Variable Axis Air Outlet Slats for Compact Vehicle HVAC

The patent inverts the conventional pivoting direction of outer slats. Instead of pivoting outward away from adjacent slats, the outer slats are designed to pivot inward toward adjacent slats. This inversion is achieved through variable axes of rotation that change position based on pivoting direction, allowing the slat to effectively pivot in the opposite direction of conventional designs, thereby reducing installation space while maintaining flow control quality

The patent changes the parameter of the axis of rotation position dynamically. The axis of rotation is not fixed but varies depending on the pivoting direction. When the outer slat pivots in one direction, the axis of rotation is positioned at one location; when pivoting in the opposite direction, the axis shifts to a different location. This parameter change enables the slat to pivot inward toward adjacent slats rather than outward, resolving the space requirement contradiction

The patent applies the inversion principle to the arrangement and pivoting behavior of slats in the vertical stack. By designing outer slats to pivot inward toward adjacent slats rather than outward, the overall height requirement of the slat assembly is reduced. This inward pivoting motion allows the slats to maintain effective coverage of the air flow edges without requiring excessive vertical space or installation depth

The patent merges the functions of multiple slats through coordinated pivoting motion. The coupling mechanism ensures that when one slat pivots, adjacent slats also adjust their positions, creating a combined effective coverage area. This merging of functions allows the system to maintain flow influence effectiveness across the entire air flow width and height while using a more compact vertical arrangement