Adjustable Air Vent Kinematics Using a Single Cam Disk Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents have complex structures with effort-intensive kinematics, making them costly, space-consuming, and difficult to pivot comfortably.
Innovation Solution
An air vent with a flow channel and adjustable blades, where a single actuator, such as an electric motor or manual drive, controls both horizontal and vertical blades via a cam disk with control cams, allowing precise and independent pivoting for easy adjustment of air exit direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple separate actuators and complex linkages are used to control horizontal and vertical blades independently, then precise air flow direction control is achieved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control of horizontal and vertical blades into a single integrated actuator that rotates a common axis. The cam mechanism translates this single rotational input into independent angular positions for both blade sets, eliminating the need for separate actuators and complex linkages while maintaining precise directional control
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism serves as an intermediary element between the single actuator and the two sets of blades. The cam profile is specifically designed to convert the rotational movement of the actuator into the required angular displacements for horizontal and vertical blades, simplifying the overall kinematic chain
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate actuators are used for horizontal and vertical blade control, then independent blade adjustment is achieved, but manufacturing cost and assembly effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple actuation functions into a single actuator-cam-blade assembly. This integration reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, while the cam profile design ensures that independent blade adjustment capabilities are maintained through the mechanical geometry rather than separate actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The single actuator serves multiple functions by controlling both horizontal and vertical blades simultaneously. The cam mechanism provides the multi-functionality needed to translate one input motion into two independent output motions, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining versatility
Data Source
AI summary
An air vent (10) has first blade(s) (5) that is/are pivotable about a first pivot axis (4), and second blade(s) (7) that is/are pivotable about a second pivot axis (6) extending obliquely or vertically to the first pivot axis (4). The blades (5, 7) guide the air flow (15) and are independently displaced using a single drive (8). A coupling device (12) has a cam disk (14) operatively connected to the drive (8) and rotatably mounted, with a first control cam (16) for setting positions of the first blades (5) and a second control cam (17) for setting positions of the second blades (7). One of the control cams (16, 17) is configured on a front side or top surface or base surface (22) of the cam disk (14) and the other control cam (17, 16) is configured on the lateral surface (23) of the cam disk (14).