Claims:We claim:

1. An air vent assembly (10) for an air conditioning system, the air-vent assembly (10) comprising:
a ring (2) defining a chamber (1) along an inner circumference, is fixedly connectable in an air vent, wherein the chamber (1) is defined with an open end and a closed end;
a blower (11) positioned at the open end of the chamber (1), wherein the blower (11) is configured to draw air from the air vent and supply the air to the chamber (1); and
a slit (3) defined along a portion of an inner surface (4) of the chamber (1), the slit allows air in the chamber (1) to glide along the inner surface (4) of the chamber (1),
wherein, the air exiting the slit (3) creates a suction in a space (11) defined by the ring (2) to draw air from surroundings.

2. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chamber (1) is defined throughout the inner circumference of the ring (2).

3. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air exiting the slit (3) is a high pressure, high velocity air.

4. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner surface (4) of the chamber (1) adjacent to the slit (3) is defined with a convex surface.

5. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein cross-sectional shape of the ring (2) is at least one of a frusto-conical shape and airfoil shape.

6. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space (11) is defined at a substantially central portion of the ring (2) to channelize the air into a space to be conditioned.

7. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blower (11) comprising:
a stator fins (5) positioned at an air intake region of the blower (14), wherein the stator fins (5) are configured to intake air from the surroundings;
a plurality of rotor fins (7) configured to pressurize the air and supply it to the chamber (1);
a component (8) configured to generate a magnetic field, wherein the component (8) is positioned around the plurality of rotor fins (7), such that the magnetic field created by the component rotates the plurality of rotor fins (7).

8. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is at least one of a permanent magnet and a reluctance switch.

9. The air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air exiting the slit (3) ranges from 20% to 25% and the air drawn due to the suction ranges from 75% to 80% of the total air flow channelized into the space to be conditioned.

10. A vehicle comprising an air-vent assembly (10) as claimed in claim 1.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system of a vehicle. Further embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an air vent assembly with an embedded blower for supplying conditioned air in the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit or simply referred to as air conditioning unit may be used in all types of vehicles ranging from passenger vehicle to commercial vehicles, to provide comfort to passengers in different climatic conditions. In the HVAC unit, air may be drawn either from inside a cabin of the vehicle or from atmosphere. The drawn air may be conditioned, i.e., cooled or heated by the HVAC unit as per need of the passengers or the vehicle conditions and may be finally delivered to the cabin of the vehicle through one or more air vents provided in the cabin.

Conventionally, the HVAC unit may consist of a blower unit, heat exchangers, and air vents. The fresh air or re-circulated air may be sucked through an intake assembly of the blower unit. The blower unit may then force the air to move forward and gives it a velocity and momentum to move towards the heat exchanger coils. The air which is passing the heat exchanger coils, contacts with it to dissipate or absorb heat. This conditioned air may be passed through the one or more air ducts to blow the air to the vehicle cabin through the air vents.

The conventional air vents generally have different geometry, such as circular, rectangular, and square with number of horizontal and vertical vanes to direct air flow to the vehicle cabin. In most cases, the conventional air vents may lead to low occupant level air velocity, poor directivity of air and most commonly the conventional air vents are noisier causing discomfort to the occupants. Also, consumption of power to direct the air through the conventional air vents may be high and they use a greater number of parts which increases the weight as well as cost. Further, the conventional blower units provided in HVAC system may have disadvantages such as inefficiencies in the amount of air circulated to the air-vent, failures and adds space restrictions. Additionally, operation of the conventional blowers involves high power consumption.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or other such relevant limitations associated with the conventional systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the conventional assemblies are overcome by the assembly as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of assembly as claimed in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered as a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure an air-vent assembly for an air conditioning system is disclosed. The assembly includes a ring which defines a chamber along an inner circumference, the ring is fixedly connectable to an air vent. The chamber is defined with an open end and a closed end. Further, the assembly includes a blower which is positioned at the open end of the chamber. The blower is configured to draw air from the air-vent and supply the air to the chamber. Also, a slit is defined along a portion of the inner surface of the chamber of the ring. The slit allows the air in the chamber to glide along the inner surface of the chamber. The air exiting the slit creates a suction in a space that is defined by the ring to draw air from surroundings.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the chamber is defined throughout an inner circumference of ring.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the air exiting the slit is a high pressure, high velocity air.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the inner surface of the chamber adjacent to the slit is defined by a convex surface.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, cross-sectional shape of the ring is at least one of frusto-conical shape and air-foil shape.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the space is defined at a substantially central portion of the ring. The central portion channelizes the air to a space which has to be conditioned.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the blower includes a stator fins, plurality of rotor fins and a component to generate rotating magnetic field. The stator fins are positioned at an intake region of the blower, the stator fins are configured to intake air from the surroundings of the ring. The plurality of rotor fins is configured to pressurize the air and further supply it to the chamber. Further, the component in the blower is configured to generate magnetic field and is positioned around the plurality of rotor fins, such that the magnetic field created by the component rotates the plurality of rotor fins.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the component configured to generate the rotating magnetic field is at least one of a permanent magnet and a reluctance switch.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the air exiting the slit ranges from 20% to 25% and the air drawn due to the suction ranges from 75% to 80% of the total air flow channelized into the space to conditioned.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

FIG.1 illustrates a sectional side view of an air-vent assembly for an air conditioning system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG.2 illustrates detailed view of a portion ‘A’ of FIG.1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the assembly illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other assemblies for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent processes do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses an air-vent assembly for an air conditioning system of a vehicle. The air-vent assembly of the present disclosure do not use fins to divert the air and hence creates a streamlined air flow. The air-vent assembly (10) creates air multiplier effect and improves air velocity in the air conditioning system. The conventional blower units in the HVAC system may have disadvantages such as inefficiencies in the amount of air circulated to the air-vent, failures and adds space restrictions.
The air-vent assembly of the present disclosure broadly includes a ring and a chamber which may be defined along the inner circumference of the ring. The chamber may be defined with an open end and a close end. Unlike the conventional air vent assemblies, the air-vent assembly of the present disclosure houses a blower in the chamber of the ring itself. The blower may be embedded in the ring at the open end of the chamber. In an embodiment, the blower may be configured to draw air from the surroundings into the ring which may be further supplied to the chamber. The chamber thus receives the high pressure air from the blower and may be circulated throughout the chamber of the ring.

Further, a slit may be defined along a portion of an inner surface of the chamber. The pressurized air in the chamber may force itself out through the slit. The slit aides in gliding the air forcing out of the chamber on the inner surface of the chamber. The air may get attached to the inner surface and moves at a high velocity along the inner surface of the ring. The air gliding on the inner surface creates a negative pressure in a space defined at a substantially central portion of the ring. The negative pressure created in the space may cause suction of air into the vent from a rear end of the air-vent assembly. This air may then be channelized into a space that needs to be conditioned, for example a cabin of the vehicle. In an embodiment, a primary air flow into the cabin may be created by the air passing on the inner surface of the chamber and a secondary air flow into the cabin may be created by the suction of air and channelizing it into the room that needs to be conditioned. The air-vent assembly of the present disclosure causes air multiplier effect with a combination of the primary and secondary air flow. Also, the air-vent assembly has a disruptive appearance as the use of external blower is eliminated. The provision of the blower in the air-vent assembly may decrease space required by the air conditioning assembly. Also, the air-vent assembly of the present disclosure may require less energy to supply the conditioned air to the vehicle cabin when compared to the conventional air vent assemblies which rely on operation of the external blowers.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the specification, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or method. In other words, one or more elements in an assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of one or more figures of exemplary embodiments. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitation of the present disclosure. In the figures neither the vehicle nor the complete air-conditioning system is depicted for the purpose of simplicity. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the assembly may be employed in the air conditioning system of any vehicle including but not limiting to passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and the like.

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIGS.1 and 2. In the figures, same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

Referring now to FIG.1, which is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrating a sectional side view of an air-vent assembly (10). As shown in FIG.1, the air-vent assembly (10) broadly includes a ring (2) defined with a chamber (1) along an inner circumference of the ring (2). The air-vent assembly (10) may be configured to be secured in an air-vent of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the air-vent assembly (10) may be used in other applications such as air conditioning units other than those used in the vehicles. The air-vent assembly (10) may be secured in the air vent either by mechanical joining process or by thermal joining process, such as but not limiting to welding, or fastening. In an embodiment, the air-vent assembly (10) may form a transition fit with the air vent. In an exemplary embodiment, the air vent assembly (10) may be employed in the air duct defined in a dashboard, doors or a roof of the vehicle.

As apparent from the FIG. 1, the chamber (1) defined along the inner circumference of the ring (2) includes an open end (12) and a closed end (13). The chamber (1) receives air from the open end (12) defined at one end of the ring (2) [best shown in FIG.2]. In an embodiment, the open end (12) may be a small aperture or gap defined on the ring (2), provisioned to intake air into the chamber (1). The air-vent assembly (10) further includes a blower (14) embedded into the ring (2) at the open end (12) of the chamber (1) [best shown in FIG.2]. In an embodiment, the blower (14) is configured to draw air into the ring (1) through the open end (12) of the chamber (1). The blower (14) upon drawing the air may be configured to supply the pressurized air into the chamber (1). In an embodiment, the ring (2) may have a circular opening at a substantially central portion of the second ring (7). The cross-sectional shape of the ring (2) may be at least one of frusto-conical shape or air-foil shape. However, the cross-sectional shape of the ring (2) is not limited to the particular shapes mentioned herein, and other small modifications in shape is to be considered as part of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG.1, the ring (2) may be defined with a slit (3) along a portion of an inner surface (4) of the chamber (1). In an embodiment, the slit (3) may be defined throughout the circumference of the inner surface (4) of the ring (2). In an embodiment, the slit (9) may be a small aperture provisioned in the inner surface (4) of the chamber (1), and the slit (3) is fluidly communicating with the chamber (1). Air from the chamber (1) may be released along the inner surface (4) of the chamber (2) through the slit (3). The flow of air exiting the slit (3) glides along the curved area in the inner surface (4) due to the frictional effect of the air molecules with the inner surface (4). In an embodiment, the curved surface may be convex shaped.

As shown in FIG.1, air (B) exiting the slit (3) may be at a high velocity and high pressure. The air glides along the inner surface (4) throughout the circumference of the chamber (1). In an embodiment, the air flow (B) along the inner surface of the chamber (1) may be referred to as a primary air flow. The primary air flow (B) over the inner surface (4) of the chamber (1) creates a negative pressure in a space (11) defined by the ring (2). In an embodiment, the negative pressure in the space (11) may be caused due to the pressure difference that is created between the air flowing along the inner surface (4) of the chamber and the air present in the space (11). The space (11) defined by the ring (2) may be circular and may be defined at a substantially central portion of the ring (2). The differential pressure creates a suctional force in the space (11) which in turn draws air from the surroundings from a rear side of the air-vent. The air flow into the space (11) due to suction may be regarded as a secondary flow of air (C). In an embodiment, the primary flow and secondary flow of air (B and C) may be channelized from the air vent assembly (10) into the cabin of the vehicle.

In an embodiment, the primary air flow (B) may constitute about 20% to 25% of the air flow that flows in to the cabin of the vehicle, while the secondary air flow (C) caused due to the suction effect by building negative pressure in the ring (2) may constitute about 75% to 80% of the air flow into the cabin. In an embodiment, the above stated effect of creating primary flow may be known as “Coanda effect”. The Coanda effect is a phenomenon in which a jet flow attaches itself to a nearby surface and remains attached even when the surface curves away from the initial jet direction.

Referring to FIG.2 in detail, the blower (14) includes stator fins (5), plurality of rotor fins (7), a component (8) capable of creating magnetic field and coil windings (9). In an embodiment, the stator fins (5) may be provided at the intake region of the blower (14) i.e. the stator fins (5) may be positioned at the open end (12) of the chamber. In an embodiment, the stator fins (5), positioned at an intake region of the blower (14) may aid in intake of the air from the surroundings into the ring (2). In an embodiment, the rotor fins (7) of the blower (14) may be configured to pressurize the air taken in by the blower (14) and supply it to the chamber (1) of the ring (2). In an embodiment, the rotor fins (7) may be positioned adjacent to the stator fins (5). Further, the component (8) that may be configured to generate rotating magnetic field may be provisioned around the plurality of rotor fins (7). In an embodiment, the component (8) configured to generate magnetic field may be at least one of permanent magnet and a reluctance switch. In an embodiment, the component (8) in the blower (14) may include coil windings (9) to increase the magnetic flux of the component (8). The rotating magnetic field generated runs the plurality of rotor fins (7) which in turn performs the operation of drawing air from the surroundings. In an embodiment, a bearing (6) may provided within the fins (5 and 7) of the blower (14) and are configured to resist undesirable axial or radial loads on the stator fins (5) and the rotors (7).

In operation, the blower (14) positioned at the open end (12) of the chamber (1) of the ring (2) draws air from the surroundings of the air-vent. The air drawn into the blower (14) is compressed and pressurized in the blower (14) and is supplied to the chamber (1) defined within the ring (2). Further, the pressurized air in the chamber (1) is let out of the slit (3) which glides along the inner surface (4) of the chamber (1). The air that glides along the inner surface (4) creates a negative pressure [pressure difference] in the space (11) at substantially central portion of the ring (2). The negative pressure causes the suction of air from the rear side of the vents into the space (11). The conditioned air then flows into the room that is to be conditioned such as cabin of the vehicle.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure discloses an air vent assembly (10) for an air conditioning system of a vehicle which offers advantages including reduction in number of parts. The air-vent assembly of the present disclosure is light-weight. Also, use of the air-vent assembly (10) of the present disclosure creates air multiplier effect and improves air velocity which in turn improves the thermal comfort of the occupants.

The air-vent assembly (10) of the present disclosure does not use fins to divert the air and hence creates a streamlined air flow. The present arrangement offers a potential reduction in cost. The air-vent uses only 20% to 25% of the air flow generated by blower (14) that is positioned at the open end (12) of the chamber (1) in the ring (2). The elimination of use of external blower (14) makes the air-vent assembly to meet compact packaging space requirements and also provides the assembly (10) a disruptive appearance. Further, consumption of low electric power helps in reducing alternator load and thus improving fuel economy.

Equivalents

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding the description may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated in the description.

Referral Numerals:
Description Reference Number
Air-vent assembly 10
Chamber 1
Ring 2
Slit 3
Inner surface 4
Stator fins 5
Axial bearings 6
Rotor fins 7
Rotating magnetic field generating component 8
Coil windings 9
Space 11
Open end of the chamber 12
Close end of the chamber 13
Blower 14
Primary air flow B
Secondary air flow C
Enlarged view of blower section of FIG.1 D