Air Guide Arrangement Sealing for Cooling Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front end arrangements of motor vehicles fail to ensure an optimum flow of external air onto cooling apparatuses due to limited installation space and high vibration, leading to inefficient air routing and potential air leaks.
Innovation Solution
An air guide arrangement with a clip fastening mechanism, comprising a high-strength thermoplastic first longitudinal part and a high-elasticity elastomer second longitudinal part, ensures optimal air routing and sealing to the cooling apparatus, preventing air loss and noise, and can be produced as a single piece via injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air guide arrangement is fastened rigidly to the cooling apparatus, then the air routing structure is stable, but air leaks occur due to vibration and the cooling apparatus cannot accommodate movement
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide arrangement incorporates an elastomeric portion that acts as a flexible sealing element, allowing the rigid air guide body to maintain stable air routing while the elastomeric portion accommodates vibrations and movement of the cooling apparatus, preventing air leaks without restricting mounting adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide arrangement is formed as a composite structure combining a rigid portion (for structural stability and air routing) and an elastomeric portion (for flexibility and sealing), allowing the single component to simultaneously provide stable air routing and adapt to cooling apparatus movement
2Strength
If the air guide arrangement is made from a single rigid material, then the air guide face has high strength, but air leaks occur due to insufficient sealing against vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide arrangement features different material properties in different regions: the air guide face portion is rigid and strong for maintaining structural integrity and directing air flow, while the sealing portion is elastomeric and flexible for maintaining reliable sealing against vibrations and movement
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide arrangement combines rigid and elastomeric materials in a single integrated component, allowing the rigid portion to provide the necessary strength for air guiding while the elastomeric portion ensures reliable sealing under vibrational conditions
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for the air guide arrangement, then manufacturing flexibility is increased, but assembly complexity and potential leakage points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide arrangement is formed as a single integrated component combining the air guide body and sealing elements, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and multiple fastening operations, thereby reducing assembly complexity and potential leakage points while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through injection molding
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 solution provides reliable, low-noise, and efficient air routing to cooling apparatuses, ensuring a fluid-tight seal and maintaining air flow, even in the presence of high-speed external air, while being simple and cost-effective to manufacture and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
The second longitudinal part is produced from a material with a high elasticity. As a result, a reliable, fluid-tight seat of the air guide arrangement is ensured in the region of the cooling apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
A front end arrangement of a motor vehicle has a front end module (4) that is fastened directly or indirectly to vehicle longitudinal carriers of a vehicle body arrangement which delimit an engine compartment (10). At least one cooling apparatus (12) is mounted in a floating manner on that side of the front end module (4) that is directed toward the engine compartment (10). At least one air guide duct is fastened to the front end module (4) and is provided with at least one air guide arrangement (18). The air guide arrangement (18) is connected via fastening means (19) to the cooling apparatus (12).