Airflow outlet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016129761-A1
Application number	US-201414535511-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An airflow outlet comprising at least a first plurality of airflow direction elements, a second plurality of airflow direction elements, and an actuation system is provided. Each of the respective first airflow direction elements and second airflow direction elements include a vane shaft and at least one vane element disposed along the vane shaft and integrally coupled thereto. The actuation system is configured to control the position of the vane elements of each of the airflow direction elements. The actuation system includes a drive element engaged with the driven element, which is further engaged with the vane shafts of each of the airflow direction elements. A rotation of the drive element causes a proportional rotation of the vane elements of the each of the airflow direction elements to an operating position, which defines an airflow direction through the airflow outlet.

First claim

1 . An airflow outlet comprising:
a first plurality of airflow direction elements and a second plurality of airflow direction elements, each of the respective airflow direction elements including:
a vane shaft having a first end and a second end; and
at least one vane element integrally coupled with and disposed along the vane shaft between the first end and the second end;
an actuation system configured to control the position of the at least one vane element of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements, the actuation system including:
a drive element rotatable about a drive element interior center point;
a driven element rotatable about a driven element interior center point, the driven element engaged with the drive element and further engaged with the vane shaft of each of the airflow direction elements of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements; and
wherein a rotation of the drive element causes a proportional rotation of the at least one vane element of each of the airflow direction elements to an operating position, such that the operating position of the vane elements of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and the second plurality of airflow direction elements defines an airflow direction through the airflow outlet.

2 . The airflow outlet of claim 1 wherein the drive element is a spherical roller composed of a rubberized material; and wherein the driven element is a spherical roller composed of a rubberized material.

3 . The airflow outlet of claim 1 wherein each of the respective airflow direction elements of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and the second plurality of airflow direction elements further includes at least one vane shaft roller composed of a rubberized material, the at least one vane shaft roller being disposed about the vane shaft and positioned intermediately between the vane shaft first end and the vane shaft second end.

4 . The airflow outlet of claim 3 wherein the vane shaft of each of the respective airflow direction elements of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and second plurality of airflow direction elements engages with the driven element at the vane shaft roller.

5 . The airflow outlet of claim 4 wherein the rotation of the drive element in a first direction results in a rotation of the driven element in a rotationally opposite second direction, such that the rotation of the driven element in the second direction causes a resultant vane shaft rotation of each vane shaft engaged therewith; and wherein the proportional rotation of the at least one vane element of each of the airflow direction elements is defined by the resultant vane shaft rotation of the vane shaft of the same airflow direction element.

6 . The airflow outlet of claim 5 wherein the rotation of the drive element in the first direction is substantially equivalent to the rotation of the driven element in the rotationally opposite second direction.

7 . The airflow outlet of claim 5 further including an airflow outlet housing configured to house the first plurality of airflow direction elements, the second plurality of airflow direction elements, and the actuation system, and wherein the airflow outlet housing has an outer portion and an inner portion, which are integrally connected via a plurality of supports.

8 . The airflow outlet of claim 7 wherein the first end and the second end of the vane shaft of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements and each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements are coupled to the outer portion of the airflow outlet housing.

9 . The airflow outlet of claim 7 wherein the inner portion defines a roller cradle configured to house each of the drive element and the driven element therein and align the drive element and the driven element along an actuation system axis, such that the drive element interior point and the driven element interior point are disposed on the actuation system axis.

10 . The airflow outlet of claim 9 wherein the inner portion defines a first plurality of slots, each of the first plurality of slots configured to receive the vane shaft of one of the first plurality of airflow direction elements, to thereby engage the respective vane shaft and the driven element at the vane shaft roller; and wherein the inner portion further defines a second plurality of slots, each of the second plurality of slots configured to receive the vane shaft of one of the second plurality of airflow direction elements, to thereby engage the respective vane shaft and the driven element at the vane shaft roller.

11 . The airflow outlet of claim 8 wherein the vane shaft of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements is positioned substantially parallel to the vane shaft of each of the other first plurality of airflow direction elements; and the vane shaft of each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements is positioned substantially parallel to the vane shaft of each of the other second plurality of airflow direction elements; and wherein the vane shaft of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements is further positioned substantially perpendicular to the vane shaft of each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements.

12 . The airflow outlet housing of claim 11 wherein the vane shaft of each of the first plurality of airflow elements defines at least two detents, each detent configured to bypass and receive the vane shaft of one of the respective second plurality of airflow direction elements.

13 . The airflow outlet of claim 12 wherein the first plurality of airflow direction elements includes a first airflow direction element positioned along a first vane element axis and a second airflow direction element positioned along a second vane element axis; and wherein the second plurality of airflow direction elements includes a third airflow direction element positioned along a third vane element axis and a fourth airflow direction element positioned along a fourth vane element axis.

14 . The airflow outlet of claim 13 wherein the operating position occupied by the at least one vane element of each of the first plurality of airflow direction elements is a first operating position defined between a first vertical rotation position and a second vertical rotation position; and wherein the operating position occupied by the at least one vane element of each of the second plurality of airflow direction elements is a second operating position defined between a first horizontal rotational position and a second horizontal rotation position.

15 . The airflow outlet of claim 14 wherein the first vertical rotational position is defined as a positive 35° rotation of the at least one vane element of the first airflow direction element about the first vane element axis and a positive 35° rotation of the at least one vane element of the second airflow direction element about the second vane element axis; and wherein the second vertical rotational position is defined as a negative 35° rotation of the at least one vane element of the first airflow direction element about the first vane element axis and a negative 35° rotation of the at least one vane element of the second airflow direction element about the second vane element axis.

16 . The airflow outlet of claim 14 wherein the first horizontal rotational position is defined as a positive 35° of the at least one vane elemen

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Brinas Gerard Alan

Classifications

• B60H1/3421 Primary

  using only pivoting shutters · CPC title

• B60H1/00871 Primary

  Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet (construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34) · CPC title