Fan Nozzle Valve Adjusts Airflow Direction Without Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan assemblies that do not use caged blades struggle to efficiently direct airflow without oscillating or tilting, limiting their ability to change airflow direction effectively.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design with a single internal air passageway and two discrete air outlets, where a valve system adjusts the size of one outlet relative to the other while keeping the aggregate outlet size constant, allowing for changes in airflow direction without physical movement of the nozzle or fan assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional fan assemblies without caged blades are used, then the structure is simplified and safety is improved, but the ability to efficiently direct airflow without oscillating or tilting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The single air outlet is segmented into two discrete air outlets (first air outlet and second air outlet) that can be independently controlled by valve members. This segmentation allows the system to vary airflow direction by adjusting the relative opening sizes of the two outlets, providing adaptability without requiring physical oscillation or tilting of the entire fan assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve members are made movable to dynamically adjust the size of the first and second air outlets. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to change airflow direction on demand, transforming a static structure into a dynamically adaptable system that can respond to different operational requirements without mechanical oscillation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If oscillation or tilting mechanisms are added to change airflow direction, then airflow direction control is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single outlet requiring mechanical oscillation for direction control, the outlet is segmented into two independently controllable openings. The valve members can adjust the relative sizes of these openings to change airflow direction, eliminating the need for complex oscillation or tilting mechanisms while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical oscillation/tilting systems with a valve-based flow distribution system. Instead of physically moving the nozzle or fan assembly to change airflow direction, the invention uses valve members to modulate the opening sizes of the two air outlets, substituting a simpler mechanical valve system for complex oscillation mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If oscillation or tilting is used to change airflow direction, then direction control is achieved, but system load varies and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention substitutes mechanical oscillation or tilting systems with a valve-based flow distribution mechanism. The valve members adjust the relative opening sizes of the two air outlets to change airflow direction, eliminating the need for energy-consuming mechanical movement of the entire fan assembly while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (opening sizes of the two air outlets) to achieve airflow direction control. By varying the relative sizes of the first and second air outlet openings through valve member adjustment, the system alters flow distribution parameters rather than physical position parameters, enabling direction control without mechanical movement and associated energy consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the size of air outlets is adjusted independently, then airflow direction control is improved, but the aggregate outlet size changes affecting system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The valve members are designed with asymmetric adjustment characteristics where one valve member's opening size increases while the other decreases. This asymmetric design ensures that changes in individual outlet sizes are compensated by opposite changes in the other outlet, maintaining constant aggregate outlet size and consistent system load while enabling airflow direction control.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a nozzle for a fan assembly. The nozzle comprises an air inlet, a first air outlet for emitting an air flow and a second air outlet for emitting an air flow, the first and second air outlets together defining an aggregate air outlet of the nozzle, a single internal air passageway extending between the air inlet and the first and second air outlets, and a valve for controlling an air flow from the air inlet to the first and second air outlets. The valve comprises one or more valve members that are moveable to adjust the size of the first air outlet relative to the size of the second air outlet while keeping the size of the aggregate air outlet of the nozzle constant, and wherein the air outlets are oriented towards a convergent point.