Vehicle Air Vent Adjustable Blade Nozzle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle air distribution systems are inefficient due to high energy consumption, significant mechanical parts, and aerodynamic resistance, which limits airflow and requires complex adjustments to direct air effectively.

Innovation Solution

An air distribution system with adjustable air blades and nozzles that create turbulence to enhance airflow, reduce noise, and minimize mechanical parts, allowing for independent air flow direction and increased air speed, while maintaining or reducing the size of the heater blower unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional air vents with horizontal and vertical slats are used to distribute air, then air flow direction can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases due to many mechanical parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow direction adjustmentVSAvoidmechanical parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex mechanical adjustment mechanism from the air vent system. Instead of using traditional horizontal and vertical slats with motors and linkages, the invention uses a simple adjustable air blade that can be positioned by the user without any mechanical adjustment mechanism, thereby eliminating the complex mechanical parts while retaining air flow direction control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a single adjustable air blade instead of multiple fixed slats. The air blade can be manually positioned to different angles to control air flow direction, replacing the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a simple, direct user-adjustable component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If conventional air vents with fixed direction are used, then device complexity is reduced, but air flow efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical partsVSAvoidair flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the air blade adjustable rather than fixed. The air blade can be dynamically positioned by the user to optimize air flow direction for different operating conditions (defrosting, cooling, heating), thereby improving air flow efficiency without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If heater blower unit size is reduced to decrease vehicle size, then air flow volume may be insufficient for defrosting and climate control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheater blower unit sizeVSAvoidair flow volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the aerodynamic parameters of the air vent system by using an air blade design that optimizes air flow through the vent. This improves the efficiency of air utilization, allowing a smaller blower unit to achieve the same effective air flow volume by reducing aerodynamic resistance and improving air distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If cylindrical air vent shape is used to maximize air flow, then air flow volume increases, but design flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow volumeVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air vent opening into multiple sections around the central air blade. This allows the air vent to have a non-cylindrical shape that fits various dashboard designs while the air blade itself maintains an aerodynamic form that maximizes air flow through the vent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 system increases air speed and volume output, reduces noise, and simplifies air flow direction, enhancing passenger compartment climate control and defrosting/demisting efficiency with reduced mechanical complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the nozzle comprises an extending portion arranged to break the air stream, preferably to create turbulent air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2815909B1Air distribution system
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP2815909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2815909B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2815909B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air distribution system for the interior of a vehicle comprising an air vent (3) wherein at least one air blade (1) is arranged substantially within the air vent (3) and that said air vent (3) comprises an air duct adapted to allow air distribution through an elongated gap (2) arranged in the air blade (1).