DESC:Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system of vehicles and more particularly, to an air-vent device for the air conditioning system of vehicles.

Background of the invention

Air conditioning is a standard option on most of the vehicles to enhance thermal comfort of passengers which is mainly influenced by the temperature inside a cabin. One of the major components that decide the cabin temperature is an air vent and thus the design of the air vent is of utmost importance.
Generally, the air-vent in the vehicle comprises a housing, an air guiding device and a top cover. The housing is made of an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring is connected with a duct for passing the air from an air conditioning system such as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system into the vehicle’s cabin. The air guiding device is mounted on the housing and includes two flaps connected by a link. The angle of rotation of the flap guides the air coming from the HVAC system to flow through the cabin of the vehicle.

One of the flaps is configured with a cutout. The flaps are connected by a link. In the existing art, the cutout is usually large and the link is a straight rod that goes/moves inside the cutout during opening of the flaps. The cutout being large may lead to air leakage when the flaps are closed thereby resulting in passengers’ discomfort. Further, the cutout may cause interference between the straight rod and the flaps due to dimensional instability of plastic in different environment. The plastic being a preferable material for air-vent increases the chance of creep deformation due to influence of mechanical stress and air temperature (weathering effect). The deformation may lead to weakening of the straight rod and cause interference with the flaps. This may lead to failure of the air-vent over a period of time. Furthermore, the air-vent operating feature on the flaps makes opening of flaps difficult due to less grip on the surface of the flap.

Moreover, prior art vent designs are complex due to numerous parts that makes the assembly difficult and also, the parts of the air vent may get damaged when disassembled. Other drawbacks of the prior art air vent includes improper flow distribution, generation of more noise and friction during rotation, use of automatic control and more parts adds to the cost, construction of the locking snap/feature may fail due to material reduction in the locking area which may lead to unnecessary opening of flaps.

Accordingly, there exists a need of an air-vent for automobiles that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to improve closing area of flaps by blocking an existing cutout.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved link that changes load transfer condition and reduces air leakage in a closed condition of the flaps.

Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce interference chances of the link with the flaps and to reduce dimensional changes due to mechanical and thermal stress.

Still another object of the present invention is to improve vent position identification during night.

Further object of the present invention is to reduce friction and noise at the time of flap orientation.

Furthermore object of the present invention is to provide even air distribution.

One more object of the present invention is to increase the robustness of the flap opening in the closed condition and to improve the robust snap support as to operate several times in rear wheel unicorn power (RWUP).

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides an air vent device for an air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air vent device comprises at least two flaps, a V shaped link, an inner ring and an outer ring.

The at least two flaps are adapted to open and close by undergoing rotation. One flap of the at least two flaps includes a plurality of dots on a surface thereof. The V shaped link is connected between the at least two flaps to open and close the at least two flaps. The inner ring houses the at least two flaps and the V shaped link.

The inner ring includes a plurality of gear tooth for smooth rotation of the at least two flaps. The inner ring is mounted on the outer ring through the plurality of gear tooth. The outer ring on a bottom surface is connected to a duct of the air conditioning system.

The outer ring includes a plurality of snaps, a plurality of ribs and a support member. The plurality of snaps is configured on a top surface of the outer ring. The plurality of snaps are adapted for locking the plurality of dots thereon in a closed condition of the at least two flaps. The plurality of ribs is configured on a back side of the outer ring for distributing controlled air flow in all orientation of the at least two flaps in a cabin of the vehicle. The support member is configured around a periphery of the plurality of ribs.

Brief description of the drawings

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an air-vent device for air conditioning systems of vehicles, in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2a-2b show top side perspective views of the air-vent device of figure 1;

Figures 3a-3b show bottom side perspective views of the air-vent device of figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a top view of a flap of the air-vent device of figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of an inner ring and an outer ring of the air-vent device of figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a rear perspective view of an assembly of at least two flaps of the air-vent device of figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a top view of a rib structure in the outer ring of the air-vent device of figure 1; and

Figure 8 shows a side perspective view of the outer ring of the air-vent device of figure 1.

Detailed description of the invention
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides an air-vent device for an air conditioning system of vehicles. The air-vent device is improved in design by eliminating a cutout to avoid air leakage thereby improving air flow distribution and thus passenger’s thermal comfort.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1-8, an air-vent device (100) for an air conditioning system of vehicles in accordance with the present invention is shown. Specifically, the air conditioning system (not shown) is a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (herein after ‘the HVAC system’). The air-vent device (100) is mounted with two interface systems. The air-vent device (100) is snap fitted on an instrument panel (not shown) to rest on edges (not shown) of an outlet (not shown) of the HVAC system thereby effectively communicating therewith to direct the cool air inside the vehicle. In an embodiment, the air-vent device (100) is circular in shape and made up of a plastic material such as polypropylene, PC, ABS C1200HF, Duracon M27044, Hip 8015 FRC SCR and the like. The air-vent device (100) comprises at least two flaps (10, 20), a link (30), an inner ring (40) and an outer ring (50). Specifically, the components are made by an injection moulding process and fixed together by an internal snap fitting method.

The at least two flaps (10, 20) act as an air guiding device. The at least two flaps (10, 20) are designed to prevent air leakage in a closed condition thereof which is achieved by blocking an existing cutout. Absence of the cutout also improves the closing area of the at least two flaps (10, 20). One of the flap (10) of the at least two flaps (10, 20) includes a plurality of dots/spots (not numbered) on an operating area (not numbered) thereof as shown in figure 5. The plurality of dots provides a gripping surface for the user to facilitate easy opening of the at least two flaps (10, 20). The plurality of dots also increases the operating area on the flap surface to facilitate sensibility of the user thereby improving vent position identification during the night time.

The at least two flaps (10, 20) are connected by a link (30) as shown in figure 6. In other words, the link (30) is connected between bottom surfaces (not numbered) of the at least two flaps (10, 20). In an embodiment, the V link (30) is connected to the at least two flaps (10, 20) through revolute joints. The link (30) alternatively referred to as an actuating arm, actuates to open and close the at least two flaps (10, 20). The at least two flaps (10, 20), when opened comes up on the HVAC outlet. The at least two flaps (10, 20), when closed goes down inside the HVAC outlet. Specifically, the link (30) is a V shaped link. The link (30) (herein after ‘the V link (30)’) unlike the conventional straight link poses less interference to the at least two flaps (10, 20) and improves the closing area of the at least two flaps (10, 20) to prevent air leakage.

The assembly of the at least two flaps (10, 20) and the V link (30) is supported between an outer surface (35) of the air vent device (100) and positioned inside the inner ring (40). The inner ring (40) serves as a housing to hold the assembly of the at least two flaps (10, 20) and the V link (30). The inner ring (40) includes a plurality of gear tooth (not shown). The plurality of gear tooth (herein after ‘the gear tooth’) allows mounting of the inner ring (40) on the outer ring (50) by a snap fit. The outer ring (50) is easily assembled on the inner ring (40) as the free play in a location pin (not shown) is reduced by providing close boundary.

The inner ring (40) is assembled with the outer ring (50) at a point of contact (34) of the gear tooth (figure 4). The area of the point of contact (34) of the gear teeth is reduced to a minimum 3 to maximum 4 to provide a line contact between the inner ring (40) and the outer ring (50) instead surface to surface contact for smooth rotary action of the at least two flaps (10, 20). In other words, the reduced area of the point of contact (34) of the gear tooth reduces the noise and friction level during the rotation of the at least two flaps (10, 20) for proper orientation thereof thereby improving the acoustical and frictional behavior.

The outer ring (50) on a bottom surface (not numbered) is connected with a duct (not shown) of the HVAC system. The outer ring (50) acts a top outer cover. The outer ring (50) includes a plurality of snaps (not shown), a plurality of ribs (42) and a support member (44). The plurality of snaps is configured on a top surface (not numbered) of the outer ring (50) and assembled with the instrument panel. The plurality of snaps is improved in surface area to allow locking of the plurality of dots thereon when the at least two flaps (10, 20) are closed.

The plurality of ribs (42) is configured on a back side (not numbered) of the outer ring (50) as shown in figure 7. The plurality of ribs (42) creates a nozzle effect to distribute controlled air flow in all orientation of the at least two flaps (10, 20) along all the direction of the cabin without affecting air flow rate. The support member (44) (refer figure 8) is an integral part of the outer ring (50) and configured around a periphery of the plurality of ribs (42) during the moulding process. The support member (44) serves to improve the robustness of the outer ring (50).

Advantages of the invention
1. The air-vent device (100) provides maximum pressure drop of at least 118.42 pa in the duct.
2. The air-vent device (100) provides at least 44 to 56% flow split up ratio of central to side ducts.
3. The air-vent device (100) facilitates minimum velocity of at least 8.2 m/s at a vent outlet.
4. The air-vent device (100) meets the velocity target for driver and co-driver.
5. The air-vent device (100) makes the interior of the vehicle as per the users likes.
6. The air-vent device (100) is easy to manufacture, cost effective and permanently operative without failure and without deteriorating the performance of the HVAC system.
7. The air-vent device (100) being circular in shape is assembled in all the HVAC outlets.
8. The air-vent device (100) is made simpler with single V link (30) that avoids complication in manufacturing.
9. The air-vent device (100) avoids cutout for the V link (30) and hence reduces air leakage.
10. The V shape of the V link (30) helps in avoiding interference issues with the at least two flaps (10, 20) thereby reducing dimensional changes due to weathering effect and also reduces mechanical stresses.
11. Construction of locking area is robust since there is no material reduction and thus provides smooth locking and less friction.
12. The presence of more number of frictional spots on the flap (10) provides the gripping surface to improve the flap operational/ contact area for easy identification of the vent position in the night time and also helps in opening of the at least two flaps (10, 20) with lesser effort.
13. Provides improved thermal comfort of the passenger of the vehicle.
14. Reduced number of gear teeth in the inner ring (40) reduces the noise and friction and enable smooth rotation of the at least two flaps (10, 20).

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. An air vent device (100) for an air conditioning system of a vehicle, the
air vent device (100) comprising:
• at least two flaps (10, 20) adapted to open and close by undergoing
rotation, one flap (10) of the at least two flaps (10, 20) having a plurality of dots (8) on a surface thereof;
• a V shaped link (30) connected between the at least two flaps (10,
20) to facilitate opening and closing thereof;
• an inner ring (40) housing the at least two flaps (10, 20) and the
link (30), the inner ring (40) having a plurality of gear tooth for smooth rotation of the at least two flaps (10, 20); and
• an outer ring (50) having the inner ring (40) mounted thereon
through the plurality of gear tooth, the outer ring (50) on a bottom surface connected to a duct of the air conditioning system, the outer ring having
a plurality of snaps configured on a top surface thereof for
locking the plurality of dots thereon in closed condition of the at least two flaps (10, 20),
a plurality of ribs (42) configured on a back side thereof for
distributing controlled air flow in all orientation of the at least two flaps (10, 20) in a cabin of the vehicle, and
a support member (44) configured around a periphery of
the plurality of ribs (42).