Patent ID: 12251990

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a schematic view of an air vent device1for a ventilation system of a vehicle. The device1has a pipe2forming an air channel3for providing air to a compartment4of the vehicle. A first end5of the pipe2has a mouth6for discharging air into the compartment4. The mouth6can be formed by any suitable nozzle7arranged at the first end5of the pipe2or just the pipe end. A second end8of the pipe2is connected to an air source9such as an A/C system or HVAC-system comprising a fan blowing air to the vehicle compartment4. The main direction of the air flow in the air channel3is from left to right as indicated by an arrow10.

FIG.2Ashows an enlarged view of the air vent device1, where a diffuser11of the air vent device is in an unfolded state. The air vent device1comprises the diffuser11for disturbing the airflow provided to the vehicle compartment4. The diffuser11is suitably arranged at the mouth6of the pipe2. The diffuser11has a portion12made of a flexible material which diffuser portion12is arranged to cover a part of a cross-section area of the air channel3and thereby blocking air flowing in the main flow direction10. The diffuser portion12is expandable for varying the size of the covered part of the air channel cross-section area.

The diffuser11can be foldable between an unfolded state, where said diffuser portion12covers a major part of the cross-section area of the air channel3, and a folded state, where said diffuser portion12covers a minor part of the cross-section area of the air channel3. In the unfolded state the diffuser portion is suitably disc-shaped. The diffuser portion can have a circular shape in the unfolded state. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIG.2A, the diffuser portion has a parabolic shape and a concave surface13of the diffuser portion12is faced against the main air flow direction10in the air channel3of the pipe2.

The diffuser portion12is preferably arranged to cover a central part of the air channel cross-section area, thereby blocking the airflow in the centre of the air channel3. The diffuser portion12is suitably arranged at the mouth6of the pipe2. In other words; the diffuser portion12is arranged close to the mouth6of the pipe2, for example in the mouth6or just outside the mouth6, preferably on the vehicle compartment4side, as illustrated. As further illustrated inFIG.2A, air flowing past the diffuser portion12will be forced to leave the pipe2at the mouth6in a direction14different from the main flow direction10. The airflow direction14at the mouth6is outwardly angled relative to the main flow direction10.

FIG.2Bshows an enlarged view of the air vent device1, where the diffuser11of the air vent device is in a folded state.

FIG.2CandFIG.2Dshow views taken along C-C and D-D inFIGS.2A and2B, respectively.

InFIGS.2C and2D, the area covered by the diffuser portion12in the unfolded state of the diffuser and the area covered by the diffuser portion12in the folded state of the diffuser are illustrated. InFIG.2C, the diffuser portion covers a major part of the air channel cross-section area at the mouth of the pipe, whereas inFIG.2Dthe diffuser portion12covers a minor part of the air channel cross-section area at the mouth.

FIGS.3A and3Bare partly cut perspective views showing an example embodiment of an air vent device. The expandable diffuser can be realized by means of an “umbrella”-function.FIGS.3A and3Bshow an example embodiment of an air vent device where such an umbrella function is used for achieving the unfolded state and the folded state of the diffuser.FIG.3Ashows the diffuser in the unfolded state andFIG.3Bshows the diffuser in the folded state.

The diffuser11can have a support member15extending in the longitudinal direction in the centre of the air channel3of the pipe2where the diffuser portion12is arranged on the support member15. In the example embodiment illustrated inFIGS.3A and3B, the diffuser11has an inner shaft16and an outer shaft17which constitute such a support member15. The inner shaft16and the outer shaft17which are arranged concentrically relative to each other forming a telescopic function are also arranged for shifting between the folded state and the unfolded state of the diffuser11. For shifting from the folded state to the unfolded state of the diffuser11while expanding the diffuser portion12, the diffuser has also pivotable link arms18. The diffuser portion12which can be made by fabric for instance is connected to the inner shaft16at the centre of the diffuser portion. Further, each link arm18has a first end19connected to the diffuser portion12and a second end20pivotally connected to the outer shaft17. The inner shaft16and the outer shaft17are displaceable relative to each other and by displacement of the outer shaft17relative to the inner shaft16the diffuser portion12can be folded and unfolded.

Starting from the unfolded state illustrated inFIG.3A, displacement of the outer shaft17in a direction from right to left will cause the diffuser portion12to be folded and starting from the folded state illustrated inFIG.3B, displacement of the outer shaft17in the direction from left to right will cause the diffuser portion12to expand to the unfolded state. The relative motion of the inner shaft16and the outer shaft17can be performed by an electric motor21connected to the outer shaft17through a threaded joint, such as a ball screw.

The diffuser portion12arranged to cover a part of a cross-section area of the air channel3is made by a flexible material such as any suitable fabric which also enables the “umbrella”-function.

It should be stressed that the diffuser portion12could be made by a partly air permeable material, though a material impermeable to air often is preferred, or a material which at least will block a major part of the airflow directed to the diffuser portion. For example, a material which will block more than 50%, suitably more than 80% and preferably more than 90% of the airflow directed towards the diffuser portion.

FIG.4Ashows a further variant of an air vent device1′ for a ventilation system of a vehicle. The diffuser portion12′ comprises a hose made from a flexible material, such as a fabric or similar. A first end22of the hose12′ is attached to an inner shaft16′ and second end23of the hose12′ is attached to an outer shaft17′ arranged concentrically around the inner shaft. A plurality of link arms18′ is arranged inside the hose12′ between the hose and the inner shaft. These link arms18′ are pivotally connected to the inner shaft16′ and to the outer shaft17′. Further, each link arm18′ has a pivot joint24suitably in the middle of the link arm18′.

FIG.4Bshows the diffuser portion12′ in the folded state of the diffuser11′. By displacement of the inner shaft16′ and the outer shaft17′ relative to each other, the diffuser portion12′ can be expanded by movement of the link arms18′ to the unfolded state illustrated inFIG.4A, and vice versa.

FIG.5shows a further variant of an air vent device1″ for a ventilation system of a vehicle. The diffuser portion12″ is inflatable for expanding the diffuser portion. The diffuser portion12″ is illustrated both when inflated and not inflated. A dashed line30indicates the size of the diffuser portion12″ when the diffuser portion is not inflated, whereas the solid line32indicates the size of the diffuser portion12″ when the diffuser portion is inflated. The flexible material used for the diffuser portion can be a rubber material or similar suitable to be inflated. The diffuser portion can be arranged on a tube31. The tube can be connected to an air source and a valve system for providing air to the diffuser portion. For example, air can be supplied from the A/C system or HVAC-system used for providing air to the vehicle compartment. Optionally, any other suitable gas could be used for inflating the diffuser portion.

In all example embodiments described herein, in addition to the expandable function, the diffuser portion could also be displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the pipe for adjustment of the distance between the mouth of the pipe and the diffuser portion while maintaining the size of the diffuser portion. Such adjustment of the relative positions of the mouth and the diffuser portion can be also be used for controlling the airflow into the vehicle compartment.

InFIG.6, an example embodiment where the diffuser portion12is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the pipe2is illustrated.

As previously mentioned, the air channel cross-section area covered by the diffuser portion12is the area of the air channel3overlapping with the diffuser portion12when looked at the diffuser portion12in a longitudinal direction of the pipe2. Thus, this can be fulfilled for different positions of the diffuser portion12along the longitudinal direction of the pipe2of the air vent device. In other words; the diffuser portion12can be positioned just inside or outside of the mouth6of the pipe2.

See alsoFIG.7schematically illustrating different positions of the diffuser portion12relative to the pipe2. The diffuser portion12is illustrated both when arranged outside the pipe2and inside the pipe2. A dashed line50indicates the position of the diffuser portion12when the diffuser portion12is most retracted, whereas a solid line51indicates the position of the diffuser portion12when the diffuser portion12is most projected. The diffusor portion12is schematically illustrated inFIG.7but can of course have any suitable design enabling the size of the covered part of the air channel cross section area to be varied, such as any of the embodiments described in the description and drawings herein.

InFIG.6, the relative motion of the inner shaft16and the outer shaft17can be performed by the electric motor21connected to the outer shaft17through a threaded joint, such as a ball screw, as previously described with reference toFIGS.3A and3B. By displacement of the outer shaft17and the inner shaft16relative to each other, the diffuser portion12can be folded and unfolded.

In addition, the air vent device1comprises a further electric motor40for displacement of the diffuser portion12in the longitudinal direction41of the pipe2. The further electric motor40can be connected to a sliding component42through a threaded joint or similar. The sliding component42may comprise a tube43which is displaceably arranged inside the pipe2. The further electric motor40is suitably arranged on the outside of the pipe2as illustrated. The electric motor21and the inner shaft16are attached to the tube43, via struts44. This means that the electric motor21, the inner shaft16, the outer shaft17and the diffuser portion12, i.e. the entire diffuser11, can be moved in the longitudinal direction41by means of controlling the further electric motor40. In the example embodiment illustrated, a first stop45and a second stop46of the pipe2delimit the movement of the sliding component42relative to the pipe2, thereby defining the most retracted position and the most projected position, respectively, of the diffuser portion12.

By controlling the electric motor21and the further electric motor40, the size of the part of the cross-section area of the air channel3covered by the diffuser portion12as well as the position of the diffuser portion12in the longitudinal direction41of the pipe2, can be varied and adjusted.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.