Vehicle Air Vent Vane Damper Bushing for Force Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air vents experience a rapid decrease in operating force due to wear caused by friction between plastics, leading to deviations in the horizontal operating force of vanes, especially with changes in temperature and object dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A damper bushing connected to the vane hinge shaft is installed below the hinge hole in the air vent body or spacer, providing a stable rotational mechanism and reducing friction through the use of silicon rubber, which maintains a uniform operational force and smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the horizontal operating force of the vane is adjusted by adjusting the overlap amount between the hinge shaft and hinge hole, then the operating force can be modified, but the operating force deviates sharply with dimensional changes and decreases rapidly due to wear
Solution Approach 1:
A damper bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the hinge shaft and hinge hole. This bushing mediates the connection, providing stable friction-based force control that prevents sharp deviations in operating force due to dimensional changes and reduces wear-related force decrease over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating force is controlled by changing the material parameter (friction coefficient) of the damper bushing rather than relying on dimensional overlap adjustments. This allows for stable force control that is less sensitive to dimensional variations and wear.
2Device complexity
If a simple hinge connection is used between the vane and air vent body, then the device complexity is low, but the operating force decreases rapidly due to friction wear between plastics
Solution Approach 1:
The damper bushing serves as a mediator in the hinge connection, replacing direct plastic-to-plastic contact with a controlled friction interface. This intermediary component significantly reduces wear while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connection uses a composite structure combining the metal hinge shaft, plastic hinge hole, and elastomeric damper bushing. This multi-material approach reduces friction wear compared to pure plastic-to-plastic contact while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Reliability
If the overlap amount between hinge shaft and hinge hole is increased to maintain operating force, then the operating force stability improves, but the friction wear increases causing rapid force decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The damper bushing acts as an intermediary that provides consistent friction-based force control without the severe wear problems of direct plastic contact. It maintains operating force stability through controlled friction while generating minimal wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the friction parameter from high-wear plastic-to-plastic contact to controlled friction through the damper bushing material. This provides stable operating force with significantly reduced wear generation.
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 improves the operational feeling, reduces shock and operational noises, prevents force deviation, and ensures consistent vane operation over time, with adjustable force through damper bushing hardness without mold modifications, enhancing reliability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
A damper bushing connected to a front end of the vane hinge shaft passing through the hinge hole is installed below the hinge hole
Implementation Method 2
The vehicle air vent according to the present invention can improve the vane operating feeling via the damper bushing connected to the vane hinge shaft, reduce shock noises and operational noises
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air vent includes a plurality of vanes installed in an air discharge port in a body to be rotatable in a horizontal direction. By coupling the vanes to each other, when a knob provided on one vane is operated, all of the vanes are rotated together, and a hinge shaft provided at each of an upper end and a lower end of each vane is inserted into and connected to a hinge hole of a spacer provided at each of an upper end and a lower end of the air discharge port of the air vent body. A damper bushing connected to a front end portion of the vane hinge shaft passing through the hinge hole is installed below the hinge hole of a spacer to which each hinge shaft of the vane provided with the knob is connected.