Patent Publication Number: US-2023144058-A1

Title: Air vent

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2021 128 955.6, filed Nov. 8, 2021, and German Patent Application No. 10 2022 124 212.9, filed Sep. 21, 2022, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to an air vent. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Air vents are known for ventilating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. They are disposed, in particular in a recessed manner, in an instrument panel, a center console or another interior trim panel part of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle in a recessed manner such that an air outlet opening of the air vent is flush with a surface of the interior trim panel part facing the passenger compartment. Air vents typically comprise a tubular housing or an air channel in which movable air control elements are disposed. “Air control elements” shall be understood to mean both air guide elements and air volume control elements. Air guide elements guide an air current through the air vent, and in particular in a direction of an outflow of the air out of the air vent into the passenger compartment to the left, to the right, to the top and to the bottom. For example, air vents comprise pivotable blades or flaps, serving as air guide elements. Air volume control elements control an air volume flowing through the air vent, and air volume control elements in particular restrict the air current flowing through the air vent by decreasing a flow cross-section or increasing an airflow resistance of the air vent in another manner. Air volume control elements are, for example, pivotable dampers or displaceable damper slides. Whether intended or unintended, air guide elements can also act as air volume control elements, and vice versa. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to propose a design configuration of a drive or of an actuator for one or more air control elements of an air vent. 
     The air vent according to the invention comprises a first, displaceable air control element and a first sliding guide, which displaceably guides the first air control element in the direction of a flow axis. The “flow axis” is an imaginary axis along which the air current flows through the air vent. For displacing the first air control element, the air vent according to the invention comprises a first helical gear, which converts a rotation into a displacement of the first air control element in the direction of the flow axis. The first sliding guide extends parallel to an axis of rotation of the first helical gear, which shall be understood to mean that the first sliding guide displaceably guides the first air control element parallel to the axis of rotation of the helical gear and parallel to the flow axis. “Parallel” shall be understood to mean both a parallel displacement that is coaxial with respect to the axis of rotation of the first helical gear and a parallel displacement that is radially offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the first helical gear. When the first helical gear is rotatably driven, the first helical gear displaces the first air control element along the first sliding guide or, in any case, parallel to the axis of rotation of the first helical gear or parallel to the flow axis. The invention enables a central arrangement of a drive or, in any case, of the first helical gear as part of the drive, in an air vent. 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a second air control element and a second sliding guide, which displaceably guides the second air control element parallel to the first sliding guide, and thus also parallel to the axis of rotation of the first helical gear. This embodiment of the invention furthermore comprises a second helical gear, which, when the second helical gear is rotatably driven, displaces the second air control element along the second sliding guide, and thus coaxially with respect to or parallel to the first sliding guide and the second sliding guide and the axes of rotation of the first helical gear and the second helical gear. The axes of rotation of the helical gear are disposed parallel to the flow axis. In particular, the two helical gears are disposed coaxially behind one another, and preferably coaxially inside one another. The arrangement of the two helical gears coaxially inside one another in particular enables a space-saving arrangement and an advantageous design of the two helical gears. 
     A refinement of the invention provides that the two helical gears have differing thread pitches so as to displace the two air control elements at differing speeds and/or in opposite directions, while being rotatably driven at identical speeds. The thread pitches of the two helical gears have differing heights and/or are oppositely oriented in this embodiment of the invention, the latter meaning that one of the two helical gears has a right-handed thread, and the corresponding other helical gear has a left-handed thread. 
     A preferred refinement of the invention provides a shared drive element for the two helical gears. This means that the two helical gears comprise a shared rotary drive. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shared drive element includes an external thread and an internal thread that is coaxial with respect to the external thread, and in particular coaxial within the external thread. For example, the shared drive element is tubular or, in any case, includes a hole that is coaxial with respect to the external thread and includes an internal thread. The shared drive element thus, so-to-speak, forms a spindle nut for an interior of the two helical gears and a spindle for an exterior of the two helical gears, wherein the spindle nut, generally speaking, is a part including the internal thread, and the spindle, generally speaking, is a part including an external thread that is coaxial with respect to the internal thread, namely the shared drive element of the two helical gears. The assignment as to which of the two helical gears is the interior one and which is the exterior one is arbitrary; hereafter, the interior helical gear is referred to as the first helical gear, and the exterior helical gear is referred to as the second helical gear. The interior or first helical gear comprises a spindle or, generally speaking, a component including an external thread, which is coaxial with respect to the internal thread of the shared drive element and which engages with the internal thread of the shared drive element in such a way that, when the shared drive element is rotatably driven, the spindle or the component of the first helical gear which includes the external thread is coaxially displaced, displacing the first air control element coaxially with respect to or parallel to the axis of rotation of the two helical gears in the process. The exterior or second helical gear comprises a spindle nut or, generally speaking, a component including an internal thread, which is coaxial with respect to the external thread of the shared drive element and which engages with the external thread of the shared drive element in such a way that, when the shared drive element is rotatably driven, the spindle nut or, generally speaking, the component of the second helical gear which includes the internal thread is coaxially displaced, displacing the second air control element of the air vent according to the invention coaxially with respect to or parallel to the axis of rotation of the two helical gears in the process. As a result of the shared drive element of the two helical gears being rotatably driven, the two helical gears jointly displace the two air control elements coaxially with respect to, or parallel to, the helical gears, and with respect to one another. This embodiment of the invention results in a compact design of the two helical gears comprising a shared drive of the two air control elements, with differing displacement speeds and/or displacement directions of the two air control elements being possible. 
     In particular, one of the two air control elements is, or both air control elements are, air volume control elements controlling an air volume flowing through the air vent. In particular, the one air control element is, or the two air control elements are, air restriction elements, which, when moving, restrict the air current flowing through the air vent, which is to say, in particular, decrease a flow cross-section of the air vent or increase a flow resistance of the air vent in another manner. 
     One embodiment of the invention provides for the two air control elements to be disposed inside one another. The first air control element is disposed as an interior air control element in the second air control element, which, for this purpose, is designed to be tubular or channel-like, for example, wherein a shape and/or a surface area of a cross-section of the second air control element can change over the length thereof. The two air control elements delimit a first air channel having a first air outlet opening between one another, wherein the first air channel is, in particular, annular and surrounds the first air control element in the second air control element. A cross-section of the first air channel does not have to be annular, but rather can, in general, be arbitrary. Embodiments in which the first air channel only partially surrounds the first air control element, or the first air channel is only disposed on one side of the first air control element, are possible. 
     The second air control element is disposed in a, for example, likewise tubular or channel-like housing, wherein the housing and the second air control element delimit a second air channel having a second air outlet opening between one another. The second air channel is also, in particular, annular and surrounds the second air control element in the housing, wherein a second air channel that only partially surrounds the second air control element or that is only disposed on one side of the second air control element is also possible here. In addition to two air channels that are disposed inside one another in an annular manner, two air channels that are disposed next to one another are also possible, for example. 
     The first air control element is preferably displaceably guided in the second air control element so as to vary a cross-sectional surface area of the first air channel through which air can flow, whereby a restriction of the air current flowing through the first air channel is possible. The second air control element is displaceably guided in the housing so as to vary a cross-sectional surface area of the second air channel through which air can flow and thereby restrict the air current flowing through the second air channel. 
     In particular, one of the two air control elements or the two air control elements can be displaced in the direction of the air outlet openings of the two air channels and opposite one another such that distances between the air control elements and the air outlet opening can be varied. Varying the distances between the air control elements and the air outlet openings in particular serves to block the air outlet openings to varying degrees by way of the air control elements and thereby restrict the air currents flowing through the two air channels. 
     Preferably, one of the two air channels or both air channels can also be closed by the displacement of the two air control elements so as to not only restrict, but suppress the air current. In particular, the air control elements close the air outlet openings of the air channels. A hermetically sealed closure of the air channels is not mandatory. It is possible for an air current to flow through gaps or the like of the air channels closed by the air control elements. 
     The features and feature combinations, embodiments and configurations of the invention mentioned above in the description, and the features and feature combinations mentioned hereafter in the description of the figures and/or shown in a figure, can be used not only in the respective indicated or illustrated combination, but also in other essentially arbitrary combinations, or alone. Embodiments of the invention that do not include all the features of a dependent claim are possible. It is also possible to replace individual features of a claim with other disclosed features or feature combinations. Embodiments of the invention that do not include all the features of the exemplary embodiment, but an essentially arbitrary portion of the characterizing features of the exemplary embodiment, are possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention will be described hereafter in greater detail based on one exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. 
         FIG.  1    shows an axial section of an air vent according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The air vent  1  according to the invention shown in  FIG.  1    is intended for recessed installation in an instrument panel or a center console of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, which is not shown. The air vent comprises a tubular or channel-like housing  2  having a cross-section that varies across the length thereof, which is installed into the instrument panel or the center console in a recessed manner and with an edge of an air outlet opening  21 ,  22  flush in an opening of a surface of the instrument panel or of the center console which faces the passenger compartment. 
     The air vent  1  comprises two air control elements  3 ,  4 , of which a first air control element  3  is disposed in a second air control element  4 , and the second air control element  4  is, or both air control elements  3 ,  4  are, disposed in the housing  2 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the two air control elements  3 ,  4  can be interpreted as being pear-shaped, wherein the second air control element  4  is tubular and surrounds the first air control element  3  such that the two air control elements  3 ,  4  delimit an annular first air channel  5 , which surrounds the first air control element  3  in the second air control element  4 , between one another. The second air control element  4  and the housing  2  likewise delimit a likewise annular second air channel  6  between one another, which surrounds the second air control element  4  in the housing  2 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the two air control elements  3 ,  4  and the housing  2  have rectangle-like, substantially square cross-sections, having convexly curved sides and rounded regions, instead of corners; however, this is not essential for the invention. The air control elements  3 ,  4  are disposed coaxially inside one another and in the housing  2 . 
     Two helical gears  7 ,  8  are disposed coaxially inside one another, coaxially in the housing  2 , and comprise a tube including an internal thread  14  and an external thread  10  that is coaxial with respect to the internal thread  14 , serving as a shared drive element  11 . The internal thread  14  of the shared drive element  11  engages with an external thread  12  of a spindle  13 , which is rigidly connected to the first air control element  3 . The external thread  10  of the shared drive element  11  engages with an internal thread  14   a  of a sleeve, which is referred to as a spindle nut  15  here. The spindle nut  15  is rigidly connected to the second air control element  4  by way of radial ribs  16 . In the exemplary embodiment, the spindle  13  is integral with the first air control element  3 , and the spindle nut  15  is integral with the second air control element  4 . 
     The shared drive element  11  and the spindle  13  form the first helical gear  7  for displacing the first air control element  3  in the second air control element  4 , and the shared drive element  11  and the spindle nut  15  form the second helical gear  8  for displacing the second air control element  4  in the housing  2  of the air vent  1  according to the invention. The shared drive element  11  is an integral part of the two helical gears  7 ,  8  and may be interpreted as a spindle nut of the first helical gear  7  and as a (hollow) spindle of the second helical gear  8 , wherein the sleeve including the internal thread  14   a  can be interpreted as the spindle nut  15  thereof. 
     As a result of the shared drive element  11  being rotatably driven, both the displacement of the spindle  13  together with the first air control element  3  and the displacement of the spindle nut  15  together with the second air control element  4  are carried out coaxially with respect to an axis of rotation  17  of the two helical gears  7 ,  8 . The axis of rotation  17  corresponds to the flow axis here, along which the air current flows through the air vent  1 . In the exemplary embodiment, the two helical gears  7 ,  8  include right-handed threads, which is to say, threads having pitches oriented in the same direction; however, in the exemplary embodiment, the first helical gear  7  has a larger thread pitch than the second helical gear  8  so that, when the shared drive element  11  is being rotatably driven, the first air control element  3  moves more quickly and to a greater extent than the second air control element  4 . In the exemplary embodiment, the thread pitch of the first helical gear  7  is twice as large as the thread pitch of the second helical gear  8 , so that, when the shared drive element  11  is being rotatably driven, the first air control element  3  is moved twice as quickly and twice as far as the second air control element  4 . 
     A first cylinder tube ring  18  is mounted in a rotatable and axially fixed manner, coaxially in the first housing  2 , from which radial ribs  19  project inwardly, which rigidly connect the shared drive element  11  to the first cylinder tube ring  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the shared drive element  11 , the radial ribs  19 , and the first cylinder tube ring  18  are integral with one another. The first cylinder tube ring  18  holds the shared drive element  11  coaxially in the housing  2 . In the exemplary embodiment, rotary driving of the first cylinder tube ring  18  and, by way of the first cylinder tube ring  18 , of the shared drive element  11  are carried out electromechanically using an electric motor  20 , which is illustrated as a graphical symbol in the drawing. Other rotary drives are possible. 
     As described, as a result of the shared drive element  11  being rotatably driven by way of the two helical gears  7 ,  8 , the two air control elements  3 ,  4  are jointly displaced in the same direction, wherein, due to the differing thread pitches of the two helical gears  7 ,  8 , the first air control element  3 , which is the interior one in the exemplary embodiment, is displaced, in the exemplary embodiment, twice as quickly and twice as far as the second air control element  4 , which is the exterior one in the exemplary embodiment. As a result of the displacement, the distances between the two air control elements  3 ,  4  and air outlet openings  21 ,  22  of the two air channels  5 ,  6  change, whereby a surface area of annular cross-sections of the two annular air channels  5 ,  6  through which air can flow changes. By reducing the surface areas of the annular cross-sections of the two air channels  5 ,  6 , the flow resistance of the air channels  5 ,  6  is increased, and air currents flowing through the two air channels  5 ,  6  are restricted. The two air control elements  3 ,  4  can thus also be interpreted as air volume control elements or as air restriction elements. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the two air control elements  3 ,  4  can be displaced so far into the air outlet openings  21 ,  22  of the air channels  7 ,  8  as to close the air outlet openings  21 ,  22  and block air from flowing through the air channels  7 ,  8 . Absolute air-tight blocking is not necessary, and gaps between the two air control elements  3 ,  4  and between the second air control element  4  and the housing  2 , through which remaining air can flow, are possible. 
     The spindle  13  and the shared drive element  11 , which is to say the first helical gear  7 , form a first sliding guide  23  that is coaxial with respect to the axis of rotation  17  of the first helical gear  7  and that displaceably guides the first air control element  3  coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation  17  of the first helical gear  7 . Likewise, the shared drive element  11  and the spindle nut  15 , which is to say the second helical gear  8 , form a second sliding guide  24  that is coaxial with respect to the axis of rotation  17  of the second helical gear  8  and that displaceably guides the second air control element  8  coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation  17 . The two helical gears  7 ,  8 , and thus also the two sliding gears  23 ,  24 , are coaxial with respect to one another and coaxial in the housing  2 , whereby the two air control elements  3 ,  4  are displaceably guided, coaxially in the housing  2  of the air vent  1  according to the invention. 
     For guiding the air current through the air vent  1 , the air vent  1  comprises an air guide flap  25 , which is mounted in the first cylinder tube ring  18  so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis  26  that is radial with respect to the housing  2 . For pivoting the air guide flap  25 , the air vent  1  comprises a second cylinder tube ring  27 , which is disposed axially upstream from the first cylinder tube ring  18  and mounted rotatably in the housing  2 . A pin  28 , which protrudes into an axially parallel elongated hole  29  in the second cylinder tube ring  27 , projects from the air guide flap  25  to the outside, on one side of the air guide flap  25 , radially with respect to the housing  2 . As a result of the two cylinder tube rings  18 ,  27  being rotated with respect to one another, the air guide flap  25 , can be pivoted, as shown with dotted lines in  FIG.  1   , thereby guiding the air current through the air vent  1 . 
     As a result of a rotation of the first cylinder tube ring  18 , in which the air guide flap  25  is pivotably mounted, the air guide flap  25  can be rotated about the axis of rotation  17  of the two helical gears  7 ,  8 , thereby making it possible to set a direction in which the air guide flap  25  guides the air current flowing through the air vent  1 . 
     Both the rotation of the two cylinder tube rings  18 ,  27  with respect to one another for pivoting the air guide flap  25  and a shared rotation of the two cylinder tube rings  18 ,  27  for rotating the air guide flap  25  about the axis of rotation  17  are carried out electromechanically using the electric motor  20 , or also using multiple electric motors (not shown). 
     The air guide flap  25  can, generally speaking, also be interpreted as an air guide element or as an air control element. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     Air Vent 
       1  air vent 
       2  housing 
       3  first air control element 
       4  second air control element 
       5  first air channel 
       6  second air channel 
       7  first helical gear 
       8  second helical gear 
       9  unassigned 
       10  external thread 
       11  shared drive element 
       12  external thread 
       13  spindle 
       14 ,  14   a  internal thread 
       15  spindle nut 
       16  radial rib 
       17  axis of rotation 
       18  first cylinder tube ring 
       19  radial rib 
       20  electric motor 
       21  first air outlet opening 
       22  second air outlet opening 
       23  first sliding guide 
       24  second sliding guide 
       25  air guide flap 
       26  pivot axis 
       27  second cylinder tube ring 
       28  pin 
       29  elongated hole