Vehicle HVAC Damper Control via Common Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air conditioning unit designs for vehicles lack independent control and adaptation of air flow rates through side instrument panel outlets across different ventilation modes, such as window, floor/window intermediate, and floor modes, due to limitations in damper door configurations.
Innovation Solution
A device with a common shaft supporting both side and central damper doors, allowing independent control of air flow rates by varying the damper door angles, where the central outlet remains closed while side outlets are adjusted, utilizing a pivoting range from 0° to 38° to achieve distinct air flow settings for different modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common shaft with multiple damper doors is used to control air flow rates, then independent control of air flow to different outlets is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple damper doors (first damper door for side outlets, second damper door for central outlet) onto a single common shaft, allowing them to be actuated together while maintaining independent control capabilities. This merging approach reduces the number of separate actuation mechanisms while preserving the ability to independently adjust air flow rates to different outlets.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper doors are segmented into distinct functional units (side outlet damper and central outlet damper) that can be independently positioned. Each damper door can be adjusted to different angular positions relative to the common shaft, enabling independent control of air flow rates to different outlets while sharing a common actuation mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If damper doors are mounted on a common shaft to enable simultaneous movement, then ease of operation is improved, but control precision deteriorates when one damper door is closed as other doors cannot be independently held
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic positioning mechanism where the first damper door can be held at a fixed angular position while the second damper door remains movable. This is achieved through a holding mechanism that allows the first damper door to be locked at a desired position, enabling independent control precision even when both doors are mounted on the same common shaft and actuated simultaneously.
3Quantity of substance
If holes or regions are left open in outlet damper doors to ensure air flow to side regions, then air flow rate to sides is maintained, but control precision deteriorates as these areas cannot be closed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air flow assurance function from fixed holes in the damper door and implements it through a separate, adjustable first damper door. This first damper door can be positioned to allow air flow to side outlets when needed, while being fully closable when air flow cessation is required. This separation eliminates the compromise of permanent openings and provides complete control precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for control of the air flow rates into the instrument panel air outlets of a vehicle heating or air conditioning unit is described that is provided with a casing, with damper doors for both instrument panel side air outlets in the casing parts and at least one damper door for the instrument panel central air outlet in the casing part, whereby the damper doors are pivotably supported on one common shaft. Exactly one closing position is assigned to the damper doors in the first casing part, whereas several closing positions are assigned to the damper door in the second casing part continuously over a pivoting range of the shaft, whereby the closing position of the damper doors is arranged in the pivoting range of the damper door. This device enables separation and independent control of the air flow rates.