Airflow-generating device with ability to adjust air chamber and method applied thereto

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airflow-generating devices cannot adjust their air chamber volumes, leading to excessive noise at high-speed operations and poor air exchange rates at low-speed operations due to fixed air chamber volumes.

Innovation Solution

An airflow-generating device with a volume-adjustable air chamber, comprising an inlet structure, outlet structure, and an adjustment unit that controls the inlet-outlet distance to adapt the air chamber volume based on the rotation rate of the airflow-generating unit, using a control unit to automatically adjust the distance to reduce noise at high speeds and increase pressure at low speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the air chamber volume is kept small, then noise level is reduced at high-speed operation, but air exchange rate becomes poor at low-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise levelVSAvoidair exchange rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The air chamber volume is made dynamically adjustable through an adjustment unit that can change the inlet-outlet distance between the inlet structure and outlet structure. The control unit automatically adjusts this distance based on the rotation rate of the airflow-generating unit, transforming the fixed-volume chamber into a dynamic system that adapts to different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameter of air chamber volume is changed based on operating conditions. When rotation rate increases, the control unit increases the inlet-outlet distance to expand volume, reducing noise. When rotation rate decreases, the control unit decreases the inlet-outlet distance to shrink volume, improving air exchange rate. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and air exchange efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the air chamber volume is kept large, then air exchange rate is improved at low-speed operation, but noise level increases at high-speed operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair exchange rateVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts air chamber volume based on real-time rotation rate feedback. The adjustment unit responds to control signals that vary the inlet-outlet distance, enabling the air chamber to transition between large and small volumes as needed, rather than maintaining a fixed size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The air chamber volume parameter is actively modified according to operating speed. At low rotation rates, the control unit increases volume to enhance air exchange. At high rotation rates, the control unit decreases volume to reduce noise. This dynamic parameter adjustment eliminates the need to compromise between conflicting performance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the inlet-outlet distance is increased, then air chamber volume increases to reduce noise, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise levelVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment unit serves multiple functions: it adjusts the inlet-outlet distance to control air chamber volume, and simultaneously responds to rotation rate variations to optimize both noise levels and air exchange rates. The control unit integrates multiple control logic functions, making a single component perform several operational roles.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit automatically monitors rotation rate and autonomously adjusts the inlet-outlet distance without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates based on its own operational state, with the control unit serving itself by making real-time adjustments to optimize performance across varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 device effectively adjusts air chamber volume to reduce noise and improve air exchange rates according to user demands by increasing volume at high speeds to mitigate noise and decreasing volume at low speeds to enhance airflow pressure and speed.

Implementation Method 1

an airflow-generating unit (202) arranged in the volume-adjustable air chamber and used to generate the airflow introduced from the inlet structure (210) into the air chamber space (208) and exhausted from the outlet structure (209)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

The adjustment unit (201) is used to adjust an inlet-outlet distance (d1, d2, d3) between the inlet structure (210) and the outlet structure (209) for adjusting an air chamber volume (V1, V2, V3) of the adjustable air chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure Gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3929496B1Airflow-generating device with ability to adjust air chamber and method applied thereto
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 WUHAN NEW ENERGY TECH DEV
  • EP3929496B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3929496B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3929496B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3A

AI summary

An airflow-generating device which can adjust an air chamber volume and a method applied thereto are provided. The device has a volume-adjustable air chamber and an airflow-generating unit (202). The volume-adjustable air chamber has an inlet structure (210), an outlet structure (209), and an adjustment unit (201). A deflector structure (40, 42, 44) for adjusting pressure or direction of airflow is arranged in the outlet structure (210), and an air chamber space (208) is formed between the inlet structure (210) and the outlet structure (209). The adjustment unit (201) is used to adjust an inlet-outlet distance between the inlet structure (210) and the outlet structure (209) for adjusting the volume of the air chamber. The airflow-generating unit (202) is arranged in the volume-adjustable air chamber and used to generate the airflow introduced from the inlet structure (210) into the air chamber space (208) and exhausted from the outlet structure (209). The present disclosed example can increase the intensity or reduce the noise of the airflow.