Air-Conditioning Register Damper Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning registers with shut-off dampers generate noise due to high friction when the distal sealing portion separates from the inner wall surface during pivoting from the closing to the opening position, causing discomfort to vehicle occupants.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning register incorporates a shut-off damper with a sealing portion featuring a curved surface and a textured planar surface, where the planar surface defines an acute angle with the opposed side sections, and includes a flexible joint portion and a thermoplastic elastomer sealing portion with silicone oil, reducing friction and adherence to the inner wall surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distal sealing portion is made to contact the inner wall surface in an elastically deformed state to ensure sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but friction force increases and noise is generated when the damper pivots from closing to opening position
Solution Approach 1:
The distal sealing portion is designed with a curved surface configuration instead of a flat surface. This curvature allows the sealing portion to maintain elastic deformation for effective sealing while reducing the contact area and pressure concentration points, thereby minimizing friction force and noise generation during the pivoting motion from closing to opening position.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing portion is made from elastomeric material that can change its physical parameters (elasticity, deformation) based on operational conditions. By utilizing the elastic properties of the material, the sealing portion can deform to ensure sealing contact while also allowing smooth separation during opening, reducing noise without compromising sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If the distal sealing portion is configured to extend into the inner wall surface to ensure tight sealing contact, then sealing performance is improved, but friction force increases causing discomfort to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface of the distal sealing portion reduces the effective contact area with the inner wall surface compared to a flat configuration. This curvature allows the sealing portion to make contact at specific points or along a reduced line, ensuring sealing while minimizing the overall friction force that would otherwise impede smooth pivoting operation and cause occupant discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing portion is designed with differentiated local properties where the curved distal end provides localized sealing contact rather than uniform contact across the entire sealing surface. This localized contact approach ensures adequate sealing at the critical distal region while reducing friction and improving pivoting smoothness in other areas.
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 configuration decreases the friction force between the distal sealing portion and the inner wall surface, minimizing noise generation and enhancing the comfort of vehicle occupants during damper operation.
Implementation Method 1
the distal sealing portion 107 is elastically deformed and comes into contact with the inner wall surface 100a in a tight contact state
Implementation Method 2
a substantial vacuum is produced in the space between the distal sealing portion 107 and the inner wall surface 100a. The distal sealing portion 107 thus adheres to the inner wall surface 100a
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning register includes a retainer having an airflow passage, and a shut-off damper, which is pivoted about a damper shaft between opening and closing positions for the airflow passage. The shut-off damper has opposed side sections, which are opposed to each other with the damper shaft located therebetween, and a distal sealing portion. The distal sealing portion includes a curved surface and a planar surface. The curved surface is arranged on the trailing side in a pivoting direction of the shut-off damper towards the closing position. The planar surface is arranged on the leading side in the pivoting direction in a manner defining an acute angle with respect to an opposing direction of the opposed side sections. At least the planar surface is a textured surface having raised features each having a height of 110 μm±50 μm.