Angled Radiator Air Shutter Layout for Tight Vehicle Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air flow regulation devices for vehicle radiators require significant space and cannot be easily adapted to the vehicle's geometry, leading to increased air resistance and difficulties in assembly.
Innovation Solution
A device with angled cover elements and a single driver that transmits movement via a driver with an angular offset, allowing for efficient adaptation to the vehicle's geometry and reduced installation space, while ensuring reliable sealing and improved aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional air flow regulation device is installed close to the opening, then the air cushion is reduced and drag coefficient is optimized, but the device requires more space and cannot be easily adapted to vehicle geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple cover elements (first cover elements and second cover elements) that can be independently positioned and angled. This segmentation allows each element to be optimally positioned to reduce air cushion while adapting to the vehicle's specific geometry, resolving the contradiction between reducing harmful air flow effects and adapting to vehicle contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover elements are arranged at angles to each other and can be positioned in three-dimensional space rather than being constrained to a single plane. This dimensional flexibility enables the device to conform to complex vehicle geometries while maintaining effectiveness in reducing air cushion and drag coefficient.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover elements are arranged at an angle to each other, then the device can be adapted to vehicle geometry with minimal effort, but the transmission mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cover elements are connected to a common driver through a transmission mechanism, merging their movement control into a single coordinated system. This allows the angled arrangement of cover elements to be controlled by one driver, reducing the complexity that would otherwise result from controlling each element independently while maintaining adaptability to vehicle geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single driver and the multiple angled cover elements. This intermediary component translates the driver's rotational movement into coordinated angular positioning of each cover element, enabling complex angled arrangements to be controlled by a simple single-driver system.
3Device complexity
If a single driver is used to move multiple cover elements, then the device construction is simplified, but the transmission of movement to angled cover elements becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is designed to dynamically adapt to the angled positions of different cover elements. The mechanism can accommodate varying angles and positions of cover elements while being driven by a single driver, making the system easier to operate by automatically adjusting to the geometric requirements of each element's angled position.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for controlling an air flow flowing to a cooling device of a vehicle, said air flow can be guided to the cooling device by at least one opening (1), said device comprises at least two cover elements (20, 21) for at least partially closing the opening (1) in at least one closed position (II), and a drive mechanism (30) for moving the cover elements (20, 21) between the closed position (II) and an open position (I) for at least partially releasing the opening (1). A driver (40) for transferring a movement of the drive (30) to the cover elements (20, 21) is provided, said cover elements (20, 21) being arranged at an angle with respect to each other.