Vehicle Air Vent Selector for Multi-Direction Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents in motor vehicles require a complex and costly assembly with numerous movable components, which can lead to malfunctions and safety concerns during accidents, as small components may detach and become hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A simplified air vent design that allows variation of air flow orientation using a limited number of moving parts, specifically a selector member that slides and rotates to select different areas of a fixed grille, thereby directing the air flow to various spatial orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex movement system with numerous movable components is used to vary air flow direction, then the air flow direction can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases and safety decreases due to potential detachment of small components
Solution Approach 1:
The air vent is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can slide relative to each other. The movable portion includes a selector member with multiple selection portions, each corresponding to different air flow directions. This segmentation allows direction adjustment without requiring multiple small movable components, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The selector member serves multiple functions: it acts as both a closure element (blocking air flow when in certain positions) and a direction control element (directing air flow to different outlets). This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining versatile air flow control.
2Ease of operation
If numerous small movable components are used for air flow direction control, then precise direction adjustment is possible, but safety is compromised as these components may detach during accidents
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having multiple small movable components that can detach, the invention uses a single integrated movable portion with multiple selection portions. This inverted approach maintains ease of operation (selecting different directions) while dramatically improving safety by eliminating numerous small detachable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple selection portions for different air flow directions are merged into a single movable portion. This consolidation ensures that all direction-control functions are contained within one robust component rather than multiple small parts, thereby maintaining operational ease while improving reliability during impacts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex movement system and grille with fins are used, then air flow direction can be varied, but assembly time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a dynamic movable portion that can slide to different positions to vary air flow direction, replacing the need for complex mechanical movement systems with multiple adjustable fins. This dynamic approach maintains versatility while simplifying the structure for easier and faster assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex movement system and adjustable fin mechanism are extracted and replaced with a simpler selector member that has pre-formed selection portions. This extraction of the complex mechanism reduces assembly complexity and cost while preserving the ability to vary air flow direction through the sliding action of the movable portion.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~6B
AI summary
An air vent, in particular for the emission of air into a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, being provided with an internal cavity that communicates with an air ventilation system and having an outlet opening (16) with a fixed grille (21), provided with fins inclined differently to each other, so as to be able, in use, to direct an air flow, according to at least two spatial orientations different to each other, wherein the air vent is also provided with a selector member (30) having a cover wall, which is arranged on the outlet opening (16) and has a window (35) smaller than the outlet opening (16), and the selector member (30) is movable so as to position its window (35) at any one area of the outlet opening (16) and, therefore, to select one of the different spatial orientations provided for the air flow.