Adjustment device for air inlet, method for adjusting an air inlet with an adjustment device, motor vehicle provided with an air inlet having an adjustment device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air inlet adjustment devices for motor vehicles are heavy, noisy, and costly due to the use of springs for tensioning, and they lack a reliable mechanism for quick adjustment in case of failures or emergencies.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment device with an auxiliary unit containing an energy storage element, such as a spring or memory metal, that can quickly adjust the air inlet to predefined positions in case of failures, decoupling from the drive unit during normal operation to avoid added weight and noise, and coupling with the air inlet only during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is used to tension the blind during closing, then the air inlet can be opened in case of failure, but the electric motor becomes heavily loaded and noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-tensioned to store energy before failure occurs. The auxiliary unit with pre-loaded spring is designed to automatically activate upon drive unit failure, using the stored elastic energy to open the blind without requiring additional motor power during the emergency operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is extracted from the normal drive mechanism and placed in a separate auxiliary unit. This separation allows the spring to be activated independently of the electric motor, eliminating the motor loading and noise issues while maintaining the safety function.
2Reliability
If a spring is used to tension the blind during closing, then the air inlet can be opened in case of failure, but the mechanism becomes large, complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device is segmented into two independent units: a primary drive unit for normal operation and an auxiliary unit for emergency operation. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall complexity while maintaining both operational and safety capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary unit acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the drive unit and the blind. It provides a simplified emergency opening path that does not interfere with the complex normal operation mechanism, reducing the overall system complexity by separating safety functions from operational functions.
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 allows for quick and reliable adjustment of the air inlet, reducing motor noise and weight, while enabling efficient cooling and safety features like rapid closure during overheating or fire, without increasing the complexity or cost of the drive unit.
Implementation Method 1
comprising an auxiliary unit (4) which is arranged for adjusting the air inlet in case of a failure for bringing the air inlet to a predefined position, comprising at least one energy storage element
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2b
AI summary
An adjustment device for adjusting an air inlet of a motor compartment of a motor vehicle between at least a first position in which the air inlet is substantially open and a second position in which the air inlet is substantially closed, comprising a drive unit for adjusting the air inlet between at least the first position and the second position, further comprising an auxiliary unit which is arranged for adjusting the air inlet in case of a calamity for bringing the air inlet to a predefined position, comprising at least one energy storage element.