Rotating Annular Chute Air Distribution for Vehicle Turrets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conditioned air distribution systems for military vehicle turrets face challenges in maintaining consistent ventilation performance across all angular positions due to the confinement and pivoting feature of the turret, leading to non-permanent ventilating flows between the body and turret networks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of annular chutes with rotatable closing rings, integral with both the body and turret, ensures an air-tight connection and dual-flow air distribution, allowing for continuous and efficient air circulation regardless of turret rotation, using separate ducts for hot and cold air supply and return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a ventilating unit is secured to the turret or body with two air supplying circuits that communicate only in a particular angular position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ventilation performance becomes non-uniform across different angular positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the closing ring rotatable with respect to the chute, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to different angular positions of the turret. The closing ring can rotate to maintain proper alignment between the first flow orifice in the chute and the second flow orifice in the closing ring, ensuring continuous air flow communication between the body and turret ventilating networks regardless of turret rotation angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the closing ring to serve multiple functions: it closes the annular opening of the chute, provides a flow orifice for air communication, and acts as a rotatable coupling element between the body and turret networks. This single component handles what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms, ensuring uniform ventilation performance across all angular positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the turret is confined and pivoting, then the adaptability of the ventilating system is improved, but the air-tight connection between body and turret networks becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing the closing ring inside the chute structure, where the closing ring is received by and nested within the annular chute. The closing ring rotates within the confines of the chute, allowing the turret to pivot while maintaining a compact, integrated structure that preserves air-tight connections throughout the rotation range.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing ring serves as an intermediary element between the body ventilating network (connected to the chute) and the turret ventilating network (connected to the closing ring). This intermediate component facilitates the air-tight connection while accommodating the relative motion and angular displacement between the body and turret during rotation.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate ducts are used for hot and cold air supply, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by providing separate ducts for hot air supply and cold air supply within the ventilating networks. This segmentation allows each duct to be manufactured and installed independently with precise specifications, ensuring proper thermal separation and preventing heat transfer between hot and cold air streams, while the modular nature of separate ducts actually simplifies maintenance and repair.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle and its air-conditioning air distribution device for a vehicle turret rotatably mounted with respect to a body of the vehicle. This device includes at least one annular chute coaxial to the axis of rotation of the turret and including at least one first flow orifice, the chute having an annular opening which is concentric thereto, the chute receiving a closing ring which matches with the opening of the chute, the closing ring being rotatable with respect to the chute, and including at least one second air flow orifice, the chute being intended to be made integral with the body, respectively with the turret, while the closing ring is intended to be made integral with the turret, respectively with the body.