Moving Vehicle Console with Integrated Ducting for Flexible Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with movable seats, conventional consoles are fixed, limiting flexibility and air conditioning performance, especially when a B pillar is not present, making it difficult to install air conditioning vents and maintain indoor temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A moving console system that allows the console to slide linearly on the vehicle body, changing seat arrangements and maintaining air conditioning functionality by discharging hot or cool air through a duct system, even when the console is moved, enabling flexible seat configurations and stable temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the console is fixed to the vehicle body, then the air conditioning vent installation is simple, but the seat arrangement flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The console is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one, capable of sliding along the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction. This dynamic configuration allows the console to adapt to different seat arrangements (face-to-face, side-by-side, captain's chair) while maintaining air conditioning functionality through an integrated duct system that moves with the console.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the console is moved to enable seat rearrangement, then the seat configuration flexibility is improved, but the air conditioning performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning duct system is merged with the movable console structure, forming an integrated unit where the duct moves together with the console. This ensures continuous air supply to the console area regardless of its position, maintaining air conditioning performance while enabling seat rearrangement flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct system maintains continuous air flow to the console area throughout the console's movement range. The duct is designed to extend or retract, or reposition, ensuring that air conditioning functionality is continuously provided to the occupied space regardless of console position changes.
3Ease of operation
If the console is made movable for seat variation, then the vehicle usability is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable console system serves multiple functions: it enables various seat arrangements (face-to-face, side-by-side, captain's chair configurations), maintains air conditioning performance through an integrated duct system, and provides storage functionality. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by delivering comprehensive vehicle usability improvements.
Data Source
AI summary
In a control method for a vehicle with a moving console system, the control method may suitably change arrangement of seats and a console in the vehicle with the moving console system, wherein the console moves within a predetermined range on a vehicle body, and may discharges hot or cool air supplied from a vehicle air conditioning device to the vehicle indoor even when the console is moved from a reference state, for achieving convenient vehicle use for passengers.