Vehicle Air Flap Linkage for Bumper Clearance and Cooling Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active air flap systems face interference issues with vehicle bumpers due to limited design flexibility and reduced cooling performance when trying to balance aerodynamic and cooling performance based on airflow rates, especially with varying vehicle speeds.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle active air flap system with a double link structure, including a first link that linearly reciprocates and a second link that rotates, allowing for a shorter flap rotation radius and enabling the first link to be positioned rearward, thus avoiding bumper interference and increasing flap rotation angle, while also allowing sequential operation of multiple flaps for optimal cooling and aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the flow rate of external air is increased to improve cooling performance, then cooling performance is improved, but aerodynamic characteristics are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air flap system dynamically adjusts the opening degree of flaps based on vehicle speed and cooling requirements. At high speeds, flaps close to improve aerodynamics; at low speeds or high cooling demand, flaps open to increase airflow. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between cooling performance and aerodynamic characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of flap opening degree to control airflow rate. By varying this parameter according to operating conditions, the system optimizes both cooling performance and aerodynamic characteristics, preventing the harmful effect of excessive drag while ensuring adequate cooling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the rotation radius of the flap is shortened to avoid bumper interference, then bumper interference is prevented, but the flap rotation angle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second link to convert the motion from simple rotation to a combination of rotation and linear reciprocation. This dimensional change allows the first link to be positioned rearward away from the bumper while the flap achieves sufficient rotation angle through the compound motion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The second link acts as an intermediary between the first link and the flap linkage. It transforms the linear reciprocating motion of the first link into rotational motion of the flap, enabling the system to avoid bumper interference while maintaining adequate flap rotation angle.
3Length of moving object
If the first link is positioned forward to increase flap rotation angle, then flap rotation angle is increased, but interference with the bumper occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the second link that enables linear reciprocating motion in addition to rotation, the system can position the first link rearward while still achieving sufficient flap rotation through the combined motion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The second link serves as a mediator that allows the first link to be positioned away from the bumper interference zone while transmitting motion to achieve the required flap rotation angle.
Data Source
AI summary
An active air flap system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes an exterior surface having at least one or more openings, a housing provided on a rear side of the exterior surface, a flap rotatably mounted on the housing, and a driving section rotating the flap to open and close the openings. The driving section has a dual link structure including a first link moving in a vertical direction and a second link connecting the first link and a flap linkage forming an operating shaft of the flap, so that when the flap is operated, the rotation angle of the flap is increased, and interference between the flap and the bumper is prevented from occurring.