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Solution Overview

Problem

Thin air conditioning registers with narrow and long air outlets face challenges in maintaining directional airflow due to high-speed airflow interference when horizontal fins are adjusted, leading to deteriorated wind directionality, especially when the air outlet is inclined.

Innovation Solution

A register design featuring a central fin and auxiliary fins with a cam link mechanism that allows the auxiliary fins to function as one large fin when the central fin is turned, preventing airflow interference and improving directional control by adjusting the position of the auxiliary fins relative to the central fin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If horizontal fins are turned up or down to orient air blowing direction obliquely, then air blowing direction is adjusted, but airflow speed is high and flows straight along wall surfaces, causing interference with oblique airflow and deteriorating wind directionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair blowing direction adjustmentVSAvoidwind directionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The front movable louver is divided into a central fin and two auxiliary fins that can move independently. The auxiliary fins are positioned closer to the wall surfaces to control high-speed airflow, while the central fin controls the main oblique airflow direction. This segmentation allows each fin to address specific airflow patterns, preventing interference and maintaining directionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the louver structure are given different functions: the auxiliary fins near the wall surfaces manage the high-speed straight airflow, while the central fin in the middle manages the oblique airflow direction. This local differentiation of function ensures that each region of the airflow is controlled appropriately without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the air outlet is inclined with increased inclination angle, then design requirements are met, but air flow on the lower side blows straight forward along the lower wall surface, interfering with obliquely downward air flow and deteriorating directionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign adaptabilityVSAvoiddownward blowing directionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The louver is segmented into central and auxiliary fins with distinct roles. The auxiliary fin on the inclined side is positioned to specifically manage the high-speed straight airflow along the wall, while the central fin maintains control of the oblique downward airflow direction, preventing interference even at higher inclination angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary fins are positioned in advance closer to the wall surfaces to preemptively control the high-speed straight airflow before it can interfere with the oblique airflow. This preliminary positioning prevents the harmful interaction from occurring in the first place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Shape

If thin register with narrow and long air outlet is used, then designability is improved, but vertical widths of air passage and air outlet are short, causing high-speed airflow to flow straight along wall surfaces and disturb oblique airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedesignabilityVSAvoidwind directionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The front movable louver is divided into a central fin and two auxiliary fins. The auxiliary fins are positioned closer to the narrow wall surfaces to specifically manage the high-speed airflow that tends to follow the walls in thin registers. The central fin controls the main oblique airflow direction, ensuring directionality is maintained despite the narrow geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2881272B1register
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2881272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2881272B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2881272B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The front movable louver (3) includes one central fin (7) and an upper auxiliary fin (8) and a lower auxiliary fin (9) storable in storing recesses (6a, 6b) inside an air outlet. The central fin (7) is axially supported turnably by pivots (7a) provided on both sides of the vicinity of the downstream side end portion. The upper auxiliary fin (8) and the lower auxiliary fin (9) are axially supported turnably so as to stick out their downstream side end portions to the passage (5) side by pivots provided on both sides of the vicinities of the upstream side end portions. A cam link mechanism (10) turns the upper auxiliary fin (8) and the lower auxiliary fin (9) so that the upper auxiliary fin (8) sticks out its downstream side end portion to the passage side, and the lower auxiliary fin (9) becomes parallel to and approaches the central fin (7) so that these fins function as one large fin when the central fin (7) is turned in the short-side direction of the air outlet (15).