Air-Conditioning Register Cam Mechanism for Damper Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air-conditioning registers in vehicles experience rotational misalignment issues when the intersecting angles between the operation knob and transmission shaft, and between the transmission shaft and rotation direction changing mechanism are great, leading to excessive or insufficient tilting of the shut-off damper, resulting in airflow passage leakage or incomplete closure.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning register design incorporating a rotation direction changing mechanism with a cam member and sliding end portions that move along an arcuate passage, allowing the shut-off damper to tilt between open and closed positions without rotational misalignment, using Cardan joints to transmit rotation and adjust the damper's position independently of intersecting angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Cardan joints are used to transmit rotation from the operation knob through the transmission shaft to the rotation direction changing mechanism, then the mechanism can accommodate great intersecting angles between components, but rotational misalignment increases leading to excessive or insufficient tilting of the shut-off damper
Solution Approach 1:
A rotation correcting mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the transmission shaft and the shut-off damper. This mechanism includes a correction shaft with correction gears that receive rotation from the transmission shaft and output corrected rotation to the shut-off damper, eliminating rotational misalignment while maintaining adaptability to great intersecting angles
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation correcting mechanism changes the rotation parameter by using gear ratios to correct the rotational angle. The correction shaft rotates in the opposite direction to the transmission shaft's misalignment, and the gear transmission converts this correction into accurate rotational output for the shut-off damper
2Reliability
If the shut-off damper is tilted beyond the closed position due to rotational misalignment, then the airflow passage may be fully closed, but excessive load is applied to the operation knob, transmission shaft, and rotation direction changing mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation correcting mechanism provides feedback control by monitoring the rotation input from the transmission shaft and automatically correcting the output rotation to the shut-off damper. This feedback mechanism ensures the damper reaches exactly the closed position without overshooting, preventing excessive load on components
3Force
If the shut-off damper is not tilted to the closed position due to rotational misalignment, then load on components is reduced, but a gap is created between the shut-off damper and the inner wall surface of the retainer causing air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation correcting mechanism acts as an intermediary that ensures precise rotational transmission to the shut-off damper. By correcting the rotational misalignment, it guarantees the damper reaches the exact closed position needed for proper sealing without creating excessive load on the transmission components
4Force
If the shut-off damper has an inclination with respect to the flowing direction of air-conditioning air due to rotational misalignment, then the mechanism operates with less load, but the flow of air-conditioning air is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation correcting mechanism changes the rotational parameter output to the shut-off damper, ensuring it achieves the correct orientation relative to the airflow direction. This parameter correction allows the damper to maintain proper alignment for optimal airflow while operating within acceptable load limits
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
Ensures proper opening and closing of the airflow passage, preventing air leakage and ensuring accurate airflow direction, regardless of the intersecting angles between the operation knob and transmission shaft, and between the transmission shaft and cam member, thus maintaining efficient airflow control.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission shaft is coupled to the operation knob and the rotation direction changing mechanism with Cardan joints such as universal joints and ball joints
Implementation Method 2
a cam member, which includes a cam groove on an outer surface. The arm portion includes a sliding end portion, which moves along an arcuate passage having a center, which coincides with the damper pivots in accordance with the tilting motion of the shut-off damper. The sliding end portion is slidably engaged with the cam groove
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning register includes a rotation direction changing mechanism, which changes the rotation direction of an operation knob and transmits the rotation to a shut-off damper to tilt the shut-off damper about damper pivots. The rotation direction changing mechanism includes arm portions and a cam member. Each arm portion includes a sliding end portion at the distal end, which moves along an arcuate passage having a center that coincides with the damper pivots in accordance with the tilting motion. A cam groove of the cam member includes sliding regions, along which the sliding end portions slide when the shut-off damper is tilted. Each sliding region includes free running regions on its opposite ends. The moving amount of the sliding end portions along the arcuate passage in the free running regions is less than that in an intermediate region when the cam member is rotated by a certain angle.