Off-Road Vehicle Air Intake Layout for Dust and Water Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems in off-road vehicles struggle to prevent dust and water from being sucked into the air conditioning unit when traveling on uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner's outside air suction port is positioned in an intake space covered by the dash panel from the rear and the front panel from the front, with a configuration that includes a tubular intake duct and a filter accessible from the exterior for easy maintenance, preventing dust and water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the air conditioner sucks outside air directly, then air supply function is improved, but dust and water ingress occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary intake space between the outside air suction port and the air conditioner, covered by the dash panel and front panel. This intermediary structure allows air to be drawn in while preventing direct exposure to dust and water, thus mediating between the need for air supply and the need to prevent harmful factor ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The air intake system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the outside air suction port, the covered intake space, and the air conditioner unit. The dash panel and front panel create a separated protected zone that divides the air intake function from the harmful external environment, allowing independent optimization of each segment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the intake space is covered to prevent dust and water ingress, then protection against harmful factors is improved, but air suction efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The covering structure is designed with local quality variations: the dash panel and front panel provide protection where needed, but the intake space maintains open pathways for air flow. The covering is not complete or uniform, but strategically placed to protect against dust and water while preserving air suction efficiency through localized openings and pathways.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the filter is placed inside the air conditioner, then protection against dust is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is extracted from the interior of the air conditioner and positioned within the accessible intake space, which can be reached from the exterior. This extraction allows the filter to maintain its dust filtration function while being easily accessible for maintenance, separating the filtration function from the enclosed air conditioner unit.
4Productivity
If the outside air suction port is exposed, then air intake is improved, but dust and water ingress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outside air suction port is nested within the covered intake space, which itself is nested within the vehicle's front structure. This nested arrangement allows the suction port to maintain its air intake function while being protected by multiple layers of coverage, with each nested level providing additional protection while preserving access to air.
Data Source
AI summary
An off-road vehicle includes: a dash panel separating a cabin space and a front space; a dashboard located behind the dash panel and facing an occupant seat; a front panel located in front of the dash panel; and an air conditioner located in an accommodating space defined between the dash panel and the dashboard. An outside air suction port of the air conditioner is located in an intake space that is covered with the dash panel from a rear side and is covered with the front panel from a front side.