Vehicle Floor Ventilation Dirt Collection Grooves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation systems in vehicles face issues with dirt particles, such as small stones, entering air vents at floor level, causing unpleasant noises due to restricted airflow from grilles or screens used for filtration.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation system with a collecting structure integrated into the floor covering or panel, featuring grooves and ribs to catch dirt particles before they enter the air duct, preventing them from reaching the air vent and reducing noise without restricting airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If grilles or screens are used in the air vent entrance area to filter out dirt particles, then dirt particles can be filtered out, but the cross section of the air duct is restricted and ventilation function is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt particles entering air ductVSAvoidventilation function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful function of filtering dirt particles is extracted from the air duct system and placed into a separate collecting structure (grooves) in the floor covering. This allows the air duct to remain open and unobstructured, maintaining full ventilation capacity while dirt particles are captured in the grooves before they can enter the air duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The grooves in the floor covering serve as an intermediary structure between the floor area and the air duct entrance. They intercept and collect dirt particles in the intermediate zone, preventing direct contact between dirt and the air duct while allowing air to flow freely through the duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If air vents are placed at floor level to meet ergonomic and optical demands, then good interior ventilation is achieved, but dirt particles under feet can enter the air vent and cause unpleasant noises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic and optical demandsVSAvoiddirt particles entering air vent
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The grooves, which initially seem to be just structural features of the floor covering, are converted into functional collecting structures that actively capture dirt particles. The same floor covering that provides ergonomic benefits also serves the dual function of filtering dirt through its integrated grooves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor covering and the filtering function are merged into a single integrated structure. The grooves are formed directly in the floor covering material, combining the flooring function with the dirt collection function, eliminating the need for separate filtering components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a collecting structure with grooves is formed in the floor covering to catch dirt particles, then dirt particles are prevented from entering the air duct, but the floor covering structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt particles caught in collecting structureVSAvoidfloor covering structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting structure is merged with the floor covering itself rather than being a separate component. The grooves are formed directly in the floor covering material through molding or extrusion processes, creating an integrated structure that performs both flooring and dirt collection functions without adding structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor covering is given multiple functions: it serves as the flooring surface and simultaneously acts as the collecting structure for dirt particles. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate components, maintaining simplicity in the overall system.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3566890B1Ventilation system for an interior of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3566890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3566890B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3566890B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a ventilation system (100) for the interior of a vehicle, comprising an air outlet (10) for discharging air from the interior of the vehicle to the outside, wherein the air outlet (10) has an air duct (11) leading to the outside, and wherein the air duct (11) has an inlet area (12) at floor level in the interior of the vehicle. According to the invention, a collection structure (20) is provided in the inlet area (12) of the air duct (11) to capture dirt particles (N) from the floor area of ​​the vehicle before they enter the air duct (11), wherein the collection structure (20) is formed in a floor covering (101) of the vehicle, and/or wherein the collection structure (20) is integrated into a floor panel (102) of the vehicle.