Movable Fin Curvature for Airflow Directivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional registers with movable and fixed fins in car instrument panels suffer from significant interference, affecting the air blowing direction, which hampers the directivity of air flow exiting the air outlet.
Innovation Solution
A register design featuring a bezel with an air outlet, a retainer with a plate-like movable fin and rotational shafts, and fixed fins positioned along an axis, where the movable fin's edge is separated from the fixed fin's edge by a clearance, with curved surfaces and minimal thickness at the center, reducing the impact of fixed fins on air flow direction changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable fins are arranged behind fixed fins with rotatable shafts shifted toward fixed fins, then the air blowing direction changed by movable fins is scarcely affected through fixed fins, but the directivity of air blowing direction blown out from air outlet cannot be further improved
Solution Approach 1:
The movable fin is designed with a dent curved surface instead of a flat surface. This curved geometry allows air flow to follow the contour of the fin surface, reducing turbulence and interference from the fixed fin while maintaining effective direction control. The curvature helps the air flow adapt smoothly to the fin's orientation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness of the movable fin is varied along its length, being minimum at the center portion and increasing toward the edges. This non-uniform thickness distribution optimizes the fin's aerodynamic properties, reducing interference from the fixed fin at the critical center region where air flow direction control is most important.
2Manufacturing precision
If the edge portion of movable fin is positioned near the edge position of fixed fin with clearance separation, then directivity of air blowing direction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational shafts are positioned at the side ends of the movable fin rather than at the center, and these shafts are shifted toward the fixed fin in the lateral dimension. This dimensional repositioning allows the movable fin to rotate effectively while maintaining optimal clearance separation from the fixed fin, achieving both directivity and reduced interference.
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 design effectively minimizes the influence of fixed fins on air flow direction changes by the movable fins, enhancing the directivity of air blown out from the air outlet, allowing for improved air flow control and directionality.
Implementation Method 1
both upper and lower surfaces of the movable fin are made dent curved surfaces which are gradually curved in a bow shape along the air flow direction
Data Source
AI summary
In the register 1 of the embodiment, in case that all of the front side fins 41 are rotated to the upward direction, air flowing toward the air outlet 21 (air flow direction X) of the bezel 2 in the air flow path 3A of the retainer 3 is blown out from the air outlet 21 of the bezel 2 and the blowout direction is changed to Y1. At that time, air flow separating from the concave surface existing on the lower surface of the front side fin 41 approaches to air flow along the concave surface existing on the upper surface of the front side fin 41 positioned at a lower position than that of the above front side fin 41, and separates from the fixed fin 22. Thereby, air with superior directivity to the upper direction can be obtained.