Air-Conditioning Diffuser With Deflecting Pockets to Prevent Drafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning diffusers with textile or foil structures often create undesirable drafts due to air flowing in a single direction and have insufficient outlet orifices for air distribution, particularly in ceiling and wall-based systems.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning element with a chamber and an outlet wall made of woven or non-woven fabric or foil, featuring an array of through-holes and air deflecting pockets that redirect air flow, preventing drafts and ensuring air enters a room in a desired direction while maintaining a lightweight, washable structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If air flows in a single direction from a diffuser, then air distribution is simplified, but undesirable drafts are created

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair distribution patternVSAvoiddraft

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet wall is segmented into multiple through-holes distributed across the surface, with each hole potentially having its own deflecting pocket. This segmentation allows air to exit through multiple locations and directions simultaneously, distributing the airflow pattern to eliminate drafts while maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Air deflecting pockets are attached to the outer surface of the outlet wall, extending the airflow control into a third dimension. These pockets redirect air that would otherwise flow in a single direction, creating multi-directional airflow patterns that prevent drafts while keeping the diffuser structure simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If outlet orifices are made smaller, then the diffuser structure remains simple, but distributed air volume becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutlet orifice configurationVSAvoiddistributed air volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the effective outlet area parameter by providing multiple through-holes across the outlet wall surface. While individual holes remain small to maintain structural simplicity, the cumulative area of all holes together provides sufficient total air volume for effective distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet function is segmented into numerous small through-holes distributed across the wall, rather than using a few large openings. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple construction while achieving adequate total airflow through the aggregate effect of multiple small outlets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If air deflecting pockets are added to redirect airflow, then draft is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedraftVSAvoiddiffuser structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air deflecting pockets are constructed from flexible material that forms thin-walled cavities attached to the outlet wall. This approach creates effective airflow redirection with minimal material and structural complexity, maintaining the lightweight and washable characteristics of the original textile/foil system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The air deflecting pockets act as intermediary elements between the through-holes and the surrounding environment. These pockets redirect airflow in a controlled manner without requiring complex mechanical structures, achieving draft prevention through simple geometric redirection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively directs air flow in desired directions without causing drafts, enhances air distribution efficiency, and maintains the advantages of textile or foil systems, including a lightweight structure and ease of washing.

Implementation Method 1

each air deflecting pocket assumes a shape corresponding to a part of the shell of a truncated cone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow redirection through geometric shape:

Data Source

PatentUS10830485B2Air-conditioning diffuser for air distribution

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 PRIHODA S R O

AI summary

Air-conditioning diffuser for distributing air, comprising a chamber (10) provided with an inlet orifice (30) for feeding air and with an outlet wall (20) made of a woven or non-woven fabric or foil, the outlet wall (20) comprising at least one array of through-holes (22) for distributing air into the surrounding environment. The air-conditioning diffuser further comprises a plurality of air deflecting pockets (23) for redirecting the air flowing through the through-holes (22) out of the air-conditioning diffuser, each air deflecting pocket (23) being attached to the outlet wall (20) on the outer side of the same, overlapping at least one through-hole (22) spaced apart from the through-hole and being open towards the space adjoining the outlet wall (20).