# US 10,767,895 B2 · Air flow direction regulation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,895 B2 - Document ID: US10767895B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/315,478 - Filed: 2017-07-03 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-06 - Assignees: Nifco Inc. - Applicants: Nifco Inc. - Inventors: Naohiro Shimajiri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767895B2 ## CPC - F24F 13/1413: {using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades (F24F13/15 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/34: Nozzles; Air-diffusers - B60H 1/3428: {using a set of pivoting shutters and a pivoting frame} - F24F 13/15: with parallel simultaneously tiltable lamellae - B60H 2001/3471: {Details of actuators} - B60H 2001/3492: {Manufacturing; Assembling} - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract An air flow direction regulation device includes a plurality of fins turnably supported; an approximately cylindrical housing arranging an operation portion or a gear mechanism for allowing a direction of each of the fins to be regulated; and a case disposing the housing internally. The fin is turnably supported as support points by an outer pivot portion on a housing inner circumferential side and an inner pivot portion on a housing center axis line side, and includes a gear portion provided near the inner pivot portion. The gear mechanism includes a gear integrally rotating with the operation portion through a shaft to engage the gear portion of each fin. The housing includes a flexible shaft support member provided on a housing center axis line, and forming a connection portion fitting into the inner pivot portion of each fin, and a through hole inserting the shaft to pass through. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air flow direction regulation device, comprising: a plurality of fins turnably supported; an approximately cylindrical housing arranging an operation portion for regulating a direction of the fins and a gear mechanism; and a case disposing the housing internally, wherein each of the fins is turnably supported as support points by an outer pivot portion on a housing inner circumferential side and an inner pivot portion on a housing center axis line side, and includes a gear portion provided near the inner pivot portion, the gear mechanism includes a gear integrally rotating with the operation portion through a shaft and engaging the gear portion of each fin, and the housing includes a flexible shaft support member provided on a housing center axis line, and forming a connection portion fitting into the inner pivot portion of each fin, and a through hole to which the shaft is inserted to pass through in a skewered manner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential face of the housing is formed in a convex spherical face, and includes a plurality of projections provided to project at portions equally dividing a circumference of the convex spherical face, an inner circumferential face of the case is partially formed in a concave spherical face corresponding to the convex spherical face, and includes flexible spacers defining and forming concave portions provided to correspond to the projections, and concaved grooves arranged in the concave portions and slidingly fitting into the projections, and in a state wherein the projections fit into the grooves of the spacers, the housing is regulated to tilt to top and bottom, and right and left relative to the case. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 2, wherein the concave portions and the spacers are provided at four portions approximately equally dividing a circumference, and groove widths of the concaved grooves are formed by two different types of the groove widths. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 2, wherein the case is divided into a front case and a back case, and the concave portion and the spacer are disposed across the front and back cases. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion of the shaft support member is a shaft portion, and the inner pivot portion of the fin is a cylinder portion fittable into the shaft portion and forming the gear portion at a circumference. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 1, wherein facing end faces of the operation portion and the shaft support member include a convex portion provided on one side thereof, and a plurality of engagement portions provided on another side to engage with and disengage from the convex portion, and by a rotation of the operation portion, the engagement portion engaging the convex portions is switched to vary a direction of the fin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 6, wherein the engagement portions include a first engagement portion engaging the convex portion when each fin is disposed almost parallel to the housing center axis line; a second engagement portion engaging the convex portion when each fin is almost disposed obliquely; and a third engagement portion engaging the convex portion when each fin is disposed to be almost right-angled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An air flow direction regulation device according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member urging the shaft support member to an operation portion side.