Vehicle Air Vent Louvers for Compact Wide-Angle Airflow Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation devices for motor vehicles have large outlet openings that are unsightly, difficult to integrate into the instrument panel, and consume excessive installation space, making them complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation device with a ventilation duct and adjustable vertical and horizontal slats that can be rotated and displaced to achieve a large deflection angle, ensuring a compact, attractive design and easy production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If large outlet openings are used to ensure required deflection angle, then airflow deflection capability is improved, but device compactness and aesthetic appearance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow deflection capabilityVSAvoiddevice compactness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamically adjustable louvers that can change their angle and position to achieve different airflow deflection angles. This allows the device to maintain a compact outlet opening while still providing the required deflection capability through active adjustment rather than fixed large openings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the louvers (angle, position, orientation) to optimize airflow deflection. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective airflow control with a compact outlet opening, resolving the contradiction between deflection capability and device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If large outlet openings are used to ensure required deflection angle, then airflow deflection capability is improved, but integration into instrument panel becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow deflection capabilityVSAvoidintegration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamically adjustable louvers allow the ventilation device to achieve required airflow deflection within a compact shape that can be integrated into the instrument panel. The adjustability compensates for the reduced size, maintaining functionality while improving integration capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If complex systems with many components are used to reduce outlet opening size, then device compactness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The louvers in the invention serve multiple functions: they control airflow direction, adjust deflection angles, and can be integrated into a compact structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining compactness while avoiding increased complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

By achieving compactness through parameter optimization of existing components (louver geometry, angle, position) rather than adding more components, the invention reduces device complexity while maintaining compact size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution allows for a structurally simple, cost-effective, and compact ventilation device that provides a large deflection angle for air flow into the vehicle interior while maintaining an attractive design, suitable for integration into motor vehicles and other vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

the upper and lower horizontal louvers are rotatable within the ventilation duct about a rotation axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

displaceable along a displacement axis arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisplacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 3

a plurality of vertical louvers arranged within the ventilation duct for deflecting an air flow in a horizontal direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeflection:

Data Source

PatentEP4488085A1Ventilation device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4488085A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4488085A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4488085A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Ventilation device (2) for ventilating an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a ventilation duct with an outlet opening (6) of a width (B) and a height (H), a plurality of vertical louvers (8) arranged within the ventilation duct for deflecting an airflow in a horizontal direction (HR), an upper horizontal louver (10a) and a lower horizontal louver (10b) arranged within the ventilation duct for deflecting an airflow in a vertical direction (VR), wherein the upper and lower horizontal louvers (10a, 10b) are rotatable within the ventilation duct about an axis of rotation (D) and displaceable along a displacement axis (V) arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation (D).