Flexible Sheet Active Spoiler for Vehicle Drag Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing active spoiler systems face challenges in actuation and storage complexity, which affects their performance across varying conditions such as speed and weather.

Innovation Solution

The proposed active spoiler system employs a flexible sheet spooled on a roller, with a rigid bar that rotates to unspool the sheet, extending outward to act as a spoiler, improving aerodynamics while allowing for stowage when not in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a larger rear spoiler is used to reduce drag at high speeds, then fuel efficiency is improved, but vehicle stability decreases under unfavorable weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spoiler system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one, allowing the spoiler to change its deployment state based on driving conditions. The flexible sheet can be spooled onto the roller for retraction or unspooled for deployment, enabling the system to adapt between providing drag reduction at high speeds and maintaining stability in adverse weather conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If an active spoiler system with moving components is implemented to change configuration, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidactuation and storage complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible spoiler sheet is spooled onto a roller mechanism housed within the vehicle body, creating a nested configuration where the spoiler material is stored inside the vehicle structure. This nesting approach reduces external complexity and allows the spoiler to be compact when not in use while still providing full aerodynamic functionality when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The spoiler is constructed from a flexible sheet material rather than rigid components, allowing it to be easily spooled onto and off of the roller. This flexibility simplifies the actuation mechanism compared to rigid moving parts, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to change configuration for optimized aerodynamic performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11787485B2Flexible and storable active spoiler system

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An active spoiler system for a vehicle is disclosed that changes from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position, one or more flexible sheets are stored on rollers inside the body of the vehicle. The flexible sheets are pulled outward out of the body of the vehicle by a rigid bar that rotates around a pivot, in response to a controller. The deployed active spoiler may decrease drag thereby increasing fuel efficiency, while also allowing for the active spoiler to be stowed when not needed due to road or weather conditions.