U.S. patent application number 12/251522 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for supporting structure for adjustable air guide vanes.
This patent application is currently assigned to MORIROKU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LTD.. Invention is credited to Yuji Fujiwara.
Application Number | 20090137200 12/251522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40670143 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090137200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujiwara; Yuji |
May 28, 2009 |
SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR ADJUSTABLE AIR GUIDE VANES
Abstract
A structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening
for air conditioning prevents abrupt changes of load resistance to
rotation of the air guide van and provides a good operational feel
when rotating the air guide vane. A supporting member of the air
guide vane is an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer having a
hardness of between Shore A80 and Shore D60. The degree of mold
transferability of olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer is
characteristically lower than that of other thermoplastic
elastomers. By virtue of molding an olefin-based thermoplastic
elastomer microscopic concavities and convexities are formed on the
surface of the supporting member. The rotation shaft of the air
guide vane is supported by multiple point contacts with the inner
surface respective through-holes.
Inventors: |
Fujiwara; Yuji; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD
700 THIRTEENTH ST. NW, SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20005-3960
US
|
Assignee: |
MORIROKU TECHNOLOGY COMPANY,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
40670143 |
Appl. No.: |
12/251522 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/254 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 1/3421 20130101;
B60H 2001/3471 20130101; B60H 2001/3464 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/254 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2007 |
JP |
2007-269526 |
Claims
1. A structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening
for air conditioning, the structure comprising: an air guide vane
disposed in a supply opening and manually rotatable to change
direction of airflow; and a supporting member having a bearing
surface supporting the air guide vane and microscopic concavities
and convexities on the bearing surface to control resistance to
rotation of the air guide vane.
2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the microscopic
concavities and convexities on the bearing surface maintain a peak
value of torque required to rotated the air guide vane at a
substantially constant value during rotation of the air guide
vanes.
3. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the microscopic
concavities and convexities avoid an abrupt change in torque
required to rotate the air guide vane when the torque is a peak
value.
4. The structure as recited in claim 1, including a rotation shaft
on an end face of the air guide vane, and a hole receiving the
rotation shaft in the supporting member, wherein the microscopic
concavities and convexities are located one an inner surface of the
hole, and the rotation shaft is supported by multiple point
contacts with the inner surface of the hole, provided by the
microscopic concavities and convexities.
5. The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein the rotation shaft
of the air guide vane includes a circular column-shaped boss,
wherein the hole receives the circular column-shaped boss
rotatably, and the inner surface of the hole provides the bearing
surface.
6. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the supporting
member is formed by die molding of an olefin-based thermoplastic
elastomer, and the microscopic concavities and convexities are
formed at least on the bearing surface supporting the air guide
vanes rotatably in the die molding.
7. The structure as recited in claim 6, wherein the olefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer has a hardness in a range from Shore A80 to
Shore D60.
8. The structure as recited in claim 1, including: first and second
circular column-shaped bosses that comprise a rotation shaft of the
air guide vane, located in inner and outer end faces of the air
guide vane, respectively; and a hole receiving the circular
column-shaped boss rotatably in the supporting member; a bearing
surface supporting the first circular column-shaped boss located in
an inner surface of the hole, wherein the first circular
column-shaped boss of the air guide vane is inserted into the hole
of the supporting member and the second circular column-shaped boss
is supported to rotate freely to avoid varying torque required to
rotate the air guide vane.
9. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein: the air guide vane
consists of a set of air guide vanes that are arranged to move from
a predetermined space between adjacent air guide vanes and to
extend parallel to one another; and the supporting member includes
a plurality of the holes; the first of the circular column-shaped
bosses of each of said air guide vanes are inserted into respective
holes; and further including a link member connecting the air guide
vanes to rotate in conjunction with one another; and an operation
knob attached to one of the air guide vanes.
10. The structure as recited in claim 10, including: first and
second sets of the air guide vanes located on opposite sides of the
supporting member; a plurality of through-holes located at
predetermined intervals in the supporting member, wherein the
circular column-shaped bosses on the inner end faces of the air
guide vanes are rotatably inserted into respective through-holes
from opposite sides of the supporting member.
11. The structure as recited in claim 9, including a plurality of
rotational vanes arranged on an upstream side of the first set of
air guide vanes, wherein the rotational vanes are located at a
regular interval and are parallel to one another; a link member
connecting the rotational vanes to rotate in conjunction with one
another; and an operation knob attached to the air guide vane and
reciprocating in a wingspan direction of the air guide vane,
wherein the rotational vanes are rotated by moving the operation
knob in the wingspan direction of the air guide vane.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a structure for supporting
an air guide vane in a supply opening for air conditioning in
vehicles, especially relates to a structure for supporting an
adjustable air guide vane.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] An apparatus for changing the direction of airflow from a
supply opening for air conditioning, which comprises a plurality of
vanes for changing the direction of airflow from an
air-conditioning duct and a manual operation knob handled by a
vehicle driver to change the direction of the vanes, has been
suggested in the past. For example, Japanese Patent Public
Disclosure No. H10-250357 discloses a wind direction adjusting
device that is designed to prevent deterioration of an outside
appearance due to use of an operation knob, and to make it possible
to reduce the control force for sliding the operation knob, and the
rest.
[0003] In such an apparatus, wind direction is adjusted by a
vehicle driver who manually operates a knob to rotate louvers or
vanes. Therefore, the operational feeling of the operation knob is
affected not only by the slidability of the operation knob but also
by the rotational friction force of the louvers or vanes. The air
blowing-out port device for vehicle, which is disclosed in Japanese
Patent Public Disclosure No. H08-145455, comprises a generally
square-shaped shim of elastic materials such as rubber and
elastomer that support a lower shaft part of a central vertical
blade. Alternatively, a blade connecting member made of elastomer
can be substituted for the shim in the air blowing-out port device
for vehicle.
[0004] If a machine part is molded by injecting polyester-based
thermoplastic elastomer into ordinary molding dies, irregular
concavities and convexities of the die surfaces are transferred to
the surfaces of the molded part, and extremely irregular
concavities and convexities of relatively large size are formed on
the surfaces of the molded part as shown in FIG. 7 in the drawings.
As a result, when another part is slid along the surface of the
molded part, an abrupt load change is caused at peaks P1 and P2 of
a load curve R1 in FIG. 9 in the drawings. Consequently, if the
rotation shaft of a vane is borne by the molded part having the
aforementioned rough surface, the operational feeling of the vane
becomes worse and the rotational movement of the vane becomes
unstable. In addition, the molded part for supporting the vane
tends to suffer wear or uneven abrasion due to repeated rotation of
the vane. Since a required torque to rotate the vane varies as the
molded part is worn away, it becomes more difficult to retain the
predetermined operational feeling of the vane for a long period of
time. Furthermore, in order to eliminate the irregular concavities
and convexities on a working surface of a molding die and produce a
flat and smooth working surface that does not impair the function
of a molded part, the working surface of a molding die should be
processed by an expensive treatment as a general rule.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a
structure for supporting air guide vanes in a supply opening for
air conditioning, which can produce a stable load resistance to
rotation of the air guide vane when rotating the air guide vane, so
that a good operational feeling of rotation of the air guide vane
can be obtained.
[0006] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening for
air conditioning, which can prevent causing abrupt changes in the
load resistance to rotation of the air guide vane, so that a good
operational feeling of rotation of the air guide vane can be
obtained.
[0007] Further objective of the present invention is to provide a
structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening for
air conditioning, which can maintain a virtually constant
operational feeling of rotation of the air guide vane even if the
rotation of the air guide vane is repeated.
[0008] Further objective of the present invention is to provide a
structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening for
air conditioning, which can bring the rotation of the air guide
vanes to a halt at a desired angle and hold the air guide vane at
the angular position.
[0009] Further objective of the present invention is to provide a
structure for supporting an air guide vane in a supply opening of
air conditioning, which can obviate the needs for processing an
expensive treatment to the working surface of a molding die and
reduce the costs of manufacturing the supporting structure.
[0010] The structure for supporting air guide vanes in a supply
opening for air conditioning according to the present invention
comprises: air guide vanes disposed in a supply opening for air
conditioning and adapted to change the direction of airflow by
manual rotation of the air guide vanes, and a supporting member
comprising bearing surfaces for supporting the air guide vanes
rotatably and a lot of microscopic concavities and convexities
formed on the bearing surfaces in order to control the load
resistance to rotation of the air guide vanes. A lot of microscopic
concavities and convexities are formed in order that the peak value
of the load resistance to rotation of the air guide vanes is
maintained at a virtually constant value. In addition, a lot of
microscopic concavities and convexities are formed in order that
the load resistance to rotation of the air guide vanes does not
represent drastic load changes at the time of the peak values
thereof.
[0011] Another aspect of the structure for supporting air guide
vanes in a supply opening for air conditioning according to the
present invention comprises: a rotation shaft formed on the end
faces of the air guide vanes; a hole or bore formed in the
supporting member to receive the rotation shaft; and a lot of
microscopic concavities and convexities formed on the inner surface
of the hole or bore; wherein the rotation shaft is supported by
multiple point contacts with the inner surface of the respective
hole or bore.
[0012] The structure for supporting air guide vanes in a supply
opening for air conditioning according to the present invention is
also characterized in that the rotation shafts of the air guide
vanes each are formed by a circular column-shaped boss; and the
supporting member is provided with the holes or bores into which
the circular column-shaped boss is rotatably inserted; and the
bearing surface for supporting the circular column-shaped boss is
formed by the inner surface of each of the holes or bores.
[0013] In addition, the structure for supporting air guide vanes
according to the present invention preferably comprises: the
supporting member that is manufactured by molding olefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer molded in a molding die; and a lot of
microscopic concavities and convexities formed at least on the
bearing surface that supports the air guide vanes rotatably.
Furthermore, the olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer preferably
has a hardness of between Shore A80 and Shore D60.
[0014] In another embodiment of the structure for supporting air
guide vanes according to the present invention, a circular
column-shaped boss is formed in the outer and inner end faces of
the air guide vanes, respectively, to form the rotation shafts of
the air guide vanes. A supporting member is provided with holes or
bores into which the circular column-shaped bosses are rotatably
inserted. A bearing surface for supporting the circular
column-shaped boss is defined by the inner surface of the hole or
bore. One of the circular column-shaped bosses of each of the air
guide vanes is rotatably inserted into the hole or bore of the
supporting member. Simultaneously, the other of the circular
column-shaped bosses of the air guide vane can be supported to turn
freely in order to avoid varying the torque to rotate said air
guide vane when rotating the air guide vanes.
[0015] In a further embodiment of the structure for supporting air
guide vanes according to the present invention, an air guide vane
consists of a plurality of air guide vanes that are arranged to
leave a predetermined space between adjacent air guide vanes and to
extend in parallel with one another. A plurality of holes or bores
are formed at predetermined intervals in the supporting member. One
of the circular column-shaped bosses of each of the air guide vanes
is inserted into the respective holes or bores. The air guide vanes
are connected by a link member to rotate in conjunction with one
another. And an operation knob is attached to one of the air guide
vanes.
[0016] The structure for supporting air guide vanes according to
the present invention may comprise: a plurality of air guide vanes
arranged on the both sides of the supporting member; a plurality of
through-holes or through-bores formed at predetermined intervals in
the supporting member; and circular column-shaped bosses formed on
the inner end faces of the air guide vanes, wherein the circular
column-shaped bosses are rotatably inserted into the respective
through-holes or through-bores from the both sides of the
supporting member.
[0017] The supporting member of the air guide vanes according to
the present invention preferably consists of olefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of between Shore A80 and
Shore D60. The hardness of the bearing surface of the supporting
member can be set to an appropriate degree of hardness.
Consequently, it becomes possible to provide a stable load
resistance to rotation of air guide vanes and obtain a good
operational feeling of rotation of the air guide vane. Since the
degree of mold transferability of olefin-based thermoplastic
elastomer is characteristically lower than that of other
thermoplastic elastomer, a lot of microscopic concavities and
convexities can be formed on the bearing surface regardless of how
the working surface of the mold is processed.
[0018] The bearing surface on which a lot of microscopic
concavities and convexities are virtually uniformly formed
according to the present invention is hardly affected by a fine
abrasion powder. Therefore, the amount of torque required to rotate
air guide vanes hardly varies even if the air guide vanes are
turned repeatedly. Consequently, the virtually constant operational
feeling in rotating the air guide vanes can be maintained during
long-term use.
[0019] In addition, if the structure for supporting air guide vanes
according to the present invention comprises a supporting member
made of olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of
between Shore A80 and Shore D60, and a bearing surface formed on
the supporting member to bear the rotation shafts of the air guide
vanes, the hardness of the bearing surface can be set
appropriately. Since a lot of microscopic concavities and
convexities are formed on the bearing surface virtually uniformly,
a substantially constant load resistance to rotation can be applied
to the air guide vanes. Consequently, it is possible to bring the
rotation of the air guide vanes to a halt at a desired angle and
hold the air guide vane at the angular position.
[0020] The structure for supporting air guide vanes in a supply
opening for air conditioning according to the present invention can
be manufactured inexpensively because it is not necessary to
process an expensive treatment to the working surfaces of molding
dies.
[0021] These and other features of the present invention will be
defined from the following description of this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of supply openings for air
conditioning in a vehicle, which comprises an apparatus for
changing the direction of airflow in which a structure for
supporting air guide vanes in a supply opening according to the
present invention is installed;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a vertical cross-sectional view taken along a
line II-II in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the structure for
supporting air guide vanes according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a transverse cross-sectional view taken along a
line IV-IV in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged section in the vicinity of a
supporting member in FIG. 4;
[0027] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of an operation
knob, an elastic member and an air guide vane;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a micrograph showing a 500 times magnification of
the surface of the part that is formed by injecting a conventional
polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer into a conventional
molds;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a micrograph showing a 500 times magnification of
the surface of the supporting member that is molded by injecting
olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer according to the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a load resistance to rotation of
an air guide vane that is borne by the conventional supporting
member having the surface of FIG. 7; and
[0031] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a load resistance to rotation
of an air guide vane that is borne by the supporting member having
the surface of FIG. 8 according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention
wherein the supporting structure for adjustable air guide vanes
according to the present invention is embodied in an apparatus for
changing the direction of airflow, which is disposed in a supply
opening for air conditioning, and the supply opening opens into a
vehicle interior. An opening 3 is formed in a panel portion 2
defined at the end of an air-conditioning duct 1 and a supporting
member 4 is attached to the central portion of the opening 3. A
cover member 4a is fitted on the front surface of the supporting
member 4 and by the supporting member 4 and the cover member 4a,
the opening 3 is divided into two supply openings 3a, 3b for air
conditioning. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the supporting
member 4 is connected to a partition wall 5 by which two passages
1a, 1b are defined in the air-conditioning duct 1. The supply
opening 3a is communicated with the passage 1a, while the supply
opening 3b is communicated with the passage 1b.
[0033] An apparatus for changing the direction of airflow 6 is
installed in the supply opening 3a that is communicated with the
passage 1a and in the supply opening 3b that is communicated with
the passage 1b. Air guide vanes 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d of each of the
airflow-direction changing apparatus 6 extend horizontally, while
rotational vanes 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e that are disposed on the
upstream side of the air guide vanes 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d extend
vertically.
[0034] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the air guide vanes 7a-7d of
each of the airflow-direction changing apparatus 6 are aligned to
leave a regular space between adjacent vanes and arranged in
parallel to one another. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6, a rotation
shaft 9a is formed on the outside end faces of the air guide vanes
7a-7d extending in the wingspan direction B-B and a rotation shaft
9b is formed on the inside end faces of the air guide vanes 7a-7d
extending in the wingspan direction B-B. The rotation shafts 9a, 9b
are formed in a circular column-like shape and horizontally project
from the outside and inside end faces of the air guide vanes 7a-7d
in the wingspan direction B-B.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotation shafts 9a of the air
guide vanes 7a-7d are inserted into the respective four holes 2a in
the panel portion 2 and supported to revolve freely. The holes 2a
are formed in the panel portion 2 to align in the vertical
direction and leave space between adjacent holes, so as to receive
the respective rotation shafts 9a of the air guide vanes 7a-7d. As
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotation shafts 9b of the air
guide vanes 7a-7d are inserted into the respective four
through-holes 4b in the supporting member 4 and supported to be
rotatable. The through-holes 9b are formed in the supporting member
4 to align in the vertical direction and leave space between
adjacent through-holes, so as to receive the rotation shafts 9b of
the air guide vanes 7a-7d. The through-holes 9b each run through
the supporting member 4 and open in the both sides of the
supporting member 4. The through-holes 4b are formed on the sides
of the supporting member 4 to align in the vertical direction and
leave space between adjacent through-holes, so that the
through-holes 4b are opposed to the corresponding holes 2a,
respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotation shafts 9b of
the air guide vanes 7a-7d disposed in the supply openings 3a and 3b
are inserted into the four through-holes 4b from the respective
sides of the supporting member 4. And the inner surfaces of the
through-holes 4b serve as a bearing surface for rotatably
supporting the rotation shafts 9b of the air guide vanes 7a-7d.
[0036] In this embodiment, in order to support the air guide vanes
7a-7d of a pair of the airflow-direction changing apparatuses 6, 6
that are arranged laterally, the through-holes 4b of the supporting
member 4 are used in supporting the rotation shafts 9b, however, a
through-hole is not necessarily required to receive the rotation
shafts 9b of the air guide vanes 7a-7d. A hole or bore that can
support the rotation shafts 9b of the air guide vanes 7a-7d
rotatably would be sufficient to receive the rotation shafts 9b,
regardless of the shape of a hole or bore.
[0037] In this embodiment, the rotation shafts 9b of the air guide
vanes 7a-7d are a column-shaped boss that projects from the inner
end faces of the air guide vanes 7a-7d, and which are inserted into
the through-holes 4b of the supporting member 4. In another
embodiment, it is possible to form a plurality of column-shaped
bosses (not shown) in the supporting member 4 and insert the
column-shaped bosses rotatably into holes (not shown) that are
formed in the inside end faces of the air guide vanes 7a-7d. In
addition, the air guide vanes 7a-7d are connected by a link member
10 to rotate in conjunction with one another.
[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rotational vanes 8a,
8b, 8c, 8d, 8e each have a rotation shaft 11 that extends in the
vertical direction. The rotational vanes 8a-8e are disposed in the
passages 1a, 1b of the air-conditioning duct 1, wherein the
rotational vanes 8a-8e are placed at regular intervals and parallel
to one another, and the rotational vanes 8a-8e are supported by the
respective rotation shafts 11 to rotate in the horizontal direction
C-C in FIG. 4. The rotation shafts 11 of the rotational vanes 8a-8e
extend in parallel with the plane where the rotation shafts 9a, 9b
of the air guide vanes 7a-7d are included and extend at an angle of
90 degrees with the rotation shafts 9a, 9b of the air guide vanes
7a-7d. The rotational vanes 8a-8e are connected by a link member 12
to rotate in conjunction with one another. In addition, the
rotational vane 8c is provided with an opening 13 and a link member
14 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The link member 14 is adjacent to the
opening 13.
[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, an elastic member 15 is
secured to the second air guide vane 7b from the top in each
airflow-direction changing apparatus 6. The elastic member 15 is
filled in a projection 17 formed in the central region of the
downstream edge 16 of the air guide vanes 7b. The projection 17
extends from the downstream edge 16 of the air guide vane 17b
horizontally, so that the elastic member 15 fitted in the
projection 17 extends from the downstream edge 16 of the air guide
vane 17b horizontally. The elastic member 15 may be made of
rubber-based elastic materials such as silicone rubber.
[0040] An operation knob 18 is attached to the air guide vanes 7b.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, a recess 18a for receiving an
air guide vane is formed in the operation knob 18. In order to
attach the operation knob 18 to the air guide vane 7b, the air
guide vane 7b is inserted into the recess 18a from the side of the
downstream edge 16 of the air guide vane 7b and thereby, a part of
one surface of a wing profile of the air guide vane 7b, a part of
the other surface of the wing profile, a part of the downstream
edge 16 of the air guide vane 7b, and the elastic member 15 are
disposed in the recess 18a.
[0041] The operation knob 18 is fitted with a supporting rib 19,
which sticks out in the recess 18a and extends to the elastic
member 15 so that the supporting rib 19 abuts on the elastic member
15 slidably. The operation knob 18 is also provided with a guide
protrusion 18b projecting into the recess 18a, and the guide
protrusion 18b slidably engages with a groove 20 formed on the
underside of the air guide vane 7b. The groove 20 extends in the
direction of reciprocation of the operation knob 18. Furthermore,
the operation knob 18 is provided with a pair of claw portions 18c,
so that the claw portions 18c slidably engage with the upstream
edge 21 of the air guide vane 7b. The operation knob 18 is fitted
on the air guide vane 7b by means of the supporting knob 19
abutting on the elastic member 15, the guide protrusion 18b
slidably engaging with the groove 20 of the air guide vane 7b, and
the pair of claw portions 18c slidably engaging with the upstream
edge 21 of the air guide vane 7b and thereby, the operation knob 18
may slide in the wingspan direction B-B of the air guide vane 7b.
In addition, the operation knob 18 is provided with a pair of
projection levers 18d between which the link member 14 is pinched
slidably and rotatably (refer to FIGS. 2 and 4).
[0042] The supporting member 4 is manufactured into a desired size
and shape by a process of molding olefin-based thermoplastic
elastomer having a hardness of between Shore A80 and Shore D60 in a
molding die. The degree of mold transferability of olefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer is characteristically lower than that of
other thermoplastic elastomer. By virtue of molding olefin-based
thermoplastic elastomer of such characteristics into the supporting
member 4, a lot of microscopic concavities and convexities are
formed not only on the molded surfaces of the supporting member 4
but also on the bearing surfaces for supporting the rotation shaft
9b rotatably, regardless of how the working surfaces of the mold
dies have been processed. The structure for supporting air guide
vanes according to the present invention is characterized in that
the rotation shaft 9b formed on the inner end face of the air guide
vane 7b is rotatably borne by the supporting member 4 or the
bearing surfaces on which such a lot of microscopic concavities and
convexities are formed.
[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotation shaft 9a formed on
the outside end face of the air guide vane 7b is inserted into the
hole 2a of the panel member 2 and retained rotatably, wherein the
rotation shaft 9a is not borne by the supporting member 4 made of
the aforementioned olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, in this
embodiment. In other words, the microscopic concavities and
convexities of the supporting member 4 is not formed on the
rotation shaft bearing surface of the hole 2a of the panel member
2. When the air guide vane 7b is rotated, a certain amount of load
resistance to rotation is intentionally produced between the
rotation shaft 9b and the through-hole 4b, while it is not intended
to generate a particular load resistance to rotation between the
rotation shaft 9a and the hole 2b. This is because a predetermined
load resistance to rotation that will be produced by operation of
the air guide vane 7b can be adjusted by changing the degree of
tightness between the rotation shaft 9b and the through-hole 4b.
However, it is also within the scope of the present invention that
a lot of microscopic concavities and convexities are formed not
only on the rotation shaft bearing surface of the through-hole 4b
of the supporting member 4 but also on the rotation shaft bearing
surface of the hole 2a of the panel member 2, in order to produce a
certain amount of load resistance to rotation not only between the
rotation shaft 9b and the through-hole 4b but also between the
rotation shaft 9a and the hole 2b, when the air guide vane 7b is
rotated.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a micrograph showing the surface of a molded
article produced by the process of injecting a conventional
polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer into a conventional mold
die. On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a micrograph showing the surface
of the supporting member 4 produced by the process of molding
olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer according to the present
invention. Comparing the micrograph of FIG. 7 with the micrograph
of FIG. 8, it is found that a relatively large and extremely
irregularly-dispersed concavities and convexities are formed on the
surface of the molded article in FIG. 7 as a result that the
irregular concavities and convexities formed on the working surface
of the mold die are transferred to the surface of the molded
article, while a lot of microscopic concavities and convexities are
virtually uniformly dispersed on the surface of the molded article
in FIG. 8.
[0045] As described above, a lot of microscopic convexities and
concavities are virtually uniformly dispersed on the surface of the
supporting member 4 and on the inner surface of the through-hole
4b, that is, the rotation shaft bearing surface, in accordance with
the present invention. As a result, the rotation shafts 9b of the
air guide vanes 7a-7d each are supported by so-called multiple
point contacts with the inner surface of the respective
through-holes 4b. Consequently, the conventional load curve R1
shown in FIG. 9 represents a drastic change of the load resistance
to rotation of an air guide vanes 7a-7d at peaks P1 and P2 when the
air guide vanes 7a-7d are rotated around the rotation shafts 9a,
9b, while the load curve R2 according to the present invention
represents a virtually constant load value at peaks P3 and P4 as
shown in FIG. 10. In other words, by virtue of the supporting
structure according to the present invention, wherein the rotation
shafts 9b of the air guide vanes 7a-7d are borne by the rotation
shaft bearing surface of FIG. 8, the load curve R2 that indicates a
change of load resistance to rotation of the air guide vanes 7a-7d
with respect to a change of rotation angle of the air guide vanes
7a-7d does not represent a drastic change of load resistance at
peaks P3 and P4.
[0046] When the air guide vanes 7a-7d are rotated by holding the
operation knob 18, the drastic changes of load resistance to
rotation generated at peaks P1 and P2 in FIG. 9 make the
operational feeling of the operation knob 18 worse in a
conventional structure, however, there is no abrupt change of load
in peaks P3 and P4 of the torque in the present invention, as shown
in FIG. 10. Consequently, in accordance with the present invention,
a constant operational feeling of the operation knob 18 can be
obtained when rotating the air guide vanes 7a-7d.
[0047] The function of the above-mentioned apparatus 6 for changing
the direction of airflow is briefly described as follows. The
controlled-air that flows down in the direction of A in FIG. 2
passes through the rotational vanes 8a-8e and the air guide vanes
7a-7d, then runs out of two supply openings 3a, 3b. As the
operation knob 18 is turned upwardly or downwardly, the air guide
vanes 7a-7d are turned upwardly or downwardly and retained at a
desired angle. In addition, as the operation knob 18 is slid in the
wingspan direction B-B, the lever member 18d of the operation knob
18 turns the link member 14 of the rotating vane 8c, so that the
rotational vanes 8a-8d are rotated horizontally and retained at a
desired angle. Consequently, the direction of airflow flowing out
of two supply openings 3a, 3b can be changed at any angle,
separately.
[0048] In the embodiment described above, the structure for
supporting air guide vanes according to the present invention is
applied to a supply opening for air conditioning that opens to a
vehicle inside, however, the structure can be also applied to a
supply opening of household or professional-use air blowers without
substantial modification.
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