Vehicle Air Register Assembly with Adjustable Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional air registers in vehicles experience airflow disruption and recirculation when pivoted, leading to decreased airflow as some air is dispersed within the register rather than directed through it.
Innovation Solution
The air register design features a vent housing with a frame assembly and panels that pivotally adjust to constrict airflow from the inlet to the outlet, ensuring airflow is directed efficiently by blocking internal portions of the vent housing, thereby minimizing recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional air registers are pivoted to change airflow direction, then airflow directionality is improved, but a portion of airflow becomes disrupted and recirculated, decreasing overall airflow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air register is divided into multiple functional segments: a housing, a vane for direction control, and adjustable panels that can independently block recirculation zones. This segmentation allows the direction-changing vane to operate without necessarily causing recirculation, as the panels can be positioned to prevent airflow from entering dead zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are made movable and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adapt to different vane positions. As the vane pivots to change airflow direction, the panels can be repositioned to block recirculation paths specific to each direction, maintaining airflow efficiency across all operating positions.
2Productivity
If air registers are designed with internal panels to block recirculation zones, then airflow efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panels are integrated into the existing housing structure rather than being separate components, reducing overall device complexity. The panels utilize the housing's existing walls and surfaces as mounting structures, combining multiple functions into unified structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complex mechanisms to prevent recirculation, the invention uses simple panel structures that leverage the natural geometry of the housing. The panels block recirculation zones by utilizing the existing internal surfaces of the housing, inverting the approach of adding complexity to achieve simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An air register assembly may include a vent housing having an outlet, an inlet, and a body portion disposed therebetween. The body portion may include a first portion disposed adjacent to the inlet, and a second portion that is wider than the first portion disposed adjacent to the outlet. At least one panel may be slideably coupled to the first portion of the vent housing between extended and retracted positions. The at least one panel may be substantially disposed within the first portion of the vent housing when the at least one panel is in the retracted position, and further wherein the at least one panel may be substantially disposed within the second portion of the vent housing when the at least one panel is in the extended position.