Cross-Nested Vent Slats for Independent Airflow Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation devices for motor vehicle instrument panels lack flexible adjustment of airflow direction while maintaining a homogeneous and aesthetically appealing outflow field, as they often require swiveling mechanisms that protrude and impair visual appearance, and fail to allow independent control of horizontal and vertical slats.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device with a coupling mechanism that actuates a horizontally directed push rod on each vertical slat, connected to a joint arrangement for articulated movement of horizontal slats, allowing independent and simultaneous pivoting of horizontal and vertical slats, with nested crosswise arrangement and V-shaped recesses for stable and invisible bearing points, enabling flexible adjustment of airflow direction without compromising appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inner housing is swiveled to change airflow direction, then the airflow direction can be adjusted, but the inner housing protrudes and recedes which impairs visual appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the vertical slats inside the horizontal slats, with both sets of slats nested crosswise within each other. This nested arrangement allows the control mechanism to be compact and flush with the front panel, eliminating protrusions while maintaining full airflow direction adjustment capability through independent pivoting of both slat sets.
2Ease of operation
If the horizontal and vertical slats are arranged separately, then they can be controlled independently, but a homogeneous appearance of the outflow field is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by nesting the vertical slats within the horizontal slats in a crosswise arrangement. This nested configuration allows both sets of slats to be controlled independently through separate control elements while maintaining a homogeneous, uniform appearance from the front, as both slat sets are contained within the same spatial envelope and present a consistent lattice structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging the horizontal and vertical slats in three-dimensional space with crossing pivot axes. The horizontal slats pivot about a horizontal axis while vertical slats pivot about a vertical axis, allowing independent control in different dimensional planes while maintaining a unified two-dimensional appearance on the front panel.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the horizontal and vertical slats are nested crosswise with bearing points, then a stable lattice structure is maintained, but the control mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the crossing points of the nested slats to automatically form bearing points through their geometric arrangement. The V-shaped recesses and protrusions on the slats engage with each other to create self-aligning pivot points, eliminating the need for separate bearing elements or complex control mechanisms while maintaining stable lattice structure during independent slat pivoting.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a ventilation device comprising a housing (12) which comprises horizontal lamellea (18) and vertical lamellea (19) which are arranged crosswise and nested inside each other and comprising a regulating device (23) which can control at least one outlet flow direction. Said horizontal lamellea (18) and the vertical lamellea (19) are mounted about the pivotable axis thereof (32, 38) such that they can pivot in the housing (12).