Air vent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air vents have limitations in lateral air deflection, require significant installation space, and are complex and prone to faults due to numerous components and complex kinematics, with limited orthogonal air deflection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An air vent design featuring shells directly connected to the air guide element, allowing pivoting to control air flow into partial ducts, and slats mounted on the air guide element for improved lateral deflection, with a simplified structure and reduced component count, utilizing a cylindrical housing and handle for intuitive operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If louvers are positioned in front of the airflow to achieve lateral air deflection, then lateral air deflection is improved, but installation space is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air guide element and louvers into a single integrated rotatable component. The louvers are mounted directly on the air guide element, so that one rotation movement simultaneously controls both the air guide element position and the louver angle, eliminating the need for separate louver mechanisms and reducing installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable air guide element serves multiple functions: it guides air flow direction, controls the angle of the louvers, and regulates air volume through its rotation position. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate components for each function, reducing overall device complexity and space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a closing flap is added as a throttling device to control air volume, then air volume regulation is improved, but installation space is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the throttling function into the rotatable air guide element itself. By rotating the air guide element to different positions, the effective opening area is automatically regulated, combining the air guide and throttling functions into a single component rather than requiring a separate closing flap mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide element transitions from a static component to a dynamic rotatable component that can adjust its position and the louver angle simultaneously. This dynamic adjustment mechanism provides both air direction control and volume regulation through a single degree of freedom, eliminating the need for additional static throttling components.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components with complex kinematics are used to achieve air deflection, then air deflection control is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple air deflection control functions into a single rotatable air guide element with integrated louvers. Instead of having separate mechanisms for guiding air and adjusting louver angles, both functions are achieved through one rotation movement, dramatically reducing component count and kinematic complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide element is segmented into functional zones (front surface for air guidance, louver mounting surface for lateral deflection) that work together through a single rotational degree of freedom. This segmentation allows complex air flow control to be achieved through simple rotational motion rather than multiple independent mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the air guide element has minimum height to accommodate lever mechanism, then air deflection capability is improved, but housing height is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the lever mechanism with a direct rotation mounting. The air guide element is rotatably mounted on the housing wall without requiring a lever arm or pivot mechanism that would extend into the housing. This substitution eliminates the need for minimum height clearance and allows the housing to be more compact.
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 design achieves enhanced lateral air deflection with reduced installation space, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness, minimizing the risk of faults and enabling efficient air flow management with intuitive operation.
Implementation Method 1
an air guide element rotatably mounted in the housing
Implementation Method 2
By rotating the air guide element within the cylindrical housing section, the direction of the outgoing airflow can be adjusted
Implementation Method 3
a first group of louvers and a second group of louvers... mounted on the air guide element for improved lateral deflection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The air outlet comprises a housing (12) with an air inlet opening (14) and an air outlet opening (16), an air guide element (30) rotatably mounted in the housing (12), a first group of louvers (40) and a second group of louvers (40), wherein the louvers (40) of the first group of louvers (40) and the louvers (40) of the second group of louvers (40) are oppositely and pivotably mounted on the air guide element (30). The air guide element (30) is connected to two concavely curved shells (38) which have the shape of segments from the lateral surface of a cylinder. The shells (38) and the air guide element (30) are rotatably mounted together within a section (18) of the housing (12) corresponding to the lateral surface of a cylinder, wherein a web (26) is arranged in the section (18) upstream of the air guide element (30) in the direction of airflow.The bridge (26) is connected to the housing (12) and extends from the air guide element (30) towards the air inlet opening (14) and protrudes into the pivot path of the shells (38).