of movement within the fully extended air guide element, with respect to an xz-plane. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate the following:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0018] Figure 2A shows a highly schematic representation of a motor vehicle dashboard with the air guide element fully retracted;

[0019] Figure 2B shows a highly schematic representation of the dashboard with the air guide element extended approximately halfway;

[0020] Figure 2C shows a highly schematic representation of the dashboard with the air guide element fully extended;

[0021] Figure 3A shows a three-dimensional view of a vehicle cockpit with the air guide element fully retracted;

[0022] Figure 3B shows a three-dimensional view of the cockpit with the air guide element partially extended;

[0023] Figure 3C shows a three-dimensional view of the cockpit with the air guide element extended between half and fully extended;

[0024] Figure 3D shows a three-dimensional view of the cockpit with the air guide element fully extended;

[0025] Figure 4A shows a side view of the cockpit with the air guide element fully retracted; Figure 4B shows a side view of the cockpit with the air guide element partially extended;

[0026] Figure 4C shows a side view of the cockpit with the air guide element extended between half and fully extended;

[0027] Figure 4D shows a side view of the cockpit with the air guide element fully extended;

[0028] Figure 5A shows a side view of an airflow and its direction of flow with the air guide element extended approximately halfway;

[0029] Figure 5B shows a side view of the airflow and its direction of flow with the air guide element fully extended;

[0030] Figure 6A shows a top view of the airflow and its direction of flow with the air guide flaps of the air outlet not deflected, and

[0031] Figure 6B shows a top view of the airflow and its direction of flow with laterally deflected air guide flaps of the air outlet.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1, in particular a passenger car, according to an embodiment of the invention. A coordinate system shows a longitudinal axis x, a transverse axis y, and a vertical axis z, all perpendicular to each other. The motor vehicle 1 has a passenger compartment 2 in which vehicle occupants sit on seats 3. Figure 2A shows a highly schematic representation of the dashboard 4 of the motor vehicle 1. The dashboard 4 is, as is generally the case, arranged at a front end of the passenger compartment 2 and extends over the entire width of the front end of the passenger compartment 2. A screen 5 is arranged on the dashboard 4, in particular attached to or connected to the dashboard 4. The screen 5 is, for example, a so-called...Infotainment screen which, with reference to the vehicle's transverse axis y, is positioned between a driver and front passenger and serves, among other things, to display radio, media, air conditioning and navigation information.

[0033] Furthermore, at least one air outlet 6 is arranged in the dashboard 4, from which fresh air and / or recirculated air flows into the passenger compartment 2. An airflow 8 exiting the air outlet 6 (see Figs. 5A, 5B) originates from a vehicle air conditioning system (not shown) and can be heated or cooled. This airflow can also be fresh air, i.e., air from outside the vehicle; recirculated air, i.e., air from the passenger compartment 2 that is recirculated into the passenger compartment 2; or mixed air, i.e., an airflow composed of fresh air and recirculated air.

[0034] The air outlet 6 is associated with at least one air guide element 7, which is located directly behind (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x) the air outlet 6. The air guide element 7 is curved and board-shaped.

[0035] The air guide element 7 is curved such that an axis of curvature is located behind the air outlet 6 (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x) and runs parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis y. A convex surface 7A of the at least one air guide element 7 points essentially away from the vehicle and a concave surface 7B points essentially to the rear (both relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x). Furthermore, the air guide element 7 is retractable into the instrument panel 4 so that it is almost completely recessed therein, as shown in Fig. 2A, and extendable from the instrument panel 4 until its end 7C furthest from the air outlet 6 is near an upper edge 9 of the screen 5, as shown in Fig. 2C.

[0036] The air guide element 7 is arranged at the air outlet 6 in such a way that the airflow 8 flowing out of it flows along the convex surface 7A of the air guide element 7, as can be seen in Fig. 5A and 5B.

[0037] In particular, the flow direction of the airflow 8 exiting the air outlet, in the region of the shortest distance between the air outlet 6 and the air guide element 7, is essentially parallel to a tangent of the convex surface 7A. In this way, the airflow exiting the air outlet 6 follows the convex surface 7A, utilizing the Coandé effect. The further the air guide element 7 extends from the dashboard 4, the longer the path of the airflow 8 along the convex surface 7A, ideally up to its end 7C furthest from the air outlet 6, at which point the airflow leaves the convex surface 7A and continues flowing in the direction of flow separation at the time of this separation.

[0038] Depending on how far the air guide element 7 is extended from the dashboard 4, the airflow 8 exiting the air guide element 7 has a different direction of flow. This involves a change in the angle α between the airflow 8 and an xy-plane, i.e., a plane defined by the vehicle's longitudinal axis x and transverse axis y. Figure 2A shows the air guide element 7 in a (nearly) fully retracted state, so that the airflow is directed over the driver / passenger; for example, the angle α could be approximately 40 to 50°. Figure 2B shows the air guide element 7 in an approximately half-extended state, so that the airflow is directed, for example, at the driver's / passenger's face level; for example, the angle α could be approximately 0 to 10°.Figure 2B shows the air guide element 7 in a fully extended position, so that the airflow is directed, for example, at the chest height of the driver / passenger; the angle α could be approximately -5 to -15°. The angles shown are purely illustrative and for explanatory purposes. The air guide element 7 can assume any desired position between the fully retracted and fully extended positions, resulting in different angles that direct airflow to different areas of the body depending on the occupants' height and seat height.

[0039] Figures 3A to 3D show a three-dimensional view of the cockpit of motor vehicle 1, with the air guide element 7 extended to varying degrees. As can be seen, the screen 5 is positioned between the driver and passenger, relative to a transverse axis y of the vehicle. A steering wheel 10 is located next to the screen 5 on the dashboard 4.

[0040] Figure 3A shows a state in which the air guide element 7 is almost completely or completely retracted. "Almost completely" means that the upper edge 9 of the at least one air guide element 7 protrudes no more than 2 cm beyond the adjacent contour of the dashboard 4.

[0041] Figure 3B shows a state in which the air guide element 7 is partially extended. As can be seen, in this embodiment, two air guide elements 7 are arranged side by side (relative to the vehicle's transverse axis y), both of which are assigned to the same air outlet 6. These two air guide elements 7 can be extended and retracted independently of each other and can thus be assigned to a driver and a passenger, so that one air guide element 7 directs an airflow towards the driver and the other air guide element 7 directs an airflow towards the passenger.

[0042] As can be seen in Figure 3A, the air outlet 6 can be divided into two parts: a left air outlet section 6A and a right air outlet section 6B. Each of the air outlet sections 6A, 6B is assigned to one of the two air guide elements 7.

[0043] Furthermore, the air outlet 6 is equipped with air guide flaps 6C which allow the direction of the airflow to be changed, so that, depending on the position of the air guide flaps 6C, the airflow forms a different angle with an xz-plane of the vehicle, i.e., a plane spanned by the vehicle's longitudinal axis x and vertical axis z. If the air outlet 6 has several sections 6A, 6B, then the air guide flaps 6C of each section can be controlled independently of the air guide flaps 6C of the other sections 6A, 6B. Figures 6A and 6B illustrate the different positions of the air guide flaps 6C. In Figure 6A, the air guide flaps 6C are oriented so that they are parallel to the xz-plane, which is why the airflow 8 also flows approximately parallel to the xz-plane. In Figure 6B, the air guide flaps 6C form an angle β with the xz-plane, so that the airflow 8 is also deflected to the side at approximately an angle β.

[0044] Figure 3C shows a state in which both air guide elements 7 are between half and fully extended.

[0045] Figure 3D shows a state in which both air guide elements 7 are fully extended. In this state, the end 7C furthest from the air outlet 6 is no more than 1 cm from the top edge 9 of the screen. In this way, at least one air guide element 7 is not perceived as obtrusive and is obscured by the screen 5 from the driver's / passenger's perspective.

[0046] Figures 4A to 4D show a side view of the cockpit of the motor vehicle 1, showing different extended states of the air guide element 7.

[0047] Figure 4A shows the same state of the air guide element as Figure 3A. Figure 4B shows the same state of the air guide element as Figure 3B. Figure 4C shows the same state of the air guide element as Figure 3C. Figure 4D shows the same state of the air guide element as Figure 3D.

[0048] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the airflow 8 and its direction of flow as a function of how far the air guide element 7 is extended from the dashboard 4. In Figure 5A, the air guide element 7 is extended approximately halfway, whereas in Figure 5B, the air guide element 7 is fully extended. This results in a larger angle α in Figure 5A than in Figure 5B.

[0049] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description, this illustration and description is to be understood as exemplary and not as limiting, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiment. The mere fact that certain features are mentioned in various dependent claims is not intended to imply that a combination of these features could not also be used advantageously.

Claims

Claims 1. Motor vehicle (1) with a dashboard (4); an air outlet (6) arranged in the dashboard (4); at least one curved air guide element (7) which is associated with the air outlet (6) and which is positioned to the air outlet (6) such that an airflow (8) exiting the air outlet (6) is guided along a convex surface (7A) of the at least one air guide element (7), wherein the at least one air guide element (7) is retractable relative to the dashboard (4).

2. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein by extending and retracting the at least one air guide element (7) the direction of the airflow (8) can be changed, so that depending on the position set by extending and retracting, the airflow (8) forms a different angle (a) to an xy-plane of the motor vehicle (1 ).

3. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air outlet (6) has air guide flaps (6C) with which a flow direction of the airflow (8) can be changed, so that depending on the position of the air guide flaps (6C) the airflow (8) forms a different angle (β) to an xz-plane of the motor vehicle (1 ).

4. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one air guide element (7) is board-shaped.

5. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two air guide elements (7) are associated with the air outlet (6), which are arranged side by side and can be extended and retracted independently of each other.

6. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air outlet (6) is arranged centrally + / - 10% in the dashboard (4) with respect to a transverse axis (y) of the vehicle.

7. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a screen (5) which, with respect to a longitudinal axis (x) of the vehicle, is arranged behind at least one air guide element (7).

8. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to claim 7, wherein in an extended state of the air guide element (7) an end (7C) of the at least one air guide element (7) located away from the air outlet (6) is no more than 1 cm away from an upper edge (9) of the screen.

9. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guide element (7) is made of transparent plastic.

10. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one air guide element (7) is arranged behind the air outlet (6) with respect to a longitudinal axis (x) of the vehicle.

11. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one air guide element (7) is curved such that an axis of curvature, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (x), is arranged behind the air outlet (6).

12. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one air guide element (1) has the form of a curved plate with an end face that leads when extending, and the air guide element (1) rests on a is guided along a path of motion which has a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the air guide element (1 ).

13. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one air guide element (1 ) has a remote end (7C) which, at least in the fully extended state, represents an end of the air guide element (1 ) that is away from the air outlet (4), and wherein the at least one air guide element (7) is retractable relative to the dashboard (4) such that the remote end (7C), when retracting and extending, travels along a path of movement within the fully extended air guide element (7) with respect to an xz-plane.

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