Hidden Vehicle Air Vent Layout With Dual-Axis Airflow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-guiding devices in motor vehicles are aesthetically unappealing due to their open design, and existing solutions either lack adjustability or are not fully concealed from the occupant's view.
Innovation Solution
An air-guiding device with pivotable slats arranged upstream of an outlet opening, a central web dividing the cavity into two flow ducts, and a control element for adjusting airflow direction, allowing for independent control of air deflection in the transverse and vertical axes, while being designed for minimal visibility and cost-effective construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the slats are arranged close to the outlet opening for better visibility, then the device becomes more visible to occupants, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slats are arranged upstream of the outlet opening in the longitudinal direction, creating a spatial separation that hides the slats from direct view while maintaining their airflow control function. This dimensional arrangement in the longitudinal axis resolves the contradiction by making the adjustment mechanism invisible from the occupant's perspective while preserving full adjustability.
2Device complexity
If a single airflow control mechanism is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the airflow control capability in multiple directions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into multiple flow ducts by partition walls, with each duct containing independent slats that can be adjusted separately. This segmentation allows independent control of airflow in different directions (transverse and vertical axes) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. Each segmented section handles a specific airflow direction, achieving versatile control without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The slats are designed to be pivotable about their longitudinal axes, enabling dynamic adjustment of airflow direction. This dynamic capability allows the same structural element to control airflow in multiple directions (upward, downward, leftward, rightward) depending on the slat angle, providing adaptability without requiring separate fixed structures for each direction.
3Ease of operation
If the slats are arranged downstream of the outlet opening, then the airflow control is more direct, but the device becomes visible to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The slats are positioned upstream of the outlet opening along the longitudinal axis, utilizing the depth dimension of the housing to create a hidden adjustment mechanism. This spatial arrangement maintains direct airflow control efficiency while placing the slats out of the direct line of sight of occupants, resolving the aesthetic contradiction.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple flow ducts are created with partition walls, then the airflow control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is segmented into multiple flow ducts using partition walls that extend from the front wall toward the rear wall. This segmentation provides precise airflow control by directing air through separate channels, each with its own adjustable slats. The partition walls create distinct flow paths that prevent mixing between ducts, achieving high control precision while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.
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, adjustable, and aesthetically pleasing air distribution system that optimizes airflow direction and visibility, achieving separate airflow control and minimal visibility of the device within the vehicle interior.
Implementation Method 1
The slats are formed pivotable in a direction of a body transverse axis and configured to deflect an air flow in the direction of the body transverse axis
Implementation Method 2
The central web is configured to deflect the air flow in a direction of a motor vehicle vertical axis
Data Source
AI summary
An air-guiding device for an interior of a motor vehicle includes a housing forming a cavity, slats accommodated in the cavity, and an outlet opening. The slats are formed pivotably in a direction of a body transverse axis and configured to deflect an air flow in the direction of the body transverse axis. The outlet opening enables the air flow to flow into the interior of the motor vehicle. The slats are arranged upstream of the outlet opening and spaced apart, for non-visibility, from the outlet opening in a direction of a body longitudinal axis. A central web is arranged in the cavity. The central web is configured to deflect the air flow in a direction of a motor vehicle vertical axis, and the central web divides the cavity in the direction of the motor vehicle vertical axis into a first flow duct and a second flow duct.