Vehicle Front Air Flap Slot Geometry for Vibration Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles require air flaps to move into intermediate positions between fully open and closed states, leading to undesired vibrations due to airflow and tolerance ranges in bearing systems.
Innovation Solution
An air flap system with a slotted guide on its side surface featuring a tapered portion, which fixes the driver in place, reducing play and vibrations by generating a frictional force that stabilizes the driver within the slotted guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air flap is moved to intermediate positions between closed and open states, then the air inlet can be partially controlled for optimized airflow, but undesired vibrations occur due to tolerance ranges in bearing systems and airflow effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the slotted guide by introducing a tapered portion with varying width. The width of the slotted guide transitions from a first width at one end to a second, smaller width at the other end, creating a friction gradient that stabilizes the driver at intermediate positions while allowing controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guide has non-uniform local properties due to the tapered portion. Different sections of the slotted guide have different widths, creating zones with different friction characteristics. This local variation in geometry allows the system to provide both mobility and stability at different positions along the guide.
2Ease of operation
If a driver guided in a slotted guide is used to rotate the air flap, then the air flap can be actuated between open and closed positions, but play between the driver and slotted guide causes vibrations in intermediate positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies the width parameter of the slotted guide along its length. The tapered portion creates a gradual change in the gap between the driver and guide walls, transforming the uniform play condition into a position-dependent friction condition that stabilizes the driver without preventing actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered portion of the slotted guide acts as an intermediary element between the driver and the air flap system. It mediates the interaction by providing controlled friction that reduces play and vibrations while still allowing the driver to move the air flap to desired positions.
3Ease of operation
If the slotted guide has a uniform width, then the driver can move freely along the guide, but play and vibrations occur in intermediate positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gradient in the width parameter of the slotted guide. The width transitions from a larger value at one end to a smaller value at the other end through the tapered portion, creating position-dependent friction that stabilizes the driver in intermediate positions while maintaining ease of movement capability.
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 system effectively reduces vibrations in intermediate positions of the air flap, ensuring stable operation even at high vehicle speeds without the need for an excessively powerful actuator.
Implementation Method 1
the slotted guide and the driver have substantially no play with respect to one another in the region of the tapered portion
Data Source
AI summary
An air flap for an air flap assembly for a vehicle front is provided. The air flap has a front face and a lateral face having a slotted guide system. The air flap blocks an air inlet in the vehicle front through the front face in a closed position and opens the air inlet in an open position. The air flap is rotatable from the closed position into the open position by a rotary movement about an axis of rotation by way of a driver of an actuator, which driver can be guided in the slotted guide system. The slotted guide system located on the lateral face of the air flap has a tapered portion, so that the slotted guide system and the driver have substantially no play in relation to one another in the region of the tapered portion.