Vehicle Cooling Air Guide Nozzle Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling air guides for motor vehicles are complex, require additional components, and do not efficiently guide outlet air aerodynamically to the undersurface, leading to increased vehicle resistance and front axle lift.

Innovation Solution

An outlet air guide is formed between the front skirt and the body shell undersurface, using existing components, with strategically positioned outlet openings that narrow into a nozzle shape to direct radiator outlet air parallel to the undersurface, reducing resistance and lift without additional parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If additional air guiding components are used to guide outlet air under the vehicle, then aerodynamic guidance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle resistance and front axle liftVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air guiding function with the existing front skirt component by integrating an outlet air guide between the front skirt and body shell undersurface. This eliminates the need for separate air guiding components while maintaining aerodynamic guidance of outlet air parallel to the undersurface, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while still improving vehicle resistance and front axle lift characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional air guiding components are installed, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet air guide is integrated into the existing front skirt structure rather than being manufactured as a separate component. This merging approach reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while still achieving the aerodynamic benefit of guiding outlet air parallel to the undersurface to reduce vehicle resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If outlet openings are positioned to direct air perpendicular to roadway, then cooling function is achieved, but aerodynamic resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradiator coolingVSAvoidvehicle resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific nozzle-shaped flow cross-section in the outlet air guide that transitions the air flow direction locally. The outlet openings are positioned and shaped to gradually redirect the air flow from a perpendicular direction to a direction parallel to the undersurface, maintaining cooling effectiveness while reducing aerodynamic resistance in the critical front end region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet air guide features a curved, nozzle-shaped flow cross-section that smoothly transitions the air flow direction. This curved geometry allows the air to be gradually redirected from perpendicular to parallel flow relative to the undersurface, reducing turbulence and aerodynamic resistance while maintaining the cooling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If front skirt is modified to create outlet gap, then aerodynamic guidance is improved, but manufacturing complexity of front skirt increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefront axle liftVSAvoidfront skirt structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front skirt is segmented into functional zones: a lower portion that forms the outlet gap with the body shell undersurface, and an upper portion that maintains the original structural function. This segmentation allows the outlet gap to be created as a distinct feature within the front skirt, improving aerodynamic guidance of front axle air flows while keeping the overall manufacturing complexity manageable through clear functional division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution simplifies construction, reduces weight and costs, and effectively directs radiator outlet air parallel to the undersurface, minimizing vehicle resistance and front axle lift.

Implementation Method 1

The second air guide duct is arranged downstream behind the radiator and narrows in a nozzle shape as far as the outlet gap. Bringing the rear free end of the bottom part of the front skirt close to the body shell undersurface results in a narrowing up to the outlet gap and hence gives rise to the nozzle. As a result, the radiator outlet air is accelerated and diverted parallel to the undersurface of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNozzle effect: De Laval Nozzle

Data Source

PatentUS9199674B2Cooling air guide for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

An outlet air guide is formed between a front skirt and a body shell undersurface of a vehicle. The guide has at least one outlet opening having an outlet gap configured so that an outlet air flow can be guided out parallel to the undersurface from a radiator.