Vehicle Cabin Air Vent Tube with Oscillating Foot-Level Outlets

Solution Overview

Problem

Current air-conditioning systems for vehicle passenger compartments lack flexibility and adjustability, particularly in directing airflow to specific areas, as only intermediate outlets are mobile, while top and bottom outlets are fixed, limiting user control over temperature distribution.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning system with a tubular body that oscillates about its longitudinal axis, allowing bottom ventilation outlets to adjust their direction and enabling airflow from the driver's toes to the knee level, which can also be independently or collectively oscillated with the tubular body, enhancing ergonomic regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bottom ventilation outlets are made fixed like top outlets, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but air flow direction control is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow direction controlVSAvoidventilation outlet structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom ventilation outlets are designed to be mobile rather than fixed, allowing them to oscillate about a longitudinal central axis. This dynamic capability enables the outlets to adjust air flow direction towards different areas of the passenger compartment, specifically enabling ventilation from the driver's toes area up to the knee protection level, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If intermediate ventilation outlets are made mobile for regulation, then air flow direction control is improved, but only limited areas can be ventilated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation coverage areaVSAvoiduser control over air distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation system is segmented into three distinct levels: top ventilation outlets for windscreen area, intermediate ventilation outlets for driver and passenger body, and bottom ventilation outlets for feet area. Each segment serves a specific zone, and the bottom outlets are equipped with oscillation capability to independently control air flow direction in the feet area, thereby expanding overall ventilation coverage while maintaining user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom ventilation outlets add a new dimension of control by enabling oscillation about a longitudinal central axis, which allows air flow to be directed across a wider angular range. This dimensional addition to the outlet mobility transforms the ventilation coverage from a limited directional stream to a broadly adjustable air distribution pattern covering the entire feet to knee area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If more ventilation outlets are made mobile, then air flow regulation flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow regulation flexibilityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom ventilation outlets are designed to be mobile rather than fixed, allowing them to oscillate about a longitudinal central axis. This dynamic capability enables the outlets to adjust air flow direction towards different areas of the passenger compartment, specifically enabling ventilation from the driver's toes area up to the knee protection level, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20070277548A1Air-Conditioning System for the Passenger Compartment of a Vehicle

Publication Date: 2007.12.06 FERRARI SPA

AI summary

An air-conditioning system for the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The air-conditioning system includes an air-treatment unit and with a series of ventilation outlets distributed inside the passenger compartment and connected to the air-treatment unit. Some of the ventilation outlets are mounted on the side surface of a tubular body, which is set in a bottom portion of the passenger compartment. An internal pipe communicates with the air-treatment unit, and is mounted to oscillate about a longitudinal axis thereof.