Climate-Controlled Front Trunk With Zoned Cargo Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of electrified vehicles creates new opportunities for storage space, but existing solutions lack effective climate control for maintaining specific temperatures in the front trunk, limiting its utility for transporting items that require thermal conditioning.
Innovation Solution
A climate-controlled front trunk system that includes an insulated container and a divider assembly, where thermally conditioned air from the vehicle's climate control system is directed into the front trunk, allowing for separate temperature-controlled sections, and a soft-sided cooler that can expand or reduce in height, with a magnetic lid to optimize space and temperature management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the front trunk is used as a storage compartment in electrified vehicles, then cargo space is created, but climate control capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The front trunk space is segmented into multiple sections using divider assemblies with adjustable divider walls. These dividers create separate compartments that can be independently managed, with some sections receiving thermally conditioned air while others remain unconditioned, allowing flexible temperature control for different cargo types.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulated container (soft-sided cooler) is introduced as an intermediary element within the front trunk. This cooler receives thermally conditioned air from the vehicle's climate control system and uses insulation to maintain desired temperatures for stored items, effectively bridging the gap between the unconditioned trunk space and temperature-sensitive cargo.
2Temperature
If thermally conditioned air is directed into the front trunk, then temperature control is achieved, but space efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The soft-sided cooler is designed with dynamic height adjustment capability, allowing it to expand when temperature control is needed and collapse to a reduced height when not in use. This dynamic behavior optimizes space utilization by adapting the cooler's volume to the actual thermal conditioning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature control is applied locally only to specific sections or items that require it, rather than conditioning the entire front trunk space. The insulated container receives conditioned air only where needed, while other areas of the trunk remain unconditioned and fully available for cargo storage.
3Temperature
If a rigid insulated container is used in the front trunk, then temperature control is maintained, but space flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A soft-sided flexible cooler is used instead of a rigid container. The flexible sides allow the cooler to adapt to the available space in the front trunk, accommodate divider wall positions, and be compressed when not in use. This flexibility maintains temperature control capability while maximizing space versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler's height is made dynamic through a collapsible design that allows it to transition between an expanded condition for use and a reduced-height condition for storage. This dynamic adjustment provides adaptability to different cargo configurations while maintaining the temperature control function when needed.
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
Enables the efficient transportation and storage of items at desired temperatures, enhancing the usability of the front trunk for hot or cold items, such as food, by maintaining consistent temperature conditions within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
an insulated container arranged in the cargo space
Implementation Method 2
the front trunk is configured to receive thermally conditioned air from the climate control system
Implementation Method 3
a magnetic lid to optimize space and temperature management
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a climate controlled front trunk. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a climate control system; and a front trunk establishing a cargo space, wherein the front trunk is configured to receive thermally conditioned air from the climate control system.