Two-Part Vehicle Air Duct Locking Structure for Leak-Tight Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air duct devices for vehicles face challenges in achieving simple installation, durable construction, and secure air guidance while minimizing space and avoiding air leakage.
Innovation Solution
The air duct device is designed as a two-part structure with duct elements held together by a locking mechanism, featuring receiving recesses and connecting projections that form a tight, labyrinth seal, allowing for easy assembly and integration into vehicle components without additional connecting elements, and includes internal fluid injection channels to prevent distortion and enhance sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-piece hollow body air duct is produced, then air guidance is secure and continuous, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is divided into multiple separate duct elements that are assembled together using locking means, replacing the need for a single complex hollow body injection molding process. This segmentation allows for simpler, more cost-effective production of individual elements while maintaining the overall air guidance function.
2Strength
If additional connecting elements are used to join duct elements, then connection strength is improved, but assembly complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural connection between duct elements, creates sealing through the locking engagement, and enables tool-free assembly. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate connecting elements while maintaining connection strength and simplifying installation.
3Reliability
If duct elements are joined with additional precautions, then sealing against air leakage is improved, but installation ease is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is designed to automatically create and maintain the seal through its own structural engagement with the duct elements. The locking mechanism itself forms the sealing interface, eliminating the need for separate sealing precautions or additional sealing components, thereby maintaining both sealing reliability and installation simplicity.
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
This design ensures easy assembly, cost-effective production, secure air guidance, and long-lasting performance with minimal air leakage and turbulence, while integrating seamlessly into vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastically deformable locking means associated with the air duct
Implementation Method 2
The connecting projection, which is inserted into the receiving recess, enables a labyrinth seal to be created on both longitudinal outer sides of the connecting projection by the sealing engagement on both sides in the receiving recess
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an air duct device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a tubular air duct (3) having a closed cross-section outer wall (4), and at least one elastically deformable locking element (15) associated with the air duct (3). It is provided that the air duct (3) has a cross-section of at least two parts and comprises a first duct element (5) and a second duct element (6), which are held together by the at least one locking element (15) in such a sealing manner that they together form the closed outer wall (4) of the air duct (3).