Adhesive Airflow Sheet Structure for Vehicle Drag Separation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adhesive sheet-shaped members for airflow do not effectively restrain large airflow separation, which contributes to air resistance and affects fuel efficiency and travel performance.
Innovation Solution
A thin, sheet-shaped member with a rough outer surface and an adhesive layer on the rear, made of polyvinyl chloride, is designed to adhere along the airflow direction, generating negative static electricity and featuring a teardrop shape with a rounded front-end and tapered rear-end, allowing multiple sheets to be applied in parallel to reduce airflow separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a sheet-shaped member is made thin to reduce air resistance, then air resistance is reduced, but the ability to restrain large airflow separation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by using polyvinyl chloride that charges negative static electricity, and changes the surface parameter by creating a rough outer surface. These parameter changes enable the thin sheet to generate small swirling flows that effectively restrain large airflow separation while maintaining low air resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet-shaped member combines multiple functional properties in a single thin structure: polyvinyl chloride base material for negative static electricity charging, rough surface texture for airflow manipulation, and adhesive layer for mounting. This composite structure achieves both thinness for low drag and effectiveness for separation control
2Reliability
If the sheet-shaped member is made long in the flow direction to restrain airflow separation, then airflow separation is restrained, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin film approach with the sheet-shaped member having a thickness of 0.2mm or less. The thin film structure minimizes interference with airflow while the rough surface and electrostatic properties enable effective separation control, avoiding the air resistance penalty of thicker or longer structures
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying solely on the longitudinal dimension to control separation, the patent introduces surface dimension characteristics (rough outer surface) and electrostatic dimension (negative charge) to achieve separation control without increasing the sheet's length in the flow direction
3Reliability
If multiple sheet-shaped members are adhered in parallel to effectively restrain large airflow separation, then airflow separation is restrained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the airflow control function into multiple parallel sheet-shaped members that can be independently adhered to the vehicle body. Each sheet acts as an independent airflow control element, and their collective arrangement creates the desired flow pattern without requiring complex integrated structures
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet-shaped member design with parallel arrangement serves multiple functions simultaneously: the rough surface creates small swirling flows, the negative static electricity charges the airflow, and the parallel configuration covers larger surface areas. This multi-functionality achieves effective separation control without proportionally increasing complexity
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 configuration effectively reduces air resistance, improves fuel efficiency, and enhances travel performance by generating small swirling flows that prevent large swirling flow separation, similar to a vortex generator.
Implementation Method 1
the sheet-shaped member is composed of a material which charges negative static electricity and which can more easily negatively charge than the surface in contact with the airflow
Implementation Method 2
an outer surface of the sheet-shaped member which will contact the airflow is a rough surface... generating small swirling flows that prevent large swirling flow separation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are: an adhesive sheet-shaped member for airflow, in an optimum form that can improve fuel efficiency and travel performance as a result of more effectively suppressing a large airflow separation phenomenon that becomes air resistance; and a travel vehicle using the same. A sheet-shaped member that is: provided thinly so as to prevent, as far as possible, the thickness thereof providing air resistance; adhered to a surface in contact with an airflow provided by a material that charges negative static electricity; formed in a long sheet shape in a flow direction of airflow, compared to the width direction of the airflow, so as to be adhered along the direction of the airflow; and provided using a material that charges a negative static electricity and has a different ease of static electrical charge than the surface in contact with the airflow.