Vehicle vent assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020039326-A1
Application number	US-201816054617-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 3, 2018
Priority date	Aug 3, 2018
Publication date	Feb 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle vent assembly includes a first flow channel selectively operating a primary airflow. A second flow channel selectively operates a first secondary airflow that exerts a first pressure on the primary airflow. A third flow channel selectively operates a second secondary airflow that exerts a second pressure on the primary airflow. The first and second secondary airflows control a direction of the primary airflow. The first pressure includes a positive or negative pressure, and the second pressure includes a respective negative or positive pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle vent assembly comprising:
a first flow channel selectively operating a primary airflow; a second flow channel selectively operating a first secondary airflow that exerts a first pressure on the primary airflow; and a third flow channel selectively operating a second secondary airflow that exerts a second pressure on the primary airflow, wherein the first and second secondary airflows control a direction of the primary airflow, and wherein the first pressure comprises a positive or negative pressure and the second pressure comprises a respective negative or positive pressure.

2 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a climate control system, wherein the first flow channel is coupled to the climate control system and the climate control system supplies the primary airflow.

3 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second flow channel and the third flow channel are coupled to the climate control system and the climate control system supplies the first and second secondary airflows.

4 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second flow channel and the third flow channel are coupled to one or more stand-alone airflow sources and the one or more stand-alone airflow sources supply the first and second secondary airflows.

5 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a first housing that defines the first flow channel.

6 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing define the second flow channel and the third flow channel.

7 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second housing comprises at least a portion of an instrument panel.

8 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first flow channel is in a substantially horizontal position, wherein the second flow channel is disposed above the first flow channel, wherein the third flow channel is disposed below the first flow channel, and wherein the first pressure comprises a positive pressure and the second pressure comprises a negative pressure.

9 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
selectively operable vanes disposed within the first housing.

10 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first perforated cover disposed over an opening in the second channel.

11 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second perforated cover disposed over an opening in the third channel.

12 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 6 , wherein the vent assembly is disposed in a substantially vertical position.

13 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 2 , wherein one or more vent assemblies are disposed in one or more of the following locations: an instrument panel, a console, an A-pillar, a B-pillar, a ceiling, door trim, or other interior location.

14 . The vehicle vent assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a controller in communication with the climate control system, wherein the controller is configured to: receive an input indicative of a predetermined condition for activation of the climate control system; and activate the primary airflow, the first secondary airflow, and the second secondary airflow to generate an output in response to the input indicative of the predetermined condition for activation of the climate control system.

15 . A temperature controlled ventilation system for a vehicle comprising:
a vent assembly for delivering a predetermined airflow to a vehicle interior, wherein the predetermined airflow comprises a primary airflow, a first secondary airflow, and a second secondary airflow; and a controller configured to: activate the vent assembly to deliver the predetermined airflow in response to a desired airflow.

16 . The temperature controlled ventilation system for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the desired airflow comprises a straight airflow, a downward airflow, or an upward airflow.

17 . The temperature controlled ventilation system for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the vent assembly comprises one or more air movers for controlling the primary airflow, the first secondary airflow, and the second secondary airflow.

18 . The temperature controlled ventilation system for a vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the controller comprises a first controller disposed in a climate control system and wherein the first controller is configured to regulate the primary airflow.

19 . The temperature controlled ventilation system for a vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the controller further comprises a second controller disposed in a stand-alone source and wherein the second controller is configured to regulate the first secondary airflow and the second secondary airflow.

20 . A vent assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a first channel for delivering a primary airflow; and second and third channels for delivering respective first and second secondary airflows, wherein the primary airflow comprises first and second portions having respective first and second directions, and wherein the second direction is defined by opposing first and second pressures exerted by the respective first and second secondary airflows on the primary airflow.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Fidh Steven Nicholas
• Herr-Rathke Jennifer A

Classifications

• B60H1/3414 Primary

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

• B60H1/00871

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

• B60H2001/3471

  Details of actuators · CPC title

• B60H2001/3492

  Manufacturing; Assembling · CPC title

• B60H1/00028

  Constructional lay-out of the devices in the vehicle · CPC title