Vehicle Air Guidance Unit With Bellows Closure for Jam-Free Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air intake regulation systems in motor vehicles, such as roller blind systems driven by cables, suffer from wear, jamming, and inefficiency, leading to potential cooling issues and damage due to cable wear and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A compact air guidance control system using bellows with sliding technology, driven by actuators, which allows for fast and reliable airflow control through spindles and a folding mechanism, utilizing materials like PET or fiber composites for efficient operation in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roller blind systems are driven by cables, then the air opening can be closed or released, but the cable wears out faster, tilts, or jumps out of the guide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable-driven mechanical system with a bellows mechanism that folds and unfolds to open and close the air opening. The bellows is guided by guide elements that constrain its movement path, eliminating cable wear, tilting, and jumping issues. The bellows directly connects to the drive mechanism without intermediate flexible elements, significantly improving reliability and service life.
2Reliability
If roller blind systems use a roll-up mechanism, then the air opening can be closed, but it requires a longer path to release the air supply
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows mechanism dynamically changes its configuration from a compact folded state (closed position) to an extended state (open position). The bellows can be designed with multiple expansion directions and can rapidly deploy the air opening by unfolding in a controlled manner, significantly reducing the time required to release air supply compared to sequential roll-up mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows is divided into multiple segmented chambers that can expand and contract independently or in sequence. This segmentation allows the air opening to be released in a coordinated fashion across multiple sections simultaneously, reducing the overall time required compared to a single continuous roll-up mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If cable-driven systems are used, then the air opening can be regulated, but enormous damage can occur due to insufficient cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows mechanism provides a more reliable alternative to cable systems, eliminating the risk of cable failure that could lead to unintended air opening closure. The direct mechanical connection and guide elements ensure positive engagement and prevent the mechanism from failing in a position that would block air flow and cause engine overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows mechanism is designed to maintain its position through its structural integrity and guide element constraints, reducing dependency on continuous cable tension or active holding mechanisms. This self-maintaining design reduces the probability of failure that could lead to harmful effects.
Data Source
AI summary
Air flow control insertable into an air opening for controlling air flowing along an air flow direction, with a closure device including a cloth or fabric adjustable between an opening position releasing the air opening and a closing position at least partially closing the air opening by means of an adjustment device for selectively releasing and closing the air opening to change the air resistance and/or for thermal management of a downstream unit in the air flow direction. Various solutions are proposed to integrate the air control system in or behind an air grille, especially in very limited installation space.