Air Guiding Device Depression Conceals Joint Tolerances

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-value sports cars with air guiding devices face challenges in maintaining visual aesthetics due to large tolerances in joint regions between movable air guiding body sections, which can lead to misalignment and a compromised appearance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating depressions along the joint edges of the air guiding body sections, which are mirror-symmetrical and aerodynamically configured, to visually soften the joint and conceal tolerances while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency and serving as a design element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If two lateral air guiding body sections are made movable to enlarge the air guiding surface, then the downforce generation capability is improved, but the joint tolerances between sections increase leading to compromised visual appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownforce generation capabilityVSAvoidjoint tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a visual masking approach by introducing a depression (shadow region) along the joint line between the two lateral air guiding body sections. This depression creates a shadow effect that optically conceals the gap and misalignment between sections, making the joint tolerances visually imperceptible while maintaining the movable configuration for downforce generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the air guiding device is made adjustable between retracted and deployed positions, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the alignment precision of joint edges deteriorates due to loading effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidjoint edge alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The depression creates a shadow region that visually masks the joint edge misalignment caused by loading during deployment. The shadow effect remains consistent across different deployment positions, maintaining visual appearance quality regardless of the aerodynamic performance state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from addressing the problem in the horizontal plane (joint alignment) to the vertical dimension by creating a depression that casts a shadow. This dimensional shift allows the joint tolerances to be concealed without affecting the horizontal alignment of the movable sections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS7815244B2Air guiding device

Publication Date: 2010.10.19 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

An air guiding device for a motor vehicle, in particular a rear spoiler, can be moved between a retracted non-use position and at least one deployed use position and contains an air guiding body on which are disposed two lateral air guiding body sections which can be moved in the vehicle transverse direction. Here, it is important that, in the non-use position of the air guiding device, the lateral air guiding body sections form a common joint which runs in the vehicle longitudinal direction, with at least one of the two air guiding body sections having, on its side which forms an edge of the common joint, a depression at least in regions.