Air outlet assembly comprising an air-guiding element with flexible curvature
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure DE2026100062_06082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Air outlet arrangement with a curvature-flexible air guide element
[0002] The invention relates to an air outlet arrangement for supplying fresh air and / or recirculated air into a vehicle passenger compartment. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such an air outlet arrangement.
[0003] From CN 115570946 A, an air outlet is already known that incorporates 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 and to require a significant amount of installation space.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by an air outlet arrangement according to claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0005] According to an embodiment of the invention, an air outlet arrangement, particularly for a motor vehicle, is provided, comprising an air outlet; at least one air guide element, which is associated with the air outlet and which, with respect to the air outlet, is movable between a recessed and an extended position, wherein the air guide element has a plurality of lamellae 24-3534 arranged in a row, wherein an extended section of the air guide element forms a curved, convex surface which is positioned relative to the air outlet such that an airflow exiting the air outlet, particularly due to the Coandé effect, is guided along the convex surface, and wherein a recessed section of the air guide element has a different radius of curvature and / or a different direction of curvature than the extended section of the air guide element.This embodiment has the advantage that it can assume a different shape in its operating position than in its storage position. This makes it very lightweight and easy to integrate flexibly into limited installation spaces.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the radius and direction of curvature of the extended section of the air guide element adjust themselves automatically. This eliminates the need for an additional actuator, making the air outlet arrangement less susceptible to malfunctions.
[0007] In particular, the lamellae of the air guide element are connected to each other in a spring-like manner.
[0008] For example, the slats are resiliently connected to each other by means of at least one spring strip or at least one leaf spring, torsion springs, coil springs or at least one tension element, in particular a rubber band or a spring-loaded rope.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, a curved exchange shaft is further provided in which the air guide element can be recessed, wherein when the air guide element is inserted into the exchange shaft, the section of the air guide element recessed into the exchange shaft assumes the radius of curvature and the direction of curvature of the exchange shaft.
[0010] 24-3534 According to one embodiment of the invention, adjacent lamellae of the air guide element are connected to one another by means of a film hinge. A film hinge would be a cost-effective, durable connection option for manufacturing the air guide element suitable for mass production.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the lamellae is provided with at least one pin which is guided in a guide hole of a spring strip.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide hole is designed as an elongated hole. This provides some play for the pin, which is necessary when changing the radius and / or direction of curvature, because the distances between adjacent pins then change.
[0013] Furthermore, the invention provides a motor vehicle with an air outlet arrangement.
[0014] According to a further embodiment of the motor vehicle, the extended section of the air guide element is arranged behind the air outlet, relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In particular, the air outlet assembly is arranged on / in a dashboard.
[0015] According to a further embodiment of the motor vehicle, the extended section of the air guide element is curved in such a way that an axis of curvature, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, is arranged behind the air outlet.
[0016] According to another embodiment of the motor vehicle, the extended section of the air guide element has the shape of a curved
[0017] 24-3534Plate with an end face which leads during extension, and wherein the end face of the air guide element is guided during extension on a path of movement which has a radius of curvature which corresponds to the radius of curvature of the fully extended air guide element.
[0018] According to a further embodiment of the motor vehicle, 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 away from the air outlet, and wherein the at least one air guide element is retractable relative to the dashboard in such a way that, when retracting and extending, the remote end, with reference to an xz-plane, travels along a path of movement that lies within the fully extended air guide element.
[0019] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate the following:
[0020] Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0021] Figure 2 shows the air outlet arrangement with the air guide element fully extended according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet arrangement from Fig. 2 from a different perspective;
[0023] Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet arrangement from Fig. 2 from below;
[0024] 24-3534Figure 5 shows the air guide element of the air outlet arrangement according to the invention from Fig. 2 from below;
[0025] Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide element from Fig. 5 from a low angle;
[0026] Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the air guide element from Fig. 5 from an oblique top view;
[0027] Figure 8 shows a connection of a spring element with lamellae of the air guide element from Fig. 5;
[0028] Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet arrangement from Fig. 2, and the
[0029] Figures 10A-10F show different positions of the air guide element of the air outlet assembly.
[0030] 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. A dashboard 4 is arranged at the front end of the passenger compartment 2 and extends over the entire width of the front end of the passenger compartment 2. An air outlet arrangement is also arranged on / in the dashboard 4, which will be explained in more detail below.
[0031] Figure 2 (24-3534) shows the air outlet arrangement 10 with a fully extended air guide element 11 according to an embodiment of the invention. The air outlet arrangement 10 is arranged on and / or integrated into the dashboard 4 (see Figure 1). The air outlet arrangement 10 has at least one air outlet 12 from which fresh air and / or recirculated air flows into the passenger compartment 2. An airflow 13 exiting the air outlet 12 comes via an air duct 14 from a vehicle air conditioning system (not shown) and can be heated or cooled. Furthermore, this airflow can be fresh air, i.e., air from outside the vehicle; recirculated air, i.e., air from the passenger compartment 2 that is supplied back to the passenger compartment 2; or mixed air, i.e., an airflow consisting of fresh air and recirculated air.
[0032] At least one air outlet 12 is associated with at least one air guide element 11, which can be lowered and extended relative to the air outlet 12, wherein an extended section of the air guide element 11 is arranged directly behind (relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis x) the air outlet 12.
[0033] The air guide element 11 can be extended and retracted into a storage compartment 15, the storage compartment 15 being, for example, located within the dashboard 4, and an end of the storage compartment 15 pointing towards the air guide element 11 being flush with a side of the dashboard 4 facing the passenger compartment. Figure 2 shows the air guide element 11 in a fully extended position.
[0034] By means of a drive 16, which is connected to the air guide element 11 via lever arms 17, the air guide element 11 can be fully inserted or lowered into the storage shaft 15 and then extended again. However, the drive 16 is to be understood as an example, and various drive options are conceivable.
[0035] 24-3534 Furthermore, a first screen 18 is arranged on the dashboard 4, in particular attached to or connected to the dashboard 4. The screen 18 is, for example, an infotainment screen which, with respect to the vehicle's transverse axis y, is arranged between a driver and front passenger and serves, among other things, to display radio, media, climate control, and navigation information. In addition, a second screen 19 can be attached to or connected to the dashboard 4. This second screen 19 can, for example, be stowed in a stowage position behind the screen 18 when not in use (from the perspective of the vehicle occupants) and, when in use, be moved or repositioned along the vehicle's transverse axis y towards a front passenger.
[0036] As can be seen in Fig. 2, the air guide element 11 has a different direction of curvature than the exchange shaft 15 when fully extended. When fully retracted, the air guide element assumes the direction of curvature and the radius of curvature of the exchange shaft 15, as will be explained in more detail later.
[0037] An extended section of the air guide element 11 is curved and, for example, in a cross-section in an xz-plane, as shown in Fig. 2, forms a circular arc with a first direction of curvature and a first radius of curvature around a first axis of curvature 20. The first axis of curvature 20 is located behind the air outlet 12 (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x) and is essentially parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis y. A first surface 11A of the at least one air guide element 11 points essentially forward / upward, and a second surface 11B points essentially backward / downward (each relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x). At least one extended section of the first surface 11A forms a convex surface 11C. At least one
[0038] 24-3534, the extended section of the second surface 11 B, however, forms a concave surface 11 D.
[0039] The air transfer duct 15, or the fully retracted air guide element 11, is also curved and, in a cross-section in an xz-plane, as shown in Fig. 2, forms a circular arc with a second direction of curvature and a second radius of curvature around a second axis of curvature 21. The second axis of curvature 21 is located in front of the air outlet 12 (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis x) and is essentially parallel to the vehicle's transverse axis y. Thus, the second direction of curvature is opposite to the first direction of curvature. In other words, the first axis of curvature 21 and the second axis of curvature 22 are located on opposite sides of the path of movement of the air guide element 11, which, in the fully extended state of the air guide element 11, corresponds to the S-curve formed by the extended air guide element 11 and the air transfer duct 15.In the illustrated embodiment, the first radius of curvature is the same as the second radius of curvature, but this is not absolutely necessary.
[0040] The air guide element 11 is arranged at the air outlet 12 such that the airflow 13 exiting from it flows along the convex surface 11C of the air guide element 11, utilizing the Coandé effect. The angle of an airflow 22 exiting the air guide element 11 relative to an xy-plane, i.e., a plane spanned by the vehicle's longitudinal axis x and transverse axis y, is set by the position of the air guide element 11, i.e., the degree to which the air guide element 11 is extended.
[0041] Depending on how far the air guide element 11 is extended from the storage compartment 15 or the dashboard 4, this results in a different flow direction (relative to the xy-plane) of the airflow 22.
[0042] 24-3534 The further the air guide element 11 is extended, the lower the target region of the vehicle occupants is, such as the abdomen, chest, or head. The air guide element 11 can assume any desired position between the fully retracted and fully extended states, resulting in different angles of the airflow 22 (relative to the xy-plane), which direct airflow to different body areas depending on the occupants' height and seat height.
[0043] Figures 4 to 8 now illustrate how the air guide element 11 is constructed so that its direction of curvature and / or radius of curvature can be changed during the extension and retraction process. Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet arrangement from Figure 2 from below, and Figures 5 to 8 show (only) the air guide element 11 from different perspectives.
[0044] The air guide element 11 has a plurality of lamellae 23 arranged in a row. These are arranged side by side in a single layer along the longitudinal direction of the air guide element 11. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction along which the air guide element 11 is extended and retracted. The individual lamellae 23 are made of plastic and have the shape of elongated struts.
[0045] Adjacent louvers 23 are hinged together so that they can pivot relative to each other about a transverse axis. The transverse axis runs parallel to the longitudinal directions of the louvers 23 and between the louvers 23, with the longitudinal directions of the louvers 23 being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the air guide element 11. In particular, adjacent louvers 23 are connected by means of a film hinge 24, so that all louvers 23 are connected to each other in one piece, in particular monolithically. The film hinges 24 of the louvers 23 are arranged on the side of the first surface 11 A and
[0046] 24-3534 run between the lamellae 23. However, it is not necessarily required that film hinges 24 be provided, but the individual lamellae 23 could also be connected to each other via rotary joints or the like, so that in the extended state of the air guide element 11 a gap-free or substantially gap-free convex surface 11 A is formed.
[0047] Because the individual lamellae 23 are connected to each other in a hinged manner, the radius of curvature and / or the direction of curvature of the air guide element 11 can be changed.
[0048] More precisely, the louvers 23 have the form of elongated, board-shaped strips 23A. The surfaces 23B of the louvers 23, which form a section of the first surface 11A, have a curvature with the same radius of curvature as that of the convex surface 11C, which is to be formed by the extended section of the air guide element 11. From the longitudinal ends of the elongated strips 23A, side flanks 23C extend perpendicularly to the surfaces 23B in the direction of the second surface 11B. The side flanks 23C taper in width (i.e., the dimension along the longitudinal direction of the air guide element 11) in a direction from surface 23B to the second surface 11B. This taper is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a central plane along the longitudinal direction of the respective louver 23.
[0049] The degree of taper determines how far adjacent louvers 23 can pivot relative to each other before the side flanks 23C form stops to this pivoting movement. In other words, the degree of taper allows the radius of curvature of the extended section of the air guide element 11 to be set, given that the first surface 11A is convex and the second surface 11B is concave.
[0050] 24-3534 The extended section of the air guide element 11 automatically assumes this state, for which at least one spring element 25 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one spring element 25 consists of two spring strips 25A or leaf springs. These spring strips 25A are provided with guide holes 25B in which pins 23D are guided, protruding from the strips 25A. The pins 23D are fixed in the guide holes 25B, for example, by hot stapling. The spring strips 25A are spring steel sheets. The spring strips 25A are fixed to the lamellae 23 by the pins 23D and they pre-tension the lamellae 23 so that the extended section of the air guide element 11 automatically forms the convex surface 11 C on the first surface 11 A and the concave surface 11 D with the predetermined radius of curvature on the second surface 11 B.As already mentioned, the radius of curvature is predetermined by the side flanks 23C, which act as stops.
[0051] In other words, the spring element(s) 25 pre-tensions the lamellae 23 such that, in the absence of an external force on the air guide element, the extended section of the air guide element 11 automatically assumes a predetermined radius of curvature, such that the convex surface 11 C is formed on the first surface 11 A and the concave surface 11 D is formed on the second surface 11 B.
[0052] When the air guide element 11 retracts into the exchange shaft 15, the vanes 23 retracting into the exchange shaft 11 are subjected to a force external to the air guide element by the exchange shaft 15 and its shape, and the retracting vanes 23 are pivoted against the spring force of the spring elements 25 such that the retracted section of the air guide element 11 assumes the direction and radius of curvature of the exchange shaft 15. In this process, the
[0053] The extended section and the retracted section of the air guide element 11 can have the same direction of curvature or different directions of curvature (as in the illustrated embodiment). Likewise, the extended section and the retracted section of the air guide element 11 can have the same (as in the illustrated embodiment) or different radii of curvature.
[0054] If the air guide element 11, or its lamellae 23, changes direction, for example during entry into the storage chute 15, from one direction of curvature where the first surface 11A forms a convex surface 11C and the second surface 11B a concave surface 11D, to the opposite direction of curvature, then the distance between adjacent pins 23D changes, increasing in this case. Therefore, the guide holes 25B are designed as elongated holes, extending along the longitudinal direction of the air guide element 11 or the longitudinal direction of the spring strips 25A. To minimize the change in the distance between the pins 23D and thus the length of the elongated holes, the spring strips 25A are arranged on the side of the second surface 11B and as close as possible to the first surface 11A.
[0055] Instead of the described spring strips 23A, the spring elements 23 could also be torsion springs, each arranged between adjacent lamellae 23 and pre-tensioning them accordingly. Coil springs, each arranged between adjacent lamellae 23 and pre-tensioning them accordingly, are also conceivable. A tension element running along the longitudinal direction of the air guide element 11 along the second surface 11B, such as a spring-loaded rope, cord, or rubber band, would also be possible.
[0056] Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional view of the air outlet arrangement 10 from Fig. 2. As can be seen, the air guide element 11 is located in this
[0057] Figure 24-3534 shows the device in a position where it is mostly retracted into the storage shaft 15. For retraction and extension, an outermost of the series of slats 23 (only a single slat 23) is pivotally connected to the two lever arms 17, which are rotationally fixed to the drive 16. To allow the lever arms 17 to be connected to the slat 23, the storage shaft 15 is open at the bottom, for example, as shown in Fig. 9. However, the storage shaft 15 could also have lateral slots or the like.
[0058] Furthermore, the air guide element 11 could be extended and retracted by means of a flexible push rod connected to the outer lamella 23. Alternatively, a chain or belt drive running in the transfer shaft 15 could be used.
[0059] In the embodiment described above, the individual lamellae 23 are connected by means of film hinges 24. Instead of the film hinges 24, the lamellae 23 could also be formed separately from one another and connected to each other by means of an adhesive film forming the first surface 11 A, which is glued to the surfaces 23B of the lamellae 23.
[0060] Figures 10A - 10F show different positions of the air guide element 11 of the air outlet assembly 10. Starting with the fully extended position shown in Fig. 10A, the air guide element 11 is continuously retracted, with Figures 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E showing further retracted positions, until the air guide element 11, as shown in Fig. 10F, is fully retracted into the sluice box 15.
[0061] The air outlet arrangement 10 can be positioned centrally (relative to the vehicle's transverse axis y) on the dashboard 4. The air outlet arrangement 10 can thus be positioned to benefit both the driver and the passenger.
[0062] 24-3534 Passenger. It is also possible to provide two air guide elements 11 side by side (along the vehicle's transverse axis y), one assigned to the driver and one to the passenger. In this case, the two air guide elements 11 could be extended and retracted independently of each other.
[0063] Furthermore, the air outlet 12 is equipped with air guide vanes that allow the direction of the airflow 13 discharged from the air outlet, and thus also of the airflow 22 discharged from the air guide element 11, to be changed. Depending on the position of the air guide vanes, the airflow 22 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 multiple air outlets are present (for example, in the case of multiple air guide elements 11), the air guide vanes of each air outlet can be controlled independently of the air guide vanes of the other air outlets. The air guide vanes assigned to a specific air guide element 11 can be controlled together, so that when activated, they all undergo the same change in angle.
[0064] 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 advantageously used.
[0065] 24-3534Reference reference list:
[0066] 1 motor vehicle
[0067] 2 occupant compartment
[0068] 3 vehicle seats
[0069] 4 Dashboard
[0070] 10 Air outlet arrangement 11 Air guide element
[0071] 11A First area
[0072] 11 B Second area
[0073] 11 C Convex surface
[0074] 11 D Concave Surface
[0075] 12 air outlets
[0076] 13 Airflow
[0077] 14 Air duct
[0078] 15 swap bays
[0079] 16 Drive
[0080] 17 Lever arm
[0081] 18 First screen
[0082] 19 Second screen
[0083] 20 First axis of curvature 21 Second axis of curvature 22 Airflow
[0084] 23 lamellae
[0085] 23A strip
[0086] 23B Curved surface 23C Side flank
[0087] 23D Pen
[0088] 24 film hinge
[0089] 25 spring element
[0090] 25A Spring strip
[0091] 24-353425B Guide hole
[0092] 24-3534
Claims
Claims 1. Air outlet arrangement (10), in particular for a motor vehicle (1 ), comprising: an air outlet (12); at least one air guide element (11) which is assigned to the air outlet (12) and which, with respect to the air outlet (12), is movable between a recessed and an extended position, wherein the air guide element (11) has a plurality of lamellae (23) arranged in a row, wherein an extended section of the air guide element (11 ) forms a curved, convex surface (11C) which is positioned towards the air outlet (12) such that an airflow (13) exiting the air outlet (12) is guided along the convex surface (11C), and wherein a recessed section of the air guide element (11) has a different radius of curvature and / or a different direction of curvature than the extended section of the air guide element (11 ).
2. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature and the direction of curvature of the extended section of the air guide element (11) adjust themselves automatically.
3. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamellae (23) of the air guide element (11) are resiliently connected to each other.
4. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 3, wherein the lamellae (23) are resiliently connected to each other by means of a spring strip (25A), torsion springs, coil springs or a tension element, in particular a rubber band or a spring-loaded rope. 24-35345. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with a curved swirl channel (15) in which the air guide element (11) can be recessed, wherein when the air guide element (11) is inserted into the swirl channel (15), the section of the air guide element (11) recessed into the swirl channel (15) assumes the radius of curvature and the direction of curvature of the swirl channel (15).
6. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent lamellae (23) of the air guide element (11) are connected to each other by means of a film hinge (24).
7. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the lamellae (23) is provided with at least one pin (23D) which is guided in a guide hole (25B) of a spring strip (25A).
8. Air outlet arrangement (10) according to claim 7, wherein the guide hole (25B) is designed as an elongated hole.
9. Motor vehicle (1 ) with an air outlet arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8.
10. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the extended section of the air guide element (11) is arranged behind the air outlet (12) with respect to a longitudinal axis (x) of the vehicle.
11. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extended section of the air guide element (11) is curved such that an axis of curvature (20), with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (x), is arranged behind the air outlet (12). 24-353412. Motor vehicle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extended section of the air guide element (11 ) has the form of a curved plate with an end face that leads during extension, and wherein the end face of the air guide element (11) is guided during extension on a path of movement which has a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the fully extended air guide element (11). 24-3534