Modular system for air vents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air vent systems require separate designs and manufacturing for each vehicle type and position, leading to high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for individual production and extensive testing of outflow performance.

Innovation Solution

A modular air vent system comprising interchangeable modules with fastening elements that allow for flexible connection, rotation, and arrangement, enabling the creation of various air vent arrangements from a limited set of modules, which can be connected in any order and orientation to meet different vehicle requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate air vents are designed for each vehicle type and position, then the air vent can be optimized for specific application requirements, but the manufacturing cost and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair vent adaptability to different vehicle typesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal air vent design with standardized housing dimensions, mounting bracket configurations, and electrical connector types that can be applied across multiple vehicle models. This allows a single air vent design to serve multiple vehicle types and positions, eliminating the need for completely separate designs for each application while maintaining optimized performance through configurable internal components.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The air vent is divided into modular components including the housing, mounting brackets, electrical connectors, and internal airflow control elements. This segmentation allows the standardized housing to be combined with different internal configurations to meet specific vehicle requirements, achieving both universality and application-specific optimization without requiring complete redesigns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If separate air vents are manufactured for each application, then the air vent can meet specific performance requirements, but the production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair vent performance optimizationVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized air vent design enables mass production of identical units with consistent quality control, while internal modular components allow performance optimization for different applications. This approach significantly improves production efficiency compared to manufacturing completely separate air vents for each vehicle type, while maintaining the ability to meet specific performance requirements through component selection and configuration.

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

3Reliability

If extensive testing of outflow performance is conducted for each air vent design, then the air vent performance can be verified, but the development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair vent outflow performance verificationVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized air vent housing and mounting system have been pre-validated through comprehensive testing, establishing a proven baseline performance. This allows new air vent implementations to leverage existing test data and reduce the extent of repeat testing required, significantly reducing development time while maintaining performance verification through targeted testing of application-specific internal components.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3774414B1Modular system for air vents
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 DR SCHNEIDER KUNSTWERKE GMBH
  • EP3774414B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3774414B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3774414B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a modular system for an air outlet assembly (100), comprising at least one first module (30) and a second module (30), wherein the modules function for air guiding, air deflection, air flow control, air supply and/or discharge, air treatment and/or for presentation. The modules have respective first securing elements (50) which permit a securing of the at least two modules, wherein the at least two modules can be connected to one another via the first securing elements (50) in any order and number. In this way, air outlets can be adapted to different requirements without respective separate air outlets having to be designed and produced.