Active Fascia Splitter for High-Speed Downforce and Jounce Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Performance vehicles experience lift at high speeds, limiting their cornering ability and ground contact, especially when driving on angled surfaces or during jounce conditions, due to the geometrical constraints of existing front fascia splitters.
Innovation Solution
An active fascia splitter system with a moveable first fascia portion and an engine shield featuring a first and second shield panel, where the first panel moves with the fascia and the second panel is connected to the vehicle's static structure, utilizing actuators and hinges to adjust the fascia's position in response to vehicle input conditions such as speed, road conditions, and braking inputs, allowing for dynamic angle adjustments and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a fixed geometry fascia splitter is used, then the vehicle can drive on angled surfaces and avoid damage in jounce conditions, but the splitter cannot effectively reduce lift at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the fascia splitter geometry changeable through actuated movement. The splitter transitions between extended and retracted positions based on driving conditions, allowing it to optimize downforce generation at high speeds while avoiding damage on angled surfaces or during jounce conditions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing high downforce and needing geometric adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fascia splitter is divided into multiple segments including a movable splitter portion and a fixed portion. The movable segment can be independently actuated to change the splitter geometry, enabling the system to achieve both high downforce when extended and damage avoidance when retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between force generation and adaptability.
2Force
If the fascia splitter is extended to reduce lift, then downforce increases, but the vehicle is vulnerable to damage on angled surfaces or during jounce conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The splitter system dynamically adjusts its extension state based on real-time driving conditions. When high downforce is needed for cornering at speed, the splitter extends. When approaching angled surfaces or during jounce conditions, the splitter retracts. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maximize downforce when safe and protect itself when vulnerable, resolving the contradiction between force and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors detecting vehicle speed, steering angle, suspension position, and road conditions to control the splitter actuation. This feedback mechanism ensures the splitter is extended only when conditions are favorable for high downforce and retracted when damage risk is present, resolving the contradiction between achieving high force and maintaining reliability.
3Force
If a movable fascia splitter is used to reduce lift, then cornering ability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splitter system is segmented into functional modules including the movable splitter portion, actuator mechanism, and control system. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be distributed and managed through standardized interfaces, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable despite the increased capability for cornering force generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fascia having a first fascia portion that is selectively moveable relative to a second fascia portion, and an engine shield that has at least a first shield panel and a second shield panel. The first shield panel has a first portion that moves with the first fascia portion and a second portion that is connected to a vehicle static structure. The second shield panel is mounted for movement with the first fascia portion. At least one actuator selectively moves the first fascia portion relative to the second fascia portion in response to at least one predetermined vehicle input condition.