Aerodynamic Duct Front Downforce Spoiler Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance cars homologated for normal road use face challenges in enhancing front aerodynamic load without compromising safety, as traditional spoilers are not allowed and existing solutions like varying axle height or using diffusers on wheel arches either fail to optimize aerodynamic efficiency or increase unwanted resistance.
Innovation Solution
A car design featuring an aerodynamic duct connecting the front bumper to the hood, with a wing-shaped profile at the inlet opening to accelerate airflow from bottom to top, generating increased front downforce with minimal resistance, using a configuration of calibrated sections to enhance momentum and air suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional front spoilers are used to enhance front aerodynamic load, then front downforce is improved, but safety requirements and homologation standards are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aerodynamic duct as an intermediary structure that channels airflow from the front bumper to the hood in a controlled manner. This duct system generates the necessary front downforce through aerodynamic principles without requiring traditional front spoilers, thus maintaining safety compliance while achieving the desired aerodynamic performance.
2Force
If axle height is varied to change front aerodynamic load, then front downforce is improved, but car balance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic duct system applies aerodynamic forces locally at the front of the vehicle through controlled airflow management. By concentrating the aerodynamic action in the front region through the duct structure, the system enhances front downforce without requiring global changes to the vehicle's axle positioning or overall balance configuration.
3Force
If diffusers are arranged on front wheel arches to generate upward air flow, then front aerodynamic load is changed, but unwanted resistance is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the aerodynamic load generation function from the wheel arch area and relocates it to a dedicated aerodynamic duct structure. By removing the diffuser elements from the front wheel arches and concentrating the aerodynamic action in the front bumper-to-hood duct, the system eliminates the unwanted resistance that would be generated by wheel arch diffusers while maintaining front downforce generation.
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 design achieves high aerodynamic efficiency with a favorable ratio of downforce to resistance, is cost-effective to manufacture, and can be modified without compromising safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
to allow an ascending air flow F, namely from the bottom upwards, during the travel of the car 1... The air flow F passing through the duct 12 allows, due to the variation of the momentum, generating a front aerodynamic load
Implementation Method 2
aerodynamics is designed to generate a high aerodynamic downforce (i.e. a high downward aerodynamic thrust)... the front aerodynamic load (i.e. the downward thrust generated by the aerodynamic effect and bearing on the front wheels)
Implementation Method 3
a wing-shaped profile 18 positioned at the inlet opening 13 and configured to increase the air suction effect by means of the duct 12 during the travel of the car 1
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A car (1) comprising a pair of front wheels (2), a pair of rear wheels (3), an outer body (4) having a front hood (10) and a front bumper (11), and a passenger compartment (5) formed inside the outer body (4) between the front and the rear wheels (2, 3) and frontally delimited by a windscreen (7) connected with the front hood (10); the car (1) being also provided with: an aerodynamic duct (12) extending between an inlet opening (13) formed through the front bumper (11) and an outlet opening (14) formed through the front hood (10) to allow an ascending air flow (F) during the travel of the car (1); and a wing-shaped profile (18) positioned at the inlet opening (13) and configured to increase the air suction effect by means of the duct (12) during the travel of the car (1) and to increase the front aerodynamic load on the car (1) by acting as a spoiler.