Slim Air Vent Airflow Control Using a Coanda Air Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slim-type air vents for automobiles face challenges in adjusting air discharge direction due to their compact design, which increases manufacturing costs and reduces design freedom for surrounding components like clusters and AVN devices.

Innovation Solution

A slim-type air duct with an air distributor and air guide that utilizes the Coanda effect to control air discharge direction, reducing the number of parts and improving assemblability by rotating to adjust airflow volume and direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional air vent with multiple horizontal and vertical wings is used, then air discharge direction control is improved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair discharge direction controlVSAvoidnumber of wings and adjustment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air vent is divided into functional segments: a fixed air guide component and a rotatable air distributor component. The air distributor can rotate independently to control airflow direction, while the air guide remains stationary to maintain structural stability. This segmentation reduces the number of moving parts compared to conventional multi-wing designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rotating multiple wings to change airflow direction, this invention rotates the air distributor in reverse - the air distributor rotates to redirect airflow, while the air guide remains fixed. This inverted approach simplifies the mechanism by having one rotating component control direction rather than multiple rotating wings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a slim-type air vent with single horizontal wing is used, then design freedom for surrounding components is improved, but air discharge direction adjustment capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign freedom for clusters and AVN devicesVSAvoidair discharge direction adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air distributor is designed as a dynamic rotatable component that can change its orientation to control airflow direction. This dynamic element is installed within the slim-type air vent structure, allowing directional adjustment without increasing the external dimensions of the air vent, thus maintaining design freedom for surrounding components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a damper is separately installed inside the duct for wind direction control, then air flow control is improved, but the number of parts and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind direction controlVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air distributor and air guide are merged into a single integrated assembly. The air distributor rotates within the air guide structure, combining the functions of airflow distribution and direction control into one component system. This eliminates the need for separate dampers and reduces the total number of parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The air distributor serves multiple functions: it controls airflow direction through rotation, regulates air volume, and works in conjunction with the air guide to direct airflow. This multi-functional component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate parts including dampers, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances airflow control and reduces manufacturing costs while providing greater design freedom for surrounding components by using a simplified part structure.

Implementation Method 1

an air guide is fixed so that the air distributed by the air distributor is discharged through an air outlet as the Coanda effect is generated in the upward-forward and downward-forward directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoanda effect: Coanda Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12552230B2Wind direction controlling device of slim-type air vent for automobile

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 NIFCO KOREA INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to a wind direction controlling device of a slim-type air vent for an automobile. More specifically, an air distributor and an air guide are mounted to an air duct of the slim-type air vent to make it easy to adjust the discharge volume and the vertical discharge angle of air discharged through a discharge portion of the air duct. The present invention comprises: a slim air duct (100) having an air inlet (110) and an air outlet (120) which pass therethrough, wherein air generated in an air conditioning device flows in through the air outlet (120) and then is discharged to the outside through the air outlet (120); an air distributor (200) rotatably installed inside the slim air duct (100); and an air guide (300) installed and fixed inside the air duct (100) so that the air distributed by the air distributor (200) is discharged through the air outlet (120) as the Coanda effect is generated in the upward-forward and downward-forward directions.