Integrated Active Grille Shutter With Pedestrian Guard Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle airflow regulation assemblies with active grille shutters and pedestrian guards are separate components, leading to manufacturing complexities and increased form factors due to different materials and lack of direct connection, which can be improved by integrating the pedestrian guard into the active grille shutter.
Innovation Solution
An airflow regulation assembly where the pedestrian guard is directly connected and formed integrally with the active grille shutter, providing a unified structure that includes a support structure, reinforcement member, and an actuator to control airflow and absorb impact forces, with the pedestrian guard extending forward to protect pedestrians during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If active grille shutter and pedestrian guard are provided as separate discrete components, then each component can be optimized independently for its specific function, but the number of components increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pedestrian guard and active grille shutter into a single integrated component. The pedestrian guard is formed as an integral part of the active grille shutter assembly, eliminating the need for separate discrete components. This reduces the number of parts, simplifies manufacturing processes, and decreases assembly complexity while maintaining both the pedestrian protection function and the airflow regulation function.
2Manufacturing precision
If active grille shutter and pedestrian guard are provided as separate components formed from different materials, then each component can be optimized for its specific material properties, but tolerances and form factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the pedestrian guard into the active grille shutter creates a unified structure that eliminates tolerance accumulation between separate components. The single-piece construction or pre-assembled unit ensures consistent form factors and reduces the need for complex tolerance management across multiple parts and materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If pedestrian guard is located behind the fascia as a separate component, then it can be positioned to protect the pedestrian's knees, but the overall packaging space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pedestrian guard is integrated into the existing active grille shutter assembly, utilizing the same space and structural framework. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated space for a separate pedestrian guard component, thereby reducing the overall packaging volume while maintaining the protective function behind the fascia.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated component performs multiple functions: it serves as both the active grille shutter for airflow regulation and the pedestrian guard for safety protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components, optimizing the use of available space and reducing the overall vehicle front-end packaging requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a support structure that is connected to the vehicle body and which is configured to provide a framework for one or more thermal components of the vehicle; a reinforcement member that is connected to the vehicle body and which is configured to absorb impact forces; and an active grille shutter that is connected to the support structure. The active grille shutter includes an integral pedestrian guard that is configured for contact with a pedestrian's leg to protect the pedestrian's leg during an impact.