AIR BLOWER DEVICE

An air outlet apparatus defines: an air guide channel to pass through an airflow; and an air outlet to blow out the airflow passed through the air guide channel. The air outlet apparatus has a configuration: to guide a plurality of the airflows from a plurality of directions toward a collision area, the collision area being an area to allow the airflows to be collided with each other and at least part of the collision area being in the air guide channel; and to control an blowing air from the air outlet through the air guide channel in at least one of flow direction or convergence degree by controlling strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to air outlet apparatuses for vehicles such as automobiles.

BACKGROUND ART

Air outlet apparatuses, which regulate flow rate and flow direction of heating and cooling air, have conventionally been used to control indoor environments of vehicles such as automobiles. A conventional air outlet apparatus (here in after referred to as “conventional apparatus”), for example, has a hollow tubular body defining an air guide channel (a flow passage) and a plurality of air guide plates rotatably supported in the tubular body. This conventional apparatus enables its blowing air to be regulated in flow rate and flow direction by adjusting rotational positions (i.e., rotational angles around an axis perpendicular to the center axis of the tubular body) of the air guide plates (see the patent literature, JP 2011-079374 A, in Citation List).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

JP 2011-079374 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

For air outlet apparatuses used in automobiles, an air outlet apparatus is typically located in an area around a dashboard of an automobile. In recent years, however, the area to locate the air outlet apparatus has been reducing its space to enhance an appearance of and around the dashboard. This causes the air outlet apparatus to be desired to further reduce its size as far as possible without limiting its own functions.

However, the conventional apparatus is configured to regulate its blowing air in flow rate and flow direction by using the air guide plates, as described above. This configuration typically makes it difficult to reduce the entire size of the conventional apparatus without limiting its functions (i.e., the regulation in flow rate and flow direction). For example, any careless downsizing of the conventional apparatus can also downsize the air guide plates, thus reducing an amount of air to be regulated by the air guide plates. This can cause the conventional apparatus to fail to sufficiently regulate its blowing air in flow direction. On the other hand, for example, any downsizing of the conventional apparatus while keeping the size of the air guide plates can relatively enlarge the air guide plates compared with the air guide channel, thus reducing an amount of air to pass through the conventional apparatus. This can cause the conventional apparatus to fail to sufficiently ensure an amount of its blowing air.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air outlet apparatus that enables reducing its size without limiting its own function(s).

Solution to Problem

An air outlet apparatus, to achieve the above object, comprises: an air guide channel to pass through an airflow; and an air outlet to blow out the airflow passed through the air guide channel.

The air outlet apparatus may have any configuration to define the air guide channel and the air outlet, and its specific configuration is not limited. For example, the air outlet apparatus may have a body to define the air guide channel (in other words, an area or a region to allow airflow to be passed through its inside) and to allow the airflow passed through the channel to blow out from an opening (i.e., the air outlet) formed on the body. In addition, the air outlet in this body corresponds to an open end of the air guide channel (see the embodiment F described below).

The air guide channel of the air outlet apparatus is not perpendicularly limited in its number and its configuration. For example, the air outlet apparatus of the present invention may define one or more air guide channels. Furthermore, for example, a plurality of individual air guide channels may combine each other and form singular air guide channel, and then the entire air guide channel(s) may form one air guide channel.

This air outlet apparatus has a configuration:

to guide a plurality of the airflows from a plurality of directions toward a collision area, which is an area to allow the airflows to be collided with each other, and at least part of which is in the air guide channel; and

to control an blowing air from the air outlet through the air guide channel in at least one of flow direction or convergence degree by controlling strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area.

Due to the above configuration, controlling the strengths of one or more of the airflows guided to the collision area enables the air outlet apparatus to control at least one of flow direction or convergence degree of an airflow blown out from the air outlet (here in after referred to as “blowing air”). Hence, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention enables controlling its blowing air without using the air guide plates of the conventional apparatus. This thus enables providing an air outlet apparatus that enables reducing its size without limiting its own function(s).

Furthermore, in the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention, locating at least part of the collision area in the air guide channel enables the air outlet apparatus to reduce or eliminate diffusing of the airflows collided in the collision area to the outside of the collision area (in other words, to any direction different from the direction toward the air outlet). The air outlet apparatus according to the present invention thus enables forming a blowing air more efficiently compared with locating the whole of the collision area outside of the air guide channel.

Furthermore, in the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention, eliminating the air guide plates required and employed in the conventional apparatus enables the air outlet apparatus to design the shape of the air outlet more freely compared with the conventional apparatus (since, for example, the air outlet apparatus does not require any effort in designing the air guide plates in its location, size and rotational range). For example, the shape of the air outlet may include several shapes in view of a beautiful appearance (such as rectangle, ellipse, triangle, rhombus, and any shape formed by combining them).

The “at least one of flow direction or convergence degree of the blowing air” is here in after referred to as “state of the blowing air” for the sake of simplicity. In addition, as can be understood from the above, the air outlet apparatus enables controlling the “flow rate” as well by controlling the strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area. Furthermore, eliminating the air guide plates enables the air outlet apparatus to enhance its appearance. Additionally, reducing the number of components to produce the air outlet apparatus enables the air outlet apparatus to reduce the cost for its production.

On the other hand, the term “in the air guide channel” represents “inner area or region of the air guide channel”. In other words, the term represents an area or a region upstream of the aperture surface defined by the air outlet. In addition, the “upstream” represents an opposite direction to the direction of air movement when air moves through the air guide channel.

The term “strength of the airflow” represents a parameter that can affect at least one of flow direction or convergence degree of the blowing air, and its specific parameter is not limited. For example, the strength of the airflow includes one or both of the flow rate (mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate) and the flow velocity of the airflow, a parameter determined based on one or both of them to represent a degree of the strength of the airflow, and an amount of energy that the airflow has.

The term “controlling strength of the airflow” includes increasing the strength of the airflow, decreasing the strength of the airflow, and keeping the strength of the airflow at a target strength. The “target strength” of course includes zero. In other words, one or more of a plurality of airflows (from a plurality of directions) guided to the collision area may have the strength of zero. For example, when the air outlet apparatus sets one airflow to have a specific strength other than zero and the other airflows to have zero strength (in other words, only one airflow is guided to the collision area), the one airflow passes through the collision area without changing its state such as flow direction due to no collision with the other airflows, and then going out from the air outlet.

The term “convergence degree” of the blowing air represents the degree of diffusing (or spreading) of the blowing air. Furthermore, methods to measure the convergence degree in numerical terms include, for example, a method to use a cross-sectional area of the blowing air at a location away from the air outlet apparatus by a predetermined distance when being cut by a plane perpendicular to the its flow direction, or a method to use a space angle defined by the blowing air when being assumed to have a cone-shape with a vertex that is a suitable single point in the collision area.

The degree of diffusing at a location away from the air outlet increases by decreasing convergence degree of the blowing air. This enables the blowing air to be soft (mild). On the other hand, the degree of diffusing at a location away from the air outlet decreases by increasing convergence degree of the blowing air. This enables the blowing air to be hard (sharp).

In addition, as can be understood from the above, increasing the convergence degree of the blowing air means enhancing directivity of the blowing air. Thus, increasing the convergence degree of the blowing air to a target direction means ejecting the blowing air to the target direction intensively (in other words, aligning the flow direction of the blowing air with the target direction). Hence, controlling the convergence degree of the blowing air correlates controlling the flow direction of the blowing air.

Next, several embodiments (the embodiment A to the embodiment F) of the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

Embodiment A

The air outlet apparatus according to the present invention is not limited in its method or configuration to guide the airflows toward the collecting region.

For example, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may further comprise a regulation member to regulate flow directions of the airflows guided to the collision area.

The above configuration enables the airflows “before” entering the collision area (in other words, before reaching to the collision area) to have an appropriate state in view of controlling the state of the blowing air (for example, to prevent its excessive diffusing). Hence, this air outlet apparatus enables the state of the blowing air to be controlled more accurately compared with an air outlet apparatus with no regulation member.

Embodiment B

The regulation member described above is not limited in its configuration or shape.

For example, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ, as the regulation member, a member having a convex shape protruded to the collision area or a member having a shape to allow the airflows guided to the collision area to be converged.

As the “member having a convex shape”, a semicircular column member, a hemisphere (dome-like) member and a cone-like (cone or pyramid shape) member may be employed. This configuration allows the airflow “before” entering the collision area to be guided to flow along the surface of the member having a convex shape toward the collision area. Hence, determining the shape of this member (for example, its specific convex shape, size or radius of curvature of the convex surface) enables the airflow “before” entering the collision area to have an appropriate state in view of controlling the state of the blowing air (for example, to prevent its diffusing and to flow toward a target direction). In addition, this member may be placed upstream of the aperture surface of the air outlet to protrude to a direction from the upstream to the downstream of the airflow (in other words, to protrude toward the collision area).

As the “member having a shape to allow the airflows guided to the collision area to be converged”, a tubular member that enables an airflow to be ejected to a target direction and is placed to direct its axis to pass through the collision area may be employed. This configuration allows the airflow “before” entering the collision area to be converged to a target direction (in other words, to be guided to the collision area in a converged state to a target direction). Hence, determining the shape of this member (for example, its target direction to converge the airflow) enables the airflow “before” entering the collision area to have an appropriate state in view of controlling the state of the blowing air.

Controlling the state of the airflow “before” entering the collision area as described above enables the state of the airflow “after” the collision in the collision area (i.e., the blowing air) to be more appropriately controlled compared with a blowing air without such controlling. For example, that enables the blowing air to reduce or eliminate its diffusing to the outside of the collision area (in other words, to any direction different from the direction toward the air outlet) after the collision, thus enabling forming a blowing air more efficiently.

In addition, in view of the controlling of the state of the airflow before and after the collision, a front edge of the convex-shaped member may preferably be close to the collision area as far as possible (or touch to or enter the collision area). Furthermore, the member having a shape to allow the airflows to be converged may preferably achieve high convergence degree as far as possible.

Embodiment C

The number of airflows to be guided to the collision area may be determined in view of performances of the apparatus such as a range of the flow direction of the blowing air and an accuracy of the controlling in flow direction and convergence degree, and its specific number is not limited.

For example, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may have a configuration to allow the airflows to be guided toward the collision area from at least three directions whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other.

When only two airflows are guided toward the collision area from two directions, the apparatus enables the blowing air to change its flow direction and convergence degree only in a plane (two dimensions) determined by the two directions. To the contrary, when at least three airflows are guided toward the collision area from at least three directions (which are not arranged on the same plane), the apparatus enables the blowing air to change its flow direction and convergence degree in an area (three dimensions) determined by the three directions. Hence, the above configuration enables the blowing air to control its state more freely compared with a configuration in which two airflows are guided to the collision area from two directions.

The term “at least three directions are arranged on separate planes different from each other” means eliminating an arrangement in which all of the at least three directions is on the same plane. In other words, the term includes: an arrangement in which each of the at least three directions is on its individual plane; and an arrangement in which one or more of the directions is on a plane while the other directions are the other plane.

Embodiment D

Furthermore, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may have a configuration to allow the airflows to be guided toward the collision area from four directions whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other.

When the air outlet apparatus is mounted on vehicle equipment such as a dashboard of an automobile, the blowing air may preferably have four-degree-of-freedom of the flow direction (for example, upward direction, downward direction, right direction and left direction with respect to the central axis of the air outlet apparatus). The above configuration enables four airflows to be guided to the collision area from four directions, which correspond to the degree of freedom, and thus enabling a relatively easy controlling of the state of the blowing air.

The term “four directions are arranged on separate planes different from each other” means, as same as the above, eliminating an arrangement in which all of the four directions is on the same plane.

Embodiment E

The strength of the airflow guided to the collision area may be controlled by an appropriate method, and its specific method is not limited.

For example, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may comprise a valve in the air guide channel to control an amount of the airflow passed through the air guide channel, and the strength of the airflow guided to the collision area after passing through the air guide channel may be controlled by changing an opening degree of the valve.

The above configuration enables a relatively easy controlling of the strength of the airflow guided to the collision area. In addition, when the air outlet apparatus defines a plurality of the air guide channels, each of the air guide channels may preferably have its individual valve. This enables the strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area to be controlled separately.

Embodiment F

As can be understood from the above, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention, which comprises the above characteristics (for example, guiding a plurality of airflows to the collision area from a plurality of directions, and controlling the strength of the airflow guided to the collision area) achieves the above object. In other words, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may comprise the above characteristics, and their specific configurations are not limited.

For example, as one specific configuration, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may comprise a body including: an air guide channel having a plurality of air passages and a collecting region to collect the air passages; an air outlet to blow out air passed through the air guide channel; and an air inlet to allow air to flow into the air guide channel,

the air passages each having a first open end near the air outlet and a second open end near the air inlet,

the first open ends each opening toward a collision area to locate at least part of the collision area in the air guide channel, the collision area being an area to allow airflows ejected from the first open ends to be collided with each other,

the air passages each having a control member to control a strength of the airflow to be guided toward the collision area.

Due to the above configuration, controlling the strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area by using the control member enables the air outlet apparatus to control at least one of flow direction or convergence degree of an airflow blown out from the air outlet (i.e., the state of the blowing air).

Furthermore, as same as the Embodiment A, the above air outlet apparatus may further comprise a regulation member to regulate the flow directions of the airflows guided to the collision area.

Furthermore, as same as the Embodiment B, the above air outlet apparatus may employ, as the regulation member, a member having a convex shape protruded to the collision area or a member having a shape to allow the airflows guided to the collision area to be converged.

Furthermore, as same as the Embodiment C, the above air outlet apparatus may have the first open ends each opening toward the collision area to allow the airflows to be ejected toward the collision area from at least three directions whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other.

Furthermore, as same as the Embodiment D, the above air outlet apparatus may have the first open ends each opening toward the collision area to allow the airflows to be ejected toward the collision area from four directions whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other.

Furthermore, as same as the Embodiment E, the above air outlet apparatus may employ, as the control member, a valve to control an amount of the airflow passed through the air guide channel.

The above configuration enables controlling of the strength of the airflow guided to the collision area by changing the opening degree of the valve.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention enables reducing its size without limiting its own function(s)

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An air outlet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described by referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1toFIG. 3are schematic drawings each illustrating an air outlet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (here in after referred to as “apparatus embodiment”). The apparatus embodiment10includes a body20defining a plurality of air guide channels and control valves31,32,33,34each located in the corresponding one of the air guide channels. These members will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1is a schematic perspective drawing of the apparatus embodiment10when it is viewed from its front.FIG. 2is a schematic perspective drawing of the apparatus embodiment10when it is viewed from its back. As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the outline of the body20of the apparatus embodiment10is approximately a cuboid-like shape (a platy shape) that is longer in the width direction (width in the figure) than in height direction (height in the figure).

The body20has back-side inlets (here in after referred to as “air inlets”)21,22,23,24to allow air to flow into the body20and a front-side outlet (here in after referred to as “air outlet”)25to allow the intake air to be blown out from the body20. In other words, the body20defines the air guide channels in its inside to allow airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 flowed from the air inlets21,22,23,24to pass through the channels (the air guide channels will be described in detail below). The body20blows out a blowing air A, which is a merged airflow of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 passed through the air guide channels, from the air outlet25to a target direction.

The control valves31,32,33,34is supported in the body20(i.e., in the air guide channels) so that each of them is located near the corresponding one of the back-side inlets21,22,23,24. The control valves31,32,33,34are valving elements each having a platy shape rotatable around a shaft to enable the corresponding one of the air guide channels to control an amount of air passed through the channel depending on its opening degree (i.e., its rotational angle). In other words, controlling the opening degrees of the control valves31,32,33,34allow the airflows passing through the air guide channels toward the air outlet25to change their strengths (for example, their flow rates). The control valves31,32,33,34are configured to enable their opening degrees to be controlled by using usual methods (for example, a method to allow users to directly control the control valves via linking members (not illustrated), or a method to operate motors (not illustrated) mounted on the control valves depending on user's instructions).

The air guide channels defined by the body20will be described in detail below.FIG. 3is a schematic drawing illustrating the body20with its internal structure to explain the air guide channels. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the body20has, in its inside, several members illustrated by broken lines. Those members define: four air passages (a plurality of air passages) to allow the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 to pass through the four passages; and a collecting region to allow the air passages to be collected (which corresponds to, inFIG. 3, an area in the air guide channels near the center of the air outlet25). In other words, the body20has the air guide channels that form the four (a plurality of) air passages and the collecting region for the passages.

The dashed-dotted line AX in the figure is here in after referred to as “central axis AX of the body20” for the sake of simplicity. Furthermore, the direction toward an area in front of the body20along the central axis AX is here in after referred to as “front direction (F)”, the direction toward an upper area over the body20perpendicular to the central axis AX as “upward direction (U)”, the direction toward a downward area below the body20perpendicular to the central axis AX as “downward direction (D)”, the direction toward a right area beside the body20perpendicular to the central axis AX as “right direction (R)”, and the direction toward a left area beside the body20perpendicular to the central axis AX as “left direction (L)”. These directions are defined according to the up, down, left and right directions when the apparatus embodiment10is actually mounted on vehicle equipment such as a dashboard of an automobile and viewed by users.

When the airflow a1 flows into the body20, the airflow a1 once changes its flow direction to the left direction (L) to be directed away from the central axis AX of the body20, and then changes its flow direction to be directed close to the central axis AX again. After that, the airflow a1 moves along a frontal surface of a regulation member26in the front direction (F), which member has a convex shape protruded to the front direction (F), and flows to the center of the air outlet25(i.e., the collecting region). The regulation member26regulates (or controls or restricts) the flow direction of the airflow a1 as above. The airflow a1 flows to a direction slightly leaned toward the front direction (F) compared with a direction perpendicular to the central axis AX. In other words, the body20defines an air guide channel that enables the airflow a1 to flow as illustrated inFIG. 3.

The outline of the regulation member26is approximately a partially-clipped shape from a cylinder. In other words, the outline of the regulation member26is approximately a pillar shape whose top and bottom surface have a shape formed from a sector (circular sector) by removing an isosceles triangle, which is formed with a chord segment of the sector and two line segments (radius), from the sector. The shape of the regulation member26will be described in detail below.

The airflow a2 changes its flow direction to flow to the center of the air outlet25(i.e., the collecting region) as same as the airflow a1, except for a difference between the left direction (L) and the right direction (R). The airflow a2 flows to a direction slightly leaned toward the front direction (F) compared with a direction perpendicular to the central axis AX. In other words, the body20defines an air guide channel that enables the airflow a2 to flow as illustrated inFIG. 3.

When the airflow a3 flows into the body20, the airflow a3 once changes its flow direction to the upward direction (U) to be directed away from the central axis AX of the body20, and then changes its flow direction to be directed close to the central axis AX again. After that, the airflow a3 flows to the center of the air outlet25(i.e., the collecting region) through the outlet27located upside of the center of the air outlet25. The airflow a3 flows to a direction slightly leaned toward the front direction (F) compared with a direction perpendicular to the central axis AX. In other words, the body20defines an air guide channel that enables the airflow a3 to flow as illustrated inFIG. 3.

The airflow a4 changes its flow direction to flow to the center of the air outlet25(i.e., the collecting region) through the outlet28located downside of the center of the air outlet25as same as the airflow a3, except for a difference between the upward direction (U) and the downward direction (D). The airflow a4 flows to a direction slightly leaned toward the front direction (F) compared with a direction perpendicular to the central axis AX. In other words, the body20defines an air guide channel that enables the airflow a4 to flow as illustrated inFIG. 3.

As described above, the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 flow to the center of the air outlet25(i.e., the collecting region) via the air guide channels and then collide with each other. When colliding with each other, the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 merges (mixes). After that, the merged airflow (i.e., the blowing air A) of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 is blown out to a direction determined depending on the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4.

In this embodiment, the location (area) to allow the airflows to be collided with each other as described above is here in after referred to as “collision area”. This collision area will be described in detail below.

FIG. 4is a schematic drawing illustrating a partial cross-section of the body20around the air outlet25when the body20is cut by using the X-X surface inFIG. 3(i.e., a surface on which the front direction (F), the right direction (R) and the left direction (L) belongs). As illustrated inFIG. 4, the airflow a1 and the airflow a2 (and the airflows a3, a4 which are not illustrated) collide with each other in the collision area CA. The body20places the collision area CA at a position where at least part of the collision area CA is in a location upstream of the aperture surface of the air outlet25(i.e., in the air guide channels). As can be understood from the above, the location of the collision area CA can be set depending on parameters such as the structure of the air guide channels defined by the body20and the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4.

The body20in this embodiment is configured to allow the airflows to flow into the collision area CA from four different directions.

In other words, the open ends of the air passages for the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 near the air outlet25(in the figure, the open end OA1 for the airflow a1, the open end OA2 for the airflow a2, the outlet27for the airflow a3 which is not illustrated, and the outlet28for the airflow a4) open toward the collecting region so that at least part of the collision area CA, where the airflows through the open ends collide with each other, is in the air guide channels.

As described above, the regulation member26has a convex shape protruded to the front direction (F). In other words, the regulation member26has a convex shape protruded to the collision area CA, as illustrated inFIG. 4. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front edge26atouches to the collision area CA. The front edge26adoes not necessarily touches to the collision area CA and can separate from the collision area CA.

The body20of the apparatus embodiment10arranges the flow directions of the airflows a1, a2 on a substantially same plane. On the other hand, the body20also arranges the flow directions of the airflows a3, a4 on another substantially same plane (which is different from the plane where the flow directions of the airflows a1, a2 are arranged). In other words, the flow directions of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 are arranged so that not all of the flow directions are arranged on a substantially same plane.

Schematic configuration of the apparatus embodiment10is described above.

Actual operations of the apparatus embodiment10will be described below.

The apparatus embodiment10controls the strengths of the airflow a1, a2, a3, a4, which are guided to the collision area CA through the air guide channels, by changing opening degrees of the control valves31,32,33,34. The apparatus embodiment10thereby controls the flow direction and the convergence degree of the blowing air A. Several examples of controlling the blowing air A by the apparatus embodiment10will be described below by referring toFIG. 5toFIG. 19.

FIG. 5is a schematic drawing illustrating the flow direction and the convergence degree of the blowing air A when four airflows (i.e., the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4) flow into the collision area CA from four different directions. In particular,FIG. 5(a) is a schematic drawing, viewed from the front direction (F) inFIG. 3, illustrating the airflows flowing to the collision area CA.FIG. 5(b) is a schematic drawing, viewed from the left direction (L) inFIG. 3, illustrating a state of the blowing air A.FIG. 5(c) is a schematic drawing, viewed from the upward direction (U) inFIG. 3, illustrating a state of the blowing air A.

This example illustrated inFIG. 5assumes, for the sake of simplicity, that the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 have the same strength (the following examples illustrated inFIGS. 6-19also assume the airflows have the same strength). However, the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 does not necessarily have the same strength. The strengths of the airflows may be each controlled appropriately based on the flow direction and the convergence degree of the blowing air A.

As illustrated inFIG. 5(a)-(c), the blowing air A is blown out to the front direction (F) in a relatively converged state. Reasons for this include a reduction in a diffusion of the blowing air A in the upward direction (U) or the downward direction (D), which diffusion is caused by a collision of the airflow a1 from the left direction (L) and the airflow a2 from the right direction (R), due to the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U) and the airflow a4 from the downward direction (D).

In the followingFIG. 6toFIG. 19, the figures with the symbol (a) are schematic drawing, viewed from the front direction (F) inFIG. 3, illustrating the airflows flowing to the collision area CA, as same asFIG. 5. Furthermore, the figures with the symbol (b) are schematic drawings, viewed from the left direction (L) inFIG. 3, illustrating a state of the blowing air A, as same asFIG. 5. Furthermore, the figures with the symbol (c) are schematic drawings, viewed from the upward direction (U) inFIG. 3, illustrating a state of the blowing air A, as same asFIG. 5. In the following description regardingFIG. 6toFIG. 19, any information about the subjects illustrated in the figures with the symbol (a)-(c) may be appropriately omitted.

FIG. 6is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L) and the airflow a2 from the right direction (R), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a3 and the airflow a4. In this example illustrated inFIG. 6, the airflows a1, a2 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the upward direction (U) and the downward direction (D) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the upward and the downward direction (U, D) by the airflows a3, a4, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

This example does not include the airflow a3 and the airflow a4 (i.e., the strengths of the airflows are zero) for the same of simplicity. However, as can be understood from the above, the state of the blowing air A would have the same tendency as this example if the strengths of the airflows a3, a4 are smaller than those in the example illustrated inFIG. 5, while this example does not include the airflows a3, a4. In other words, controlling the strengths of the airflows a3, a4 enables the blowing air A to be any intermediate state between the example inFIG. 5and the example inFIG. 6.

Furthermore, as can be understood from the above, in the examples illustrated inFIG. 7toFIG. 19, controlling the strengths of the airflows enables the blowing air A to be any intermediate state between the state in the example that includes the airflows (i.e., the example inFIG. 5) and the state in the example that does not include the airflows, as same as this example.

FIG. 7is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a3 from the upward direction (U) and the airflow a4 from the downward direction (D), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1 and the airflow a2. In this example illustrated inFIG. 7, the airflows a3, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the right direction (R) and the left direction (L) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the left and the right direction (L, R) by the airflows a1, a2, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 8is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only three airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L), the airflow a2 from the right direction (R) and the airflow a4 from the downward direction (D), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a3. In this example illustrated inFIG. 8, the airflows a1, a2, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the upward direction (U) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the upward direction (U) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the upward direction (U) by the airflow a3, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 9is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only three airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L), the airflow a2 from the right direction (R) and the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a4. In this example illustrated inFIG. 9, the airflows a1, a2, a3 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the downward direction (D) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the downward direction (D) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the downward direction (D) by the airflow a4, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 10is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only three airflows, the airflow a2 from the right direction (R), the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U) and the airflow a4 from the left direction (L), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1. In this example illustrated inFIG. 10, the airflows a2, a3, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the left direction (L) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the left direction (L) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the left direction (L) by the airflow a1, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 11is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only three airflows, the airflow a1 from the left direction (L), the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U) and the airflow a4 from the left direction (L), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a2. In this example illustrated inFIG. 11, the airflows a1, a3, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the right direction (R) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion in the right direction (R) is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A in the right direction (R) by the airflow a2, as different from the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 12is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L) and the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a2 and the airflow a4. In this example illustrated inFIG. 12, the airflows a1, a3 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the downward-right direction (D, R) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion is as same as that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a low diffusion of the blowing air A compared with a diffusion in a front collision of airflows (seeFIG. 6andFIG. 7), while a lack of the reduction in the diffusion of the blowing air A as the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 13is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L) and the airflow a4 from the downward direction (D), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a2 and the airflow a3. In this example illustrated inFIG. 13, the airflows a1, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the upward-right direction (U, R) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion is as same as that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a2 from the right direction (R) and the airflow a4 from the downward direction (D), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1 and the airflow a3. In this example illustrated inFIG. 14, the airflows a2, a4 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the upward-left direction (U, L) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion is as same as that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 12.

FIG. 15is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only two airflows, the airflows a2 from the right direction (R) and the airflow a3 from the upward direction (U), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1 and the airflow a4. In this example illustrated inFIG. 15, the airflows a2, a3 have the same strength.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the downward-left direction (D, L) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its diffusion is as same as that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 12.

FIG. 16is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only one airflows, the airflows a1 from the left direction (L), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a2, the airflow a3 and the airflow a4.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the right direction (R) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its convergence is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include a small diffusion of the blowing air A due to the lack of the collision and the mergence of a plurality of airflows as the example inFIG. 5.

FIG. 17is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only one airflows, the airflows a2 from the right direction (R), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1, the airflow a3 and the airflow a4.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the left direction (L) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its convergence is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 16.

FIG. 18is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only one airflows, the airflows a3 from the upward direction (U), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1, the airflow a2 and the airflow a4.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the downward direction (D) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its convergence is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 16.

FIG. 19is a schematic drawing illustrating the state of the blowing air A when only one airflows, the airflows a4 from the downward direction (D), flow into the collision area CA. In other words, this example does not include the airflow a1, the airflow a2 and the airflow a3.

The blowing air A in this example is blown out to a leaned direction to the upward direction (U) with respect to the front direction (F) in a state that its convergence is higher than that of the example inFIG. 5. Reasons for this include the same one in the example illustrated inFIG. 16.

The examples illustrated inFIG. 5toFIG. 19assumes, for the sake of simplicity, that the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 have the same strength. However, the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 does not necessarily have the same strength and may have different strengths. As can be understood from the above, the different strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 enable the blowing air A blown out from the air outlet25to have any flow direction and any convergence degree depending on their strengths.

In other words, the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 may be controlled appropriately to align the flow direction and the convergence degree of the blowing air A with a target flow direction and convergence degree. In controlling the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4, the strengths may be controlled individually (in other words, one of the strengths may be controlled with no relation to the others of the strengths), or the strengths may be controlled with any relations between at least two of them (in other words, one of the strengths may be controlled with any relations to at least one of the others of the strengths).

In particular, the opening degrees of the control valves31,32,33,34(which correspond to the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4, as described above) may be controlled appropriately to align the flow direction and the convergence degree of the blowing air A with a target flow direction and convergence degree.

As explained above, the apparatus embodiment10is configured to allow a plurality of (one to four) airflows to be guided to the collision area CA. Furthermore, the apparatus embodiment10is configured to enable the blowing air A to have any flow direction and any convergence degree by controlling the strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area CA. Thus, the apparatus embodiment10achieves any blowing air A having any flow direction and any convergence degree without using any members such as the air guide plates. Consequently, the apparatus embodiment10is an air outlet apparatus that enables reducing its size without limiting its own function(s).

Overview of Embodiments

As explained by referring toFIGS. 1-19, an air outlet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (the apparatus embodiment10) defines: an air guide channel (i.e., the inside of the body20) to pass through an airflow; and an air outlet25to blow out the airflow passed through the air guide channel.

The apparatus embodiment10has a configuration:

to guide a plurality of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 from a plurality of directions (L, R, U, D) toward a collision area CA, which is an area to allow the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 to be collided with each other and at least part of which is in the air guide channel (i.e., the area upstream of the aperture surface of the air outlet25); and

to control an blowing air A from the air outlet25through the air guide channel in at least one of flow direction or convergence degree by controlling strengths of the airflows guided to the collision area (i.e., the opening degrees of the control valves31,32,33,34).

The apparatus embodiment10has a regulation member26to regulate flow directions of the airflows guided to the collision area CA.

In the apparatus embodiment10,

the regulation member26is a member having a convex shape protruded to the collision area CA. The regulation member26may be a member having a shape to allow the airflows guided to the collision area to be converged (see the tubular member26binFIG. 20A(c)), as described below.

The apparatus embodiment10has a configuration to allow the airflows to be guided toward the collision area CA from four directions (L, R, U, D) whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other (seeFIG. 3. L and R are arranged on the same plane, while U and D are arranged on a plane different from the plane on which L and R are arranged).

Furthermore, the air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may have a configuration to allow the airflows to be guided toward the collision area CA from at least three directions whose all or a part are arranged on separate planes different from each other.

The apparatus embodiment10has valves (i.e., the control valves31,32,33,34) in the air guide channel to control an amount of the airflow passed through the air guide channel, and control the strength of the airflow a1, a2, a3, a4 guided to the collision area CA after passing through the air guide channel by changing an opening degree of the valves31,32,33,34.

In other words, the apparatus embodiment10has a body20including: an air guide channel (i.e., the inside of the body20) having a plurality of air passages (i.e., the air passages to pass through the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4) and a collecting region (i.e., the area in the air guide channel near the center of the air outlet25) to collect the air passages; an air outlet25to blow out air passed through the air guide channel; and air inlets21-24to allow air to flow into the air guide channel.

The air passages each has a first open end OA1, OA2,27,28near the air outlet and a second open end21-24near the air inlet.

The first open ends each opens toward a collision area CA to locate at least part of the collision area CA in the air guide channel (i.e., the area upstream of the aperture surface of the air outlet25), which is an area to allow airflows a1-a4 ejected from the first open ends to be collided with each other.

The air passages each has a control member (i.e., the control valves31-34) to control a strength of the airflow to be guided to the collision area CA.

Other Embodiments

While the present invention has been described in detail by referring to the specific embodiment, it is apparent that various modifications or corrections may be made by the person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

For example, the regulation member26of the apparatus embodiment10has approximately a partially-clipped convex shape from a cylinder (seeFIG. 4). However, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ, as the regulation member26, other embodiments. For example, several embodiments having the shapes and the configurations illustrated inFIG. 20AandFIG. 20B(in particular, the symbols (a) to (h) in the figures) may be employed as the regulation member26.FIG. 20AandFIG. 20Billustrate a series of embodiments of the regulation member26, and thus include a series of symbols (a) to (h).

In particular,FIG. 20A(a)-(d) andFIG. 20B(e) are schematic drawings illustrating partial cross-sections of the body20around the air outlet25when the body20is cut by using the X-X surface inFIG. 3. In other words,FIG. 20A(a)-(d) andFIG. 20B(e) illustrate cross-sections of the regulation member26viewed from the upward direction or the downward direction of the body20. The regulation member26inFIG. 20A(a) has a triangle pole shape. The regulation member26inFIG. 20A(b) has a triangle-pole-like shape with two concave side surfaces. The regulation member26inFIG. 20A(c) has tubular members26bto allow airflows to be ejected to target directions. Furthermore, the regulation member26inFIG. 20A(d) has a combined shape of the triangle pole shape inFIG. 20A(a) and the tubular shape inFIG. 20A(c). Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 20B(e), an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention does not necessarily has a regulation member having a convex shape protruded to the collision area CA.

Furthermore,FIG. 20B(f)-(h) are schematic drawings illustrating partial cross-sections of the body20around the air outlet25when the body20is cut by using the Y-Y surface inFIG. 3. In other words,FIG. 20B(f)-(h) illustrate cross-sections of the regulation member26viewed from the right direction or the left direction of the body20. The regulation member26inFIG. 20B(f) has a convex shape protruded to the collision area CA with a combination of two flat surface. The regulation member26inFIG. 20B(g) has a convex shape protruded to the collision area CA with a curved surface. Furthermore, the regulation member26inFIG. 20B(h) has a shape that does not protruded to the collision area CA.FIG. 20B(h) corresponds to the shape of the regulation member26employed in the above apparatus embodiment10.

Furthermore, the outlets27,28of the apparatus embodiment10, which allow the airflows a3, a4 from the upward-downward directions to pass through their inside toward the collision area CA, has approximately a rectangle-like shape that is longer in the left-right direction than in the direction along the central axis AX. However, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ, as the outlet27,28, other embodiments. For example, several embodiments having the shapes and the configurations illustrated inFIG. 21AandFIG. 21B(in particular, the symbols (a) to (e) in the figures) may be employed as the outlet27,28.

In particular,FIG. 20A(a)-(d) andFIG. 20B(e) are schematic drawings illustrating partial cross-sections of the body20around the air outlet25when the body20is cut by using the X-X surface inFIG. 3. The outlet28inFIG. 21A(a) is configured by a plurality of outlets arranged in the right-left direction. The outlet28inFIG. 21A(b) has a circle shape. The outlet28inFIG. 21A(c) is configured by a plurality of outlets arranged in the direction along the central axis AX. The outlet28inFIG. 21A(d) has a shape curved along the shape of the regulation member26. Furthermore, the outlet28inFIG. 21B(e) has a shape whose both ends28a,28bin the right-left direction close to both ends25a,25bof the air outlet25in the right-left direction (in other words, whose length in the right-left direction is substantially the same as that of the air outlet25in the right-left direction). Additionally, not only the outlet28but also outlet27may have the above shapes and configurations.

In addition, the collision area CA of the apparatus embodiment10is placed at a position where its part is in the air guide channels (seeFIG. 4). However, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ, as the collision area CA, other embodiments. For example, several embodiments having the shapes and the configurations illustrated inFIG. 22(a)-(c).

In particular,FIG. 22(a)-(c) are schematic drawings illustrating partial cross-sections of the body20around the air outlet25when the body20is cut by using the X-X surface inFIG. 3. The collision area CA inFIG. 22(a) is placed at a position where its whole area is in the air guide channels. The collision area CA inFIG. 22(b) has an ellipse shape extended to the front direction (F) of the air outlet apparatus. Furthermore, the collision area CA inFIG. 22(c) includes a plurality of (two in this example) collision areas CA. A plurality of collision areas CA illustrated inFIG. 22(c) may be formed when the airflows a3, a4 from the upward-downward direction (U, D) have platy shapes spreading in the right-left direction (R, L).

Furthermore, the apparatus embodiment10allows four airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 to be flowed toward the collision area CA from four directions. However, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may be configured to allow three airflows to be flowed toward the collision area CA from three directions (where all or a part of the three directions are arranged on separate planes that are different from each other, seeFIG. 23), or to allow five or more airflows to be flowed toward the collision area CA from five or more directions (seeFIG. 24).

For example, as an example of an air outlet apparatus that allows to five airflows to be flowed toward the collision area CA from five directions,FIG. 25(a) is a schematic perspective drawing illustrating an air outlet apparatus for this example viewed from its back.FIG. 25(b) is a schematic drawing illustrating partial cross-sections of the body20around the air outlet25when this air outlet apparatus is cut by using the X-X surface inFIG. 25(a) (which corresponds to the X-X surface inFIG. 3).

As illustrated inFIG. 25(a), this air outlet apparatus has additional air passage to allow an airflow a5 to pass through the passage in addition to the air passages for the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 of the apparatus embodiment10. In other words, this air outlet apparatus has additional air inlet29in addition to the air inlets21,22,23,24. InFIG. 25(a), the control valves located at the air passages are omitted for the sake of simplicity.

This additional airflow a5 flows parallel to its central axis AX (in other words, to penetrate its body from the back direction to the front direction) as illustrated inFIG. 25(b). The airflow a5 collides with the airflows a1, a2 and the airflows a3, a4 (not illustrated) at the collision area CA. In other words, the air outlet apparatus in this example allows to five airflows a1, a2, a3, a4, a5 to be flowed toward the collision area CA from five directions.

The air outlet apparatus illustrated inFIG. 25(a),25(b) may achieve any blowing air A having any flow direction and any convergence degree in the front direction (F) by controlling the strength of the airflow a5 in addition to the strengths of the airflows a1, a2, a3, a4 (seeFIGS. 5-19).

Furthermore, the body20of the apparatus embodiment10has the shape illustrated inFIGS. 1-3. However, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ more simple shape (for example, an appropriately cuboid shape illustrated inFIG. 26(a) andFIG. 26(b)). InFIGS. 26(a), (b), the control valves located at the air passages are omitted for the sake of simplicity. Furthermore, an air outlet apparatus according to the present invention may employ tubular shapes such as a cylinder hollow shape or a polygonal pillar hollow shape. An air outlet apparatus having the cylinder hollow shape may employ, as the regulation member26, cone-like members (such as a member having cone or pyramid shape) or hemisphere members. In addition, an air outlet apparatus not having the cylinder hollow shape may employ, as the regulation member26, cone-like members or hemisphere members.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, the present invention can be applied to an air outlet apparatus that enables reducing its size without limiting its own function(s).

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST