Wind Direction Adjuster With Elastic Load Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind direction adjusters for air conditioning systems in vehicles face challenges in maintaining uniform operation feeling due to variations in spherical accuracy of the ball unit and the thickness of the load adding member, leading to inconsistent operation loads and deterioration over time.
Innovation Solution
A wind direction adjuster with a load setting unit comprising a turning unit, a receiving unit, and an urging unit, where the sliding resistance is set by a coil spring to maintain a constant operation load, and at least one of the turning or receiving units is formed using an elastic body to stabilize the operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a load adding member composed of a rubber elastic body is interposed between the ball unit and the receiving unit to control operation load, then the operation feeling is improved, but the operation load becomes inconsistent due to variations in spherical accuracy and thickness, and deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the interaction between turning unit and receiving unit by introducing an urging unit that applies controlled force, and forming elastic bodies at sliding positions to modify the friction characteristics. This transforms the operation load control from depending on precise dimensional parameters to depending on controllable force and friction parameters, resolving the inconsistency issue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces elastic bodies as intermediary elements at the sliding positions between the turning unit and receiving unit. These elastic bodies act as mediators that stabilize the interaction, compensating for dimensional variations and wear, thereby maintaining consistent operation load over time
2Ease of manufacture
If the spherical accuracy of the ball unit and thickness of the load adding member are not identical on the entire surface, then manufacturing is simplified, but the directional operation feeling becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the controlling parameters from dimensional precision (spherical accuracy and thickness) to force control through the urging unit and friction control through elastic bodies. This parameter transformation allows manufacturing with relaxed tolerances while maintaining uniform operation feeling through controlled physical interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves operational homogeneity not through dimensional uniformity but through uniform application of the urging unit's force and consistent friction characteristics provided by elastic bodies at sliding positions. This functional homogeneity compensates for manufacturing variations
3Ease of operation
If a load adding member is used to control operation load, then initial operation feeling is improved, but additional handling is required to cope with temperature changes and wear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the urging unit and elastic body system to automatically compensate for temperature changes and wear without requiring external intervention. The elastic bodies self-adjust to maintain consistent friction characteristics, and the urging unit maintains constant force application, eliminating the need for additional maintenance handling
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
The solution ensures a stable and consistent operation load for the louver, providing an excellent operation feeling regardless of dimensional accuracy, temperature changes, or wear, and allows for easy adjustment of the operation load.
Implementation Method 1
an urging unit configured to urge any one of the turning unit and the receiving unit to be pressed against the other
Implementation Method 2
the sliding resistance between the turning unit serving as the turning load of the louver and the receiving unit can be appropriately set by the urging unit
Implementation Method 3
a position where the turning unit and the receiving unit slide over each other is formed using an elastic body
Implementation Method 4
in at least any one of the turning unit and the receiving unit, a position where the turning unit and the receiving unit slide over each other is formed using an elastic body
Data Source
AI summary
A wind direction adjuster enabling an operation of a louver with a stable operation load and providing an excellent operation feeling is provided. An axial support body is axially supported to a cylindrical case body turnably so as to have an axis along a direction crossing an axial direction of the case body. A louver is axially supported to the axial support body turnably so as to have an axis along a direction crossing the axis of the axial support body. A ball unit is set in any one of the case body and the louver as a load setting unit that sets a turning load of the louver. A receiving unit that slidably receives the ball unit is set in the other one of the case body and the louver. A coil spring urges one of the ball unit and the receiving unit to be pressed against the other.