Ventilation Nozzle Slat Pair Structure With Concealed Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air nozzles with adjustable slats lack efficient adjustment mechanisms and often have visible coupling elements, which affect the appearance and airflow efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design combines pairs of slats connected laterally via side walls and additional connecting ribs, allowing the pivot axis to be positioned flexibly, enabling unequal air flows and concealing coupling elements for a more aesthetically pleasing and efficient airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If coupling elements are used to connect slats for adjustment, then the slats can be adjusted synchronously, but the coupling elements become visible and affect the appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslat adjustmentVSAvoidappearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling elements are nested within the housing structure, specifically integrated into the adjustment mechanism housing. The adjustment wheel or slider is positioned such that it operates the coupling elements from the rear or side, keeping the coupling elements concealed within the housing while maintaining their functional connection between slats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary housing structure is introduced that contains the coupling elements. This housing acts as a mediator between the adjustment mechanism and the slats, allowing the coupling elements to perform their function while remaining hidden within the housing boundaries, thus protecting the aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If slats are positioned closer together, then the appearance becomes more refined, but the airflow efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefined appearanceVSAvoidairflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The slat design incorporates local quality variations through the use of transparent or translucent materials in specific regions. This allows certain areas to have reduced spacing for aesthetic purposes while maintaining airflow properties through material transparency, creating different optical and functional zones within the same slat structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pivot axis is positioned in the corner area, then one slat can recede relative to the other for unequal airflow, but the adjustment mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow distributionVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slat pair is designed with asymmetric positioning relative to the pivot axis, allowing one slat to recede more than the other during adjustment. This asymmetric configuration enables unequal airflow distribution between the two slats while using a relatively simple pivot-based adjustment mechanism, avoiding the need for complex multi-axis mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP1793180B1Ventilation nozzle with horizontal and/or vertical fins
Publication Date: 2008.02.20 DR SCHNEIDER KUNSTWERKE GMBH
  • EP1793180B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1793180B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The air nozzle with horizontal and/or vertical lamellae has each two lamellae (1,2) forming a box-form lamella pair (3) interconnected at least by side walls (4,5) upon which are provided bearing means (6) for the forming of a pivot point and for the mounting on the side walls, or on the top and bottom walls of the nozzle housing (7), or on the walls of a frame (13), bearing means connectable to the housing for a method of coupling (10) for the synchronous pivoting of other lamella pairs and/or of individual lamellae.