Vehicle Cooling Device Undercover Sealing Impact Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles with heat exchanging type cooling devices positioned in the lower portion are susceptible to damage from upward impact loads and clogging due to foreign matter splashes, particularly in differential pressure air introducing systems, where the cooling performance is compromised.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design featuring an undercover with an air exhaust passage and an elastically deformable sealing member between the undercover and the cooler body, along with a high-strength component positioned to absorb impact, and a connector that disconnects before damage occurs, to mitigate upward impact and maintain cooling performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the undercover is attached to the cooler body to protect it from foreign matter, then the protection performance is improved, but the upward impact load is transmitted directly to the cooler body causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from foreign matterVSAvoidresistance to upward impact load

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A resilient sealing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the undercover and the cooler body. This sealing member absorbs and attenuates the upward impact load through its elastic deformation, preventing direct transmission of the impact force to the cooler body while maintaining the fluid-tight seal and protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient sealing member is pre-installed between the undercover and cooler body to provide beforehand cushioning against upward impact loads. When impact occurs, the sealing member deforms elastically to absorb the shock energy, protecting the cooler body from damage before the impact force can be transmitted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the sealing member is made rigid to ensure fluid tightness, then the sealing performance is improved, but the impact load transmission to the cooler body increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid tightnessVSAvoidresistance to upward impact load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member is designed with specific elastic properties and dimensional parameters that allow it to deform under impact loads while maintaining adequate sealing pressure. By optimizing the resilience parameter of the sealing member, it can accommodate vertical displacement between the undercover and cooler body without compromising the fluid-tight seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the undercover is made rigid to protect from foreign matter, then the protection performance is improved, but the impact load is transmitted directly to the cooler body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from foreign matterVSAvoidupward impact load transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient sealing member serves as a force-absorbing intermediary between the rigid undercover and the cooler body. It allows the undercover to maintain its protective function while absorbing the impact force through elastic deformation, preventing direct force transmission to the cooler body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively reduces the risk of cooler body damage and maintains cooling performance by allowing vertical displacement and deformation of the undercover, while ensuring fluid tightness and efficient air flow, even under upward impact loads.

Implementation Method 1

an elastically deformable sealing member in a closed form interposed between the air exhaust passage and the lower surface of the cooler body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanging type cooling device through which a coolant flows and which includes a cooler body disposed in a rear portion of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

the ambient air discharged through the lower surface of the cooler body is exhausted into outside atmosphere under a negative air pressure generated due to an air stream generated during running of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10793206B2Vehicle having cooling device

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle includes a heat exchanging type cooling device includes an undercover disposed below the cooler body and having an air exhaust passage into which the ambient air discharged through the lower surface of the cooler body is introduced and through which the ambient air is exhausted into outside atmosphere, under a negative air pressure generated due to an air stream generated during running of the vehicle; and an elastically deformable sealing member in a closed form interposed between the air exhaust passage and the lower surface of the cooler body. The undercover is attached to the body of the vehicle, such that a gap is provided between the undercover and the lower surface of the cooler body, and such that the sealing member fluid-tightly closes the gap.