Vent Outlet Assembly with Pivotable Guides for Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automobile interior vents suffer from turbulent air flow and inefficiencies due to air being directed partially against internal surfaces, leading to undesirable airflow patterns.
Innovation Solution
A vent outlet assembly with pivotable inlet and outlet guides, positioned within a housing, allows for directional control of air flow by aligning inlet and outlet guides to minimize turbulence and pressure drop, enabling the air flow to be directed efficiently through the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional housing with internal surfaces is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but turbulent air flow and inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air flow guidance function from the housing structure itself and implements it through separate, removable inserts positioned within the housing. These inserts are taken out as distinct components that can be independently designed and positioned to optimize air flow paths without modifying the basic housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces inserts as intermediary elements between the housing and the air flow. These inserts act as mediators that shape and guide the air flow, reducing turbulence and improving efficiency without requiring changes to the housing itself. The inserts serve as a buffer zone that optimizes the interaction between air flow and housing surfaces.
2Device complexity
If fixed air flow direction is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but user adjustability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustability by making the inserts removable and repositionable within the housing. Users can dynamically change the air flow direction by taking out inserts and placing them in different positions or orientations, transforming a static structure into a dynamically adaptable system without complex mechanical mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air flow control function into separate, independently positionable inserts rather than requiring a single complex adjustable mechanism. Each insert can be independently manipulated, and multiple inserts can work together to create diverse air flow patterns, providing versatility through modular composition.
Data Source
AI summary
A vent outlet assembly for guiding an air flow including an inlet guide extending between first and second ends thereof and positioned inside a housing and an outlet guide extending between leading and trailing ends thereof and positioned inside the housing. The inlet guide and the outlet guide are pivotable about respective axes and positioned to cooperate to direct an outlet part of the air flow through the housing. The vent outlet assembly includes a connecting subassembly to simultaneously position the inlet and outlet guides in corresponding positions.