Slim Vehicle Air Vent Using Nested Wings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air vents for vehicles are bulky and tall, making them unsuitable for a smart and high-quality image, and they lack efficiency in air direction and volume distribution.

Innovation Solution

A slim air vent design featuring a single external wing that rotates vertically, integrated with an internal wing and dummy wings, which allows for efficient air distribution and reduced height, along with a single operating knob for user convenience and reduced unit costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple external wings are vertically stacked to control air direction, then air direction control is improved, but the height of the air vent increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair direction controlVSAvoidheight of air vent
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places the external wing inside the duct, nested within the housing structure, rather than stacking multiple wings vertically. The external wing rotates within the confined space of the duct, allowing air direction control without increasing the external height of the air vent assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using vertical stacking (one dimension) to achieve air direction control, the patent utilizes rotational movement within the horizontal plane and leverages the internal depth of the duct (another dimension) to accommodate the wing mechanism, thereby controlling air direction without increasing height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If multiple external wings are used to increase air volume distribution, then air volume control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair volume distributionVSAvoidnumber of external wings
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single external wing is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both air direction and air volume distribution through its rotational movement. The dummy wings also contribute to air distribution, allowing one external wing to replace what would traditionally require multiple active wings.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dummy wings that replicate the appearance and partial function of active wings without requiring the same complexity. These dummy wings assist in air distribution while keeping the mechanism simple, as they do not require independent actuation like multiple external wings would.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Length of stationary object

If a single external wing is used to reduce height, then the height of the air vent is reduced, but air direction performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of air ventVSAvoidair direction performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the external wing with dummy wings and internal wings to create a composite structure that achieves air direction performance comparable to multiple external wings. The different components work together synergistically to maintain reliability while reducing height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The dummy wings act as intermediaries that assist the single external wing in achieving proper air direction. They provide additional surfaces to guide air flow without requiring the full complexity of multiple active external wings, thus maintaining performance while reducing height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4067135A1Slim air vent for vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4067135A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4067135A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4067135A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Slim air vent apparatus for a vehicle, comprising an external wing (300) located at a rear of an internal wing (200), wherein a first end portion and a second end portion of the external wing (300) are coupled to a duct (100) to be rotatable vertically with respect to the duct (100), and a knob (400) coupling the internal wing (200) and the external wing (300) wherein the internal wing (200) and the external wing (300) are located inside the duct (100).