Reconfigurable Grille Vane Geometry for Airflow Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-moving devices, such as fans and air-conditioning units, lack the ability to produce varying airflow patterns due to non-reconfigurable grilles, limiting their adaptability to different consumer preferences and applications.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable grille with a central hub, outer rim, and vanes that can switch between different curved configurations, allowing for adjustable airflow patterns by rotating the hub relative to the rim or using a control element to change vane geometries, enabling the production of focused laminar or turbulent splayed flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed grille configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the airflow pattern adaptability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The grille vanes are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between different curved configurations (clockwise and counterclockwise) to change airflow patterns. This dynamic capability allows a single device to adapt to multiple airflow requirements without requiring multiple fixed grilles, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the vanes (curvature direction) to achieve different airflow patterns. By switching the vane configuration between clockwise and counterclockwise curves, the device can produce different airflow characteristics (focused laminar flow vs. turbulent splayed flow) while maintaining the same physical structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple grilles are used for different airflow patterns, then airflow pattern variety increases, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grille is designed with multi-functionality, capable of producing multiple airflow patterns (focused laminar flow and turbulent splayed flow) through a single reconfigurable structure. This eliminates the need for multiple separate grilles or components, achieving airflow pattern variety while maintaining device simplicity and reducing component count.
3Ease of operation
If reconfigurable vanes are added, then airflow pattern control improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vanes incorporate a dynamic switching mechanism that allows them to change curvature configuration. This dynamic feature provides precise airflow pattern control while the underlying structure remains manufacturable using standard molding or fabrication techniques for the vane components and switching mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable grille for use in association with an axial fan, and a fan assembly including the reconfigurable grille. The reconfigurable grille includes a central hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of vanes each extending from the central hub to the outer rim. The plurality of vanes are configured to switch between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, for example, by a rotation of the central hub relative to the outer rim. The grille can further include a control element to switch the vanes between different configurations.