Vehicle Air-Conditioning Register Torque Fluctuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning registers for vehicles experience significant fluctuations in operational torque when the operation knob is slid, leading to a degraded operational feeling due to uneven force transmission to the upstream fins, which affects the direction and amount of air discharge.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning register incorporates a downstream fin, upstream fins, a coupling rod, a shut-off damper, an operation knob, a transmission shaft, upstream and downstream universal joints, and a transmission mechanism portion that prevents swinging motion from being transmitted to the central upstream fins, ensuring consistent force distribution and reducing torque fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operation knob is slid to transmit force to the upstream fins, then the directional control of air discharge is achieved, but the operational torque significantly fluctuates degrading the operational feeling
Solution Approach 1:
A transmission shaft is introduced as an intermediary component between the operation knob and the upstream fins. The transmission shaft receives sliding motion from the operation knob and converts it into rotational motion that uniformly drives the upstream fins, mediating the force transmission to eliminate torque fluctuations and improve operational feeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission mechanism is designed to dynamically convert linear sliding motion into rotational motion. The transmission shaft rotates as the operation knob slides, creating a dynamic transformation that ensures uniform force distribution to the upstream fins regardless of the sliding position, thereby stabilizing operational torque.
2Ease of operation
If the rotation member is provided at a location different from the operation knob, then the operational control is improved, but an additional space for installing the rotation member is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation member is merged with the operation knob, integrating two control functions into a single component. The operation knob itself serves as the rotation member, eliminating the need for separate installation space while maintaining improved operational control through rotational motion transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation knob is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the sliding control for upstream fin adjustment and the rotational control for shut-off damper operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional space while providing comprehensive operational control.
3Productivity
If the transmission shaft is arranged between the central upstream fins, then the force transmission is optimized, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the operation knob for input, the transmission shaft for motion conversion, and the upstream fins for output. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity through modular arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having multiple transmission shafts or complex mechanisms to reach central upstream fins, the design inverts the approach by having the transmission shaft naturally positioned at the center where it can efficiently transmit force to adjacent fins in both directions, simplifying the overall structure while optimizing force transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning register includes a downstream fin, upstream fins, a coupling rod, a shut-off damper, an operation knob, a transmission shaft, an upstream universal joint, a downstream universal joint, and a transmission mechanism portion. The operation knob includes a rotation member. The upstream universal joint couples an upstream end of the transmission shaft to the shut-off damper. The downstream universal joint couples a downstream end of the transmission shaft to the rotation member. The transmission mechanism portion transmits swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by sliding of the operation knob to the central upstream fins, and prevents swinging motion of the transmission shaft caused by operation of the operation knob to tilt the downstream fin from being transmitted to the central upstream fins.