Open-Cabin Vehicle Airflow Control for Forward and Reverse Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning devices in open cabin vehicles face challenges in delivering temperature-adjusted air to the desired position due to agitation caused by opposing winds generated during vehicle movement, leading to inefficient air distribution.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning device with a control unit that adjusts the blowing direction of temperature-adjusted air by using both front and rear air blowing ports, opposite to the vehicle's movement direction, and includes wind direction adjusting units to ensure air reaches the occupant despite changing wind directions and vehicle travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air is blown toward the moving direction of the vehicle, then air conditioning can be provided to the occupant, but the temperature-adjusted air is agitated by opposing wind and may not reach the desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The air blowing direction is dynamically changed based on vehicle movement direction. The control unit switches between front air blowing ports and rear air blowing ports depending on whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward, making the air conditioning system adaptive to vehicle dynamics rather than fixed
Solution Approach 2:
When the vehicle moves backward, the system blows air from the rear air blowing ports toward the front, which is opposite to the conventional approach of always blowing air from the front. This inversion allows the air to flow with rather than against the vehicle's movement direction
2Device complexity
If air is blown from the front air blowing port only, then the system is simple, but air cannot be effectively delivered when the vehicle travels rearward due to opposing wind agitation
Solution Approach 1:
The air blowing system is segmented into multiple independent air blowing ports located at different positions (front and rear). This segmentation allows selective activation of different ports based on vehicle movement direction, improving air conditioning efficiency without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system is designed to perform multiple functions by using different air blowing ports for different vehicle movement directions. The same air conditioning unit can effectively cool the occupant whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward, eliminating the need for separate systems for each direction
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
Effectively delivers temperature-adjusted air to the desired position without opposing airflow interference, enhancing air conditioning efficiency, especially when traveling rearward, and maintaining comfort during directional changes.
Implementation Method 1
when the vehicle travels rearward, the temperature-adjusted air is pushed by the opposing wind generated by inertia due to the traveling of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning device mounted on a vehicle in which a cabin on which an occupant boards is open to an outside of the vehicle includes: a front air blowing port provided further forward than a boarding position on which the occupant boards in a front-rear direction of the vehicle to blow temperature-adjusted air toward the boarding position; a rear air blowing port provided further rearward than the boarding position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle to blow temperature-adjusted air toward the boarding position; and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning device. The control unit performs control to blow the air from the front air blowing port when the vehicle travels forward, and performs control to blow the air from the rear air blowing port when the vehicle travels rearward.