Vehicle Rear Console Duct Airflow Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle air conditioners have high manufacturing costs and inefficient air conditioning due to complex structures with additional components and limited air distribution to the rear seats.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design with a simplified structure that includes a rear console vent, defrost vent, face vent, and foot vent, with rotatable doors and a door driving unit to control airflow, eliminating the need for a dedicated rear console door and actuator, and incorporating a guide member to enhance airflow efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dedicated rear console door and actuator are added to control airflow to rear seats, then airflow control to rear seats is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow control to rear seatsVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front console door unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls airflow to both front seats and rear seats. The door unit includes a front console duct for front seats and a rear console duct for rear seats, allowing a single door mechanism to regulate airflow to multiple destinations without requiring separate dedicated doors for each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the control mechanisms for front and rear seat airflow into a single integrated door unit. The actuator drives a common door that selectively opens or closes passages to both the front console duct and rear console duct, merging what would traditionally be separate control systems into one unified mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a dedicated rear console door and actuator are added to control airflow to rear seats, then airflow control to rear seats is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow control to rear seatsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The front console door unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls airflow to both front seats and rear seats. The door unit includes a front console duct for front seats and a rear console duct for rear seats, allowing a single door mechanism to regulate airflow to multiple destinations without requiring separate dedicated doors for each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the control mechanisms for front and rear seat airflow into a single integrated door unit. The actuator drives a common door that selectively opens or closes passages to both the front console duct and rear console duct, merging what would traditionally be separate control systems into one unified mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If air is mainly discharged toward front seats, then front seat air conditioning is improved, but air conditioning efficiency of the entire vehicle interior deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefront seat air conditioningVSAvoidair conditioning efficiency of entire vehicle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts airflow distribution based on operational mode. In normal air conditioning mode, the door unit allows airflow to both front and rear console ducts, providing balanced cooling/heating throughout the vehicle. In defrost mode, the system dynamically redirects airflow primarily to the defrost duct to clear windows. This dynamic adaptability ensures efficient air conditioning across the entire vehicle interior while maintaining front seat comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The door unit changes the flow distribution parameters by rotating to different positions. When positioned at certain angles, it directs a portion of the airflow to the rear console duct while maintaining front seat supply. The system adjusts these flow parameters based on detected conditions (temperature, humidity, operational mode) to optimize overall air conditioning efficiency throughout the vehicle cabin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9694652B2Vehicle rear console duct air flow

Publication Date: 2017.07.04 DOOWON CLIMATE CONTROL

AI summary

Rear console duct air flow of an air conditioner for a vehicle is provided. An inlet of the rear console duct which is in fluid communication with a rear console register is located at a position where conditioned-air which passes through an evaporator and a heater core flows. The inlet of the rear console is always opened such that the conditioned-air is always introduced into the rear console duct when the air conditioner is operated. A guide member, which guides the conditioned-air to the rear console register through the rear console duct, is disposed between the rear console duct inlet and a face duct inlet that is in fluid communication with a face register. An end of a face door selectively contacts the guide member selectively contacts the guide member when the face door makes a turning movement.