Overhead Air Diffuser Frame for Personal Passenger Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional overhead air ventilation devices in mass transit vehicles, known as 'gaspers,' provide a narrow jet of air that causes discomfort during prolonged use and are not aesthetically pleasing, leading to passenger dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
The development of personal overhead air ventilation devices that distribute air flow into a concave frame, diffusing it to create a personalized ambient air zone with electronically controlled outlets, reducing air velocity and enhancing comfort by eliminating direct air jet discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gasper devices are used to provide air ventilation, then air flow is delivered to passengers, but the narrow jet of air causes discomfort and dryness during prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
A diffuser element is introduced as an intermediary component between the air supply conduit and the passenger. This diffuser breaks up the concentrated air jet into multiple smaller streams, dispersing the air flow across a wider area. The diffuser acts as a mediator that transforms the harmful concentrated jet into a beneficial distributed air flow pattern, eliminating direct jet impingement on the passenger's face while maintaining ventilation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow is segmented from a single narrow jet into multiple smaller air streams through the diffuser element. The diffuser creates several outlet openings that divide the concentrated air flow into distributed segments, allowing the air to reach the passenger in a less intense, more comfortable manner while still providing adequate ventilation coverage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gasper devices are used, then ventilation is provided, but the devices are not aesthetically pleasing in modern executive transport cabins
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is merged with the overhead panel structure itself. The air supply conduit is integrated into the panel, and the diffuser element is incorporated as part of the panel's trim or molding. This integration eliminates the appearance of separate, bulky gasper devices, creating a sleek, modern aesthetic that matches executive transport cabin design while maintaining full ventilation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional gasper device is extracted and removed from the design, replacing it with a integrated diffuser system that is built into the overhead panel. This extraction eliminates the aesthetic drawbacks of conventional gaspers while preserving the essential air delivery function through the integrated diffuser element.
3Productivity
If electronically controlled outlets are implemented, then air flow coverage and intensity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is made dynamic through electronically controlled outlets that can adjust air flow intensity and distribution. Motors or actuators are integrated into the diffuser element to enable variable opening angles and flow rates, allowing the system to adapt to different passenger needs and environmental conditions. This dynamic capability enhances productivity by providing customizable ventilation while the integration keeps the added complexity minimal.
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
The solution provides a comfortable, diffused air environment that reduces eye and nose dryness and improves passenger comfort during long trips, while also enhancing the aesthetic appeal of vehicle cabins.
Implementation Method 1
the air leaves the supply tubes of the air supply system, it freely impinges on a concavely curved profiled edge frame that causes the air to lose velocity and gain dispersion in the flow area thereby creating a kind of 'mist' close to the passenger's face
Data Source
AI summary
Overhead passenger comfort modules are provided with a module segment having a support frame member which includes a perimetrical trim frame member, and a ventilation system supported by the support frame member. The ventilation system includes a supply conduit adapted to being fluid-connected to a supply of ventilation air, and first and second branch conduits fluid-connected at one end to the supply conduit and terminating in elongate first and second ventilation openings at first and second edge regions of the support frame member. First and second concavely curved edge diffuser portions are provided which are adjacently positioned to and spaced from the first and second ventilation openings respectively. Ventilation air discharged from the first and second ventilation openings will therefore impinge on the concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions so as create a diffused volume of air which envelops substantially a passenger seated therebelow and establish a personal ambient air zone for the passenger.