Patent Publication Number: US-2023150342-A1

Title: Wind direction adjustment apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-187993 filed on Nov. 18, 2021 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wind direction adjustment apparatus that adjusts a wind direction. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, in an air conditioner used in a vehicle such as an automobile, a wind direction adjustment apparatus that adjusts a blowing wind direction is known. The wind direction adjustment apparatus is also called an air-conditioned wind blowing apparatus, an air outlet, a ventilator, or a register. For example, the wind direction adjustment apparatus is installed in various parts of the vehicle, such as an instrument panel and a center console part, and contributes to improvement in comfort performance achieved by cooling and heating. 
     Usually, the wind direction adjustment apparatus is configured as follows. A plurality of fins are set to be pivotable in the vicinity of an air outlet, and a wind direction is changed by pivoting of the fins. In this case, depending on the number of the fins, an opening dimension of the air outlet has to be increased, and in addition, the fins are visible from a user side. Consequently, there are restrictions on designing the wind direction adjustment apparatus and surroundings thereof. 
     Therefore, there has been proposed a wind direction adjustment apparatus that can adjust the wind direction without using the fins in the vicinity of the air outlet. For example, a technique is known as follows. A main body portion is internally divided into a plurality of flow paths. A ventilation blocking member is disposed in each of the divided flow paths, and the wind direction is adjusted in such a manner that the flow paths are switched to be opened and closed by the ventilation blocking member. (for example, refer to PTL 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-86659 (pages 5 to 8, FIGS. 1 to 11) 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In a case of the above-described wind direction adjustment apparatus, it is necessary to interlock a plurality of the ventilation blocking members with each other to adjust the wind direction. Therefore, when the ventilation blocking members are mechanically interlocked with each other, a complicated mechanism for the interlocking is required. In addition, it is not easy to intuitively adjust the wind direction, compared to a case of adjusting the wind direction by pivoting of the fins. 
     The present invention is made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wind direction adjustment apparatus that can adjust a wind direction with a simple configuration while improving an appearance. 
     Solution to Problem 
     There is provided a wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  1 . The wind direction adjustment apparatus includes a cylindrical case body whose one end side is contracted in a predetermined direction, and through which air passes from the other end side to the one end side, and a cylindrical wind direction adjustment body disposed to be movable in at least the predetermined direction inside one end side of the case body. 
     There is provided the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  2 . In the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  1 , the one end side of the wind direction adjustment body is contracted in at least the same direction as the one end side of the case body. 
     There is provided the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  3 . In the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  1  or  2 , a fin disposed to be pivotable in a direction intersecting with a ventilation direction inside the case body and a movement direction of the wind direction adjustment body is provided on an upstream side in the ventilation direction with respect to the wind direction adjustment body. 
     There is provided the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  4 . The wind direction adjustment apparatus according to any one claims  1  to  3  further includes an operation section disposed to be movable to an outside of the case body. The wind direction adjustment body is disposed to be movable along the movement direction of the operation section. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the wind direction adjustment apparatus of claim  1 , the wind direction can be adjusted by changing a ratio of a ventilation amount passing between the wind direction adjustment body and the case body and blowing from one end side of the case body in a direction along contraction of the case body, in accordance with a movement direction and a movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body inside the case body. Therefore, the wind direction can be adjusted by moving the cylindrical wind direction adjustment body with a simple configuration while improving an appearance. 
     According to the wind direction adjustment apparatus of claim  2 , in addition to an advantageous effect of the wind direction adjustment apparatus of claim  1 , while a flow velocity of air-conditioned wind passing through the inside of the wind direction adjustment body and straightly blowing from one end side of the wind direction adjustment body can be increased, directionality of the air-conditioned wind blowing from one end side between the wind direction adjustment body and the case body in the direction along the contraction can be improved. Therefore, a wind direction adjustment function can be improved. 
     According to the wind direction adjustment apparatus of claim  3 , in addition to an advantageous effect of the wind direction adjustment apparatus of claim  1  or  2 , in addition to adjusting the wind direction by moving the wind direction adjustment body, the wind direction can be adjusted by pivoting of the fin in a direction intersecting with a wind direction adjustable direction. Therefore, the wind direction is more freely adjusted. 
     According to the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to claim  4 , in addition to an advantageous effect of the wind direction adjustment apparatus according to any one of claims  1  to  3 , an operation direction of the operation section and a wind direction adjustment direction of the wind direction adjustment body coincide or substantially coincide with each other. Therefore, the wind direction can be intuitively operated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a neutral state of a wind direction adjustment body of a wind direction adjustment apparatus according to an embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a wind distribution state of the wind direction adjustment body of the wind direction adjustment apparatus; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a cross-sectional view of the wind direction adjustment apparatus, and  FIG.  3 B  is a cross-sectional view showing a part in  FIG.  3 A ; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a side view showing an operation section in a neutral state of the wind direction adjustment body of the wind direction adjustment apparatus, and  FIG.  4 B  is a side view showing the operation section in a wind distribution state where the wind direction adjustment body is moved; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of the wind direction adjustment apparatus; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the wind direction adjustment apparatus; 
         FIG.  7    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a neutral state of a wind direction adjustment body of a wind direction adjustment apparatus according to a embodiment 2 of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  8    is a longitudinal sectional view showing a wind distribution state of the wind direction adjustment body of the wind direction adjustment apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     In  FIG.  6   , a reference number  1  represents a wind direction adjustment apparatus. The wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is also called an air outlet, a ventilator, or a register, and adjusts a wind blowing direction from an air conditioner. Hereinafter, for more clear description, in the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1 , a leeward side from which wind blows will be defined as a front side, a front surface side, or a near side. A side opposite thereto, that is, a windward side which receives the wind will be defined as a rear side, a back side, or a far side. In this manner, a both side direction or a width direction which is a rightward-leftward direction when viewed from the front side, and an upward-downward direction will be defined. In the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is applied to an air conditioner for a vehicle such as an automobile. The wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is disposed at any desired position. In the drawings, an arrow FR side will be defined as the front side, an arrow RR side will be defined the rear side, an arrow L side will be defined as a left side, an arrow R side will be defined as a right side, an arrow U side will be defined as an upper side, and an arrow D side will be defined as a lower side. The directions are shown only as examples, and is changed as appropriate depending on an installation position or an installation orientation of the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3  and  5   , the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  includes a case body  3 . The case body  3  is also called a duct. The case body  3  is formed in a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the case body  3  is formed in a cylindrical shape in a forward-rearward direction. In the shown example, the case body  3  is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. A ventilation passage  5  is internally surrounded by the case body  3 . A direction parallel to a central axis of the case body  3  is a ventilation direction of the ventilation passage  5 . In the present embodiment, the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage  5  is the forward-rearward direction, and ventilation is performed from the rear side to the front side. That is, in the ventilation passage  5 , the rear side is an upstream side in the ventilation direction, and the front side is a downstream side in the ventilation direction. 
     The case body  3  has a predetermined length in the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage  5 . In the present embodiment, the case body  3  is flat in an upward-downward direction, and is formed in a longitudinal shape in the rightward-leftward direction, that is, in a horizontally elongated shape. Therefore, the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is formed in a horizontally thin shape. The case body  3  integrally has a central portion of the ventilation passage  5 , that is, a pair of end wall portions  6  facing each other across the central axis, and a pair of side wall portions  7  joining the pair of end wall portions  6 . The pair of end wall portions  6  face each other in the upward-downward direction, and the pair of side wall portions  7  face each other in the rightward-leftward direction. A receiving port  8  for receiving air, that is, air-conditioned wind into the ventilation passage  5 , is surrounded by rear end portions of the pair of end wall portions  6  and  6  and the pair of side wall portions  7  and  7 . A discharge port  9  for discharging the air-conditioned wind from the ventilation passage  5  is surrounded by front end portions of the pair of end wall portions  6  and  6  and the pair of side wall portions  7  and  7 . That is, the rear end portion of the case body  3  serves as the receiving port  8  for receiving the air-conditioned wind into the ventilation passage  5 , and the front end portion of the case body  3  serves as the discharge port  9  for discharging the air-conditioned wind from the ventilation passage  5 . The ventilation passage  5  allowing communication is formed between the receiving port  8  and the discharge port  9 . The air-conditioned wind passes from the receiving port  8  to the discharge port  9 . The receiving port  8  and the discharge port  9  respectively have the horizontally elongated shape. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the case body  3  may be integrally formed, or may be formed by combining a plurality of members. In the present embodiment, the case body  3  is formed by combining one case member  11  and the other case member  12 . One case member  11  is formed so that one end wall portion  6  is configured. The other case member  12  is formed so that the other end wall portion  6  and the side wall portions  7  and  7  are configured. In the shown example, one locking portion  11   a  is formed in one case member  11 , and the other locking portion  12   a  is formed in an upper portion of the other case member  12 . The one locking portion  11   a  and the other locking portion  12   a  are locked to each other. In this manner, the case body  3  is formed in a cylindrical shape. For example, one of the locking portion  11   a  and the other locking portion  12   a  is formed as a hole portion, and the other is formed as a claw portion. In the present embodiment, one locking portion  11   a  is the hole portion, and the other locking portion  12   a  is the claw portion. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the case body  3  is contracted on the discharge port  9  side which is one end side, that is, on the downstream side in the ventilation direction. In the case body  3 , the front end portion which is the discharge port  9  side is contracted in a predetermined direction, that is, in the upward-downward direction which is a short direction of the discharge port  9  in the present embodiment. That is, a downstream side contraction portion  14  which is (one) contraction portion is formed in the front end portion which is a downstream end portion of the case body  3 . The downstream side contraction portion  14  is located forward away from a central portion of the case body  3  in the forward-rearward direction. In the present embodiment, the downstream side contraction portions  14  are formed up and down by a downstream side wind guide portion  15  which is (one) wind guide portion formed in the front end portion of each end wall portion  6 , and the downstream side contraction portions  14  are formed right and left by the side wall portions  7 . The discharge port  9  is surrounded by the pair of downstream side wind guide portions  15  and the pair of side wall portions  7 . 
     The downstream side wind guide portion  15  has a downstream side inclined portion  15   a  which is (one) inclined portion. The downstream side inclined portion  15   a  is inclined forward on the central axis side of the case body  3 . That is, the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  on the upper side is inclined forward and downward, and the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  on the lower side is inclined forward and upward. In the shown example, the downstream side inclined portions  15   a  are inclined symmetrically or substantially symmetrically to each other in the upward-downward direction. In the present embodiment, a downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  which is (one) non-inclined portion is integrally formed by being connected to the front end portion of the downstream side inclined portion  15   a.  The downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  is a portion extending forward from the front end portion of the downstream side inclined portion  15   a.  In the shown example, the downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  is formed parallel or substantially parallel to an axial direction of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  is formed to be shorter in the forward-rearward direction, compared to the downstream side inclined portion  15   a.  The downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  forms the front end portion of the downstream side wind guide portion  15 . The downstream side non-inclined portion  15   b  is not an essential configuration. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the case body  3  is contracted on the receiving port  8  side which is the other end side, that is, on the upstream side in the ventilation direction. In the case body  3 , the rear end portion on the receiving port  8  side is contracted in a predetermined direction, that is, in the upward-downward direction which is the short direction of the receiving port  8  in the present embodiment. That is, an upstream side contraction portion  17  which is (the other) contraction portion is formed in the rear end portion which is an upstream end portion of the case body  3 . The upstream side contraction portion  17  is located rearward away from the central portion of the case body  3  in the forward-rearward direction. In the present embodiment, the upstream side contraction portions  17  are formed up and down by an upstream side wind guide portion  18  which is (the other) wind guide portion formed in the rear end portion of each end wall portion  6 , and the upstream side contraction portions  17  are formed right and left by the side wall portions  7 . The receiving port  8  is surrounded by the pair of upstream side wind guide portions  18  and the pair of side wall portions  7 . 
     The upstream side contraction portion  17  has an upstream side inclined portion  18   a  which is (the other) inclined portion. The upstream side inclined portion  18   a  is inclined rearward on the central axis side of the case body  3 . That is, the upstream side inclined portion  18   a  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  on the upper side is inclined rearward and downward, and the upstream side inclined portion  18   a  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  on the lower side is inclined rearward and upward. In the shown example, the upstream side inclined portions  18   a  are inclined symmetrically or substantially symmetrically to each other in the upward-downward direction. In the present embodiment, an upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  which is (the other) non-inclined portion is integrally formed by being connected to the rear end portion of the upstream side inclined portion  18   a.  The upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  is a portion extending rearward from the rear end portion of the upstream side inclined portion  18   a.  In the shown example, the upstream side non-inclined portion  18  b is formed parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  is formed to be longer in the forward-rearward direction, compared to the upstream side inclined portion  18   a.  The upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  forms the rear end portion of the upstream side wind guide portion  18 . The upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  is not an essential configuration. 
     In the case body  3 , a general portion  20  is provided between the downstream side contraction portion  14  and the upstream side contraction portion  17 . That is, the downstream side contraction portion  14  is connected to a front portion of the general portion  20 , and the upstream side contraction portion  17  is connected to a rear portion of the general portion  20 . The general portion  20  is a non-contraction portion which is not contracted in the axial direction of the case body  3 . In the general portion  20 , a cross-sectional area of the ventilation passage  5  is constant or substantially constant. 
     In addition, a panel  23  forming a design portion is attached to a front end portion on the discharge port  9  side in the case body  3 . The panel  23  is also called a finisher, and forms a portion of the design at an installation position of the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1 . The panel  23  protrudes outward in a flange shape from the front end portion of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the panel  23  is formed to be long in the rightward-leftward direction and to be short in the upward-downward direction. That is, the panel  23  is formed in a horizontally elongated shape. An air outlet  24  communicating with the discharge port  9  is formed in the panel  23 . The air outlet  24  is a portion from which the air-conditioned wind passing through the ventilation passage  5  blows. The air outlet  24  is formed in a shape substantially equal to that of the discharge port  9 . That is, the air outlet  24  is formed in a longitudinal shape in the rightward-leftward direction, that is, in a horizontally elongated shape. 
     A wind direction adjustment body  26  for adjusting the wind direction of the air-conditioned wind blowing from the air outlet  24  in accordance with a movement with respect to the case body  3  is disposed inside the case body  3 , that is, in the ventilation passage  5 . The wind direction adjustment body  26  is also called a housing. The wind direction adjustment body  26  is formed in a cylindrical shape. In the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is formed in a cylindrical shape in the forward-rearward direction. In the shown example, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed while the axial direction is set as the forward-rearward direction. The inside of the wind direction adjustment body  26  communicates with the ventilation passage  5 . 
     In the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is flat in the upward-downward direction in accordance with a shape of the case body  3 , and is formed in a longitudinal shape in the rightward-leftward direction, that is, in a horizontally elongated shape. The wind direction adjustment body  26  integrally has a pair of end walls  28  facing each other across the central axis and a pair of side walls  29  joining the pair of end walls  28 . The pair of end walls  28  face each other in the upward-downward direction, and the pair of side walls  29  face each other in the rightward-leftward direction. The pair of end walls  28  extend in a longitudinal shape in the rightward-leftward direction. In addition, as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a length of the wind direction adjustment body  26  in the upward-downward direction, that is, a direction intersecting with or orthogonal to the axial direction (ventilation direction) is set to be smaller than a length of the ventilation passage  5  in the upward-downward direction. Therefore, flow paths  30  through which the air-conditioned wind can pass are respectively defined inside the ventilation passage  5  between the pair of end walls  28  and the pair of end wall portions  6  of the case body  3 . In addition, as shown in  FIG.  3 A , the pair of side walls  29  are located close to the pair of side wall portions  7  of the case body  3 , and a flow path through which the air-conditioned wind passes is not formed between the pair of side walls  29  and the pair of side wall portions  7 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the length of the wind direction adjustment body  26  in the forward-rearward direction, that is, in the axial direction is set to be shorter than half the length of the case body  3  in the axial direction, and in the shown example, the length is set to be approximately ¼. The pair of end walls  28  and the pair of side walls  29  form the wind direction adjustment body  26  in a rectangular frame shape. The rear end portions of the pair of end walls  28  and  28  and the pair of side walls  29  and  29  surround an introduction port  31  for receiving the air-conditioned wind into the wind direction adjustment body  26 . The front end portions of the pair of end walls  28  and  28  and the pair of side walls  29  and  29  surround a deriving port  32  for deriving the air-conditioned wind. The introduction port  31  and the deriving port  32  are respectively formed in a horizontally elongated shape. In the present embodiment, an opening area of the introduction port  31  is set to be equal to or larger than half the cross-sectional area of the ventilation passage  5 . Preferably, the opening area of the introduction port  31  is set to be equal to or smaller than ¾ of the cross-sectional area of the ventilation passage  5 . 
     Preferably, in the wind direction adjustment body  26 , the deriving port  32  side which is one end side, that is, the downstream side in the ventilation direction, is contracted in a direction in which the discharge port  9  side which is one end side of at least the case body  3 , that is, the downstream side, is contracted. That is, in the present embodiment, in the wind direction adjustment body  26 , the front end portion on the deriving port  32  side is contracted in the upward-downward direction which is the short direction of the deriving port  32 . That is, an adjustment body contraction portion  33  is formed in the front end portion which is the downstream end portion of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In the present embodiment, the adjustment body contraction portions  33  are formed up and down by the adjustment body wind guide portions  34  and  34  formed in the front end portions of the end walls  28  and  28 , and the adjustment body contraction portions  33  are formed right and left by the side walls  29  and  29 . The deriving port  32  is surrounded by the adjustment body wind guide portions  34  and  34  and the side walls  29  and  29 . 
     The adjustment body wind guide portion  34  is inclined forward on the central axis side of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . That is, the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  on the upper side is inclined forward and downward, and the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  on the lower side is inclined forward and upward. In the shown example, the adjustment body wind guide portions  34  and  34  are inclined symmetrically or substantially symmetrically to each other in the upward-downward direction. In addition, the inclination of the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  is parallel or substantially parallel to the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the case body  3 . 
     The wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed inside the front end side which is one end side of the case body  3 . In the wind direction adjustment body  26 , at least the front end side of the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  is located inside the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3 , and the other general portion is located inside the general portion  20  of the case body  3 . 
     Therefore, in a flow path  30  between the wind direction adjustment body  26  and the case body  3 , the upstream side located inside the general portion  20  of the case body  3  is linearly inclined in the forward-rearward direction. Due to the inclination between the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  and the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the case body  3 , a downstream end of the flow path  30  on the upper side is inclined downward, and a downstream end of the flow path  30  on the lower side is inclined upward. 
     In addition, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed to be movable with respect to the case body  3  in a direction intersecting with at least the ventilation direction, that is, in the upward-downward direction in the present embodiment. That is, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed to be movable in a predetermined direction in which the downstream side contraction portion  14  is contracted. As shown in  FIGS.  3 A,  3 B, and  5   , in the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is held to be slidable by the receiving portion  36 , and the receiving portion  36  is fixed to the case body  3 . In this manner, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is movable with respect to the case body  3  in the upward-downward direction. As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a ratio of a ventilation amount (opening area) between one flow path  30  and the other flow path  30  is changed in accordance with a movement direction and a movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In this manner, the ratio of the ventilation amount blowing in the direction in which the downstream side contraction portion  14  is contracted, that is, in a direction along an inclination direction of the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  is changed. Accordingly, the wind direction of the wind blowing form the air outlet  24  is changed. 
     The receiving portion  36  shown in  FIG.  3 B  is also called a spacer. The receiving portion  36  holds each of both end portions in a longitudinal direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , in the present embodiment, each of both right and left side portions. The receiving portion  36  has a guide portion  39  for guiding a sliding contact portion  38  formed on the side wall  29  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  to be in slidable contact. One of the sliding contact portion  38  and the guide portion  39  is a recessed portion, and the other is a projecting portion. In the present embodiment, the sliding contact portion  38  is the projecting portion, and the guide portion  39  is a linear rail-shaped groove portion, that is, the recessed portion. 
     The receiving portion  36  is attached and fixed to an attachment portion  41  formed on the side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the attachment portion  41  is a groove portion formed in the upward-downward direction on an inner surface of the side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 , that is, a surface on the ventilation passage  5  side. In the shown example, the attachment portion  41  is formed as the groove portion connected to the upper end portion of the side wall portion  7  in the other case member  12 . Therefore, the receiving portion  36  is slidably inserted and fitted into the attachment portion  41  from above with respect to the other case member  12 , and one case member  11  is fixed to the other case member  12 . In this manner, the upper end portion of the attachment portion  41  is closed so that the receiving portion  36  is retained and held by the case body  3 . 
     In the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  can be operated by an operation section  43  disposed to be movable outside the case body  3 . For example, the operation section  43  is a pivotally operated operation dial. As shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , the operation section  43  has a gripping portion  45 . The gripping portion  45  is a portion gripped by a user such as an occupant to cause the operation section  43  to pivot. An operation section main body portion  46  serving as a pivoting center of the operation section  43  is formed on the back side of the gripping portion  45 . In addition, a stopper portion  47  is formed on the back side of the operation section main body portion  46 . A link hole portion  48  joined to the wind direction adjustment body  26  is formed on a virtual line L 1  connecting the center of the operation section main body portion  46 , that is, the pivoting center, and the gripping portion  45 . In the present embodiment, the link hole portion  48  has an elongated shape along the virtual line L 1  connecting the center of the operation section main body portion  46 , that is, the pivoting center, and the gripping portion  45 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , in the operation section  43 , the operation section main body portion  46  is pivotably attached to a side portion of the case body  3 . In the shown example, in the operation section  43 , the operation section main body portion  46  is coaxially attached to a boss-shaped operation section attachment portion  50  formed on an outer surface of one side wall portion  7  of the case body  3  via a cylindrical bush  51  by a fixing member  52  such as a tapping. The operation section attachment portion  50  is disposed behind the attachment portion  41  on one side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 A , in a state where the operation section  43  is attached to the case body  3 , the gripping portion  45  is located on the front side, and the stopper portion  47  is located on the rear side. The gripping portion  45  is inserted into an exposed opening portion  54  formed in a lateral portion of the air outlet  24  in the panel  23 , and protrudes forward from the panel  23 . In addition, the stopper portion  47  is located in a lower portion of a contact portion  55  formed on the outer surface of one side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 , and the stopper portion  47  and the contact portion  55  come into contact with each other when the operation section  43  pivots. In this manner, a pivoting angle of the operation section  43  is regulated. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG.  3 B , a link portion  57  formed in the wind direction adjustment body  26  is inserted into the link hole portion  48  of the operation section  43 . The link portion  57  protrudes from one side wall  29  of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In the present embodiment, the link portion  57  is a shaft portion laterally protruding from the front end portion of one side wall  29  of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . The link portion  57  is inserted into an insertion hole portion  58  formed in one side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 , is derived outward of the ventilation passage  5 , that is, outward of the case body  3 , and is inserted into the link hole portion  48 . The insertion hole portion  58  is formed along the movement direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26  with respect to the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the insertion hole portion  58  is formed in an elongated hole shape in the upward-downward direction. 
     Furthermore, preferably, as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , inside the case body  3 , that is, in the ventilation passage  5 , fins  60  are disposed on the upstream side of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . The fin  60  is also called a louver. In the present embodiment, the fin  60  is located to be separated rearward from the wind direction adjustment body  26 , and is disposed inside the general portion  20  of the case body  3 . The fin  60  is formed in a plate shape, and pivots in a direction intersecting with each of the ventilation direction and the movement direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In this manner, the wind direction can be adjusted in the pivoting direction. In the present embodiment, the fin  60  is disposed in the ventilation passage  5  while a main surface serving as a flow straightening surface is directed rightward and leftward, and the wind direction can be adjusted in the rightward-leftward direction. That is, the fin  60  is supported by the case body  3  to be pivotable in the rightward-leftward direction. The fin  60  has a pivoting portion  62 , and the pivoting portion  62  is held by a pivoting receiving portion  63  formed on each end wall portion  6  of the case body  3 , and is pivotable in the rightward-leftward direction. One of the pivoting portion  62  and the pivoting receiving portion  63  is a shaft portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  5   , a plurality of the fins  60  are set in the present embodiment. The fins  60  are joined to each other by a link  65  to pivot in the same direction by being interlocked with each other. The link  65  is pivotably joined to a link receiving portion  66  formed at a position separated from the pivoting portion  62  in the fin  60 . In the shown example, the link receiving portion  66  is formed in the upper portion of the rear end portion of the fin  60 . 
     In the present embodiment, the fin  60  can be operated by a fin operation section  68  disposed outside the case body  3 . For example, the fin operation section  68  is a slidably operated operation knob. As shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  5   , the fin operation section  68  has one fin operation section main body portion  70 . The one fin operation section main body portion  70  is formed in a longitudinal shape. In the present embodiment, the one fin operation section main body portion  70  is formed in the longitudinal shape in the rightward-leftward direction which is a sliding direction of the fin operation section  68  or a pivoting direction of the fin  60 . A gripping portion  72  is formed in the front portion of the one fin operation section main body portion  70 . The gripping portion  72  is a portion gripped by a user such as an occupant to slide the fin operation section  68 . 
     The other fin operation section main body portion  74  is joined to the back side of the one fin operation section main body portion  70 , that is, to the side opposite to the gripping portion  72 . The other fin operation section main body portion  74  moves integrally with the one fin operation section main body portion  70 . 
     A joining portion  75  is formed on the back side of the other fin operation section main body portion  74 , that is, on the side opposite to the one fin operation section main body portion  70 . A joining body  77  is joined to the joining portion  75 . The joining body  77  is a direction conversion portion that converts sliding of the one fin operation section main body portion  70  into pivoting of the fin  60 . A joining receiving portion  78  joined to the joining portion  75  is formed in the joining body  77 . The joining receiving portion  78  is pivotably joined to the joining portion  75 . One of the joining receiving portion  78  and the joining portion  75  is a shaft portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In the present embodiment, the joining receiving portion  78  is the shaft portion, and the joining portion  75  is the hole portion. In addition, a fin joining portion  79  joined to the fin  60  is formed in the joining body  77 . The fin joining portion  79  is joined to the pivoting portion  62  of the fin  60 . In the present embodiment, the fin joining portion  79  is joined to one of the pivoting portions  62  of the plurality of fins  60 . In the shown example, the fin joining portion  79  is joined to the pivoting portion  62  of the fin  60  located at the central portion in the rightward-leftward direction in the plurality of fins  60 . One of the fin joining portion  79  and the pivoting portion  62  is a shaft portion, and the other is a hole portion or a recessed portion. In the present embodiment, the fin joining portion  79  is the shaft portion, and the pivoting portion  62  is the hole portion or the recessed portion. 
     In the fin operation section  68 , one fin operation section main body portion  70  and the other fin operation section main body portion  74  are attached to a fin operation section attachment portion  81  formed in the end wall portion  6  of the case body  3 . The joining body  77  is pivotably attached to an attachment hole portion  82  formed in the end wall portion  6  of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the fin operation section attachment portion  81  and the attachment hole portion  82  are formed in the end wall portion  6  on the lower side. 
     The fin operation section attachment portion  81  is a guide portion that guides the fin operation section  68  in the sliding direction. The fin operation section attachment portion  81  is formed in a rail shape elongated in the rightward-leftward direction which is the sliding direction of the fin operation section  68  or the pivoting direction of the fin  60 . The fin operation section attachment portion  81  is attached so that one fin operation section main body portion  70  and the other fin operation section main body portion  74  are pinched in the forward-rearward direction. 
     The attachment hole portion  82  is formed in place of one of the pivoting receiving portions  63  of the case body  3 . In the present embodiment, the fin joining portion  79  of the joining body  77  is inserted into the attachment hole portion  82 , and extends into the ventilation passage  5 . The pivoting portion  62  of one of the fins  60  is joined to the fin joining portion  79 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in a state where the fin operation section  68  is attached to the case body  3 , the gripping portion  72  is located on the front side, is inserted into the exposed opening portion  84  formed below the air outlet  24  in the panel  23 , and protrudes forward from the panel  23 . 
     The wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is disposed by joining the receiving port  8  to an air conditioner. The air-conditioned wind from the air conditioner passes through the ventilation passage  5  from the receiving port  8 , is distributed by the fin  60  and the wind direction adjustment body  26 , and blows from the air outlet  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , when the wind direction adjustment body  26  is located at a neutral position, a majority of the air-conditioned wind straightly moves into the wind direction adjustment body  26  via the introduction port  31  from the central portion in the upward-downward direction inside the ventilation passage  5  along the upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  of the upstream side contraction portion  17 , and passes through the deriving port  32  in a state where a wind speed (pressure) is increased by the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the adjustment body contraction portion  33  (mainstream W 1 ). The remainder is guided up and down inside the ventilation passage  5  along the upstream side inclined portion  18   a  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  of the upstream side contraction portion  17 , passes through the upper and lower flow paths  30  of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , and passes along between the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the adjustment body contraction portion  33  and the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  of the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3  (sidestream W 2 ). Therefore, with regard to the wind direction of the air-conditioned wind, the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) linearly blowing from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is dominant, and the air-conditioned wind blows in the axial direction of the case body  3 , that is, in a front surface direction from the air outlet  24  along the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage  5 . 
     In addition, when the wind direction of the wind blowing from the air outlet  24  is changed, a user such as an occupant grips the gripping portions  45  and  72 , and operates the operation section  43  or the fin operation section  68  to operate the wind direction adjustment body  26  or the fin  60 . 
     For example, with regard to the wind distribution in the upward-downward direction, when the gripping portion  45  is gripped to move the operation section  43  in the upward-downward direction, that is, to cause the operation section  43  to pivot, the wind direction adjustment body  26  joined to the operation section  43  by the link portion  57  is moved up and down in accordance with the pivoting direction of the operation section  43 . More specifically, as shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , when the operation section  43  pivots, the link hole portion  48  of the operation section  43  moves up and down when viewed from the center of the operation section main body portion  46 . Therefore, when an external force is applied up and down to the link portion  57  inserted in the link hole portion  48 , the wind direction adjustment body  26  having the link portion  57  is guided and moved in the upward-downward direction so that the sliding contact portion  38  comes into sliding contact along the guide portion  39  of the receiving portion  36 . In this case, whereas the wind direction adjustment body  26  linearly moves in the upward-downward direction, the operation section  43  pivots. Therefore, the link portion  57  and the link hole portion  48  are positionally displaced in the forward-rearward direction, that is, in the radial direction of the pivoting of the operation section  43 . However, since the link hole portion  48  is formed in an elongated hole shape in the radial direction of the pivoting of the operation section  43 , the positional displacement can be absorbed by moving the link portion  57  inside the link hole portion  48 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a state where the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung to the maximum in a downward direction. In this way, when the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung in the downward direction, the flow path  30  on the lower side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is contracted, and the flow path  30  on the upper side is expanded in accordance with the movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In this manner, a wind volume of the air-conditioned wind blowing in the downward direction from the air outlet  24  along the inclination of the downstream end of the flow path  30  on the upper side increases, and a wind volume of the air-conditioned wind blowing in an upward direction from the air outlet  24  along the inclination of the downstream end of the flow path  30  on the lower side decreases. When the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung to the maximum in the downward direction, the flow path  30  on the lower side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is closed or substantially closed. Therefore, with regard to the wind direction of the air-conditioned wind, the air-conditioned wind (sidestream W 2 ) directed in the downward direction from the passage on the upper side is dominant Accordingly, the air-conditioned wind and the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) passing through the inside of the wind direction adjustment body  26  collide with each other, and the air-conditioned wind blowing from the air outlet  24  is adjusted in the downward direction in accordance with the movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . 
     When the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung in the upward direction, upward and downward operations are reversed from a state where the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung in the downward direction. Therefore, illustration and detailed description will be omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, in a state where the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung to the maximum in the downward direction or in the upward direction, the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is entirely located within a projection range of the ventilation direction of the air outlet  24 . That is, the entire deriving port  32  is located within the projection range of the air outlet  24  in the ventilation direction, over an entire movement range of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . In addition, the axial direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is kept parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction of the case body  3 . Accordingly, the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3  is not located on the projection in the ventilation direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , that is, in the direction in which the air-conditioned wind blows from the deriving port  32 . Therefore, the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) blowing forward from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  collides with the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  of the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3 , and straightly moves forward from the air outlet  24  without generating a turbulent flow. 
     In addition, with regard to the wind distribution in the rightward-leftward direction, when a user such as an occupant grips the gripping portion  72  and slides the fin operation section  68  rightward and leftward, the fin  60  joined to the fin operation section  68  by the joining body  77  pivots rightward and leftward in accordance with the sliding direction of the fin operation section  68 . More specifically, when the fin operation section  68  is slid rightward and leftward, the other fin operation section main body portion  74  moves rightward and leftward together with one fin operation section main body portion  70 , and the joining body  77  joined to the joining portion  75  of the other fin operation section main body portion  74  via the joining receiving portion  78  pivots rightward and leftward. Therefore, the fin  60  in which the pivoting portion  62  is joined to the fin joining portion  79  of the joining body  77  pivots in accordance with the pivoting of the joining body  77 , and the other fin  60  joined to the fin  60  by the link  65  pivots in the same direction. Therefore, the air-conditioned wind passing through the ventilation passage  5  blows from the air outlet  24  after the wind direction is changed in the rightward-leftward direction along a flow straightening surface of the fin  60 . 
     In this way, the air-conditioned wind can blow in any desired direction by combining the wind distribution of the wind direction adjustment body  26  in the upward-downward direction and the wind distribution of the fin  60  in the rightward-leftward direction. 
     According to the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed to be movable in a predetermined direction along at least the contraction, inside the downstream side of the cylindrical case body  3  whose downstream side which is one end side is contracted in a predetermined direction. In this manner, the wind direction can be adjusted by changing a ratio of the wind volume of the air-conditioned wind passing through the flow path  30  between the wind direction adjustment body  26  inside the ventilation passage  5  and the case body  3  and blowing in the direction along the contraction from the downstream side of the case body  3  in accordance with the movement direction and the movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26  inside the case body  3 . Therefore, it is not necessary to dispose the plurality of fins in the vicinity of the air outlet  24 . The opening dimension of the air outlet  24  can be reduced, and an actual opening area can be easily secured. Without a need to use a complicated mechanism, the number of components can be reduced with a simple configuration. That is, the wind direction can be adjusted by moving the cylindrical wind direction adjustment body  26  with a simple configuration while improving the appearance. In addition, an installation position of the instrument panel in the vicinity of the air outlet  24  can be more freely designed. 
     The downstream side which is one end side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is contracted in the same direction as that of the downstream side of at least the case body  3 . In this manner, while a flow velocity of the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) passing through the inside of the wind direction adjustment body  26  and straightly blowing from the downstream side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  can be increased, directionality of the air-conditioned wind (sidestream W 2 ) blowing in an inclined shape in a contracted direction from the downstream side of the flow path  30  between the wind direction adjustment body  26  and the case body  3  can be improved. Therefore, a wind direction adjustment function can be improved. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the wind direction adjustment body  26  is movable in the upward-downward direction. Accordingly, even in a state where the wind direction adjustment body  26  is moved, the direction of the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) blowing from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is not changed. The inclination of the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the adjustment body contraction portion  33  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  and the inclination of the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  of the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3  can be kept parallel or substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, the directionality of the air-conditioned wind (sidestream W 2 ) blowing in an inclined shape along the contracted direction from the downstream side of the flow path  30  between the wind direction adjustment body  26  and the case body  3  can be reliably improved. 
     The fin  60  is pivotably disposed in the direction intersecting with the ventilation direction inside the case body  3  and the movement direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , on the upstream side in the ventilation direction with respect to the wind direction adjustment body  26  inside the case body  3 . Accordingly, in addition to adjusting the wind direction by moving the wind direction adjustment body  26 , the wind direction can be adjusted by the pivoting of the fin  60  in the direction intersecting with the direction in which the wind direction can be adjusted. Therefore, the wind direction can be more freely adjusted. 
     The wind direction adjustment body  26  is movable along the movement direction of the operation section  43  movably disposed outside the case body  3 , which is the pivoting direction in the present embodiment. Therefore, the operation direction of the operation section  43  and the wind direction adjustment direction of the wind direction adjustment body  26  coincide or substantially coincide with each other. Therefore, the wind direction can be intuitively operated. 
     Next, a embodiment  2  will be described with reference to  FIGS.  7  and  8   . The same reference numerals will be assigned to the same configurations and operations as those in the embodiment 1, and description thereof will be omitted. 
     The wind direction adjustment body  26  of the present embodiment is disposed to be pivotable with respect to the case body  3 . That is, in the present embodiment, in the wind direction adjustment body  26 , a support portion  86  is pivotably supported by the case body  3 . In the shown example, the support portion  86  is formed on the side wall  29  of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . As an example, the support portion  86  is formed at a position protruding rearward from the rear portion of the side wall  29 . The support portion  86  is pivotably supported by the side wall portion  7  of the case body  3 . Therefore, the wind direction adjustment body  26  of the present embodiment is pivotable in the upward-downward direction, that is, in the contracted direction of the downstream side contraction portion  14  on the downstream side which is one end side of the case body  3 , that is, in the inclination direction of the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15 . 
     In a case of this configuration, the operation section  43  may be directly joined to the support portion  86 , and the wind direction adjustment body  26  may directly pivot by pivoting of the operation section  43 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , when the wind direction adjustment body  26  is located at a neutral position, a majority of the air-conditioned wind straightly moves into the wind direction adjustment body  26  via the introduction port  31  from the central portion in the upward-downward direction inside the ventilation passage  5  along the upstream side non-inclined portion  18   b  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  of the upstream side contraction portion  17 , and passes through the deriving port  32  in a state where a wind speed (pressure) is increased by the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the adjustment body contraction portion  33  (mainstream W 1 ). The remainder is guided up and down inside the ventilation passage  5  along the upstream side inclined portion  18   a  of the upstream side wind guide portion  18  of the upstream side contraction portion  17 , passes through the upper and lower flow paths  30  of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , and passes along between the adjustment body wind guide portion  34  of the adjustment body contraction portion  33  and the downstream side inclined portion  15   a  of the downstream side wind guide portion  15  of the downstream side contraction portion  14  of the case body  3  (sidestream W 2 ). Therefore, with regard to the wind direction of the air-conditioned wind, the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) linearly blowing from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is dominant, and the air-conditioned wind blows in the axial direction of the case body  3 , that is, in a front surface direction from the air outlet  24  along the ventilation direction of the ventilation passage  5 . 
     In addition, for example, the wind distribution in the upward-downward direction is adjusted by causing the operation section  43  to pivot up and down so that the wind direction adjustment body  26  pivots up and down. 
       FIG.  8    shows a state where the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung to the maximum in the downward direction. In this way, when the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung in the downward direction, in accordance with the movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26 , the direction of the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) blowing out from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is directed in the downward direction. The flow path  30  on the lower side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is contracted. The flow path  30  on the upper side is expanded. In this manner, a wind volume of the air-conditioned wind blowing in the downward direction from the air outlet  24  along the inclination of the downstream end of the flow path  30  on the upper side increases, and a wind volume of the air-conditioned wind blowing in the upward direction from the air outlet  24  along the inclination of the downstream end of the flow path  30  on the lower side decreases. When the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung to the maximum in the downward direction, the flow path  30  on the lower side of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is closed or substantially closed. Therefore, with regard to the wind direction of the air-conditioned wind, the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) passing through the inside of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is directed in the downward direction, and the air-conditioned wind (sidestream W 2 ) directed in the downward direction from the passage on the upper side is dominant In this manner, the wind direction is adjusted in the downward direction in accordance with the movement amount of the wind direction adjustment body  26 . 
     In this way, the cylindrical wind direction adjustment body  26  is disposed to be pivotable in the direction along at least the contraction inside the downstream side which is one end side of the case body  3 . Accordingly, while improving the appearance, the wind direction can be adjusted by moving the cylindrical wind direction adjustment body  26  with a simple configuration. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the same operational effects as those of the embodiment 1. 
     In addition, a configuration in which the wind direction adjustment body  26  pivots is adopted. Accordingly, when the wind direction adjustment body  26  is swung, the direction of the air-conditioned wind (mainstream W 1 ) blowing from the deriving port  32  of the wind direction adjustment body  26  is also changed. Therefore, the directionality of the wind direction can be further strengthened. Furthermore, since the pivotable operation section  43  is used, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for sliding the wind direction adjustment body  26 , and the wind direction adjustment body  26  can easily pivot with a simpler configuration. Therefore, the number of components and manufacturing costs can be further reduced. 
     In the above-described respective embodiments, the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  adopts a horizontal type, but may adopt a vertical type whose longitudinal direction is set as the upward-downward direction. The above-described embodiments can adopt the same configuration. In this case, the downstream side which is one end side of the case body  3  is contracted at least in the rightward-leftward direction, and the wind direction adjustment body  6  is movable at least in the rightward-leftward direction. In this manner, it is possible to achieve the same operational effects as those of the respective embodiments. 
     In addition, the wind direction adjustment apparatus  1  is not limited to an apparatus for an automobile, and may be used for any other desired purpose. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     For example, the present invention can be suitably used as a wind direction adjustment apparatus for air conditioning of an automobile. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  Wind direction adjustment apparatus 
       3  Case body 
       26  Wind direction adjustment body 
       43  Operation section 
       60  Fin