Flexible Valve Flap Reduces Space for Vehicle Return Air Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing return air blocking devices for motor vehicle ventilation require substantial construction space for complete opening of the valve flap, which is often insufficient in many applications, while maintaining the necessary size for adequate ventilation and compatibility with existing vehicle body openings.
Innovation Solution
The valve flap is held between a stop surface and a supporting surface, allowing it to bend into the opening position rather than pivot, reducing the space required for opening and maintaining the necessary dimensions for ventilation, with a holding projection that extends over part of the valve flap's surface to prevent pivoting and ensure secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve flap is allowed to pivot completely into the opening position, then adequate ventilation function is achieved, but substantial construction space is required which is often insufficient in many applications
Solution Approach 1:
The valve flap is segmented into a fixed portion (attached to the frame) and a flexible portion (free to deform). This segmentation allows the flexible portion to bend and open for ventilation while the fixed portion remains anchored, reducing the overall space required compared to a completely pivoting flap.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve flap transitions from a rigid pivoting mechanism to a dynamic flexible structure that can bend and deform. This dynamic behavior allows the flap to achieve the necessary opening for ventilation with reduced space requirements, as the flexible material can conform to the available construction space.
2Volume of moving object
If the valve flap size is reduced to fit limited construction space, then space requirements are met, but adequate ventilation function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The valve flap is made from a flexible material that can be attached at one end to the frame while the other end remains free to bend. This flexible shell configuration allows the flap to maintain adequate size for ventilation while conforming to limited construction space, as the flexible material can deform to fit the available space rather than requiring a large rigid structure.
3Reliability
If the frame size is changed to accommodate different valve flap configurations, then ventilation function can be optimized, but compatibility with existing vehicle body openings is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The return air blocking device with the flexible valve flap configuration can be universally applied to existing vehicle body openings without requiring frame size changes. The flexible flap design maintains compatibility with standard openings while optimizing ventilation function through its ability to bend and open within the existing space constraints.
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
This design reduces the space needed for the return air blocking device, allowing it to function effectively in applications with limited construction space without altering the valve flap size or frame dimensions, ensuring compatibility with existing installations and maintaining adequate airflow to reduce interior pressure.
Implementation Method 1
If in the vehicle interior a positive pressure predominates in comparison with the environment of the motor vehicle, valve flaps of the return air blocking device open so that air can flow out of the vehicle interior to reduce the positive pressure
Implementation Method 2
which when a sufficient pressure occurs, assumes an opening position lifted from the sealing surface in which it allows a flow of air through the return air blocking device
Data Source
AI summary
A return air blocking device for ventilation of the interior of a motor vehicle, with a frame or housing with at least one sealing surface and with at least one flexible valve flap mounted on the frame or the housing, which in an idle position abuts on the sealing surface and prevents a flow of air through the return air blocking device, and which, when a sufficient pressure occurs, assumes an opening position lifted from the sealing surface in which it allows a flow of air through the return air blocking device, wherein the at least one valve flap comprises at least one slit on its end mounted on the frame or housing, wherein the frame or the housing comprises at least one holding projection which engages in the at least one slit.