Window Ventilation Airflow Regulator with Horizontal Slider and Vertical Shutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window ventilation systems, particularly roof windows, lack effective manual control over airflow, as existing solutions do not provide a reliable and efficient mechanism for adjusting air flow rates without compromising the seal or ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
A manually adjustable air flow regulator featuring a housing with a slider and a movable shutter, where the slider's movement along the horizontal axis causes the shutter to move vertically, utilizing inclined races for smooth operation and a wedging mechanism to seal the air vent, ensuring precise control over airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hand operated shutter is moved along the horizontal axis to adjust vent size, then the ventilation area is adjusted, but the mechanism lacks reliability and efficiency in controlling air flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the adjustment mechanism from horizontal movement to vertical movement of the shutter. The slider moves horizontally along the air vent, but through the inclined active element, this horizontal motion is converted into vertical motion of the shutter. This dimensional transformation provides more precise control over the shutter position and consequently the air flow rate, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability of control.
Solution Approach 2:
The active element with inclined races acts as an intermediary mechanism between the slider and the movable shutter. It translates the horizontal displacement of the slider into vertical displacement of the shutter, providing a reliable mechanical transmission that ensures consistent and predictable air flow control, thereby improving the reliability of air flow regulation.
2Reliability
If the movable shutter is made long to cover the entire air vent, then the seal is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is divided into distinct functional components: the housing with air vents, the movable shutter, the slider, and the active element with inclined races. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the shutter can be made long enough to cover the air vent effectively without unnecessarily increasing the complexity of other parts of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable shutter serves multiple functions: it covers the air vent to provide sealing when closed, it can be positioned at intermediate locations to regulate air flow rates, and it maintains a tight seal throughout its range of motion. This multi-functionality allows a single component to achieve reliable sealing without requiring additional complex sealing mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the slider moves along the horizontal axis to control the shutter, then the ease of operation is improved, but the precision of shutter positioning may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined active element creates a mechanical advantage that amplifies the precision of positioning. As the slider moves horizontally, the inclined surface converts this motion into vertical motion of the shutter with increased positional precision. The geometry of the inclined race ensures that small horizontal displacements of the slider result in precise, controlled vertical displacements of the shutter, thereby achieving both ease of operation and precise positioning.
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 solution provides a user-friendly and effective means to adjust airflow in window ventilation channels, maintaining a tight seal and ensuring consistent airflow regulation, enhancing user control and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the race surface is inclined at α degrees, ensuring the ridge moves smoothly in the race and it is arrested in the race in a defined position
Implementation Method 2
there is a wedging space at the edge of the coupling of the front and back elements, on the inside of the housing, for the edge of the movable shutter also in the shape of a wedge, which blocks the air vent opening in that position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The subject-matter of the solution comprises a manually adjustable air flow regulator in a window ventilation channel, comprising a housing with at least one longitudinal air vent (1) and movable shutter (2) characterized in that the housing also features the following: slider (3), with a movable coupling to longitudinal air vent (1), at least one active element (4, 5) coupled with slider (3) and shutter (2), wherein movement of slider (3) in air vent (1) along the horizontal axis causes movable shutter (2) to move along the vertical axis towards and away from longitudinal air vent (1).