Multi-Channel Air Duct Snap Connection Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air duct arrangements for motor vehicles are complex and costly to produce, especially for multi-channel designs, as they require separate attachment points and risk incorrect installation due to interchangeable air inlet and outlet openings, leading to increased susceptibility to errors during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The air ducts are connected via one-piece snap-in connections formed from their duct walls, allowing them to be snapped together without additional elements, with locking domes and receptacles designed for thermal compensation and easy assembly through rotary movement, ensuring secure integration into vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air ducts are produced separately in blow molding or thermoforming processes and installed individually in motor vehicles, then production complexity for multi-channel arrangements is reduced, but the number of separate attachment points required increases and susceptibility to installation errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate air ducts into a single integrated air duct arrangement with multiple channels. This merging approach reduces the number of separate attachment points required in the motor vehicle while maintaining the ability to produce ducts using standard blow molding or thermoforming processes. The integrated design allows multiple air duct functions to be achieved through one unified component rather than multiple separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air ducts are produced separately and installed individually, then flexibility in production is maintained, but the risk of incorrect installation increases due to interchangeable air inlet and outlet openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric features including orientation markers and directional locking mechanisms that prevent incorrect installation. The locking mechanism is designed to engage only in the correct orientation, ensuring that air inlet and outlet openings are properly positioned. This asymmetric design maintains production flexibility while eliminating the risk of interchangeable or incorrect installation of air duct components.
3Ease of repair
If multiple air ducts are connected with separate attachment points, then individual duct replacement is simplified, but assembly time and susceptibility to errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains segmentation by allowing individual air duct channels to be produced separately using standard molding processes, yet connects them through an integrated arrangement with unified attachment points. This segmentation approach enables individual duct replacement when needed while reducing overall assembly time during initial installation, as the integrated design requires fewer attachment operations compared to multiple separate duct installations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an air guidance arrangement and a method for manufacturing an air guidance arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a first air guidance channel (1) and at least one separate second air guidance channel (2), wherein the air guidance channels (1, 2) each have an elongated channel wall (3, 4) which each defines a cavity (5, 6) for guiding the air, which lies between at least one air inlet opening (7, 8) and at least one air outlet opening (9, 10), and wherein the air guidance channels (1, 2) are connected to each other via a first snap connection (11, 12) consisting of a first snap element (11) and a first snap counter element (12) and via at least one second snap connection (13, 14) consisting of a second snap element (13) and a second snap counter element (14), wherein the snap connections (11, 12, 13, 14) are integrally formed from the respective channel wall (3,4) of the first air duct (1) and the second air duct (2) are formed and that the air ducts (1, 2) are arranged next to each other in their longitudinal directions (L1, L2) to form a multi-channel air duct arrangement.