Pliable Air Duct Openings With Integrated Airflow Guiding Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pliable material air ducts face challenges with air entrainment along the longitudinal direction due to the lack of effective guidance when discharging air through openings, leading to inefficient air distribution and increased costs associated with nozzle installations.
Innovation Solution
The air duct incorporates guiding portions created by through cuts and non-through cuts along the boundary of openings in the pliable wall, allowing for controlled air flow direction without the need for separate guiding elements, enabling tailored air distribution patterns and reduced production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air is discharged through openings in the pliable wall without guiding portions, then the duct structure remains simple and production costs are low, but air entrainment along the longitudinal direction occurs and air distribution control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary of the opening is segmented into multiple sections: a first section with a through cut forming a guiding portion, and a second section without a through cut. This segmentation allows the duct to provide directional air guidance while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding the need for complex separate guiding elements, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and air distribution control.
2Ease of operation
If nozzles are installed in the duct wall to direct discharged air, then air flow direction control is improved, but the cost of the duct system, handling, and maintenance increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is merged directly into the duct wall structure by forming guiding portions through partial through cuts at the opening boundary. This integration eliminates the need for separate nozzle components, thereby maintaining effective air flow direction control while avoiding the dramatic cost increases associated with installing and maintaining separate nozzle systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct structure itself provides the air guidance function through its own geometry (the guiding portions formed by partial through cuts), rather than requiring external guiding components. This self-service approach allows the duct to control air flow direction inherently, reducing dependency on additional expensive components and simplifying both installation and maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If guiding portions are provided at all openings, then air distribution control is maximized, but manufacturing complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Guiding portions are provided only at specific locations where air flow direction control is most needed, rather than uniformly at all openings. The boundary of each opening is selectively designed with partial through cuts only in certain sections, creating local variations in air guidance that optimize overall air distribution while minimizing the total number of guiding portions and reducing manufacturing complexity.
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
This solution enhances air distribution control, reduces costs, and prevents condensation-related issues by allowing for customized ventilation schemes and improved air flow patterns, ensuring efficient and uniform air delivery throughout the duct.
Implementation Method 1
The guiding portions, when air is discharged through the air duct, deflect away from the surface of the pliable wall to act as guiding portion for air discharged through an air duct according to the invention
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a directional flow-controlled air duct having a pliable wall and a plurality of openings for discharging air through the openings. The air duct is characterized in that a number of the plurality of openings are provided with a guiding portion for guiding the air through the openings, such that the guiding portion, when air is discharged through the openings provided with guiding portions, is deflected by the air from the opening, and that the guiding portion resulting in the air, when air discharged through the openings provided with guiding portions, is directed along the guiding portion.