Vehicle air-blowing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-use air conditioning devices face issues with rainwater accumulation in the intake box, leading to mold formation and inefficient drainage, especially when the air blowout speed is low or the water amount is high, causing water to accumulate in the scroll casing and potentially entering the impeller motor.

Innovation Solution

A water conducting groove is integrated into the intake unit, with its extremity connected to the upstream side of the air blowout unit, forming a reservoir that allows water to be drained via the airflow when the impeller rotates, and the groove design prevents overflow and splashing, ensuring smooth drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water is guided into the scroll casing for drainage, then water can be discharged from the air blowout unit, but water accumulates in the scroll casing when air blowout speed is low or water amount is large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage functionVSAvoidwater accumulation in scroll casing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water drainage function from the scroll casing by providing a separate water guiding structure that directs water away from the scroll casing interior. The water guiding groove and water discharge hole are positioned to guide water to the exterior of the scroll casing, preventing water accumulation that would harm the impeller motor while maintaining the scroll casing's primary function for air circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a water guiding groove and water discharge hole as intermediary structures between the water accumulation problem and the drainage solution. These intermediary elements channel water away from the scroll casing interior to a safe discharge location, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact between accumulated water and the impeller motor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If water accumulates in the scroll casing, then drainage can occur, but water enters the impeller motor interior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capabilityVSAvoidwater entry into impeller motor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water discharge function from the air blowout path by providing a separate water discharge hole that exits to the exterior of the scroll casing. This separates the water drainage function from the air circulation function, ensuring that discharged water does not re-enter the impeller motor or contaminate the air flow path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the scroll casing into distinct functional zones: an air circulation zone and a water drainage zone. The water guiding groove and water discharge hole create a dedicated drainage pathway that is spatially separated from the impeller motor and air blowout unit, preventing water from entering sensitive components while maintaining efficient air circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If rainwater enters the intake box, then air conditioning function is provided, but mold occurs due to accumulated water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair conditioning functionVSAvoidmold formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary drainage action by providing water guiding grooves and discharge holes that proactively channel rainwater away from the intake box before it can accumulate. This preliminary drainage prevents water accumulation that would lead to mold formation, while maintaining the air conditioning function by not obstructing the air intake path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively drains rainwater from the intake box without accumulation in the scroll casing, preventing water from entering the impeller motor and ensuring efficient operation of the vehicle-use blowing device.

Implementation Method 1

when the impeller rotates, a surface of water accumulated in the reservoir portion rises and surmounts an end face of the bell mouth, and the water is fed to the air blowout unit and drained off. Water accumulated in the intake unit can be led to the air blowout unit of a blower by utilizing the air flow formed by the impeller.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3643545B1Vehicle air-blowing device
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 VALEO JAPAN CO LTD
  • EP3643545B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3643545B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3643545B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle-use blowing device that has a function of draining off rainwater that has entered an intake box without the rainwater accumulating in a scroll. A vehicle-use blowing device (1) according to the invention includes an intake unit (10) and a blowing unit (20), wherein the intake unit has a water conducting groove (17) in a bottom wall, the water conducting groove (17) extends in a direction approaching a suction port side while traversing the suction port, an extremity (17a) of the water conducting groove is disposed in a region (S4) of a boundary (18) between the intake unit and the blowing unit, the region (S4) being such that an overlap region (S3), wherein a region (S1) linking a center of rotation (x) of an impeller and an air blowout unit and a region (S2) on an inner diameter side of the impeller overlap, is projected onto the boundary, and the water conducting groove extremity forms a drainage place for drainage.