Active Air Intake Flap Frame for Impact-Repairable Cooling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing controlled airflow regulation devices in motor vehicles suffer from uncontrolled cooling airflow rates and temperatures, leading to excessive cooling of engine compartment components, increased aerodynamic drag, and high repair costs due to impact-induced deformation of the lower support cross member during crash tests.
Innovation Solution
A controlled regulation device with a beveled lower corner and offset design for the peripheral frame, incorporating flaps and actuators, to manage airflow and prevent elastic twisting of the lower support cross member during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a controlled regulation device with flaps is installed to regulate cooling airflow, then airflow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation device is divided into multiple independent flaps (first flap, second flap, third flap) that can be controlled separately. Each flap is mounted on a different axis and can be actuated independently to regulate airflow through different portions of the grille, providing fine-grained control over cooling airflow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The flaps are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of airflow regulation. The flaps can rotate about their respective axes to change their orientation and opening degree, enabling the system to adapt to varying thermal conditions and vehicle operating states in real-time.
2Area of stationary object
If the lower reinforcement beam is positioned close to the regulation device, then space utilization is improved, but impact damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beveled corner geometry is designed in advance to prevent the harmful effect of impact damage. By creating an inclined surface at the lower corner of the lower reinforcement beam, the design anticipates potential impact scenarios and geometrically prevents the beam from catching on the regulation device during reversal motion after deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a horizontal lower surface that could catch on the regulation device, the invention inverts the approach by creating a beveled surface that slopes downward. This inverted geometry ensures that even if the beam deforms and reverses, the inclined surface guides the motion away from the regulation device rather than allowing contact.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed dimension vents are used in the grille, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but cooling control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation openings are designed with movable flaps that can change their effective area dynamically. By rotating the flaps about their axes, the system can adjust the opening degree of each vent, thereby controlling the amount of cooling airflow in real-time based on thermal conditions and vehicle operation state.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective cross-sectional area of the ventilation openings is changed by adjusting the position of the flaps. This parameter change allows the system to regulate airflow quantity and temperature by modifying the geometric parameters of the openings, enabling adaptive cooling control while maintaining relatively simple fixed-dimensional vent structures.
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 device effectively regulates airflow, reduces aerodynamic drag, and minimizes repair costs by preventing deformation of the lower support cross member, improving vehicle classification and repairability.
Implementation Method 1
the effects of the shock cause the elastic twisting of the corresponding end lateral portion of this support cross member around its transverse axis
Implementation Method 2
at least one regulation module supported by said peripheral frame and intended to be arranged vertically between said beams opposite the lower air intake of the vehicle, said regulation module comprising a plurality of flaps mounted pivoting around parallel axes between a closed position and an open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for controlled regulation of the flow of incoming cooling air (1) intended to be inserted longitudinally between, on the one hand, the beams (2A, 3A) of the lower (2) and upper (3) bumper reinforcements and, on the other hand, the cooling module (4) of a vehicle, the device comprising a rectangular peripheral frame (10) delimited by two upper (11) and lower (12) crossmembers and two side posts (13, 14), as well as at least one regulation module (30) supported by the frame and intended to be arranged vertically between the beams, the at least said module comprising a plurality of flaps (22, 23) mounted so as to pivot between closing and opening positions as well as control means (34) for controlling the movement of the flaps, at least one (17) of the lower corners of the frame being bevelled along an inclined plane forming an angle of inclination with the lower face of the lower crossmember.