Cooled Glove Box Bin Using HVAC Air Independent of Cabin Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle occupants face the issue of chilled beverages warming up to ambient vehicle temperature during trips, as typical cup holders fail to maintain the temperature of beverages effectively, leading to the need for external coolers that occupy valuable space.
Innovation Solution
A cooled instrument panel compartment with a dedicated climate-controlled bin that receives cooled air directly from the vehicle's HVAC system, independent of the cabin temperature setting, allowing for selective cooling of items within the bin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a typical cup holder is used to store chilled beverages, then the beverages are easy to access, but the beverages warm up to ambient vehicle temperature during trips
Solution Approach 1:
The glove box assembly is divided into two separate compartments: a storage bin for general items and a dedicated climate controlled bin for beverages. This segmentation allows the climate controlled bin to maintain cooled temperatures independently while the storage bin remains accessible, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and temperature maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated climate controlled bin acts as an intermediary between the HVAC system and the beverages. This bin receives cooled air directly from the HVAC unit and maintains a cooled environment for beverages, while still allowing easy access when the glove box door is opened.
2Temperature
If an external cooler is used to maintain beverage temperature, then the beverages stay cool, but valuable vehicle space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The climate controlled bin is merged with the existing glove box assembly, combining the functions of a cooler and a storage compartment into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for separate external coolers while maintaining beverage cooling capability, thus preserving vehicle space.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove box assembly is given multi-functionality by incorporating a climate controlled bin that can cool beverages, while the rest of the glove box remains available for general storage. This universal design allows the same space to serve multiple purposes without requiring additional vehicle space.
3Ease of operation
If the HVAC unit cools the entire vehicle cabin, then the cabin temperature is comfortable, but the cooling capacity is diluted and cannot maintain beverage temperature effectively
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on general cabin cooling, the system provides localized cooling to the climate controlled bin by drawing cooled air directly from the HVAC unit. This local quality approach ensures that the beverage cooling area receives concentrated cooling capacity independent of the overall cabin temperature settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate controlled bin extracts cooled air directly from the HVAC unit upstream of the blend door, separating the beverage cooling function from the general cabin climate control. This extraction allows the beverage area to maintain cooled temperatures independently of the cabin temperature setting.
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 provides a built-in cooler within the glove box assembly, maintaining the temperature of beverages independently from the storage area and cabin temperature, ensuring that items remain cool even when the vehicle cabin is set to warmer temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The climate controlled bin is arranged to receive cooled air from a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for cooling the climate controlled bin independent of the storage bin
Implementation Method 2
The cooled air inlet is arranged to draw cooled air from the HVAC unit upstream of a blend door when air conditioning is operating so as to provide cooled air to the climate controlled bin independent of a vehicle cabin temperature setting
Data Source
AI summary
A glove box assembly for a vehicle is provided. The glove box assembly includes a storage bin and a dedicated climate controlled bin. The climate controlled bin is arranged to receive cooled air from a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for cooling the climate controlled bin independent of the storage bin. The glove box assembly further includes a cooled air inlet. The cooled air inlet is arranged to draw cooled air from the HVAC unit upstream of a blend door when air conditioning is operating so as to provide cooled air to the climate controlled bin independent of a vehicle cabin temperature setting.