Vehicle Cooling Fan Shield Rib Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling fan devices face challenges in reducing noise during operation without compromising cooling performance, especially in limited vehicle spaces, as high air velocity regions often lead to noise production and existing solutions either reduce cooling efficiency or complicate the design.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cooling fan device featuring a box-shaped fan shroud with at least two cooling fans and a shield rib that separates the air flow regions, incorporating cut-out portions in the shield rib to reduce high velocity air regions and ensure uniform air flow, thereby minimizing noise without affecting cooling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooling fans are driven at high speed to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise increases due to high velocity air regions
Solution Approach 1:
A shield rib is introduced as an intermediary structure between the cooling fan and the radiator/condenser. The shield rib includes a cut-out portion that acts as a flow control element, modifying the air flow pattern to reduce high velocity regions while maintaining overall cooling performance. This intermediary structure mediates between the fan's high-speed operation and the noise problem it generates.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield rib is positioned locally at specific locations where high velocity air regions cause noise, rather than modifying the entire cooling system. The cut-out portion in the shield rib creates localized flow control zones that reduce noise-generating turbulence in critical areas while preserving cooling efficiency in other regions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a shield rib is added to reduce noise by separating air flow regions, then noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield rib is designed as a segmented structure with a cut-out portion rather than a solid continuous barrier. This segmentation allows the structure to perform multiple functions: it still separates air flow regions to reduce noise, but the cut-out portion maintains some air flow passage to limit the increase in structural complexity and preserve cooling performance.
3Area of stationary object
If the fan shroud space is fully utilized to accommodate components, then space efficiency is improved, but air flow uniformity deteriorates due to high velocity regions
Solution Approach 1:
The shield rib with its cut-out portion changes the flow parameters (velocity distribution) in the air flow path. By strategically positioning the shield rib and designing the cut-out portion, the air flow velocity is redistributed to reduce high velocity regions that cause noise, while maintaining uniform cooling across the radiator/condenser surfaces.
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 noise by eliminating high velocity air regions while maintaining cooling efficiency and simplicity, suitable for installation in limited vehicle spaces without requiring additional space or design complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The shield rib extends from an upper side toward a lower side of the fan coupling surface, projects toward the at least one of the radiator and the condenser, and includes an upper end portion and a lower end portion. The lower end portion of the shield rib includes a cut-out portion that allows air to flow between the adjacent cooling fans.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
This cooling fan device for a vehicle comprises: a fan shroud which is shaped as a box accommodating a radiator and/or a condenser, and which has an opening in the front side in the travel direction of the vehicle and a fan coupling surface in the rear side in the travel direction; at least two cooling fans disposed in the fan coupling surface, the cooling fans having center axes vertically separated from each other by a predetermined distance; and a shield rib extending downward from the top of the fan coupling surface, protruding toward the radiator and/or the condenser, and having a top end and a bottom end, the shield rib being provided to the fan coupling surface between the adjacent cooling fans. The top end and/or the bottom end of the shield rib have a cutout section allowing air to pass between the adjacent cooling fans.