Movable Secondary Vent for Vehicle HVAC Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle HVAC systems face challenges in efficiently delivering airflow to the facial zone, particularly when the primary vents cannot meet the required flow rate, leading to inadequate air distribution and potential damage from excessive loads.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with a controller and a movable secondary vent that can be deployed from a retracted position behind the dashboard to provide additional airflow when needed, featuring a pivot arrangement and actuator for smooth movement, and a clutch mechanism to prevent damage from sudden loads, allowing user control and automatic deployment based on temperature and solar load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If only primary vents are used for air delivery, then the dashboard maintains a clean aesthetic appearance, but the airflow rate to the facial zone is insufficient when high cooling demand occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system is segmented into primary vents (fixed) and secondary vents (movable), allowing independent control of each segment. The secondary vents can be deployed only when additional airflow is needed, maintaining simplicity during normal operation while providing enhanced capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary vents are designed to be movable between retracted and deployed positions based on real-time cooling demand. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its airflow capacity to match actual thermal requirements, providing variable airflow rate without permanently increasing system complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If secondary vents are added to increase airflow capacity, then sufficient cooling can be provided when needed, but the dashboard appearance is compromised and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary vents are nested within the dashboard structure in a retracted position, concealing them when not in use. This nesting approach allows the vents to be integrated into the dashboard without permanently altering its appearance, while still providing additional airflow capacity when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary vents transition from a hidden retracted state to a deployed state only when additional airflow is required. This dynamic behavior ensures the dashboard maintains its aesthetic appearance during normal conditions while providing enhanced airflow capability when thermal demand increases.
3Speed
If the secondary vent moves quickly between positions, then the system responds faster to changing thermal conditions, but repeated switching causes wear and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors thermal conditions continuously and only triggers secondary vent deployment when a sustained threshold is exceeded, avoiding frequent on-off cycling. This periodic action with hysteresis reduces the frequency of movements, thereby extending the lifespan of the vent mechanism while still providing timely response to genuine thermal changes.
4Quantity of substance
If the primary vent is made larger to increase airflow, then sufficient cooling is provided, but the dashboard design flexibility is reduced and aesthetic options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The total airflow capacity is segmented between a fixed primary vent and a movable secondary vent. This segmentation allows the primary vent to maintain a compact, aesthetically pleasing size while the secondary vent provides additional capacity when needed, preserving dashboard design flexibility without compromising airflow requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide air conditioning system for use in a motor vehicle, the air conditioning system comprising a controller, at least one primary vent and an air delivery apparatus (100) for location in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising: at least one secondary vent; and means for moving the at least one secondary vent between a retracted position in which the at least one secondary vent lies rearward of an A surface of the dashboard and a deployed position in which the at least one secondary vent is exposed for delivery of air to a zone of the vehicle, the controller being operable to: control the air conditioning system to provide a flow of air from the at least one primary vent while the air delivery apparatus (100) is in a retracted position; and control the at least one vent to assume the deployed position responsive to a demand for a flow of air from the at least one secondary vent.