Front Cowling Wing with Air Guide Path for Speed-Dependent Downforce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddle-type vehicles with front cowlings and wings face challenges in balancing downforce for stability at low speeds and reducing running resistance at high speeds, as existing designs prioritize downforce over reducing air resistance at high speeds.
Innovation Solution
A front cowling design featuring a cowling panel with laterally protruding wings where the rear edge is higher than the front edge, incorporating an air guide path that takes in wind and discharges it below the wing, adjusting airflow to increase downforce at low speeds and reduce it at high speeds by varying airflow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the wing receives traveling wind to generate downforce, then traveling stability is improved, but running resistance increases at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the downforce generated by the wing adjustable rather than fixed. The air guide path allows airflow to be directed underneath the wing, dynamically changing the pressure distribution and downforce magnitude based on vehicle speed. At low speeds, the system maintains high downforce for stability, while at high speeds, the airflow redirection reduces downforce to minimize running resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the airflow characteristics underneath the wing. By controlling the flow rate and pressure of air discharged from the air guide path into the space below the wing, the system changes the effective downforce parameter. This allows the same wing structure to provide different levels of downforce depending on operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between stability and running resistance.
2Ease of operation
If downforce is increased to improve operability at low speeds, then ground contact force increases, but air resistance increases at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between operability and air resistance by varying the airflow through the air guide path. At low speeds, sufficient downforce is maintained for good operability and ground contact. At high speeds, the airflow redirection mechanism reduces downforce, thereby reducing the harmful air resistance while maintaining adequate operability through the adjusted pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the airflow pressure and flow rate parameters to achieve different operational characteristics. By controlling these parameters, the system optimizes the balance between ground contact force (affecting operability) and air resistance at different speed regimes, allowing the same structure to serve multiple operational requirements.
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 design enhances operability and traveling stability at low speeds while reducing running resistance at high speeds, improving overall vehicle performance by dynamically managing airflow pressure differences across the wing surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
when the wing receives the traveling wind, the pressure on the lower surface of the wing is lower than the pressure on the upper surface of the wing
Implementation Method 2
an air guide path is formed that takes in traveling wind from the front of the vehicle and discharges the traveling wind as an airflow into a space below the wing
Data Source
AI summary
A front cowling includes a cowling panel that covers a front portion of a vehicle from the front and sides, and a wing that protrudes laterally from the cowling panel. The rear edge of the wing is located higher than a front edge of the wing. An air guide path is formed that takes in a traveling wind from the front of the vehicle and discharges the traveling wind as an airflow into a space below the wing.