Device for controlling the air discharge from an air outlet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10953729-B2
Application number	US-201816108764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A device for controlling the air flow from an air outlet of a heating and/or ventilation and/or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet has an air discharge opening which is for discharging air into an inner vehicle space and over which there extends at least one elongate slat which can be pivoted about a longitudinal axis in order to influence an air flow flowing through the air discharge opening and whose pivot position can be adjusted by at least one adjustment mechanism which is coupled to the slat. At least one actuation mechanism, which is fitted to a vehicle seat when the vehicle seat is mounted in the inner vehicle space, moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and brings about an adjustment of the at least one slat in accordance with a position of the vehicle seat with respect to the inner vehicle space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for controlling air flow from a heating and/or ventilation and/or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an air outlet having an air discharge opening for discharging air into an inner vehicle space;
at least one elongate slat extending over the air outlet and pivotable about a longitudinal axis to influence the air flow flowing through the air discharge opening and having a pivot position that can be adjusted by at least one adjustment mechanism coupled to the slat, wherein the adjustment mechanism has a rod-shaped elongate structure with a round cross section; and
at least one actuation mechanism fitted to a vehicle seat which when the vehicle seat is mounted in the inner vehicle space moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and brings about an adjustment of the at least one slat in accordance with a position of the vehicle seat with respect to the inner vehicle space, wherein the at least one actuation mechanism has a wedge-shaped structure that narrows from one end to another with side faces, wherein the at least one actuation mechanism corn vises at least two actuation mechanisms, wherein the at least two actuation mechanisms are fitted to the vehicle seat, wherein a first actuation mechanism of the at least two actuation mechanisms when the vehicle seat is assembled in a first position moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and displaces the first actuation mechanism in a first actuation direction as far as a first actuation position, and a second actuation mechanism of the at least two actuation mechanisms when the vehicle seat is assembled in a second position moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and displaces the second actuation mechanism in a second actuation direction counter to the first actuation direction as far as a second actuation position.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat can be assembled in at least two different positions in the inner vehicle space, wherein the vehicle seat in the first position is orientated substantially in the travel direction of the motor vehicle and in the second position is orientated substantially counter to the travel direction of the motor vehicle.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an adjustment path of the adjustment mechanism between a first actuation position and a second actuation position includes a neutral position in which the at least one slat of the air outlet assumes a pivot position in which the air flow flowing through the air discharge opening flows out substantially perpendicularly to an opening plane of the air discharge opening.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is resiliently loaded in a direction of a neutral position thereof.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat has a lower framework which carries a seat face and to which the at least one actuation mechanism is fitted.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a lower framework of the vehicle seat after assembly in the inner vehicle space is retained to be secured in terms of movement with respect to the inner vehicle space.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air outlet is arranged below the vehicle seat.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is constructed with the elongate structure at least in an engagement region with the at least one actuation mechanism and the at least one actuation mechanism for the operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism applies a force thereto in a radial direction of the adjustment mechanism.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an adjustment of the at least one slat is produced as a result of a relative movement between the at least one actuation mechanism, which is in operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism, and the adjustment mechanism, during which the adjustment mechanism slides along a side face of the actuation mechanism which extends obliquely relative to a movement direction of the actuation mechanism.

10. A vehicle HVAC air flow control device, comprising:
an air outlet having an air discharge opening;
an elongate slat extending over the outlet and pivotable about a longitudinal axis to influence air flow flowing through the opening;
an adjustment mechanism, wherein the adjustment mechanism has a rod-shaped elongate structure with a round cross section; and
an actuation mechanism fitted to a vehicle seat which moves into engagement with the adjustment mechanism to adjust a position of the slat based on a position of the vehicle seat, wherein the actuation mechanism has a wedge-shaped structure that narrows from one end to another with side faces, wherein the at least one actuation mechanism comprises at least two actuation mechanisms, wherein at least two actuation mechanisms are fitted to the vehicle seat, wherein a first actuation mechanism of the at least two actuation mechanisms when the vehicle seat is assembled in a first position moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and displaces the first actuation mechanism in a first actuation direction as far as a first actuation position, and a second actuation mechanism off the at least two actuation mechanisms when the vehicle seat is assembled in a second position moves into mechanical operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism and displaces the second actuation mechanism in a second actuation direction counter to the first actuation direction as far as a second actuation position.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the vehicle seat can be assembled in at least two different positions in the inner vehicle space, wherein the vehicle seat in a first position is orientated substantially in a travel direction of the motor vehicle and in a second position is orientated substantially counter to the travel direction of the motor vehicle.

12. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein an adjustment path of the adjustment mechanism between a first actuation position and a second actuation position includes a neutral position in which the at least one slat of the air outlet assumes a pivot position in which the air flow flowing through the air discharge opening flows out substantially perpendicularly to an opening plane of the air discharge opening.

13. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is resiliently loaded in a direction of a neutral position thereof.

14. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the vehicle seat has a lower framework which carries a seat face and to which the at least one actuation mechanism is fitted.

15. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein a lower framework of the vehicle seat after assembly in the inner vehicle space is retained to be secured in terms of movement with respect to the inner vehicle space.

16. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the air outlet is arranged below the vehicle seat.

17. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is constructed in with the elongate structure at least in an engagement region with the actuation mechanism and the actuation mechanism for the operational engagement with the adjustment mechanism applies a force thereto in a radial direction of the adjustment mechanism.

18. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein an adjustment of the at least one slat is produced as a result of a relative movement between the actuation mechanism, which i

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Cronin Ger Anthony
• Arnold Simon
• Whelan Gregor
• Durston Peter

Classifications

• B60H1/00285

  for vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60H2001/003

  Component temperature regulation using an air flow · CPC title

• B60N2/56

  Heating or ventilating devices · CPC title

• B60N2/06

  slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60H2001/3471

  Details of actuators · CPC title