Patent Description:
The document <CIT> relates to an air direction plate supporting device for an air outlet formed in a frame of a front cover of an air conditioner. The device comprises a plurality of air direction plates. The air direction plates each comprise a first rotation shaft on a first side and a second rotation shaft on a second side.

The document <CIT> relates to an air vent according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

The document <CIT> relates to a wind direction adjustment device of a ventilator.

The document <CIT> relates to an air vent for a motor vehicle.

Air which originates from an air conditioning unit of the motor vehicle flows through the air vent into the interior of the vehicle. The air conditioning unit serves to heat the air and, in the case of a climate control system, also to cool the air. Moreover, the air throughflow may be adjusted by means of a fan. The air vent itself generally serves to adjust the direction in which the air flows into the vehicle interior. To this end, the lamellae are pivotable in order to conduct the airflow, for example upwardly or downwardly.

A fundamental problem with such an air vent is the mounting of the lamellae. Firstly, it is intended to be possible to pivot the lamellae easily. Secondly, it is intended that the lamellae are prevented from being adjusted automatically in an undesirable manner. These requirements, which are already contradictory, are also intended to be fulfilled over a very wide range of temperature and humidity and also over a very long service life. Finally, rattling noises are intended to be prevented.

Different attachments by which lamellae are able to be mounted are known from the prior art. For example, the bearing pins of the lamellae may be mounted in spring clips which have an Ω-shape. Due to the resilience of the spring clips, the lamellae are prevented from being adjusted automatically in an undesirable manner and from rattling. However, potential unroundness of the bearing pins leads to the actuating force of the lamellae fluctuating significantly over the pivoting range.

The object of the invention is to develop an air vent of the type mentioned in the introduction, such that the requirements for mounting the lamellae may be fulfilled in an improved manner.

The present invention relates to an air vent according to independent claim <NUM>, wherein further developments of the inventive air vent are provided in the subclaims respectively.

According to the invention in an air vent of the type mentioned in the introduction it is provided that the lamellae are mounted on opposing sides with one respective radial bearing and on just one side with one respective axial bearing. The invention is based on the fundamental idea of receiving the lamellae in the "conventional" manner by means of a three-point bearing in the housing, so that complicated spring elements, or the like, are not required. By means of a three-point bearing, the tolerances which are generally present may be compensated in the best possible manner, so that they have no effect on the forces required for pivoting the lamellae.

Preferably, the axial bearing is designed separately from the radial bearing of the corresponding side. This produces the space for optimally adapting each bearing independently of the other to the respective requirements.

Preferably, the axial bearing comprises a fork which encompasses the bearing pin assigned thereto with radial clearance, wherein the bearing pin is provided with at least one axial bearing surface which is arranged on one side of the fork. By means of this design, it is ensured that the mounting on the side of the axial bearing is not over-specified.

The axial bearing surfaces may also be provided on both sides of the fork.

Preferably, the fork comprises an insertion chamfer. This simplifies the insertion of the bearing pin in the fork when mounting the lamellae in the housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the axial bearings are combined to form an axial bearing strip. This leads to a compact design of the housing and to the support of the axial bearings relative to one another, resulting in greater strength.

The axial bearings are preferably integrally formed with the housing so that the cost for separate mounting is avoided.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the radial bearings are designed as a circular opening which is preferably closed in the circumferential direction, the corresponding bearing pin engaging therein. This has the advantage that, even if the bearing pin were to be slightly unround, the actuating forces for the lamellae remain approximately uniform over the pivoting range; this represents a clear advantage relative to Ω-shaped spring clips in which the actuating forces of the lamellae depend very significantly on how the unround cross section of the bearing pin is oriented relative to the slot of the spring clips.

The radial bearings are attached to the housing so as to be able to be resiliently deflected in the axial direction. By means of this design it is possible to mount the lamellae retrospectively in the radial bearings which are already present on the housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the radial bearings of one side are combined together to form a radial bearing strip. In the same manner as in the axial bearings, therefore, a more stable design results overall.

Preferably, the radial bearings are integrally formed with the housing. The housing may be an injection-molded component made of plastics, for example, in which it is not necessary to mount any bearings retrospectively.

According to one embodiment, the radial bearings are designed to protrude to the side. This results in the desired offset relative to the axial bearings. Moreover, a radial bearing which is arranged to project may be easily deflected in a resilient manner when the lamellae are mounted in the housing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, slots are provided between the housing and the radial bearing. The slots ensure that the radial bearings may be axially deflected in the desired manner when the lamellae are mounted in the housing.

In order to facilitate the clipping of the bearing pins in the housing, clipping chamfers may be assigned in each case to the radial bearings.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each lamella is provided with a positioning surface. This serves to orientate the lamella in a suitable manner in a mounting device.

According to the invention, the lamellae are connected together by means of a coupling rod which braces the lamellae relative to one another in the axial direction. The coupling rod in this case has a dual function: firstly it ensures that all of the lamellae are pivoted synchronously with one another. Secondly, it ensures that the lamellae have no clearance in the axial direction; as a result rattling noise is avoided.

The coupling rod may extend, in particular, in a C-shaped manner, i.e. be curved in only one direction. By means of this design, the axial bracing of the lamellae relative to one another may be adjusted very reliably. It is also possible to brace the coupling rod in a serpentine manner, i.e. with a path which has a plurality of turns.

According to the invention, it is provided that the coupling rod for at least two lamellae is provided with an Ω-shaped opening, a coupling pin engaging therein. This facilitates the mounting since the coupling rod may be pushed onto the coupling pin in the radial direction.

Particularly preferably, the coupling pin comprises a portion with a smaller diameter, a portion with a larger diameter and a conical portion located therebetween. The portion with the smaller diameter permits the Ω-shaped opening to be pushed onto the coupling pin. Subsequently, the coupling rod may be displaced in the axial direction so that it reaches the portion with the larger diameter. As a result, the coupling rod is received without rattling on the coupling pin.

The invention is described hereinafter with reference to two embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In <FIG> an air vent <NUM> according to a first embodiment may be seen, said air vent having a housing <NUM>, shown in this case broken away, an air guiding channel being defined therein. Air which is introduced into an interior of a motor vehicle is able to flow through said channel in the direction of the arrow P.

The air vent <NUM> is provided with a plurality of lamellae <NUM> which are arranged substantially parallel to one another. Each of the lamellae <NUM> is pivotably mounted in the housing <NUM> such that it is able to be pivoted between different positions (see arrow S in <FIG>).

In principle in a manner known per se, in addition to the lamellae <NUM>, the air vent may contain further lamellae in order to be able to adjust the direction of the air flow emerging from the air vent <NUM>. Moreover, the air vent <NUM> may also be provided with flaps, the free throughflow cross section being adjustable thereby. All this is not relevant further here and therefore also not described further.

The lamellae <NUM> are elongated and have at opposing ends one respective bearing pin <NUM>, <NUM> (see also <FIG>). The bearing pins <NUM>, <NUM> define together the pivot axis, the corresponding lamella <NUM> in the housing <NUM> being pivotably mounted about said pivot axis.

The lamellae <NUM> are mounted in the housing <NUM> by a combination of fixed bearings and floating bearings. In this case, a radial bearing and an axial bearing are used on the side of the bearing pin <NUM> for each lamella <NUM> and on the side of the bearing pin <NUM> only one radial bearing is used and no axial bearing.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, all of the axial bearings are arranged on the same side of the air vent. This is, however, technically not necessary; the axial bearings may also be arranged on different sides of the air vent. It is only technically important that just one axial bearing is provided per lamella.

The axial bearing has a fork <NUM> which is formed by a recess in an axial bearing strip <NUM> (see in particular <FIG> and <FIG>). Inside the fork <NUM> is located an axial bearing portion <NUM> of the bearing pin <NUM> which is defined on both sides by axial bearing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. These surfaces are located opposite one another in the axial direction at a distance which has a minimum width which is wider than the width of the fork <NUM>.

The fork formed in the axial bearing strip <NUM> is provided on its side facing outwardly with two insertion chamfers <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The recess defining the fork <NUM> in the axial bearing strip <NUM> is slightly wider than the diameter of the axial bearing portion <NUM> of the bearing pin <NUM>, so that in the normal state no contact is made between the circumferential surface of the axial bearing portion <NUM> and the fork <NUM> of the axial bearing.

The radial bearing is formed on the side of the bearing pin <NUM> by a radial bearing portion <NUM> which has a cylindrical external contour. The radial bearing portion <NUM> engages in a radial bearing opening <NUM> which also has a circular cross section. The diameter of the radial bearing portion <NUM> and the radial bearing opening <NUM> are adapted to one another such that a bearing without clearance is provided.

The radial bearing opening <NUM> is formed in a radial bearing strip <NUM> which is attached to the housing <NUM> of the air vent <NUM> protruding to the side. To this end, a connecting portion <NUM> is provided, the radial bearing strip <NUM> being connected thereby to the housing <NUM>.

As may be seen in <FIG>, in particular, the radial bearing opening <NUM> is assigned a clipping chamfer <NUM> which is arranged on the same side as the insertion chamfer <NUM> of the axial bearing.

On the side of the bearing pin <NUM> a radial bearing is also provided by a radial bearing opening (in this case denoted by the reference numeral <NUM>). The radial bearing openings <NUM> in this case are directly formed in a lateral housing wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

In this case, slots <NUM> (see <FIG>) are provided on the upper edge and on the lower edge of the housing wall <NUM>, said slots permitting the housing wall <NUM> to be able to be resiliently deflected in the region of the radial bearing openings <NUM> slightly outwardly, i.e. away from the lamellae <NUM>.

In the same manner as on the side of the bearing pin <NUM>, the radial bearing opening <NUM> is also assigned a clipping chamfer (in this case denoted by the reference numeral <NUM>).

The lamellae <NUM> are connected together by means of a coupling rod <NUM> (see in particular <FIG> and <FIG>). The coupling rod <NUM> consists of metal, so that its resilient pretensioning is maintained over a long service life and irrespective of the respectively prevailing temperatures and the prevailing humidity.

The coupling rod <NUM> is connected to each of the lamellae <NUM> by means of a coupling pin <NUM>. The coupling pins <NUM> are oriented in opposing directions so that the lamellae may be braced relative to one another in the axial direction by means of the coupling rod <NUM>.

To this end, in the initial state the coupling rod is planar. The coupling pins of the different lamellae are arranged slightly offset to one another in the axial direction. When the coupling rod <NUM> is mounted on the coupling pins <NUM> and the lamellae <NUM> are oriented relative to one another in the axial direction, the coupling rod <NUM> is deformed resiliently relative to the initial shape so that an axial pretensioning of the lamellae <NUM> relative to their axial bearings is achieved.

In order to mount the lamellae <NUM> in the housing <NUM> of the air vent, said lamellae may be arranged in a mounting device <NUM> (see in particular <FIG>). In this case, a positioning surface <NUM> may be kept correctly oriented, said positioning surface being provided on a shoulder portion <NUM> which protrudes radially between the axial bearing portion <NUM> and the radial bearing portion <NUM> of the bearing pin <NUM>.

As may be seen in <FIG>, the positioning surfaces <NUM> are oriented differently. This ensures that only the "correct" lamellae, with respect to the axial pretensioning, are able to be mounted. Thus the uppermost and the lowermost lamellae <NUM> are "coded" in the same manner and this coding differs from the coding of the second lamella above and below; in this case with respect to the axial pretensioning other lamellae have to be inserted. The central lamella <NUM> in turn is coded differently from the two upper and the two lower lamellae, since in this case a coupling pin <NUM> is used with a different axial position compared to the other lamellae.

The coding is also advantageous when the lamellae of an air vent have different lengths. In this case, in addition to the correct positioning for the pretensioning of the coupling rod, the correct position in the vent is also ensured by means of the coding.

The housing, as shown in <FIG>, on the one hand, may be positioned in a mounting direction M in a linear manner on the lamellae <NUM>, so that the radial bearing strip <NUM> and the housing wall <NUM> flex in the axial direction due to the presence of the clipping chamfers <NUM>, <NUM> and, when the bearing pins <NUM>, <NUM> engage in the radial bearing openings <NUM>, <NUM>, snap back again in a resilient manner; in this case the axial bearing portion <NUM> of the bearing pin <NUM> is automatically introduced by the insertion chamfers <NUM> into the fork of the axial bearing strip <NUM>. The axial resilience of the radial bearings in this case is facilitated by the protruding attachment of the radial bearing strip <NUM> on the housing <NUM> and the slots <NUM> on the side of the housing wall <NUM>.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the housing <NUM>, which is initially slightly tilted with its radial bearing openings <NUM>, is fed onto the bearing pins <NUM> and subsequently on its opposing side pushed down onto the bearing pins <NUM> so that said bearing pins snap into the radial bearing openings <NUM>. In this case, it may be possible to dispense with the slots <NUM> in the housing <NUM>.

The disclosed air vent and the mounting of the lamellae <NUM> in the housing <NUM> of the air vent result in a whole series of advantages.

Initially, the radial bearing openings <NUM>, <NUM> may be produced with very low tolerances and a high degree of roundness, since only pins have to be deformed. Even if one of the bearing pins <NUM>, <NUM> were to be slightly unround, this would not result in the actuating force of the lamellae changing over the pivoting range.

Due to the axial bearing being provided on only one side, the longitudinal tolerances of the lamellae <NUM>, the dimensional tolerances of the housing <NUM> (due to shape alterations in the injection-molding process or during the mounting in the dashboard) or thermal expansions do not result in the lamellae <NUM> being braced in the axial direction inside the housing; as may be seen clearly in <FIG>, the bearing pin <NUM> engages with axial clearance in the radial bearing opening <NUM> so that it is possible to compensate easily for any longitudinal differences without this affecting the actuating forces.

Since the friction ratios in the radial bearings and in the axial bearing may be very precisely set at relatively low expense, no costly friction pairings or lubricants are required.

As may be seen in <FIG>, in particular, the coupling rod <NUM> viewed in the axial direction is arranged in the vicinity of the axial bearing. As a result, any tolerances have relatively little effect on the friction in the axial bearing which is produced by the bracing of the lamellae <NUM> relative to one another by means of the coupling rod.

The fork of the axial bearing protects the bearing pin <NUM> in the region of the radial bearing from excessively high loads as might occur when the lamellae <NUM> are loaded centrally with high radial forces, for example when an operator pushes with a high degree of force onto a lamella. In this case, the lamella <NUM> is deflected and the axial bearing portion <NUM> is supported on the side of the fork <NUM> of the axial bearing strip <NUM> opposing the axial bearing portion. As a result, it is possible for the radial bearing portion <NUM> of the bearing pin <NUM> to be able to be designed with a relatively small cross section.

On the side of the bearing pin <NUM>, the housing wall <NUM> is designed to be sufficiently thin that the housing wall <NUM> in the region of the radial bearing opening <NUM> is able to twist slightly, such that the central axis of the radial bearing opening <NUM> follows the path of the bearing pin <NUM> when the lamella <NUM> is significantly deformed. This also prevents excessively high loads from acting on the bearing pin <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the coupling between the coupling rod <NUM> and the lamellae <NUM> of an air vent according to a second embodiment is shown in detail. For the components known from the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and in this regard reference is made to the above descriptions.

In the second embodiment, the coupling rod <NUM> has an omega-shaped opening <NUM> for each coupling pin <NUM>. Accordingly, the coupling pin <NUM> has a portion <NUM> with a smaller diameter corresponding to the opening of the omega on the coupling rod <NUM> and a portion <NUM> with a larger diameter corresponding to the bore size of the omega. A cone <NUM> is provided between the two portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

In principle, deviating from the embodiment shown, it is also possible that the omega-shaped opening <NUM> is used for the coupling with only two of the lamellae, and a U-shaped opening is used for the coupling with the remaining lamellae.

Claim 1:
An air vent (<NUM>) for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (<NUM>) which defines an air guiding channel and a plurality of lamellae (<NUM>) which are provided at their ends with bearing pins (<NUM>, <NUM>), the lamellae (<NUM>) being pivotably attached thereby to the housing (<NUM>), wherein the lamellae (<NUM>) are mounted on opposing sides with one respective radial bearing (<NUM>, <NUM>) and on just one side with one respective axial bearing (<NUM>) such that the lamellae (<NUM>) are mounted in the housing (<NUM>) by a combination of fixed bearings and floating bearings,
wherein, the radial bearings (<NUM>, <NUM>) are designed as a circular opening (<NUM>, <NUM>), the corresponding bearing pin (<NUM>, <NUM>) engaging therein; and the radial bearings (<NUM>, <NUM>) are attached to the housing (<NUM>) so as to be able to be resiliently deflected in the axial direction, and
on this just one side
the radial bearing opening (<NUM>) being formed in a radial bearing strip (<NUM>), which is attached to the housing (<NUM>) of the air vent (<NUM>), wherein the radial bearing strip (<NUM>) is connected by a connecting portion (<NUM>) to the housing (<NUM>) of the air vent (<NUM>),
and characterised in that,
the radial bearing strip (<NUM>) protrudes to a side of the housing (<NUM>) of the air vent (<NUM>).