Vehicle Air Intake Deflector and Shield for Drain Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle HVAC systems often supply air to the passenger compartment that is overly saturated with water due to inadequate drainage and negative pressure within the air compartment, leading to humid and wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
A deflector and shield system is implemented within the air compartment to intercept and remove excess water from the air stream by directing it towards the dashboard upper side member, utilizing a deflector over the drain to redirect air and a shield to separate water from the airflow before it enters the HVAC system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drains are provided to remove water from the air compartment, then water drainage capability is improved, but negative pressure within the air compartment causes air to enter through the drain creating overly saturated air
Solution Approach 1:
A shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the drain and the air intake channel. The shield intercepts air that would otherwise enter through the drain and redirect it away from the HVAC system, preventing overly saturated air from being supplied to the passenger compartment while maintaining the drain's water removal function
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful element (overly saturated air) is extracted from the air stream by using the shield to separate and redirect the air that enters through the drain, preventing it from reaching the HVAC system while allowing the drain to continue its water removal function
2Productivity
If the air compartment is shaped to direct water toward drains, then water drainage efficiency is improved, but negative pressure areas create air intake through drains increasing humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The shield serves as a mediator that intercepts the air flow created by negative pressure in the air compartment. It redirects this air away from the HVAC system before it can pick up excessive moisture at the drain, preventing overly saturated air from being supplied while maintaining efficient water drainage
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
This solution effectively reduces the amount of water entrained in the air supplied to the passenger compartment, improving air quality and reducing humidity by ensuring that excess water is removed before it reaches the HVAC system.
Implementation Method 1
The air compartment can be shaped to direct water toward the drain. The drains can be disposed so that water is naturally directed thereto by gravity, etc.
Implementation Method 2
This interception (e.g., contact between the overly saturated air and the shield) can result in removal of an amount of water from the overly saturated air
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments are directed to a deflector for use with a vehicle air intake system that directs air from a vehicle exterior to a vehicle interior. The deflector can include a base configured for attachment to a region of an interior wall of an air compartment adjacent a perimeter of a drain. The deflector can also include a barrier wall connected to the base and including an inner surface that is disposed over the drain when the base is attached to the interior wall of the air compartment. The barrier wall can be shaped to define a concavity between the drain and the inner surface. The barrier wall can define an air stream opening that is disposed to direct air traveling from the drain and through the concavity toward a section of the interior wall of the air compartment that opposes a shield.