Vehicle Air Vent Perpendicular Guide Rail Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for vehicles require complex and visible kinematic coupling elements to operate multiple air guide elements with a single control, which can be aesthetically undesirable and affect the visual appearance, while also potentially impacting air flow direction and visibility.
Innovation Solution
The air vent design incorporates first and second guide rails within a frame-shaped housing, allowing a single operating element to pivot air guide elements about perpendicular axes through translational movement, eliminating the need for additional operating elements and complex coupling, thus maintaining an unobtrusive appearance and minimizing airflow disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If complex kinematic coupling elements are used to operate multiple air guide elements with a single control, then all air guide elements can be controlled with one operating element, but the coupling elements become visible and affect the visual appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the visible coupling elements from the system by implementing a direct mechanical connection where the operating element is integrally connected to the air guide lamellae. This extraction of the coupling mechanism eliminates the aesthetic problem while preserving the functionality of controlling multiple lamellae with a single operating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating element is merged directly with the air guide lamellae through integral connections, eliminating the need for separate coupling elements. This merging approach maintains the ability to control multiple lamellae while avoiding the visual intrusion of additional components.
2Ease of operation
If complex kinematic coupling elements are used to pivot air guide lamellae, then all lamellae can be controlled with one operating element, but the operating element orientation changes with lamella position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex kinematic coupling elements from the system by implementing a simpler direct mechanical connection. The operating element is connected to each air guide lamella through straightforward pivot connections, eliminating the need for sophisticated coupling mechanisms while maintaining the ability to control all lamellae with a single operating element.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single operating element that changes orientation to control multiple lamellae, the patent inverts the approach by having the operating element maintain a fixed orientation and controlling each lamella through separate but coordinated pivot connections. This inversion eliminates the changing orientation problem while achieving the same control function.
3Ease of operation
If sophisticated operating and adjusting mechanisms are used in air vents, then precise control of air guide elements is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and production becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function by providing individual pivot connections between the operating element and each air guide lamella. This segmentation allows for precise control of each lamella independently while using simple, easily manufactured connection elements, avoiding the need for complex integrated mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by having multiple simple connections from a single operating element to multiple lamellae, rather than using a single complex coupling mechanism. This inversion achieves precise control through simplicity, making the structure easier to manufacture while maintaining adjustment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Air vent for a vehicle includes a frame-shaped housing, in which a plurality of air guide elements are arranged, wherein first air guide elements are each mounted in a manner allowing pivot movement about a first pivot axis, and wherein second air guide elements are each mounted in a manner allowing pivot movement about a second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axes extend perpendicular to the second pivot axes, further comprising a manually operable operating element for pivoting the air guide elements, wherein first guide rails are provided, along which the operating element for pivoting the first air guide elements about the first pivot axes is displaceable along a first direction of displacement, and wherein second guide rails are provided, along which the operating element for pivoting the second air guide elements about the second pivot axes is displaceable along a second direction of displacement.