Vector Vent Layout for Hidden Airflow Deflection in Cockpits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation vents in motor vehicles have deflection louvers that protrude into the passenger compartment's field of vision and often have large dimensions, conflicting with design specifications and visibility concerns.
Innovation Solution
A vector vent design with a duct partition dividing the air duct into sub-ducts, controlled by a pivotable flap and eccentrically mounted deflection blades, allowing for airflow deflection with reduced dimensions and improved concealment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional air vents use deflection louvers to deflect airflow, then airflow deflection is achieved, but the louvers protrude into the passenger compartment's field of vision and increase the vent's dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the deflection louvers from a horizontal arrangement (protruding into the passenger compartment) to a vertical arrangement within the vent housing. This dimensional change allows the louvers to deflect airflow effectively while remaining concealed within the vent's structural depth, eliminating visibility issues and reducing the vent's horizontal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection louvers are nested within the vent housing structure, specifically positioned in a recessed area between the housing and the duct partition. This nesting arrangement allows the louvers to be hidden from the passenger compartment while still performing their airflow deflection function, effectively concealing the mechanism within the vent's internal geometry.
2Ease of operation
If conventional air vents use deflection louvers to deflect airflow, then airflow deflection is achieved, but the louvers are visible to passengers in the cockpit
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection louvers are nested within the vent housing structure, specifically positioned in a recessed area between the housing and the duct partition. This nesting arrangement allows the louvers to be hidden from the passenger compartment while still performing their airflow deflection function, effectively concealing the mechanism within the vent's internal geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the deflection louvers from a horizontal arrangement (protruding into the passenger compartment) to a vertical arrangement within the vent housing. This dimensional change allows the louvers to deflect airflow effectively while remaining concealed within the vent's structural depth, eliminating visibility issues.
3Productivity
If ventilation vents are designed to discharge predefined airflow, then airflow control is achieved, but the vents have relatively large dimensions conflicting with cockpit design specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air duct into multiple sub-ducts using a duct partition, with each sub-duct handling a portion of the total airflow. This segmentation allows the vent to maintain high ventilation capacity while reducing the overall footprint, as each sub-duct can be more compact than a single large duct would require.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension within the vent housing to accommodate the deflection louvers and airflow paths, rather than expanding horizontally into the passenger compartment. This vertical organization allows for efficient airflow management within a compact footprint, meeting cockpit space requirements while maintaining ventilation performance.
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 solution achieves a strong airflow deflection with reduced installation space, positioning deflection blades out of the passenger's view and optimizing the ventilation flow-to-space ratio in a cost-effective manner.
Implementation Method 1
a control flap which is arranged in the flow direction upstream of the duct partition wall so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis formed transversely to the flow direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of deflection blades which are arranged in the first sub-duct and second sub-duct and are each held on the vent housing so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis formed transversely to the flow direction and transversely to the first pivot axis
Implementation Method 3
The air duct has a taper in the width direction in the area of the deflection blades in the flow direction
Data Source
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AI summary
Vector vent (1) for a ventilation system for a motor vehicle, comprising an vent housing (4) through which an air duct (5) with a duct inlet (6) and a duct outlet (7) is formed, a horizontally formed duct partition wall (8) which divides the air duct (5) into a first sub-duct (5a) and a second sub-duct (5b), a control flap (9) which is arranged in the flow direction (S) upstream of the duct partition wall (8) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (R1) formed transversely to the flow direction (S), and a plurality of deflection blades (10) which are arranged in the first sub-duct (5a) and second sub-duct (5b) and are each held on the vent housing (4) so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis (R2) formed transversely to the flow direction (S) and transversely to the first pivot axis (R1).wherein the deflection blades (10) have a longitudinal extension (L) in the flow direction (S) from a blade head region (10a) via a blade intermediate region (10b) to a blade base region (10c), the second pivot axes (R2) are each arranged in the blade base region (10c), and the blade base region (10c) comprises less than 20% of the longitudinal extension (L) of the deflection blade (10).