Vehicle Air Guidance Flap Layout for Compact Cooling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air flow control systems for motor vehicles, such as roller blind systems with cable-driven covers, are bulky, prone to wear, and difficult to integrate into confined engine spaces, leading to potential cooling inefficiencies and damage due to cable malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A triple flap system with a gate guide mechanism, a flap arrangement with gearwheel connection, and a folding flap sliding technology, utilizing actuators like electric motors to control flaps for efficient air management, featuring compact designs and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roller blind systems with cable-driven covers are used to control air flow, then the air intake can be regulated, but the system becomes bulky, prone to wear, and difficult to integrate into confined engine spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the cable-driven mechanism from the air flow control system. Instead of using cables that run over deflection pulleys, the invention uses a direct flap arrangement with pins that can be inserted into guide holes in the frame, removing the intermediate cable transmission components that cause wear and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the cable-driven mechanical system with a direct pin-and-guide hole mechanism. The flaps are connected to the frame through pins that slide in guide holes, eliminating the need for cables, pulleys, and associated tensioning mechanisms, thereby reducing wear and simplifying the system.
2Ease of operation
If cable-driven covers are used to close or release the openings, then air intake regulation is achieved, but the cables wear out quickly, can jump out of the guide, and suspend cooling regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cable component entirely from the system. The flaps are directly actuated through pins that move in guide holes, eliminating the intermediate cable that can wear out or jump out of guides, thereby ensuring continuous and reliable cooling regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide holes in the frame are designed to constrain the movement of the pins, preventing them from jumping out or deviating from their intended path. This preemptive design feature ensures that the cooling regulation cannot be suspended by mechanical failure of the connection mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If roller blind systems are used for air flow control, then the openings can be closed or uncovered, but the systems are bulky and difficult to integrate into confined installation spaces in modern engines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the bulky roller blind housing and cable transmission components. The flap arrangement is mounted directly in the frame with pins sliding in guide holes, creating a compact system that can be integrated into the confined spaces of modern engine compartments without requiring large installation volumes.
Data Source
AI summary
An air guidance control unit having a frame, which surrounds at least one air opening for air flowing along an air flow direction to flow through, a closing device including adjustable flaps, which closing device can be adjusted by means of an adjusting element between an open position in which the air opening is exposed and a closed position in which the air opening is at least partly closed. The invention devises various solutions for especially compact and reliable flap arrangements.