Line register

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821812-B2
Application number	US-201815921994-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2018
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

An automobile air vent register is described. The register uses a rotating vent cover, and an elongate opening in a configuration providing good air flow control within a limited space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle air register, comprising:
an opening for an airflow path to a vehicle interior from a duct, the opening having length and width, wherein the length is three to fifteen times the width; and
a cover configured to rotate between open and closed around a pivot axis parallel to the length, and comprising:
a semi-cylindrical surface, whereby the closed cover is semi-cylindrical on a surface facing the vehicle interior; and
a partition extending from the pivot axis to a leading edge of the semi-cylindrical surface, whereby the partition separates a compartment from the airflow path.

2. The register of claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured to rotate 120 degrees between closed and open.

3. The register of claim 1 , wherein the opening has a length five to fifteen times the width.

4. The register of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of wedge-shaped pieces, at opposite lengthwise ends of the semi-cylindrical surface, connecting the semi-cylindrical surface to the partition; and wherein a tip of each of the wedge-shaped pieces is at a point on the pivot axis.

5. The register of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of vanes oriented substantially perpendicular to the length of the register.

6. The register of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of vanes oriented substantially perpendicular to the length of the register, wherein the vanes are adapted to pivot, thereby directing air flow;
a vane control, wherein the vane control is configured to pivot the vanes by a linear actuator, wherein the linear actuator is substantially enclosed within the compartment; and
a cover control, wherein the cover control is configured to rotate the cover to a closed, open, or partly-open position.

7. The register of claim 1 , wherein the cover is a single piece of material.

8. The register of claim 1 , wherein the opening width is less than half of a width of the duct.

9. The register of claim 1 , wherein the partition defines a partition surface configured to direct the airflow when the cover is in the open or a partly-open position, and wherein the partition surface faces and blocks the airflow path when the cover is closed.

10. The register of claim 1 , wherein the partition defines a partition surface configured to direct the airflow when the cover is in the open or a partly-open position, and wherein the partition surface has an area in a range of about 24-48 square cm.

11. The register of claim 1 , wherein the partition defines a partition surface configured to direct the airflow when the cover is in the open or a partly-open position, and wherein the partition surface is curved.

12. A vehicle air register, comprising:
an opening from a duct to a vehicle interior, the opening having length and width, wherein the length is three to fifteen times the width; and
a cover configured to rotate between closed and open around a pivot axis parallel to the length, wherein the pivot axis defines an edge of the opening, and wherein the closed cover covers the opening and has a semi-cylindrical surface facing the vehicle interior.

13. The register of claim 12 , wherein the cover is configured to rotate 120 degrees between closed and open.

14. The register of claim 12 , wherein the cover further comprises:
a partition extending from the pivot axis to a leading edge of the semi-cylindrical surface, whereby the partition is configured to direct airflow when the cover is in the open or a partly-open position, and wherein the partition blocks airflow through the opening when the cover is closed.

15. The register of claim 12 , wherein the opening has a length five to fifteen times the width.

16. A method of directing airflow into a vehicle interior, comprising:
providing a vehicle air register comprising:
an opening from a duct to the vehicle interior, the opening having length and width, wherein the length is three to fifteen times the width; and
a cover configured to rotate between closed and open around a pivot axis parallel to the length, wherein the closed cover covers the opening and has a semi-cylindrical surface facing the vehicle interior, and wherein the cover has a partition extending from the pivot axis to a leading edge of the semi-cylindrical surface; and

rotating the cover to a partly-open position, whereby the partition bounds and directs airflow through the opening.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: subsequently rotating the cover to a closed position, whereby the partition blocks airflow through the register.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhang Yahong

Classifications

• B60H2001/3478

  acting on additional damper doors · CPC title

• B60H1/3414 Primary

  with means for adjusting the air stream direction (B60H1/345 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00685

  the door being a rotating disc or cylinder or part thereof (B60H1/00678 takes precedence) · CPC title