Deflectable Active Air Dam Assembly with Spring-Loaded Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active air dams for vehicles lack the ability to deflect in response to applied loads, such as when driving over debris, which can lead to damage, and do not effectively rebound to their original position once the load is removed.
Innovation Solution
An active air dam assembly that pivots relative to the vehicle bumper between a home and deflected position, utilizing an actuator system with a screw drive and gear rack mechanism, or a multi-link system, to transition between raised and deployed positions, and is biased by springs to return to the home position after a load is removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the air dam is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then it can effectively manage airflow, but it becomes susceptible to damage when encountering debris or obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam is designed with a pivot connection to the bumper, allowing it to dynamically change from a fixed rigid structure to a deflectable component. When debris or obstacles are encountered, the air dam can pivot away from its operational position, avoiding damage while maintaining structural integrity. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between rigidity for airflow management and flexibility for damage avoidance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air dam is designed to deflect to avoid damage, then it can survive impacts with debris, but it may not effectively return to its original position for proper airflow management
Solution Approach 1:
A spring mechanism is integrated into the pivot connection to provide a restoring force that automatically returns the air dam to its original operational position after deflection. The spring acts as a counterbalancing element that stores energy during deflection and releases it to rebound the air dam back to its home position, ensuring reliable return without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems.
3Reliability
If the air dam remains in a fixed position, then it provides consistent airflow management, but it cannot adapt to varying road conditions and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic component capable of pivoting in response to applied loads from debris or obstacles. The spring-loaded pivot mechanism allows automatic adaptation to varying road conditions while maintaining the home position for consistent airflow management during normal operation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the air dam is made deflectable to avoid damage, then it can pivot away from obstacles, but it may not have sufficient force to rebound to the home position
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is specifically designed to provide adequate rebound force to overcome the weight and inertia of the air dam, ensuring it reliably returns to the home position after deflection. The spring constant and pre-load are optimized to generate sufficient restoring force for the air dam's mass and deflection range.
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 air dam effectively deflects to avoid damage when encountering obstacles and rebounds to its original position, enhancing vehicle operation by managing airflow and reducing the risk of contact with debris.
Implementation Method 1
a spring that biases the air dam toward the home position
Data Source
AI summary
An active air dam assembly includes, among other things, an air dam configured to pivot relative to a vehicle bumper back and forth between a home position and a deflected position and an actuator system configured to transition the air dam vertically between a raised position and a deployed position.