Dashboard Heat Evacuation Duct with Radial Orifice

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Solution Overview

Problem

The space within a motor vehicle dashboard is cluttered due to electrical and electronic boxes, which generate heat, leading to high temperatures and potential malfunctions, and existing cooling solutions are not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

A heat removal device with a diffuser system that directs heat outside or into the passenger compartment, using a bifurcation element and fan within a tubular crosspiece, allowing for efficient cooling or heating management based on compartment requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electrical and electronic boxes are installed within the dashboard, then the dashboard functionality is improved, but the temperature within the dashboard increases due to heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedashboard functionalityVSAvoiddashboard temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heat generated by electronic boxes from the dashboard interior by introducing an evacuation duct that channels hot air from the dashboard space to an external discharge location, thereby removing the harmful thermal energy from the confined dashboard environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary evacuation system comprising a duct and diffuser that mediates between the heat-generating electronic boxes and the dashboard interior, transferring heat away from the passenger compartment while allowing the electronic boxes to remain functional within the dashboard

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If existing cooling solutions are implemented, then heat removal is achieved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat removal efficiencyVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the heat evacuation function with the existing dashboard structure by utilizing the tubular crosspiece as both a structural support element and a heat evacuation duct, thereby eliminating the need for separate cooling system components and reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the tubular crosspiece multi-functional by using it simultaneously as a structural support member of the dashboard and as a thermal evacuation conduit, allowing one component to serve multiple purposes and reducing the number of additional parts required

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

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 compact, efficient means to manage heat from electrical and electronic boxes, preventing malfunctions and maintaining a comfortable dashboard environment while optimizing space usage.

Implementation Method 1

The evacuation device comprises a fan arranged within the tubular crosspiece and/or within the coupling and/or within the bifurcation element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a first diffuser arranged at the level of the open end of the evacuation duct so as to allow the diffusion of heat outside a motor vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3714668B1Device for discharging heat emitted by an electronic unit
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 RENAULT SA
  • EP3714668B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3714668B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3714668B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (100) for discharging heat emitted by at least one electrical and/or electronic unit (20) installed in a dashboard (2) of a motor vehicle, characterised in that the discharge device (100) comprises a fan (150) and a discharge duct (110') provided with at least one radial orifice (112) so as to allow the heat emitted by at least one electrical and/or electronic unit (20) to enter inside an internal volume (111) of the discharge duct (110'), with an air flow passing through all or part of the internal volume (111) of the discharge duct (110') under the effect of the fan (150) so as to extract the heat, particularly to extract the heat through an open end (113) of the discharge duct (110').