Flexible Air Vent Assembly for Low-Complexity Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for HVAC systems, particularly in motor vehicles, are complex to design and manufacture due to their numerous movable components, leading to increased weight and production costs.
Innovation Solution
An air vent assembly featuring a casing, hub assembly, and flexible member with a deformable sheet portion, allowing adjustable airflow area and direction control through a hub assembly that pivots and slides, utilizing a ball and socket joint for pivotal movement and a flexible sheet that collapses to alter airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional controllable air vents are designed with multiple movable components to adjust airflow rate and direction, then the airflow control functionality is improved, but the device complexity, weight, and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple airflow control functions (adjusting airflow rate and directing airflow) into a single integrated hub assembly that performs both functions simultaneously. The hub assembly with its movable part and flexible membrane replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate actuators and control mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining full airflow control adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The hub assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both an airflow rate controller (by deforming the flexible membrane to block or open the air channel) and an airflow direction controller (by pivoting to redirect airflow). This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each control function, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional controllable air vents include numerous movable components to achieve selective airflow control, then the airflow adjustment capability is improved, but the weight of the air vent assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane that can be deformed by the hub assembly to control airflow. This flexible film replaces heavy rigid components and multiple movable parts with a single lightweight flexible element that achieves the same airflow control function, significantly reducing the weight of the air vent assembly while maintaining selective control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hub assembly incorporates a movable part that can pivot and a flexible membrane that can deform dynamically to adjust airflow. This dynamic design allows the system to achieve multiple airflow control states using minimal moving mass, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional air vents are designed with many movable components for controllable airflow, then the airflow direction and rate control is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single hub assembly that can be manufactured as one integrated component. This consolidation reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining precise airflow control capability through the coordinated action of the movable part and flexible membrane
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional controllable air vents use multiple movable components to adjust airflow, then the airflow rate and direction control is improved, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary movable components from traditional air vent designs, retaining only the essential elements (hub assembly with movable part and flexible membrane) needed to achieve airflow control. This extraction reduces the quantity of components from multiple separate movable parts to a streamlined integrated system that maintains full control capability
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 assembly provides a lightweight and cost-effective solution for controlling airflow rate and direction, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible member comprising a flexible sheet portion wherein the flexible sheet portion is arranged between the hub assembly and the outer boundary of the air channel when the flexible member is in an undeformed condition, wherein the hub assembly is configured to controllably deform the flexible sheet portion
Implementation Method 2
The hub assembly may be pivotally mounted within the casing, e.g. within the air channel. The hub assembly and/or the flexible member may be configured, e.g. shaped, to adjust a direction in which the air flows through the air channel based on a pivot angle of the hub assembly
Implementation Method 3
The movable part may be movable, e.g. slidable, relative to the base part. The movable part may be movable between a first position, in which the flexible member is substantially undeformed by the hub assembly, and a second position, in which the flexible member is deformed in order to reduce an area of the air flow channel blocked by the flexible sheet portion
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
Air vent assembly (100) for selectively permitting a flow of air through an air channel defined by the air vent assembly (100), wherein the air vent assembly (100) comprises a casing (110) comprising an inner surface (112) at least partially defining an outer boundary of the air channel, a hub assembly (200) arranged inside the casing (110), a flexible member (300) comprising a flexible sheet portion (310) being arranged between the hub assembly (200) and the outer boundary of the air channel when the flexible member (300) is in an undeformed condition, wherein the hub assembly (200) is configured to selectively deform the flexible sheet portion (310) in order to adjust an area of the air channel blocked by the flexible sheet portion (310).