Air Vent with Colliding Airflows for Multi-Directional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for vehicles lack the ability to efficiently control and direct airflow in multiple directions without visible components, which limits user control and flexibility in air distribution.
Innovation Solution
The air vent design incorporates moveable vanes and air ducts that allow for vertical and horizontal adjustment of airflow direction, with vanes and manipulators integrated within the housing to change the perceived air discharge direction without being visible from the air outlet end, and includes illumination for easier operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air ducts with separate volumetric flows are used to control airflow in multiple directions, then air distribution flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air vent is divided into multiple separate air ducts (first air duct, second air duct) that convey different volumetric flows of air in different directions. Each duct can be independently controlled by its own vanes, allowing flexible air distribution while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Moveable vanes are incorporated into each air duct to dynamically adjust the airflow direction. The first vane controls the first volumetric flow while the second vane controls the second volumetric flow, enabling real-time adaptation of air distribution patterns without fixed directional constraints
2Ease of operation
If vanes are made moveable to change perceived air discharge direction, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vanes are designed to be moveable rather than fixed, allowing users to adjust the perceived air discharge direction vertically and horizontally. This dynamic capability enables easy operation and adaptation to different ventilation needs while the integration within the housing minimizes the visual and structural complexity
3Shape
If vanes are integrated within the housing to be non-visible, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but ease of operation may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The vanes are nested within the housing structure, positioned along the air ducts inside the housing rather than exposed at the air outlet end. This nesting arrangement maintains a clean aesthetic appearance from the user's perspective while the vanes remain functional for controlling airflow direction
Solution Approach 2:
Air guide surfaces are used as intermediaries to direct the volumetric flows of air. These surfaces work in conjunction with the hidden vanes to control airflow direction, allowing the vanes to remain non-visible while still enabling effective operation through the intermediary guidance mechanism
4Manufacturing precision
If air guide surfaces are used to define airflow direction, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air guide surfaces are positioned at specific locations within the housing to define the direction of volumetric flows locally. The first air guide surface controls the first volumetric flow while the second air guide surface controls the second volumetric flow, providing precise directional control at each air outlet opening without requiring complex overall structure
Data Source
AI summary
An air vent includes a housing, first and second air ducts, a first vane, and a set of vanes. The air ducts convey respective volumetric flows of air through the housing so that each volumetric flow exits the respective air duct in a different intersecting direction so that the flows of air collide after exiting the air ducts. A vane located along one of the air ducts is moveable to vertically change a perceived air discharge direction. A set of vanes includes at least one vane located in each air duct and is moveable to horizontally change the perceived air discharge direction.