Motorized Vehicle Air Vent Linkage for Airflow and Damper Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air vent systems in vehicles face challenges in adjusting airflow direction safely and efficiently, as they require manual rotation of horizontal and vertical wings, which can distract drivers and occupy valuable design space, limiting the flexibility of airflow adjustment and design aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven air vent system that allows for simultaneous left/right angular rotation of vertical wings and opening/closing of a damper using a link bar and cam plate mechanism, controlled by a motor and touch switch module, enabling convenient and safe adjustment of airflow direction without manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual rotation of horizontal and vertical wings is used for airflow direction adjustment, then the driver can control airflow direction, but the driver may be distracted from the road causing driving safety problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical rotation mechanism with an electric motor-driven system. The motor rotates the vertical wings automatically based on control signals from the control unit, eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing the driver to maintain focus on the road while still adjusting airflow direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically controls the motor to rotate the vertical wings to predetermined positions based on simple input from the driver (e.g., pressing a button or touch switch). This self-service mechanism reduces the complexity of operation and minimizes driver distraction.
2Ease of operation
If multiple horizontal and vertical wings are exposed to adjust airflow direction, then the airflow direction can be easily adjusted, but the center fascia panel or crash pad occupies a wide mounting space reducing design space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the motor and control mechanism from the visible front panel area and places them in the rear portion of the air vent assembly. This allows the front panel to have a cleaner, more compact appearance with fewer exposed mechanical components, reducing the mounting space required on the center fascia panel or crash pad.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent relocates the mechanical adjustment mechanism from the horizontal plane (front panel) to the depth dimension (rear portion of the assembly). By placing the motor and link bar mechanism in the rear, the front panel can be more compact while still providing full airflow adjustment functionality through the vertical wings.
3Shape
If a slim type air vent with low height and long length is used, then the design aesthetics and space utilization are improved, but the left/right angular rotation operation for adjusting airflow direction becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual rotation mechanisms with an electric motor-driven system that can achieve precise angular rotation of the vertical wings. The motor provides sufficient torque to rotate the wings left/right even in the constrained space of a slim air vent design, maintaining ease of operation while preserving the compact aesthetic form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor driven air vent device for a vehicle can perform not only left/right angular rotation operation of a vertical wing for adjusting a left/right-directional airflow direction of air discharged indoors but also an opening/closing operation of a damper for interrupting or allowing an indoor discharge of air using a link bar for performing a straight line motion to the left or right thereof by driving a motor and a cam plate for angularly rotating by the link bar, etc. in a motor driven manner.