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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional round registers with spherical surfaces for air conditioner adjustment suffer from dimensional errors leading to unstable frictional resistance, making tilting operations either too light or heavy, and result in turbulent air flow and poor operation feel due to contact between spherical surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A register design featuring a turning louver with five movable fins supported by a ball joint, allowing tilting without contact between the cylindrical frame and retainer, and utilizing a bevel gear mechanism for smooth operation, reducing component count and assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If spherical surfaces are used for tilting support between outer frame and inner frame, then the structure is simple, but dimensional errors cause unstable frictional resistance making operation feel poor
Solution Approach 1:
A sliding sheet is introduced as an intermediary element between the spherical contact surfaces of the outer frame and inner frame. This sliding sheet absorbs dimensional errors and frictional resistance variations, providing stable operation feeling while maintaining the simplicity of the spherical support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding sheet changes the frictional characteristics of the contact interface by providing a controlled sliding surface. This modifies the frictional resistance parameter to be more stable and predictable, eliminating the operation feeling problems caused by dimensional variations in direct spherical contact.
2Reliability
If sliding sheet is interposed on wide contact surface, then frictional resistance variation is absorbed, but operation load changes with angle and scraping feeling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding sheet is designed with a spherical shape that matches the contact surfaces, allowing it to rotate smoothly while maintaining consistent contact. This curvature ensures that the operation load remains relatively constant regardless of the tilting angle, eliminating the scraping feeling while preserving frictional stability.
3Ease of operation
If gap between outer frame and inner frame is large, then frictional resistance is small, but tilting operation becomes too light and easily changed by wind pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding sheet acts as a mediator that provides controlled friction between the frames. This controlled friction prevents the tilting operation from being too light while still allowing smooth adjustment, and simultaneously prevents wind pressure from easily changing the wind direction setting.
4Productivity
If movable fins are turned to close passage, then air blowing is stopped, but turbulent flow occurs when diffused
Solution Approach 1:
The movable fins are designed to tilt dynamically to adjust air flow direction and diffusion. By tilting the fins at appropriate angles, the air flow can be smoothly diffused without creating turbulence, while still maintaining effective control over the air blowing function.
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
Enables stable and smooth tilting operations with improved air flow diffusion and reduced operational load variation, preventing scraping feelings and allowing wider tilting angles without interference, resulting in smooth diffused wind and enhanced user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a ball joint with a ball is disposed on the centerline parallel to an air blowing direction inside the retainer, and on the turning louver, a central axial support portion with a plurality of axial support portions projected radially is disposed at the center of the cylindrical frame, and the central axial support portion is attached tiltably and turnably by fitting a ball hole provided at the center with the ball
Implementation Method 2
an operation portion is fitted turnably around the centerline of the turning louver, and the operation portion is linked to the inner-side portions of each movable fin via a bevel gear mechanism
Implementation Method 3
when the four movable blades tilt around each pivot, the air flow to be blown flows so as to diffuse around the air outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
On a centerline parallel to an air blowing direction inside a retainer (1), a ball joint (8) with a ball is disposed. On a turning louver (2), a central axial support portion (3) from which axial support portions (4) are projected radially is disposed at the center of a cylindrical frame (20). The central axial support portion (3) is attached tiltably and turnably by fitting a ball hole (41) provided at the center with the ball (81). Inside the cylindrical frame (20), movable fins (23) are axially supported turnably at substantially even intervals by pivots in radial directions, and the inner-side portions of each movable fin (23) are axially supported by each axial support portion (4). To the front surface side center of the central axial support portion (3), an operation portion (6) is fitted turnably around the centerline of the turning louver (2), and the operation portion (6) is linked to the inner-side portions of each movable fin (23) via a bevel gear mechanism (5).