Vehicle Air Vent Bypass Control for Low-Noise Discrete Outlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vent systems face challenges with reduced performance, increased flow resistance, and noise generation due to slit or line-shaped outlet openings, limiting design freedom and airflow efficiency, particularly in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An air vent system with a main channel and bypass system, controlled by an airflow controller, subdivides airflow to manage pressure and flow rates, ensuring optimal performance and reduced noise by diverting excess airflow through the bypass system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If slit or line-shaped outlet openings are used in air vents, then design freedom and discreteness are improved, but airflow efficiency and performance deteriorate due to high flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The air vent system is segmented into multiple independent outlet openings (first outlet opening and second outlet opening) instead of using a single large slit or line-shaped opening. This segmentation allows each opening to maintain better airflow characteristics while achieving the desired discrete design appearance when viewed from the vehicle interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional slit or line-shaped opening to a three-dimensional arrangement of multiple separate outlet openings distributed across the air vent housing. This dimensional change allows air to flow through multiple paths rather than being constrained to a single planar opening, reducing flow resistance while maintaining aesthetic discreteness.
2Ease of operation
If airflow is deflected using air-guiding elements and arcuate housing walls, then air direction control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex arcuate housing walls to deflect air, the patent inverts the approach by using flat housing walls combined with movable air-guiding elements (flaps) that can be positioned to deflect airflow in desired directions. This inversion simplifies the housing manufacturing while maintaining air direction control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs movable air-guiding elements (flaps) that can dynamically adjust their position to control airflow direction, replacing static complex housing shapes. This dynamic approach allows flexible air direction control while keeping the housing structure simple and easy to manufacture.
3Ease of operation
If volumetric flow ratio adjustment is used for air deflection, then air direction control is achieved, but system performance and throughput are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air deflection function from the volumetric flow ratio adjustment mechanism and implements it through movable air-guiding elements (flaps) that physically redirect airflow. This separation allows the system to maintain high throughput while achieving air deflection control, as the flaps can redirect air without significantly restricting flow volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces movable air-guiding elements (flaps) as intermediary components between the airflow source and the outlet openings. These flaps serve as mediators that can redirect airflow direction without creating the flow resistance associated with adjusting volumetric flow ratios, thus maintaining system performance.
4Ease of operation
If air-guiding elements are arranged in the air channel, then air deflection is achieved, but available flow region is limited and flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple simplified air-guiding elements (flaps) at different outlet openings instead of a single complex air-guiding structure in the air channel. This copying approach allows air deflection to be achieved at the outlet level without obstructing the main air channel, preserving the available flow region and reducing flow resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an air vent system for a motor vehicle. The air vent system includes at least one main channel for conducting a first portion of a total airflow flowing through the air vent system, at least one bypass system for conducting a second portion of the total airflow flowing through the air vent system, and an airflow controller. The airflow controller subdivides the total airflow passing through the air vent system in such that (i) a portion of the total airflow flowing through the air vent system is only conducted through the at least one bypass system when a volumetric flow rate of the air flowing through the at least one main channel reaches or exceeds a first predefined or definable value; and/or (ii) a volumetric flow rate of the air flowing through the at least one main channel does not exceed a second predefined or definable value.