Aerator Profiled Body Stroke Limiting Member Alignment
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerators with orientation and flow adjustment fail to achieve complete closure when the profiled body is inclined relative to the airflow direction, resulting in residual air flow due to lack of contact with the duct inlet, and users are not informed of the need to align axes for zero flow.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a stroke limiting member that prevents translational movement until the axis of the profiled body is aligned with the aerator axis, and an optional guide member to assist in aligning the axes for tight closure, using projections or tapered elements to facilitate alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the profiled body is allowed to move freely in translation without alignment guidance, then the device structure remains simple, but the user cannot achieve complete closure when the body is inclined, resulting in residual airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The stroke limiting member is designed to automatically guide the profiled body into alignment with the aerator axis during its translational movement. The member's geometry (protrusions or tapered elements) interacts with the profiled body to self-align the axes without requiring user knowledge or additional active control mechanisms, thereby achieving reliable closure while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The stroke limiting member acts as an intermediary element between the profiled body and the aerator housing. It mediates the translational movement by providing physical constraints (protrusions or tapered surfaces) that guide alignment, ensuring the profiled body's axis aligns with the aerator axis before closure is achieved
2Ease of operation
If the profiled body is pushed inwards without axis alignment, then the user action is simple, but the profiled body does not contact the duct inlet completely, allowing air circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-alignment through the stroke limiting member's geometry. As the user pushes the profiled body inward, the stroke limiting member's protrusions or tapered elements automatically guide the body into alignment with the aerator axis, ensuring complete closure without requiring the user to understand or perform alignment operations
Solution Approach 2:
The stroke limiting member prevents the profiled body from moving into the closed position when misaligned by providing physical obstruction (protrusions or tapered surfaces). This preliminary prevention stops ineffective closure attempts before they occur, forcing the body to be properly aligned first
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an aerator that comprises a duct (50) defining a chamber in which a portion of the inner surface defines a spherical segment, a profiled body (60) with a holding device (62), and a ring (52) having an outer surface defining a portion of a sphere having the same radius as the spherical segment of the chamber and bearing the profiled body (60) in the duct (50) while allowing the rotational movement thereof relative to the duct (50) and the translation movement thereof relative to the ring (22), wherein said profiled body (60) can assume a closing position when in contact with the duct. The profiled body (60) is provided with a member (70) for limiting the translation stroke when the translation axis of the body (60) is very inclined. Application in automotive vehicles.