Single Oblique Grid Air Intake Box for Vehicle Ventilation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current air intake boxes for motor vehicle ventilation systems require multiple grilles and complex assembly processes, leading to increased costs and acoustic differences between outside and recirculation air ventilation modes.

Innovation Solution

A simplified air intake box design featuring a single oblique grid crossing the pipe to separate air inlets and outlets, eliminating the need for separate grilles and allowing for a one-piece housing construction, with a flap for air distribution and a pulser control module window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If two separate grilles are installed for outside air inlet and recirculation air inlet, then protection against external agents is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against external agentsVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate protective grilles into a single grille that serves both the outside air inlet and recirculation air inlet functions. This single grille is positioned to protect both air inlets simultaneously, reducing the number of parts from two to one and simplifying the housing structure while maintaining protection against external agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single grille is designed to perform multiple functions: it protects both the outside air inlet and recirculation air inlet, and it is integrated into the housing structure to serve as both a protective element and a structural component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate protective elements for each air inlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If two separate grilles and two-part housing assembly are used, then protection and air inlet functionality are ensured, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against external agentsVSAvoidmolding and assembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protective grille function with the housing structure by integrating the single grille directly into the housing during molding. This integration eliminates separate assembly steps for installing individual grilles and reduces the housing from two assembled parts to a single molded piece, significantly simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grille is pre-integrated into the housing structure during the molding process itself, rather than being added as a separate component afterward. This preliminary integration of the protective element into the main structure eliminates subsequent assembly operations and reduces manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If recirculation air inlet is oriented transversely to reduce acoustic differences, then acoustic performance is improved, but air flow path complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacoustic noise difference between ventilation modesVSAvoidair flow path configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flap mechanism to segment and direct air flow from the single air inlet space to different outlets based on ventilation mode. The flap acts as a flow divider that separates outside air and recirculation air paths after they enter through the single inlet, managing the complex air flow paths through a simple mechanical segmentation device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3122579B1Air admission housing for ventilation facility of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.07.08 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP3122579B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an air admission housing for a ventilation facility of a motor vehicle, comprising an outside air inlet (2), a recirculation air inlet (3), and a duct (8) for receiving the air from the outside air inlet (2) and the recirculation air inlet (3) and sending it via an outlet (9) to the ventilation facility of the motor vehicle. The housing (1) comprises a single grating (7) which crosses the duct (8), separating the assembly of the outside air inlet (2) and the recirculation air inlet (3) from the outlet (9) of the duct (8).