Slit-vent fluid delivery module for vehicle climate control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle climate control systems occupy significant space and offer limited user control over fluid delivery, as they rely on large, manually-adjustable vanes and outlets that are not easily concealed within the vehicle's design.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile slit-vent fluid delivery module with movable fluidic control devices within a housing, allowing for varied fluid flow direction and pattern, and outlet treatments like porous materials or shutter devices to hide the outlet from view, enabling precise control and aesthetic integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manually-adjustable vanes and rectangular duct outlets are used, then user control over fluid delivery direction is provided, but the system occupies significant space and creates visible clutter within the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is segmented into a narrow slit-like shape rather than a large rectangular opening, dividing the fluid delivery function across a linear feature that occupies minimal surface area while maintaining directional control capabilities through internal fluidic devices
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet transitions from a two-dimensional rectangular opening to a narrow linear slit, fundamentally changing the geometric dimensionality of the outlet feature to reduce its visual and spatial footprint while preserving functional capability through internal mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If manually-adjustable vanes are used, then directional control of fluid flow is achieved, but the device complexity and number of visible components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable vane mechanism is extracted from the visible exterior and relocated entirely within the housing, removing complex mechanical components from the user's field of view while preserving directional control functionality through internal fluidic devices that respond to user input
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical adjustable vanes are replaced with internal fluidic control devices that vary fluid delivery profiles through fluid dynamic mechanisms rather than large visible mechanical components, reducing device complexity and visual clutter
3Area of stationary object
If a narrow slit-like outlet is used, then the outlet is hidden from view and aesthetic integration is improved, but user visibility of fluid delivery status is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet incorporates lighting features that emit light to indicate fluid delivery status and operational state, compensating for the reduced visual visibility of the narrow slit-like outlet opening itself through optical signaling
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery module includes a housing defining a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet. The housing includes a top surface portion and a bottom surface portion that are movable to vary a flow direction of a fluid flow along the fluid flow path. The fluid delivery module includes an outlet treatment movable to vary a flow rate of the fluid flow exiting the outlet and a control unit configured to send commands to move at least one of the top surface portion, the bottom surface portion, or the outlet treatment according to a fluid delivery profile that dictates a flow pattern of the fluid flow.