Vehicle Blower Filter Housing Separation Wall Guide Groove

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicular air conditioners operating in dual-layer-flow mode, there is a risk of large dust particles like leaves falling from the filter surface when it is removed, due to contact with the separation wall during filter detachment.

Innovation Solution

The blower design includes a separation wall with a communication hole that gradually increases in width upward, allowing for increased opening area without expanding the hole's lateral width, and the filter's air inflow surface is divided into regions to minimize dust contact with the separation wall, ensuring dust remains on the filter until it is fully removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the filter is drawn out from the air intake housing, then the filter can be replaced, but large dust particles may fall from the filter surface into the blower housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter replacementVSAvoiddust falling into blower
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A guide groove is provided on the separation wall to guide the lower end of the filter during removal. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between dust particles and the separation wall, allowing the filter to be removed while dust remains on the filter surface without falling into the blower housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide groove is pre-formed on the separation wall to anticipate and prevent dust falling during filter removal. By preparing this guiding path in advance, the system ensures that dust particles remain on the filter throughout the removal process rather than detaching and entering the blower.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the communication hole width is increased to improve air flow, then the opening area increases, but the lateral width of the hole expands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow volumeVSAvoidlateral width of hole
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication hole is designed with a tapered shape that is wider at the upper end and narrower at the lower end. This dimensional variation along the vertical axis allows the hole to provide sufficient opening area for air flow while maintaining a constrained lateral width at the critical lower portion where dust contact would occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3587153B1Blower for vehicle air conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 VALEO JAPAN CO LTD
  • EP3587153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3587153B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An internal space of an air intake housing (10), wherein a space above an air inflow surface (51) of a filter (50) is divided by a separation wall (20) into a first space (16A) and a second space (16B) to which outside air and inside air are respectively taken in in a dual-layer-flow mode. The separation wall (20) has a lower end that divides the air inflow surface (51) into a first region (51A) facing the first space (16A) and a second region (51B) facing the second space (16B). When a side far from a filter insertion hole (15) is referred to as a front, and a side close to the filter insertion hole (15) is referred to as a rear, the first region (51A) continuously extends from a front edge (58) to a rear edge (53) of the air inflow surface (51) of the filter (50), and the second region (51B) continuously extends from a front end (55) of the second region (51B) to the rear edge (53).