Vehicle Air Outlet Linkage Layout for Compact Vent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air outlet apparatus for vehicles is limited in compactness due to the placement of the operating knob at the air outlet, which restricts the miniaturization and layout flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An air outlet apparatus with a rotatable shielding body and a link mechanism that operates outside the ventilation path, allowing the operation section to have a different rotation direction, enabling the shielding body to open and close the ventilation path without needing to be aligned with the operation section's rotation axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating knob is arranged at the air outlet to control the shielding body, then the operation is simplified, but the air outlet size cannot be reduced and layout flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into two independent parts: the operation section (knob) and the shielding body. The operation section can be positioned independently from the shielding body through the link mechanism, allowing separate optimization of operation accessibility and air outlet positioning. This segmentation enables the air outlet to be placed in optimal locations without being constrained by the need to position the operating knob at the air outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The link mechanism serves as an intermediary between the operation section and the shielding body. It transmits the rotational operation from the operation section to the shielding body through a series of linkages, allowing the operation section to be positioned away from the air outlet while still controlling the shielding body effectively. This intermediary mechanism decouples the spatial relationship between the operator interface and the controlled component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operation section is positioned away from the air outlet, then layout freedom improves, but the link mechanism may obstruct airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism is extracted from the ventilation path space and positioned in the non-ventilation path area. By relocating the mechanical linkage components to the side or rear of the housing rather than within the airflow channel, the design achieves both layout flexibility and uninterrupted airflow. The link mechanism operates in a separate spatial zone that does not interfere with the air outlet function.
3Device complexity
If the shielding body rotation axis is aligned with the operation section rotation axis, then the mechanism is simplified, but compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-axis rotation system to a multi-dimensional linkage system. Instead of aligning rotation axes, the operation section rotates around one axis while the link mechanism converts this motion to rotate the shielding body around a different axis. This dimensional transformation allows for more compact spatial arrangement of components while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Air outlet apparatus has case body that defines ventilation path inside case body and forms an air outlet, shielding body that is rotatably arranged in ventilation path in case body and can open and close ventilation path in accordance with rotation, operation section rotatable in a direction different from a rotation direction of shielding body, and link mechanism that has a plurality of link members that operate differently from each other and causes shielding body to interlock with an operation of operation section. Link mechanism is arranged outside ventilation path, and converts an operation of one of the link members into an operation of another link member, thereby interlocking and rotating operation section and shielding body, which have different rotation axes.