U.S. patent application number 10/745409 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-02 for vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow.
This patent application is currently assigned to TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co KG. Invention is credited to Krause, Reinhard.
Application Number | 20040171344 10/745409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32240649 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040171344 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Krause, Reinhard |
September 2, 2004 |
Vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow
Abstract
A vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow for
vehicle air- conditioning, comprises a first vane (12) which is
held in a frame (10) so as to be swiveling about a first axis (A),
and a second vane (16) which is held in the frame so as to be
swiveling about a second axis (B). An operating element (28) is
arranged on the first vane, which element (28) is connected with
the second vane (16) by means of a sliding-/cardan joint.
Inventors: |
Krause, Reinhard;
(Marktredwitz-brand, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAROLLI, SUNDHEIM, COVELL & TUMMINO L.L.P.
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE, SUITE 1111
CLEVEVLAND
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
TRW Automotive Electronics &
Components GmbH & Co KG
|
Family ID: |
32240649 |
Appl. No.: |
10/745409 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/315 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 2001/3471 20130101;
B60H 1/3421 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/315 |
International
Class: |
F24F 013/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2002 |
DE |
202 19 897.9 |
Claims
1. A vane actuating system, in particular for an air outflow for
vehicle air-conditioning, comprises a first vane (12) which is held
in a frame (10) so as to be swiveling about a first axis (A), and a
second vane (16) which is held in said frame so as to be swiveling
about a second axis (B), an operating element (28) being arranged
on said first vane, which element (28) is connected with said
second vane (16) by means of a sliding-/cardan joint (32, 36, 37,
38, 42).
2. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in
that said operating element (28) is moveable on said first vane
(l2) parallel to said first axis (A).
3. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in
that said sliding-/cardan joint has a fork (36), which is connected
with said first and second vanes (12, 16).
4. The vane actuating system according to claim 3, characterized in
that said fork (36) is fastened to said operating element by means
of a cardan joint (37, 38) and to said second vane (16) by means of
a sliding guide (32, 42).
5. The vane actuating system according to claim 4, characterized in
that said fork (36) has two side webs (40) which rest against outer
surfaces of said second vane (16).
6. The vane actuating system according to claim 5, characterized in
that said side webs (40) have several elevations (37) by means of
which they lie against said vane (16).
7. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in
that said first and second axes (A, B) are perpendicular to each
other.
8. The vane actuating system according to claim 1, characterized in
that in addition to said first vane (12), further vanes (14) are
provided, which are coupled with said first vane (12) such that
they have the same orientation as said first vane.
9. The vane actuating system according to claim 8, characterized in
that in addition to said second vane (16), further vanes (18) are
provided, which are coupled with said second vane such that they
have the same orientation as said second vane.
10. The vane actuating system according to claim 9, characterized
in that said first and second vanes are provided with a bearing pin
(22; 26), on which a coupling rod (20; 24) engages.
11. The vane actuating system according to claim 10, characterized
in that said further vanes are aligned parallel with said first and
second vanes, respectively.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a vane actuating system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A vane actuating system is commonly used for an air outflow
for vehicle air-conditioning. Such an air outflow usually contains
several vanes, the orientation of which can be adjusted in order to
adjust the direction of a stream of air emitted into the interior
of the vehicle from the air outflow.
[0003] The object of the invention consists in providing a vane
actuating system which has a particularly compact and simple
structure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, the proposed vane actuating
system comprises a first vane which is held in a frame so as to be
swiveling about a first axis, and a second vane which is held in
the frame so as to be swiveling about a second axis. An operating
element is arranged on the first vane, which element is connected
with the second vane by means of a sliding-/cardan joint. The
orientation of the first vane can be adjusted directly by the
operating element. The orientation of the second vane is adjusted
by displacing the operating element on the first vane. As a whole,
a very compact structure is produced, the vane actuating system
consisting of few individual components.
[0005] Advantageous developments of the invention will be apparent
from the sub-claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 shows in a diagrammatic top view an air outflow with
a vane actuating system according to the invention;
[0007] FIGS. 2a and 2b show in sectional views along the planes a
and b of FIG. 1 a first and a second vane of the air outflow;
[0008] FIGS. 3a to 3d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, in a
sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a first
position;
[0009] FIGS. 4a to 4d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a
sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a second
position;
[0010] FIGS. 5a to 5d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a
sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a third
position; and
[0011] FIGS. 6a to 6d show the vanes of FIG. 2 in a side view, a
sectional view, a top view and a perspective view in a fourth
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] In FIG. 1 there is shown diagrammatically a vane actuating
system with an air outflow, which has a frame 10 in which a first
vane 12 is mounted so as to be swiveling about a first axis A (see
also FIGS. 2a, 2b). Parallel to the first vane 12, further vanes 14
are arranged, the swivel axes of which are parallel to axis A. It
is basically also possible to arrange the vanes 14 in a
non-parallel orientation, for example in the manner of a fan.
[0013] Perpendicular to the first vane 12 and beneath the latter, a
second vane 16 is mounted in the frame 10 so as to be swiveling
about an axis B. Parallel to the second vane 16, further vanes 18
are provided, the swivel axes of which are parallel to the axis B.
The same also applies here, namely that the vanes 18 can basically
also be arranged in a non-parallel orientation, for example in the
manner of a fan.
[0014] The first vane 12 is connected with the further vanes 14 by
a coupling rod 20, which is mounted on a bearing pin 22 (see FIG.
2a). The second vane 16 is connected with the further vanes 18 by a
coupling rod 24, which is mounted on a bearing pin 26 (see FIG.
2b). The coupling rods 20, 22 ensure that the first vane 12 and the
further vanes 14 on the one hand and also the second vane 16 and
the further vanes 18 on the other hand are always aligned parallel
to each other.
[0015] On the first vane 12, an operating element 28 is arranged
such that it can be displaced along axis A on the first vane 12.
For this purpose, the operating element 28 embraces the first vane
12 with a slight clearance, so that no separate guide is necessary.
On the exterior side, the operating element 28 is provided with a
plurality of small depressions 30, which facilitate the operator in
moving the operating element.
[0016] Between the operating element 28 and the second vane 16, a
sliding-/cardan joint is arranged, which consists of a fork 36, a
clip 37 and a cardan cross 38. The clip is held here rotatably in
the operating element 28, but could also be arranged securely
there. By means of the cardan cross 38, the fork 36 and the clip 37
are connected with each other in the manner of a cardan joint.
[0017] On its side facing the second vane 16, the fork 36 has two
side webs 40, the spacing from each other being slightly greater
than the thickness of the second vane 16. A transverse web 42
extends between the two side webs 40.
[0018] The fork 36 is placed with the two side webs freely onto the
second vane 16, so that the two side webs 40 can move freely along
the vane 16. Only two small projections 37 (see FIG. 3b) are
provided on the vane 16, which serve as a stop for the fork 36 and
prevent the fork from shifting upwards through 90 degrees with
respect to the position shown by way of example in FIG. 3b, and
from slipping from the vane. In order to make possible a high
degree of mobility for the fork 36, the second vane 16 is provided
with a widening 34 on its side facing the first vane 16.
[0019] To reduce the friction between the fork 36 and the vane 16,
the two side webs 40 are provided with several elevations 32, which
lie against the vane. The point contact resulting thereby leads in
addition to fewer noise when the fork 36 is moved on the vane
16.
[0020] Various states of movement of the first and second vane 12,
16 are now described with the aid of FIGS. 3 to 6, which can be
obtained by actuation of the operating element 12.
[0021] In the state illustrated in FIG. 3, the first and the second
vane (and the further vanes coupled with the first. and the second
vane) are in the non-swiveled state, in which air, which flows
through the air outflow, flows through straight without
deflection.
[0022] In FIG. 4 a state is shown in which the second vane 16 is
swiveled through approximately 20 degrees in one direction. This is
achieved in that the operating element 28 has been moved in the
direction of the arrow P of FIG. 4a on the first vane 12. The side
webs 40 swivel the second vane 16. In so doing, the fork 36 is
rotated by means of the clip 37.
[0023] In FIG. 5 a state is shown in which only the first vane 12
is swiveled through approximately 20 degrees; the second vane 16
continues to be situated in its non-swiveled position. This state
was achieved by the. first vane 12 being swiveled about the axis A
by means of the operating element 28. The fork 36 is also swiveled
by means of the clip 37 with this movement.
[0024] In FIG. 6 a state is shown in which both the first vane 12
and also the second vane 16 are each swiveled through 20 degrees.
For this purpose, firstly the operating element 28 was moved in the
direction of the arrow P on the first vane 12, and secondly the
first vane 12 was swiveled about the axis A by actuating of the
operating element 28. This results in a combined swiveling movement
of the first vane 12 and of the second vane 16.
* * * * *