Air Stream Element Adjustment With Separate Failsafe Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustment devices for air stream influencing elements in motor vehicles are often voluminous, expensive, and unreliable due to tolerance-sensitive parts, and they do not fit within the available space, limiting their compactness and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compact adjustment device with a separate auxiliary driving motor for the failsafe mechanism, independent of the main driving motor's energy supply, utilizing a planetary gear system and an elastic or energy storage activation element to enable failsafe positioning without requiring additional space, allowing for adjustable air stream influencing elements during vehicle operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional adjustment device with integrated failsafe mechanism is used, then the device can provide failsafe functionality, but the device becomes voluminous and does not fit within available space
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment device is segmented into two independent parts: a main driving motor for normal operation and a separate auxiliary driving motor for failsafe functionality. This segmentation allows each motor to be dimensioned independently and placed in different locations, reducing the overall volume requirement and fitting within available space while maintaining both normal operation and failsafe capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The failsafe mechanism is extracted from the main driving unit and implemented as a separate auxiliary driving motor with its own energy supply. This extraction allows the failsafe functionality to be implemented independently without increasing the size of the main driving unit, enabling compact integration while preserving reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main driving motor is dimensioned to handle both normal operation and failsafe functionality, then all functions can be provided by one motor, but the motor requires extensive dimensioning and increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The driving functions are segmented between two specialized motors: the main driving motor handles normal adjustment operations with optimized power for that specific task, while the auxiliary driving motor handles failsafe operations independently. This segmentation allows each motor to be dimensioned precisely for its specific function, avoiding the need for extensive dimensioning of a single motor to handle all scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves functional versatility through two specialized components working in their respective domains. The main driving motor provides universal adjustment capability during normal operation, while the auxiliary driving motor provides universal failsafe capability. Together they create a multi-functional system without requiring either motor to be oversized for all potential functions
3Manufacturing precision
If tolerance-sensitive parts are used in the adjustment device, then precise adjustment can be achieved, but the device becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The separate auxiliary driving motor acts as a beforehand cushioning mechanism that can intervene to reset the system to a safe state if tolerance-sensitive parts fail or drift. This prior cushioning approach protects against the unreliability of precision parts by providing an independent backup that doesn't depend on the same tolerance-critical 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 solution provides a compact, reliable, and cost-effective adjustment device that can be placed at various points in a vehicle, enabling adjustable air stream influencing elements during operation and reducing the need for extensive dimensioning of the main driving motor, while ensuring the failsafe mechanism can revert to a predefined position in case of a calamity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic or energy storage activation element to enable failsafe positioning
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a planetary gear system
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustment device for adjusting an air stream influencing element of a motor vehicle between at least a first position and a second position, comprising a driving unit for adjusting the air stream influencing element between at least the first position and the second position, provided with an input shaft having an input axis and an output shaft having an output axis which is at a distance from the input axis, wherein the driving unit has a first, part which is provided around the input axis of the driving unit, and has a second part, wherein the adjustment device is furthermore provided with a failsafe mechanism, wherein the failsafe mechanism engages the first part of the driving unit, wherein the failsafe mechanism comprises an auxiliary driving motor, separately from a main driving motor of the driving unit.