Vehicle Air Inlet Shutter Diagnostics for Missing Flap Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shutter devices for vehicle air inlets lack effective methods to detect the absence of flaps without disrupting the functioning of the device, which is crucial for maintaining aerodynamic modifications and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A shutter device with a diagnostic system that utilizes concatenated force transmission through transmission elements associated with the flaps, allowing for the detection of a missing flap by monitoring the actuator's current and torque during the evaluation process, ensuring the system remains functional even when a flap is absent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a diagnostic system is implemented to detect missing flaps, then the reliability of the shutter device is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission part performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own force transmission characteristics. The system detects missing flaps through changes in the force required to move the transmission elements, allowing the device to self-monitor its integrity without external diagnostic equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through current and torque monitoring during the evaluation process. By measuring the electrical parameters required to actuate the flaps, the system receives feedback on the mechanical state of the transmission chain, enabling detection of interruptions caused by missing flaps.
2Reliability
If the shutter device disables operation when a flap is missing, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter device is segmented into independently controllable flap groups. When a missing flap is detected in one segment, only that specific segment is disabled while other segments can continue to operate, maintaining partial functionality and aerodynamic control rather than disabling the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic system applies local quality control by monitoring and disabling only the specific transmission path affected by the missing flap. The rest of the shutter device maintains its original operational characteristics, preserving overall system productivity while ensuring safety in the affected local area.
3Measurement precision
If concatenated force transmission is used for diagnosis, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission elements serve dual functions: they transmit mechanical force to move the flaps and simultaneously serve as diagnostic sensors by monitoring the force characteristics. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensing mechanisms, maintaining measurement precision while avoiding additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission elements perform self-diagnosis by monitoring their own force transmission characteristics during normal operation. The system detects anomalies in the force profile that indicate missing flaps, allowing the transmission mechanism to serve both its primary mechanical function and diagnostic function without requiring separate dedicated sensing components.
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 diagnostic system effectively detects the absence of flaps without disabling the shutter device, maintaining its operational functionality and aerodynamic control, and is easy to manufacture and assemble, applicable to both single and dual opening systems with flaps arranged in various directions.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator (5) and a transmission part (4) coupled to the flaps and configured to transmit the movement of the actuator (5) to the flaps (30-39)
Implementation Method 2
The diagnostic system comprises transmission elements associated with the flaps (30-39) which cooperate with one another, causing a concatenated force transmission, such that the diagnostic system detects the absence of at least one flap if the concatenated force transmission is interrupted or altered
Implementation Method 3
monitoring the parameters of the actuator, it is possible to determine if a flap is missing
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter device having a frame (2), a plurality of flaps (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) pivotably coupled to said frame (2) and configured to pivot between a closed position and an open position, an actuator (5), a transmission part (4) configured to transmit the movement of the actuator (5) to said flaps (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39), and a diagnostic system which allows the absence of at least one of the flaps (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) to be detected during an evaluation process. The diagnostic system also has transmission elements (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69) associated with the flaps (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) which cooperate with one another, causing a concatenated force transmission.