Sun Visor Directional Fan for Cabin Air Exhaust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle climate control systems are inefficient in providing targeted cooling and air exhaustion, leading to passenger dissatisfaction, especially in extreme temperatures and when dealing with environmental contaminants, due to limitations in air ducting and prioritization of air intake over exhaustion.
Innovation Solution
A sun visor with an integrated, directionally adjustable fan or blower system that can supplement the climate control system by providing cooling airflow and exhaust air contaminants, featuring a gimballed or hinged frame for positional adjustment and electrical power supply, with optional lighting and adjustable vents for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the HVAC system uses ducting to deliver conditioned air to the passenger cabin, then air can be distributed to occupants, but the efficiency and air output rate are highly impacted by ducting length and diameter, leading to perceived inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fan function from the traditional HVAC ducting system and relocates it to the sun visor assembly. This eliminates the need for long ducting runs through the instrument panel, as the fan is now positioned directly at the passenger compartment, delivering conditioned air without intermediate ducting losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The sun visor acts as an intermediary carrier for the fan assembly. By mounting the fan on the sun visor, the system creates a new delivery path that bypasses the traditional ducting route, allowing conditioned air to be delivered directly to the passenger compartment with minimal resistance.
2Productivity
If the climate control system prioritizes air intake into the passenger cabin, then cooling can be provided, but the rate of air exhaustion is insufficient to meet passenger desires for removing environmental contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly mounted on the sun visor serves multiple functions: it can blow conditioned air into the passenger compartment for cooling, and it can also exhaust air to remove environmental contaminants. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the same system component to address both air intake and air exhaustion needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the fan's function based on operational needs. The fan can operate in different modes - delivering conditioned air during cooling needs, or exhausting air during high contamination conditions - making the climate control system responsive to varying passenger requirements.
3Productivity
If a vehicle window is opened to significantly increase air exhaustion rate, then environmental contaminants can be removed, but uncontrolled air entering the vehicle brings noise and further particulate contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides controlled air exhaustion through the fan assembly, allowing the climate control system to maintain negative pressure in the passenger compartment without opening windows. This controlled approach prevents the harmful effects of uncontrolled window opening while achieving the desired air exchange rate for contaminant removal.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the fan or blower is made directionally adjustable independently of visor panel orientation, then airflow can be precisely directed to occupants, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the fan housing to be rotated and tilted independently of the sun visor panel orientation. This dynamic adjustability enables precise airflow direction control while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular design.
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
The sun visor effectively directs airflow to occupants and exhausts contaminants, improving passenger comfort and reducing odors and particulates within the vehicle cabin, while maintaining compact packaging and integrating seamlessly with existing vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fan or blower adapted to provide an airflow
Implementation Method 2
the at least one fan or blower is carried in a gimballed frame carried by the visor panel
Implementation Method 3
the at least one fan or blower is carried by a hinged visor panel portion
Data Source
AI summary
A sun visor for a vehicle includes a visor panel carrying at least one fan or blower adapted to provide an airflow that is directionally adjustable independently of an orientation of the visor panel.