Sliding Door Windbreak Member for Vehicle Airflow Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding door devices in air conditioners for vehicles generate noise due to turbulent airflow caused by gaps between the shaft and the slide door, leading to conflicts with the main airflow.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a windbreak member that blocks the gap between the shaft and the slide door, which is designed to be taller than the pinion gear's tooth bottom and shorter than its tooth top, ensuring it does not hinder the rotation and is supported to prevent deformation, thereby preventing airflow through the gap and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gap is formed between the shaft and the slide door, then the slide door can move freely, but turbulent flow and noise occur due to air flow passing through the gap
Solution Approach 1:
A windbreak member is introduced as an intermediary element between the shaft and the slide door. This windbreak member selectively blocks airflow through the gap while allowing the slide door to move freely, thus preventing turbulent flow and noise generation without restricting the operational movement of the slide door
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the windbreak member is made taller than the pinion gear tooth bottom, then airflow blocking is improved, but the pinion gear rotation may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The windbreak member is designed with a specific height that provides localized airflow blocking only where needed (at the gap between shaft and slide door) while maintaining sufficient clearance for the pinion gear teeth to rotate freely. This localized approach blocks turbulent flow paths without creating obstacles for the gear mechanism
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the gap between shaft and slide door is completely sealed, then noise is eliminated, but the slide door cannot move
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the movement function by introducing a separate windbreak member that only blocks airflow. The gap between the shaft and slide door remains open for movement, but the windbreak member creates a flow barrier that prevents turbulent airflow and noise while allowing mechanical movement to continue
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding door device includes a frame case that includes an opening through which an air flow passes, a slide door that is moved relative to the opening to adjust an aperture ratio of the opening, a shaft that is disposed at an upstream side of the slide door when viewed along the flowing direction of the air flow, and moves the slide door, and a windbreak member that blocks a gap between the shaft and the slide door.