Internal Ventilation Duct Flaps for Automated Airflow Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air ducts in vehicles lack the ability to automatically adjust the direction of conditioned air discharge, limiting design freedom and passenger satisfaction due to fixed nozzle positions and manual direction adjustment mechanisms that are exposed and limited in functionality.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation duct apparatus with internal first and second direction switching units, utilizing actuators and flaps to automate the adjustment of air flow direction in side and vertical directions, enhancing design freedom and diffusing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a direction regulator is disposed at the outermost position of ventilation nozzle ports to adjust air flow direction, then the ventilation direction can be adjusted, but the direction regulator is exposed to the passenger's line of sight and limits external design freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The direction switching function is extracted from the external nozzle port area and relocated inside the duct. The first and second flaps are mounted within the duct to switch air flow direction, removing the need for exposed direction regulators on the external surface, thus preserving external design freedom while maintaining ventilation direction control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The direction switching mechanism is nested inside the duct structure. The first flap is mounted inside the duct, and the second flap is positioned on the upper or lower side of the first flap, creating a nested arrangement where multiple direction control elements are contained within the duct's internal volume, eliminating external exposure
2Adaptability or versatility
If only the degree of ventilation direction is changed in a conventional air duct, then the structure remains simple, but the design functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The direction control function is segmented into two independent switching units: the first direction switching unit with the first flap for primary direction control, and the second direction switching unit with the second flap for additional direction adjustment. This segmentation enables multiple ventilation directions and diffusion modes without requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire duct system
Solution Approach 2:
The flaps are designed to be movable rather than fixed, enabling dynamic adjustment of air flow direction. The first flap can switch air flow to different directions, and the second flap can further adjust the direction, creating a dynamic system that adapts to various ventilation requirements while maintaining a relatively simple structural foundation
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation duct apparatus for air conditioning and a ventilation system for air conditioning using the ventilation duct apparatus. In the ventilation duct apparatus, adjustment of a ventilation direction of conditioned air is automated. The ventilation duct apparatus secures the degree of freedom of an external design, since components for adjusting the ventilation direction are provided inside a duct. Not only a function of circulating conditioned air but also a function of diffusing conditioned air is capable of being selectively performed so that a passenger's satisfaction with an interior space air conditioning is increased.