HVAC Trunk Pressure Relief for Vehicle Door Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closing a vehicle trunk door often results in increased air pressure within the trunk, requiring more energy from the user and potentially causing wear and tear on the door and its mechanisms, as existing pressure relief valves may not vent air quickly enough or allow unwanted external noises and fumes into the trunk.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing the vehicle's HVAC system to actively pump air out of the trunk through an air duct when the trunk door is closing, connected to sensors that detect the door's position and activate the HVAC system to reduce pressure, thereby assisting in closing the trunk door with less user effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional pressure relief valves are used to vent air from the trunk, then air pressure is reduced, but external noises and fumes can enter the trunk and the venting speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The HVAC system acts as an intermediary device to manage air pressure in the trunk. Instead of using simple pressure relief valves that allow uncontrolled air exchange, the HVAC system provides controlled air extraction through the existing air duct system, preventing external noises and fumes from entering while maintaining effective pressure reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The HVAC system, originally designed for climate control, is utilized for the additional function of pressure relief. By activating the HVAC system to pump air out of the trunk, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated pressure relief valves, achieving multi-functionality with existing components.
2Reliability
If the trunk door is closed against increased air pressure, then the trunk seals properly, but the user must apply excessive force and components experience wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting when the trunk door is closing and activating the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in the trunk before the door completes closure. This proactive pressure reduction eliminates the counterforce that would otherwise require excessive user effort, while ensuring proper sealing is achieved with minimal force.
3Productivity
If the HVAC system is activated to pump air out of the trunk, then air pressure is reduced effectively, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing HVAC system and air duct infrastructure for the additional purpose of pressure relief. This approach achieves high productivity in air pressure reduction without adding dedicated new components, as the HVAC system and air ducts are already present in the vehicle for climate control functions.
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 approach reduces the air pressure within the trunk more efficiently than traditional pressure relief valves, alleviating the force required to close the trunk door and minimizing wear on the door and its mechanisms while preventing external noises and fumes from entering.
Implementation Method 1
pumping air out of the trunk through the air duct such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a trunk door closure is removed from the trunk
Data Source
AI summary
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to assisting in closing a trunk door of a vehicle by leveraging a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a position of the trunk door, and when the position of the trunk door is an open position, determining whether to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in a trunk of the vehicle, where the trunk and the HVAC system are fluidly connected by an air duct. The method includes, in response to determining to activate the HVAC system to reduce air pressure in the trunk, pumping air out of the trunk through the air duct such that at least some of any increased air pressure caused by a trunk door closure is removed from the trunk. The method includes, when the position of the trunk door has changed from the open position to a closed position, deactivating the HVAC system to stop pumping air out from the trunk.