Air Discharge Device With Conical Guide And Slide Stopper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air vents for motor vehicles require visible fins or multiple outlet openings to direct airflow, which complicates design, reduces aesthetic appeal, and increases mechanical complexity and wear.

Innovation Solution

An air vent design utilizing a conical air guiding element and the Coanda effect to direct airflow without external fins or multiple outlets, featuring a slide with a stopper that covers the inlet opening and a manipulator for adjusting airflow direction and intensity, along with planar elements for additional guidance and low-friction movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fins or multiple outlet openings are used to direct airflow, then airflow direction control is improved, but device complexity and aesthetic appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the airflow direction control function from traditional visible fins and multiple outlets, implementing it through a single outlet opening with an internal conical air guiding element that directs airflow using the Coanda effect, thereby simplifying the external structure while maintaining directional control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a conical air guiding element as an intermediary component inside the nozzle housing that mediates airflow direction by creating a curved surface that guides the air jet along its contour, enabling directional control without external fins or multiple openings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If fins or multiple outlet openings are used to direct airflow, then airflow direction control is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for visible external fins and multiple outlet openings by extracting the airflow direction control function to an internal conical air guiding element, resulting in a clean single-opening design that maintains aesthetic appearance while providing directional control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of directing airflow outward through multiple openings or fins as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by using a single opening with an internal conical element that curves the airflow path, achieving direction control from the inside out with a simpler external appearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If traditional air guiding elements are used, then airflow direction is improved, but mechanical stability and durability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidmechanical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the airflow direction control function into the conical air guiding element that is integrated within the nozzle housing, reducing the number of separate moving parts and external components, thereby improving mechanical stability and durability while maintaining directional control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple moving components are used for airflow control, then airflow adjustment flexibility is improved, but wear and maintenance requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple airflow control functions (direction control, flow rate adjustment) into a single integrated conical air guiding element with a slide mechanism, reducing the number of moving components and minimizing wear points while maintaining adjustment flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design achieves a clean aesthetic, high mechanical stability, durability, and reduced wear due to fewer moving components, while allowing for easy airflow direction and intensity adjustment.

Implementation Method 1

the air vent according to the invention makes use of the Coanda effect. Due to the Coanda effect, the air runs along the inside of the nozzle housing and thus along the conical air guide element without detaching from these surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoanda effect: Coanda Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2125406B1Air discharge device
Publication Date: 2010.12.29 FAURECIA INNENRAUM SYSTEME GMBH
  • EP2125406B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1b
  • EP2125406B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2125406B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an air discharge device (100) with a nozzle housing (102), with an air inlet opening (104) located in an axial direction relative to the nozzle housing (102) and an air outlet opening (106) lying substantially opposite to the air inlet opening (104), with a cone-shaped air directing element (108), wherein the air directing element (108) is arranged with a longitudinal axis (110) in an axial direction to the nozzle housing (102). The air directing element (108) is arranged with the end point (112) thereof directed to the air outlet opening (106), wherein the air directing element (108) has an opening (114) which penetrates the longitudinal axis (110) thereof, with a slider (116), wherein the slider (116) is provided for receiving a plug (118) through the penetrating opening (114) of the air directing element (108), and said plug (118) is designed to be on the slider (116) on the side facing the air inlet opening (104), and said plug (118) can be moved by the slider (116) in the axial direction, wherein the plug (118) is designed to be a form-fitting covering of the air inlet opening (104).