Vehicle Air Outlet Grille Geometry for Low-Turbulence Air Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents in vehicles are visually prominent and obstruct airflow, leading to undesirable turbulence and reduced air deflection due to discharge grilles, which hinder the integration into vehicle interiors while maintaining airflow performance.
Innovation Solution
An air outlet with a specially designed outlet grille featuring webs with flow edges and steps that separate airflow, combined with adjustable air guiding elements, to ensure airflow directionality and conceal functional elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a discharge grille is used to conceal functional elements, then visual integration into vehicle interior is improved, but airflow performance deteriorates due to turbulence and reduced directionality
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge grille is segmented into multiple individual bars or slats that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation reduces the total solid surface area blocking the airflow compared to a solid grille, thereby minimizing turbulence while still providing visual concealment of the functional elements behind the grille.
Solution Approach 2:
The grille bars are designed with specific local qualities including optimized thickness, spacing, and cross-sectional shapes (such as rounded or aerodynamic profiles). These local characteristics are tailored to reduce flow separation and turbulence generation at each bar, allowing the grille to maintain aesthetic function while preserving airflow performance.
2Shape
If a discharge grille is used to conceal functional elements, then visual integration into vehicle interior is improved, but air deflection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide elements behind the grille are designed to be adjustable or movable, allowing dynamic control of airflow direction. This enables the system to maintain effective air deflection capability while the static grille provides continuous visual integration. The grille remains fixed for aesthetic purposes while the functional elements behind it can adapt to different airflow requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The grille acts as an intermediary element that partially transmits airflow while providing visual concealment. The spaced bars allow air to pass through while hiding the mechanical components, and the grille itself can be designed with aerodynamic features that minimize its interfering effect on the deflected airflow paths.
3Ease of operation
If conventional air guide elements are used, then airflow direction control is achieved, but visual integration into vehicle interior deteriorates due to visibility of functional elements
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge grille serves as an intermediary visual barrier that conceals the air guide elements from view while allowing them to function. The grille is positioned in front of the functional elements and designed with sufficient spacing between bars to permit airflow passage while providing complete visual concealment of the mechanical components for aesthetic integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional elements are segmented into compact units that can be positioned behind the grille, and the grille itself is segmented into bars that create visual rhythm and aesthetic appeal. This segmentation allows the functional components to be hidden while the segmented grille structure provides visual integration into the vehicle interior design.
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 provides a visually integrated air outlet that maintains airflow performance by minimizing turbulence and enhancing directionality, ensuring a concentrated and perceptible air flow.
Implementation Method 1
At least one flow edge and/or step is formed in a particularly central area of the at least one web located between the inflow area and the outflow area. The at least one flow edge and/or step is designed in such a way that a stall occurs in the area of the at least one flow edge and/or step when the air outlet is used as intended and when air flows through the air outlet.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an air vent for a vehicle. The air vent includes a housing and an air channel at least partially or sectionally delimited by the housing, having an air inlet end and an air outlet end. Air flowing through the air channel can flow from the air inlet end to the air outlet end along a main flow direction (H). The air vent further includes an outlet grid arranged at the air outlet end. The outlet grid includes an opening grid with grid openings spaced apart from one another by at least one web. The at least one web of the outlet grid includes an upstream inflow region and a downstream outflow region. At least one flow edge and/or step is formed in a region of the at least one web located between the inflow region and the outflow region.