Vehicle Air Outlet Deflector Kinematics for Full Airflow Reorientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air outlet devices for motor vehicle ventilation systems do not optimally orient air flow, particularly in extreme positions where part of the airflow is not effectively redirected by the fins, leading to suboptimal air flow orientation.
Innovation Solution
The air outlet device incorporates a deflector with a non-parallel, partially curved slot for its axis of rotation, allowing modified rotational kinematics and increased air flow orientation possibilities, with the deflector connected to the second fin via a hinge and mounted in slots within the peripheral walls, enabling better air flow reorientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a deflector is added upstream of the vertical fins and connected via a hinge, then the air flow orientation possibilities are increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is made rotatable around a transverse axis through a slot-mounted hinge mechanism, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position. This enables the deflector to change orientation according to the position of the vertical fins, optimizing air flow redirection in different operating conditions without requiring multiple fixed deflectors
Solution Approach 2:
The air outlet device is divided into separate functional components: vertical fins for primary orientation and a deflector for secondary orientation of air flow. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific orientation task, improving overall adaptability while keeping individual components relatively simple
2Ease of manufacture
If the deflector axis is mounted in a slot extending parallel to the upstream-downstream direction, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the air flow orientation capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is designed with a curved path instead of a straight line, allowing the deflector axis to follow a non-linear trajectory during rotation. This curved slot geometry enables the deflector to achieve more varied orientations and improve air flow control capabilities while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece slot structure that can be manufactured using conventional methods
Data Source
AI summary
This device includes at least one peripheral wall (2, 6, 8) forming an air duct (4) and at least one first fin (10) rotatably mobile around a substantially longitudinal axis (A), at least one second fin (12) rotatably mobile around a substantially transverse axis (B), and at least one deflector (18) extending upstream of the second fin (12) and being rotatably mobile around a substantially transverse axis (C), the downstream end portion (20) of the deflector (18) being fastened to the upstream end portion (22) of the second fin (12) via a hinge (24). The axis of rotation (C) of the deflector (18) is mounted in at least one slot (28) of the peripheral wall (2, 6, 8), the slot (26) extending along a path at least partially not parallel to the upstream-downstream direction of the air duct (4).