[0001] The present disclosure relates to a louver structure of a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a louver structure for improving air directivity by fin arrangement.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It is desirable to install an automotive louver (fin type) in a vehicle, which is used to direct cold air/hot air coming from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit into a passenger cabin via ducts. In a fin-type louver, all fins simultaneously swing about their axis, thus controlling the direction of the air as desired by a passenger. The louver is placed in such a place where a nearby part affects its intended airflow direction.
[0003] In the case described above, when a louver is placed in such a position where a nearby part (here console) affects its airflow direction, a useful amount of air is wasted as it flows along unintended surface/direction, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a conventional rear louver structure 100 in which an intended air direction is shown by arrows 102. However, the rear louver structure 100 has a console surface 104, along with the structure of which a part of the air stream shown by arrows 106 flows and gets wasted.
[0004] Such a phenomenon of the airstream flowing along with the surface of the nearby part (e.g., console 104) happens due to the coanda effect. The coanda effect is the tendency of a stream of fluid (air or liquid) coming from an opening to follow an adjacent flat or curved surface and to entrain fluid from the surroundings. The problem of wastage of airflow in unintended direction due to the coanda effect as shown in FIG.1 is described with respect to the rear louver structure of the vehicle for explanation purposes only and applies to all the louver structures of the vehicle where a nearby part affects its airflow direction.
[0005] Accordingly, to make the airflow in an intended direction, there is a requirement to modify the structure of the existing louver structure.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0007] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a louver structure to prevent the flow of air along the surface of the nearby part of the vehicle.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure is to provide a louver structure to improve air directivity.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a louver structure to improve air directivity for passengers in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0011] The present disclosure provides a louver structure having a louver case with an upper end, attached to a nearby part of a vehicle. The louver structure comprising: a plurality of movable fins; wherein a stepped part is formed at the upper end of the louver case; and a dummy fin is provided longitudinally and firmly fixed in a space formed between the stepped part and a movable fin positioned near the stepped part.
[0012] In an aspect, the nearby part is one of a console, a garnish, or an instrument panel of the vehicle.
[0013] In an aspect, the louver case comprises sidewalls and the dummy fin is firmly fixed from both longitudinal ends with the sidewalls of the louver case.
[0014] In an aspect, the dummy fin is integrally formed with the louver structure.
[0015] In an aspect, the lower mounting and the upper mounting have at least a portion with at least a groove for getting fixed on the vehicle body by screws or snaps.
[0016] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides that the dummy fin is formed of the same structure and material as the movable fins.
[0017] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made concerning the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0018] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described concerning the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates an automotive rear louver structure in accordance with the state of the art;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of a louver structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0022] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a comparative representation of the conventional louver structure and the louver structure proposed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 4A illustrates a direction of flow of air towards the passenger by conventional louver structure;
[0024] FIG. 4B illustrates the direction of the flow of air towards the passenger by the louver structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0026] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0027] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0028] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0029] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0031] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0032] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0033] The present disclosure provides a louver structure which eliminates the drawbacks associated with the prior arts. In order to make the airflow in an intended direction, a louver structure 200 proposed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 2. The louver structure 200 includes a louver case 202 with an upper end, attached to a nearby part 104 of a vehicle. The nearby part 104 is one of a console, a garnish, or an instrument panel of the vehicle. The louver structure 200 includes a plurality of movable fins 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, and a dummy fin 208. The present disclosure proposes a stepped part 206 formed at an upper end of the louver case 202 so that the air does not come in contact with the surface of the nearby part 104 and follows along its intended path. Further, a dummy fin 208 is also provided longitudinally and firmly fixed in a space formed between the stepped part 206 and the movable fin 204-1, to achieve intended air direction and to prevent air from following an undesired path due to coanda effect. Further, the stepped part 206 along with the dummy fin 208 creates a gap G between airflow and the surface of the nearby part 104 which separates the air and the surface of nearby part 104 so that the air does not come in contact with the surface of nearby part 104 and follows its intended path.
[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a comparative representation of the conventional louver structure 100 and the proposed louver structure 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3A and 3B show that in a case of the conventional louver structure 100 having the louver case and nearby part 104, where the air after leaving the louver structure 100 follows the profile of the surface of the nearby part 104 due to the coanda effect as shown by encircled region 302 and thus deviating from its intended direction. This happens because air touches the surface of the nearby part 104 and starts flowing along the same surface and less air flows towards the passenger. To prevent such a phenomenon, the present disclosure proposes a dummy fin 208 fixed inside a space formed by a stepped part 206 at an upper end of the louver structure 200 of the present disclosure. This structure effectively increases the distance between the air flow and the surface of nearby part 104 (Fig. 3B) and prevents the air from coming in contact with the nearby part 104. In an aspect, the stepped part 206 along with the dummy fin 208 creates a gap (G) between airflow and the surface of the nearby part 104. Thus, the air follows the path as governed by the dummy fin 208 as shown by the encircled region 304 without flowing along the surface of the nearby part 104.
[0035] The direction of flow of air has been verified using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) test results as shown in FIG. 4A referring to conventional louver structure 100 and in FIG. 4B referring to the proposed louver structure 200. FIG. 4A shows the wastage a part of air 302 by not reaching to the passenger as the air flows along the surface of the nearby part 104 in the conventional louver structure, while FIG. 4B shows that all the air 304 is directed towards the passenger without any wastage with the proposed louver structure 200.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0036] The louver structure 200 proposed herein results in the following technical advantages:
i. The louver structure 200 prevents wastage of air due to the coanda effect by inhibiting the flow of air along the surface of the nearby part.
ii. The louver structure 200 improves air directivity.
Equivalents
[0037] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified in light of the above teachings.

Claims:1. A louver structure (200) having a louver case (202) with an upper end attached to a nearby part (104) of a vehicle, the louver structure (200) comprising:
a plurality of movable fins (204-1, 204-2, 204-3);
a stepped part (206) formed at the upper end of the louver case (202); and
a dummy fin (208) provided longitudinally and firmly fixed in a space formed between the stepped part (206) and a movable fin (204-1) positioned near the stepped part (206).
2. The louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the louver case (202) comprises sidewalls, and the dummy fin (208) is firmly fixed from both longitudinal ends of the sidewalls of the louver case (202) of the louver structure (200).
3. The louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dummy fin (208) is integrally formed with the louver structure (200).
4. The louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dummy fin (208) is formed of the same structure and material as that of the movable fins (204-1, 204-2, 204-3).
5. The louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nearby part (104) is one of a console, a garnish, or an instrument panel of the vehicle.
6. The louver structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stepped part (206) along with the dummy fin (208) creates a gap (G) between airflow and the surface of the nearby part (104).