Abstract:
The invention relates to an air vent including a housing; plural louvers extending horizontally or vertically, pivotably arranged in the housing and aligned relative to an air outlet opening arranged in the housing, wherein the plural louvers are controllable jointly with an identical orientation by a pivot movement from a starting position into a pivot position by an adjustment device for changing an air outflow direction from the air outlet opening, wherein the plural louvers are controllable by at least one actuation element made from a shape memory alloy to adjust a diffuse air flow independently from a control by the adjustment device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German Utility Model Application DE 20 2016 103 388.8 filed on Jun. 27, 2016. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an air vent with a housing including plural louvers which extend horizontally or vertically and which are pivotably arranged in the housing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An air vent of this general type is known from DE 100 57 421 A1. The air vent includes plural louvers that are oriented parallel to each other in a plane of an air outlet opening wherein the louvers are adjustable simultaneously or jointly through an adjustment device by an operating element in order to provide a change of an outflow direction. In this air vent the louvers are connected with each other by a transmission so that the louvers are adjustable from a neutral outlet position where they are aligned jointly and parallel to each other into a first end position and a second end position that is oriented opposite to the first end position by a pivot movement or the operating element. 
         [0004]    The requirements placed upon air vents increase continuously. Simply changing the outlet direction of the air flow does not suffice anymore. Rather there is also a requirement to control a diffuse air flow. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to propose an air vent which facilitates an adjustment of the outlet direction of the air flow by adjusting a position of the louvers and also generates a diffuse air flow. 
         [0006]    The object is achieved by an air vent in which in addition to the adjustment device that adjusts a flow direction by jointly and identically arranging the louvers in a starting position or in a neutral position as well as also in a pivoted position by a pivot movement to change and angle of attack at least one adjustment element is provided that is made from a memory alloy which controls the louvers for adjusting a diffuse air flow. Through the at least one actuation element made from the memory alloy the louvers are positionable to control a pivot movement through the adjustment device to orient the air outlet direction so that a diffuse air flow is generated instead of a laminar oriented air flow. 
         [0007]    It is advantageously provided that the louvers are controllable starting from a starting position into a position of diffused air flow by the actuation element made from the shape memory alloy, wherein starting from a center louver or a control louver a first right louver and a left adjacent louver is aligned with an increased opening angle compared to a parallel orientation relative to the center louver and a second right louver and left adjacent louver has an increased opening angle relative to the first right and left adjacent louver. Thus, the louvers are positioned with an increasing larger opening angle starting from the left louver to the outer rim of the air outlet opening so that a diffuse air flow is generated. For example an opening angle of 11° can be provided between the center louver and a first adjacent louver, between the first adjacent louver and the second adjacent louver an opening angle of 11° can also be provided, wherein a total opening angle of for example 22° is then provided from the center louver to the second adjacent louver. This continues analogously for additional adjacent louvers that are arranged further outside. 
         [0008]    The adjustment device of the air vent includes a support rail in which a slide is received that is coupled respectively with one louver and each slide is arranged at a distance from the louver in a disengageable interlocking position relative to the guide rail. This facilitates that the adjustment device can be actuated by an operating element, so that the slides are jointly movable in a provided position together with the support rail in order to obtain the change in the outflow direction. It is facilitated by the disengageable interlocking position between the slide and the support rail that the slides can also leave the disengageable locking position due to the control by the actuation element made from the shape memory alloy in order for the louvers to move into opening angles that differ from each other in order to generate the diffuse air outflow. 
         [0009]    It is advantageously provided that a coupling element is provided at each slide, in particular a fork shaped or U-shaped receiver in which a pinion is supported that is arranged at an end section of the louver. This facilitates a simple connection between the louver and the slide in order to pivotably control the louver that is arranged fixated in place at the housing. 
         [0010]    Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the operating element of the adjustment device controls a linear displacement movement of the support rail in order to adjust a flow out direction of the air flow. Thus, all louvers can simultaneously perform a pivot movement and can be adjusted and changed with equal orientation, in particular oriented parallel to each other within their entire pivot range. Advantageously it is provided that the linear displacement movement of the support rail is controlled parallel to the plane of the air outlet opening. Thus, also a space saving arrangement can be provided within the housing of the air outlet louver. Advantageously the operating element can be manually adjustable. Advantageously a sliding movement can be provided that is guided by a blind. Alternatively the operating element can be configured as an electrical switch or keying device or also as a touch screen through which an electrical drive controls a linear displacement movement of the guide rail. 
         [0011]    In order to control the louvers a pinion is advantageously provided at a center louver or at a control louver wherein the operating element of the adjustment device engages the pinion and wherein a sliding movement or rotating movement of the operating element controls a linear displacement movement of the support rail. The sliding movement is transmitted through the pinion of the center louver or of the control louver to the slide coupled therewith and from the slide to the support rail. 
         [0012]    In order to control the diffuse air flow at least one actuation element made from the shape memory alloy is coupled with or between two or plural slides of the support rail. Advantageously the at least one actuation element extends along all slides and each slide is connected by a fixed engagement point with the at least one actuation element. This facilitates a simultaneous control of all slides with the at least one actuation element and thus a simultaneous control of all louvers. Advantageously one actuation element extends from a first slide to a last slide so that an inline arrangement or serial arrangement of the slides is provided. This facilitates an actuation motion of the slides as a function of each other in order to control the diffuse air flow. 
         [0013]    In order to control the diffuse air louvers it is advantageously provided that each slide includes a first interlocking element which cooperates with a second interlocking element of the support rail and which forms a disengageable interlocked connection. Thus, it is facilitated that the slide is removed from its interlocked position when the actuation element made from a shape memory alloy is activated so that the slide can take a position that differs from the adjacent slide in order to control opening angles of the adjacent louvers that differ from each other. 
         [0014]    Controlling the adjustment path of the louvers for the diffuse air outflow is performed by an activation, in particular electrical current loading of the actuation element made from the shape memory alloy. The free lengths of the adjustment elements between two slides are thus shortened which adjusts the opening angles. When for example the center louver or the control louver is provided with a disengage able interlocking connection which has a higher disengagement torque than the adjacent interlocking connection the slides that are adjacent on the right side and on the left side of the center louver or the control louver are disengaged from the interlocking position. Shortening a free length between two slides by the same amount, however, controls a greater movement distance at the outer most slide than at the slide that is directly adjacent to the center louver or the control louver so that a larger opening angle is adjusted. 
         [0015]    According to an advantageous embodiment of the air outlet the slide which is associated with a center louver or a control louver has a disengageable interlocking connection with a higher disengagement force or a higher disengagement torque than the disengageable interlocking connection of the adjacent slides which controls the louvers that are adjacent to the center louver or the control louver. Thus, for example the center louver or the control louver remains oriented when the adjustment element is being controlled and the adjacent louvers enter into an angular arrangement relative to the center louver or the control louver. With an increasing distance of the louvers to the center louver or the control louver the louvers advantageously have an ever increasing relative angular orientation. 
         [0016]    Alternatively the slide of a center louver or a control louver can have a friction and/or form locking connection with the control element, thus instead of a higher disengagement force or a higher disengagement torque of the disengageable interlocking connection also a fixed connection between the control element and the slide can be provided which is associated with a center louver or a control louver. 
         [0017]    It is advantageously provided that a reset element, advantageously a spring element is provided between two slides. Thus, after activating the control element made from the shape memory alloy a self-acting reset of the slides can be performed into the respective disengageable interlocking position at the support rail. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention and other advantageously embodiments and variations thereof are subsequently described in more detail based on embodiments illustrated in the drawing figures. The features that can be derived from the description and the drawing figures can be used individually by themselves or in any combination, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front view of an air vent; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view from behind of the air vent according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates schematic sectional view along the line III-III in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic sectional view along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates another schematic sectional view of the air louver according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent with a first orientation of the louvers; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent according to  FIG. 1  with a second orientation of the louvers; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates a schematic enlarged arrangement of an adjustment device and of a thermal adjustment element made from a shape memory alloy for changing the flow out direction in a starting position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent according to  FIG. 1  with an arrangement of the louvers for a diffuse air flow, and 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  illustrates a schematic enlarged arrangement of the adjustment device and the thermal adjustment element made from the shape memory alloy in an arrangement for a diffused air outflow according to  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective front view and  FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective rear view of an air vent  11 . The air vent  11  includes a housing  12  with an air guide channel  14 . The air channel  14  is defined by a rear connection surface  16  of the housing  12  and an air outlet opening  17  at a front side of the housing  12 . The air outlet opening  17  is advantageously arranged in a face  19  of the housing  12  which can also be configured as a decorated surface. In the embodiment plural louvers  21 ,  27  are inserted into the air channel  14 . The louvers are for example oriented vertically. Alternatively the louvers  21 ,  27  can also be oriented horizontally. An adjustment device  24  is provided at a base  23  of the housing  12 , wherein the adjustment device initiates a pivot movement of the louvers  21 ,  27 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent  11 . From this sectional view it can be derived that the louvers  21 ,  27  are arranged in a starting position  26  or a neutral position so that an outflow is provided along a longitudinal center axis of the air channel  14 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic sectional view along the line III-III in  FIG. 3 . This sectional view shows a center louver or control louver  27 . The control louver  27  as well as the additional louvers  21  are e.g. pivotably supported in the housing  12  by plug in pinions  28 . For example a respective U-shaped recess can be provided at a ceiling  29  and at the base  23  so that the louvers  21  are inserted from the air outlet side into the air channel  14  and engage a plug in pin  28  in the U-shaped recess and subsequently attach a blind  31  at the housing  12 , in particular by a clip connection in order to fixate the plug in pins  28  rotatably in the ceiling  29  and in the base  23  of the housing  12 . Alternatively the louvers  21  can be inserted into bore holes in the housing  12  by spring elastic lobes. 
         [0033]    The control louver  27  includes a control pin  32  on an air inflow side of the housing  12  wherein the control pin extends through the base  23  of the housing  12  in an outward direction. An operating element  34  engages the control pin  32 , wherein the operating element is connected directly or indirectly through connecting rods or transmission similar with the control pin  32 . The control pin  32  is in turn coupled with a slide  35  which is in turn received by a support rail  36 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic sectional view along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 . Thus, a louver  21  is illustrated in a side view within the housing  12 . The pivotable reception of the louver  21  corresponds to the control louver  27 . At an end section of the louver  21  a support pin  37  is provided which is configured shortened relative to the control pin  32 , so that the control pin  32  reaches only partially into the base  23 , so that the support pin  37  is coupled with a slide  35  of the support rail  36 . All louvers  21  that are adjacent to the control louver  27  are provided with the support pins  37  so that controlling the louvers  21 ,  27  is performed jointly by a displacement of the support rail  36  which simultaneously causes a displacement of the respective slide  35  relative to the pivot axis  38  of the louvers. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates an additional schematic sectional view of the air outlet  11  according to  FIG. 3 . The sectional plane is arranged between the louvers  21 ,  27  and a base  23  in the housing  12 . This illustrates the build-up of the adjustment device  24 . Each louver  21 ,  27  is supported at the housing so that it is pivotable about a pivot axis  38 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a stump or pinion of the louvers  21  and the control louver  27  in the pivot axis  38 . Opposite thereto the control pinion  32  of the control louver  27  as well as the additional support pins of the louvers  21  are illustrated. Respective slides  35  engage the control pinion  32  and the support pinion  37  wherein the slides are movably supported in the support rail  36 . This is subsequently described in more detail based on  FIGS. 9 and 11 . A support  39  is arranged at or in the base  23  of the housing  12 , in particular a support groove. Actuating the operating element  34  which is for example movably supported in the cover  31  the control pinion  32  is pivoted to the right or to the left and moved displaced along the support groove  39 . This initiates a displacement movement of the support rail  36  so that all slides  35  together with the support rail  36  can be moved to the left and to the right accordingly. Thus, the control pinion  32  can move inward within the fork shaped configuration of the slide  35 . Thus, a circular arc shaped movement of the control pin  32  is transposed into a translatoric movement of the support rail  36 . The control louver  27  and the additional louvers  21  are pivoted about the pivot axis  38 . 
         [0036]    Instead of the operating element  34  which is manually operated also a motorized control can be provided. Thus, a displacement movement of the louvers  21  can be controlled by the operating element  34 . The translatoric movement of the support rail can also be controlled directly. The motorized control can be performed by a pressure or control keying device or a touch screen. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air vent  11  according to  FIG. 1  in which the louvers  21 ,  27  are pivoted to the left starting from a starting position according to  FIG. 3 . In this end position for example the support bin  32  is moved within the support groove  39  to the right end in the support groove  39 . In this end position for example a pivot range of −40° can be assumed. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air outlet  11  according to  FIG. 1  in which the louvers  21 ,  22  are pivoted in an opposite direction relative to  FIG. 6 , for example by a pivot range of 40° relative to the starting position  26  in  FIG. 3 . From the comparison of the two  FIGS. 7, 8  it is evident that a displacement of the support rail  36  simultaneously causes a change of the louvers  21 ,  27  and the louvers  21 ,  27  always remain oriented parallel to each other in a neutral position and/or a starting position  26  as well as in the two pivot ranges according to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0039]    The adjustment device  24  can thus be actuated so that the operating element  34  performs for example a displacement that is oriented horizontal relative to the air outlet opening and pivots the louvers  21 ,  27  accordingly. Alternative control options can be provided wherein accordingly configured transmission rod linkages or drive arrangements are provided between the actuation element  34  and the control pinion  32 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  illustrates a blown up detail of the adjustment device  24 . In the support rail  36  plural slides  35  are arranged in a recess  41  so that they are movable along the recess  41 . The slides  35  include a coupling element  42  which receives the control pinion  32  or the support pinions  37 . This coupling element  32  is configured as a U-shaped fork so that a simple arrangement of the control pinion  32  facilitates controlling the pivot movement of the louvers  21 ,  27 . 
         [0041]    Each of the exemplary slides  35  is arranged in a disengageable interlocked position in the support rail  36 . The distance of the disengageable interlocked positions  45  from each other corresponds to the distance of the pivot axes  38  of the louvers  21 ,  27 . In this disengageable interlocked position  45  a first interlocking element  46  is provided which is configured for example as a spring element. The spring element cooperates with a second interlocking element  47  which is fixated at the slide  35  and forms a disengageable interlocking connection. In case a control movement is controlled by the operating element  34  a displacement of the control pin  32  is provided wherein the displacement is transferred to the slide  35 . Due to the disengageable interlocked connection the control movement is transferred upon the entire support rail  36  so that the support rail  36  is displaceable within a receiver in the base  23  of the housing  12  to the right and to the left in order to assume the pivot position according to  FIG. 7 or 8  as well as a neutral position according to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0042]    The individual slides  35  are furthermore connected with each other by at least one connecting element  51  made from a shape memory alloy. This actuation element  51  is configured for example as a wire. Alternatively also plural wires or a wire bundle can jointly form the actuation element  51 . For a shape memory alloy for example cryo-materials in particular nickel/titanium, or nickel-titanium-copper can be used. By the same token additional generally known shape memory alloys can be used. 
         [0043]    The actuation element  51  is connected with the slide  35  through a fixed engagement point  53 . In the portion of the engagement point  53  additionally an insulation sleeve  54  or a protective sleeve can be provided in order not to damage the actuation element  51  when fixating the actuation element relative to the slide. Advantageously an actuation element  51  extends along all slides  35  that are received by the support rail  36 . At a respective end of the support rail  36  the actuation element  51  is connectable or connected with an electric cable that leads to a control device  52 . The control device  52  can be actuated by an operating element in order to control the diffuse air flow, or turn it on and off. 
         [0044]    The adjustment element  51  is activated by an operating element in particular a switch by electrical current loading. Thus, a shortening of the free length of the actuation element  51  is performed between two slides  35 . The disengageable locking position  45  is set with respect to the retaining force or the disengagement force so that the disengage able interlocking connections  45  disengage when the actuation element  51  is loaded with current and thus a displacement movement of the slide  35  in the support rail  36 , in particular in the recess  41  is controlled and the at least one slide  35  moves from the disengageable locking position. 
         [0045]      FIG. 10  illustrates a schematic sectional view of the air outlet  11  according to  FIG. 1  in which the louvers  21 ,  27  are configured for a diffuse air out flow. The arrangement of the louvers  21 ,  27  is controlled by the electrical current loading of the at least one adjustment element  51  made from the shape memory alloy. For example the control louver  27  is supported with a higher disengagement force in its center position than the adjacent louvers  21 . Shortening the actuation element  51  adjusts for example the first right adjacent louver  21  and the left adjacent louver with an opening angle of for example 11° relative to the control louver  27 . Since the adjustment travel of the second adjacent louver  21  sums up through two shortenings of the free length of the adjustment element  51  for example the angle of 22° can be adjusted. This applies analogously to the outermost louver so that for example an angle of 33° can be adjusted. 
         [0046]    The adjustment of the size of the louvers  21 ,  27  is performed as a function of a free length of the actuation element  51  between the slides and/or due to the selection of the shape memory alloy and/or the control of the shape memory alloy. 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  schematically illustrates the arrangement of the slide  35  of the control louver  27  and two adjacent louvers  21  which are moved by the current loading of the at least one adjustment element  51  from the starting position into a diffused position in an enlarged view. Shortening the adjustment element  51  moves the right and the left adjacent slide  35  of the louver  21  respectively in a direction towards the control louver  27  which yields an angular arrangement of the adjacent louvers  21  with respect to the control louver  27  due to the pivot axis  38  of the louvers  21  permanently provided in the housing as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0048]    In order to reset the louvers  21 ,  27  from the diffuse air outlet position into a neutral position the electrical current loading of the at least one adjustment element is switched off. Advantageously the slides  35  are reset by a non-illustrated reset element back into their disengageable interlocking position which reset element is also provided between the two adjacent slides  35 . Alternatively the reset can be performed by the shape memory element and/or another shape memory element. Thereafter a pivot movement of all louvers  21 ,  27  is controllable by the adjustment device  24  or at least by the adjustment element  51 .