ventilator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioning register designs, such as those described in JP5597423B, suffer from the Coanda effect, where a portion of the air blows in the opposite direction to the intended direction due to the airflow clinging to the first inclined surface.
Innovation Solution
The ventilator design incorporates a convex member and a guide member adjacent to the vertex of the first inclined member, which suppresses the airflow from passing through the vertex on the upstream side, thereby preventing the Coanda effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the first inclined surface extends more toward the downstream side from the upstream side compared to the fins, then the design gives a high grade feel with a sense of depth, but the Coanda effect easily occurs causing airflow to cling to the inclined surface and blow in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
A ridge is introduced as an intermediary element between the first inclined surface and the airflow path. The ridge acts as a mediator that redirects the airflow away from the inclined surface, preventing the Coanda effect while preserving the aesthetic design of the extended first inclined surface. The ridge intercepts the airflow before it can cling to the inclined surface and redirect it along a different path.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal structure is segmented by dividing the space between the first inclined surface and the airflow path with the ridge. This segmentation creates distinct functional zones: one zone for the aesthetic first inclined surface and another zone for controlled airflow passage. The ridge physically divides the airflow path to prevent unwanted attachment to the inclined surface.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the fin is drawn to the upstream side to close the space between the fin and the first inclined surface, then the Coanda effect is suppressed, but the knob for operating interferes with the first inclined surface before the fin contacts it
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge serves as an intermediary structure that achieves the space-closing function without requiring the fin to move to the upstream side. By introducing the ridge as a fixed intermediate element, the design suppresses the Coanda effect through geometric blocking while maintaining the fin in its original position, thereby avoiding interference with the operating knob.
Solution Approach 2:
The space-closing function is extracted from the fin and assigned to a separate ridge element. This extraction allows the fin to remain in its operational position without being drawn to the upstream side, while the ridge independently performs the function of closing the space and preventing airflow attachment to the first inclined surface.
3Productivity
If the airflow passes over the ridges directly, then the design allows straightforward airflow path, but the Coanda effect occurs causing airflow to cling to the first inclined surface
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge acts as an intermediary that modifies the airflow path without significantly impeding overall airflow efficiency. By positioning the ridge to redirect rather than block airflow, it prevents Coanda effect attachment to the first inclined surface while maintaining relatively straightforward airflow passage through the modified path around or over the ridge.
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 effectively prevents the airflow from wrapping around to the vertex of the first inclined member, ensuring that the air flows in the intended direction and reducing the occurrence of the Coanda effect.
Implementation Method 1
the airflow facing the air conditioning register from the duct clinging to the first inclined surface due to the Coanda effect when it passes over the ridges
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
This ventilator (100) comprises an up-down louver (31), a plurality of left-right louvers (41) provided in a direction intersecting with the up-down louver (31) and disposed more on the upstream side in the airflow direction than the up-down louver (31), and a first tilted member (21) that is tilted such that the opening area of an opening part (110) widens from the upstream side to the downstream side in the airflow direction. In a maximum-angle state in which the up-down louver (31) has been rotated so that an upstream end part (31c) of the up-down louver (31) is closest to the first tilted member (21), the upstream end part (31c) is positioned more on the downstream side in the airflow direction than an apex (21a). A protruding part (6a) that is disposed adjacent to the apex (21a) of the first tilted member (21) on the upstream side in the airflow direction projects more inside of a flow path (11) than the apex (21a) does in a direction that is orthogonal to both the rotation axis of the up-down louver (31) and the airflow direction, and viewed from the airflow direction, is provided extending so as to cross the plurality of left-right louvers (41).