GB2077905A

GB2077905A - Vehicle ventilation device

Info

Publication number: GB2077905A
Application number: GB8117791A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Priority date: 1980-06-11
Filing date: 1981-06-10
Publication date: 1981-12-23
Also published as: IT1137182B; FR2484338B1; DE3021871A1; IT8122225A0; FR2484338A1; GB2077905B; DE3021871C2

Abstract

A ventilation device for venting the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprises two ventilation ducts (3, 4) leading from respective intake openings (1, 1') which are adjacent to the rear window of the vehicle and which are on opposite sides of the vehicle, each duct leading to an exit opening (2, 2') at or adjacent to a rear pillar of the vehicle, on the opposite side of the vehicle to the intake opening (1, 1') of the duct. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle ventilation device This invention relates to a ventilation device for venting the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle with intake openings adjacent to the rear window of the vehicle, via which the air can flow to at least one air-ventilation duct along which it passes to exit openings constructed in the region of the rear pillars of the vehicle.

In ventilation devices which have already been proposed, the intake openings may be provided adjacent to the upper or the lower rim of the rear window. The air leaving the passenger compartment flows to the exit openings via a relatively short path. Even if sound-absorbing materials are provided in the flow passages, rolling movement noises and also noises made by the wind or the like can easily be transmitted into the passenger compartment. If higher air throughput rates make greater ventilation duct cross-sections necessary the obtrusive noises arise in increased measure.

German Patent Specification No. 2,634,528 describes an arrangement with several transverse ducts which are parallel to one another, and these are permeated substantially across their length.

Nonetheless, despite the multiple changes in direction of the airflow provided, the overall flow paths are comparatively short.

An aim of the present invention is a device of the construction described in the opening paragraph of the present Specification which permits large air throughput rates and yet allows as little as possible rolling movement noise or noise made by the wind on the outer skin of the vehicle to be transmitted into the vehicle interior.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a ventilation device for venting the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising two mutually independent air-ventilation ducts leading from respective intake openings which are adjacent to the rear window of the vehicle and which are on opposite sides of the vehicle, each duct leading to an exit opening at or adjacent to a rear pillar of the vehicle, on the opposite side of the vehicle to the intake opening of the duct.

With such a ventilation device, the air leaving the interior space traverses long flow paths approximately equal to the overall vehicle width before reaching the exit openings. Any sound which could enter the vehicle interior through the exit openings is dampened by multiple reflections.

In a passenger car with inlet openings provided at the lower rim of the rear window the airventilation ducts are conveniently disposed underneath the hat rest. Alternatively it is feasible, however, to lead the air from intake openings constructed at the upper rim of the rear window to two separate air-ventilation ducts extending underneath the hat rest.

According to a preferred feature, the airventilation ducts are arranged to be superposed.

This makes possible a relatively simple lining of the ducts with sound insulating material and, moreover, allows comparatively large duct crosssections, thus making a high air throughput rate attainable.

In another advantageous embodiment the airventilation ducts intersect approximately half-way along their lengths while extending side-by-side along the remainder of their lengths. This construction requires a little less constructional space. The little noise caused by the slight throttling of the air flow which takes place at the intersection is hardly perceptible in the interior passenger compartment because the intersection is located at an adequate distance from the intake openings.

Examples of a ventilation device in accordance with the present invention are illustrated int he accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of important parts of one example: and Figure 2 shows a plan view of a second example.

The ventilation devices for the passenger compartment of a passenger car illustrated in the drawing have vents or intake openings 1 which are adjacent to the rear window (not shown in the drawing). By following the arrows and streamlines shown in the drawing, the air can reach exit openings 2 or 2' constructed in the area of the rear pillars of the vehicle, and in the case of passenger cars in or at the base of the C-pillar.

Two mutually independent air-ventilation ducts 3 and 4 are provided in the ventilation device shown in Figure 1. Air can flow through these ducts to the exit openings 2 and 2'. The airventilation ducts 3 and 4 extend respectively across the direction of travel of the vehicle F over substantially nearly the whole width of the vehicle and in each case lead the air from the intake openings 1 and 1' on respective sides of the vehicle to the exit openings 2 and 2' on the respective opposite sides of the vehicle. Thus the air flowing from the passenger compartment into the righthand intake opening 1, viewing in the direction of travel F, is led to the corresponding left-hand exit opening 2.

The intake openings 1 and 1' are constructed to lie adjacent to the lower rim of the rear window.

The air-ventilation ducts 3 and 4 respectively extend underneath a hat rest which is adjacent to the rear window. The air-ventilation ducts 3 and 4 intersect approximately half-way along their lengths - at a point of intersection 5 - while over the remaining distance they extend substantially side-by-side.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the airventilation ducts 6 are arranged to be superposed.

Here, only the air-ventilation duct 6 which leads from the left-hand intake opening 1', viewing in the direction of travel F, to the corresponding right-hand exit opening 2' is illustrated.

In both the illustrated embodiments, air-guiding web members 7 and 8 extend into the crosssection of the air-ventilation ducts 3, 4 and 6.

They serve partly to align and bundle the streams of air and partly to change the direction of flow many times.

As is shown in Figure 1, the flow ducts can alternatively take a wavy course leading to a reduction in the transmission of sound in the longitudinal direction of the duct with a simultaneous reduction in the resistance to flow.

Preferably, the walls of the air-ventilation ducts 3, 4 and 6 and of the air-guiding web members 7 and 8 are provided with sound-absorbing material or themselves consist of such sound-absorbing material.

It may prove to be desirable for at least a part of the intake openings 1 and 1' to be closable or lockable in order to enable the venting areas to be adapted to one of a number of different possible cross-sections of ventilation devices. It is advantageous to link the closing or locking elements of the intake openings with a blower switch of the vehicle ventilation device. The closing elements may be slide-valves or flaps which are controlled electrically, for instance via a motor or a solenoid.

Claims

1. A ventilation device for venting the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising two mutually independent ventilation ducts leading from respective intake openings which are adjacent to the rear window of the vehicle and which are on opposite sides of the vehicle, each duct leading to an exit opening at or adjacent to a rear pillar of the vehicle, on the opposite side of the vehicle to the intake opening of the duct.

2. A device according to claim 1, with intake openings provided at the lower rim of the rear window, in which the ventilation ducts extend underneath a hat rest adjacent to the rear window.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the ventilation ducts are superposed.

4. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the ventilation ducts intersect approximately half-way along their lengths and otherwise extend side-by-side.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, in which air-guiding web members extend into the ventilation duct cross-section.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the ventilation ducts take a wavy course.

7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the walls of the ventilation ducts and/or of the air-guiding web members are provided with or consist of sound-absorbing material.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which at least a part of the intake openings can be closed or locked.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which closing or locking elements are linked to a blower switch of a ventilation system of the motor vehicle.