Air Vent Louver Adjustment With Single-Motor Dual-Axis Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air vent devices require a large number of components and complex operating movements for adjusting slats, both in mechanical and electrical systems, leading to increased installation space and costs.

Innovation Solution

A device with a first rotatably mounted adjustment element and a second adjustment element, where the axis of rotation of the second element is at a right angle to the first, allowing both slats to be pivoted using a single adjustment mechanism, reducing the number of components and simplifying the adjustment process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple actuators and kinematic components are used to adjust horizontal and vertical louvers independently, then the adjustment precision and control flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelouver adjustment precisionVSAvoidnumber of actuators and components
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the adjustment mechanisms for horizontal and vertical louvers into a single integrated actuator system. The actuator housing contains both horizontal and vertical adjustment mechanisms, allowing one actuator to control both louver orientations simultaneously, thereby reducing the total number of components while maintaining adjustment precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single actuator is designed with multi-functional capability to adjust both horizontal and vertical louvers. The actuator housing serves multiple functions: it houses the motor, contains guides for both horizontal and vertical displacement elements, and provides mounting structures for both louver adjustment mechanisms, making one component perform the work of multiple separate actuators

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuators are used for horizontal and vertical louver adjustment, then the control flexibility is improved, but the installation space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple actuator functions into a single compact actuator housing that contains both horizontal and vertical adjustment mechanisms, significantly reducing the installation space required while maintaining the ability to independently control both louver orientations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design nests the vertical adjustment mechanism within the horizontal adjustment mechanism structure. The actuator housing contains guides for both horizontal and vertical displacement elements, with the vertical guide positioned within the structure of the horizontal guide, creating a space-efficient nested arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If a single actuator is used to adjust both horizontal and vertical louvers, then the device complexity and installation space are reduced, but the number of operating movements required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of actuatorsVSAvoidoperating movements
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms where the actuator can operate in multiple modes: rotating to adjust horizontal louvers, translating vertically to adjust vertical louvers, and combining both movements for diagonal airflow direction control. This dynamic operation reduces the total number of separate operating movements needed compared to fixed-mode multi-actuator systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3192684B1Device for adjusting of louver of an air outlet
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 DR SCHNEIDER KUNSTWERKE GMBH
  • EP3192684B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3192684B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3192684B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A device for adjusting pivotable slats (14, 16) of an air vent (10) arranged essentially perpendicular to one another has a first rotatably mounted adjustment element (32), the first adjustment element (32) having at least one cylindrical section. In the at least one cylindrical section, the first adjustment element (32) has at least one guide (36) in which a first displacement element (40) is guided. At least one lamella (14) running in a first direction (X) is coupled to the first adjusting element (32) via the displacement element (40) and at least one lamella running in a second direction (Y), perpendicular to the first direction (X). coupled to the first adjusting element (32).