Hinge Barrel Air Duct for Laptop Exhaust Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches to managing exhaust airflow in laptop computers often result in elevated skin temperatures and trapped airflow due to the design of the hinge assembly, leading to potential overheating issues without effectively diverting the exhaust airflow away from the chassis and top panel.
Innovation Solution
A hinge barrel air duct with an elongated body positioned adjacent to the top panel, featuring exhaust intakes and outlets that redirect exhaust airflow away from the chassis, maintaining a minimal gap between the hinge barrel and chassis to prevent airflow trapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the hinge assembly is designed with a larger gap between the hinge barrel and chassis, then exhaust airflow can be more easily diverted, but the structural integrity and stability of the hinge assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hinge barrel air duct as an intermediary component between the hinge assembly and the exhaust airflow path. This air duct captures and redirects exhaust airflow away from the hinge barrel-chassis gap, allowing the gap to remain small for structural integrity while still achieving effective airflow diversion. The air duct acts as a mediator that solves the airflow trapping problem without requiring increased gap size.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional hinge assembly design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but exhaust airflow trapping occurs leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hinge barrel air duct with the existing hinge assembly structure, integrating the airflow management function into the hinge component. This integration allows the air duct to be manufactured as part of the hinge assembly using existing manufacturing processes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while adding the capability to redirect exhaust airflow and reduce skin temperatures.
3Volume of moving object
If the hinge barrel air duct is positioned closer to the chassis, then structural compactness is improved, but exhaust airflow intake efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific localized region (exhaust intake region) on the hinge barrel air duct that is positioned optimally close to the exhaust outlet. This localized positioning ensures efficient exhaust airflow capture at the critical interface between chassis and hinge, while the rest of the air duct can be positioned more compactly. The local optimization of the intake region maintains both compactness and intake efficiency.
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 hinge barrel air duct effectively diverts exhaust airflow, reducing skin temperatures and preventing airflow trapping, thereby improving thermal management without increasing the gap size beyond one millimeter.
Implementation Method 1
An exhaust intake is formed in a region of the elongated body of the hinge barrel air duct. The exhaust intake may receive exhaust airflow expelled from the chassis. An exhaust outlet is formed in another region of the elongated body of the hinge barrel air duct. The exhaust outlet may redirect exhaust airflow away from the chassis.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge barrel air duct has an elongated body configured to be positioned adjacent to the top panel of an information handling system having a chassis to which the top panel is pivotally connected by a hinge assembly. An exhaust intake is formed in a region of the elongated body of the hinge barrel air duct. The exhaust intake receives exhaust airflow expelled from the chassis. An exhaust outlet is formed in another region of the elongated body of the hinge barrel air duct. The exhaust outlet redirects exhaust airflow away from the chassis.