Sliding Vehicle Air Outlet With Feedback Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air delivery systems in vehicles deliver air from fixed locations, failing to adapt to the dynamic position of occupants within the vehicle, resulting in inefficient air distribution.
Innovation Solution
An air delivery system featuring a follower feature assembly that articulates an air outlet along a vehicle surface, coupled with a sensor to measure distance and air flow, and a controller to adjust airflow accordingly, ensuring air is delivered dynamically to occupants based on their location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If air vents deliver air from a fixed location, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the air delivery cannot adapt to the dynamic position of occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is made dynamic through the follower feature assembly that can translate along the vehicle surface (floor, ceiling, or wall) to follow the occupant's position. The articulated mechanism allows the air outlet to move from a fixed location to a dynamic position, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by implementing controlled movement rather than complete system reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The follower feature assembly acts as an intermediary between the fixed air duct and the moving air outlet. This intermediate component enables the air delivery system to adapt to occupant position without requiring the entire HVAC system to be complex and reconfigurable, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air outlet translates along the vehicle surface to follow the occupant, then air delivery adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated follower feature assembly implements a mechanical linkage system that translates the air outlet along the vehicle surface. This dynamic mechanism allows the air outlet to follow the occupant's position while maintaining a relatively simple structure compared to fully active positioning systems, resolving the contradiction between dynamic adaptability and mechanical complexity.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and controllers are added to measure and adjust air flow based on distance, then air delivery precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor measures the distance between the air outlet and the occupant, and the controller uses this feedback information to adjust the air flow accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables precise air delivery adaptation to occupant position and distance, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and control system complexity by implementing a straightforward sensor-controller-feedback architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
An air delivery system for a vehicle comprises an HVAC system and an air duct fluidly coupled with the HVAC system. The air delivery system comprises a rail extending parallel to the air duct. The system comprises a module having a rail rider slidably coupled with the rail. The module defines an air inlet in selective fluid communication with the air duct. The module defines an air chamber in fluid communication with the air inlet. The module comprises an air register fluidly coupled with the air chamber. The air delivery system comprises a sensor that senses at least one of a distance between the module and the HVAC system; and an air flow therebetween. The air delivery system comprises a controller that controls the air flow based upon at least one of the measured distance between the module and the HVAC system and the air flow therebetween.