Frunk Hood Venting With Air Bladder for Low-Force Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric vehicles, closing the hood of the front storage compartment (frunk) requires excessive effort due to trapped pressurized air, and existing venting systems risk contamination from ambient air through grille openings.
Innovation Solution
A closure assist system with an air inlet portal, conduit, and inflatable bladder that directs and captures pressurized air within a closed loop, allowing it to exit back into the compartment upon opening, while preventing external contaminants from entering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hood is sealed with an elastomer seal to prevent water and dirt from entering the storage space, then the sealing performance is improved, but the closing effort increases due to trapped pressurized air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressurized air from the storage space by providing a venting portal that allows air to escape during hood closure. This extraction of the harmful factor (pressurized air) resolves the contradiction by maintaining the seal for preventing water and dirt entry while reducing the closing effort through air venting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (venting portal or grille) that mediates between the sealed storage space and the external environment. This intermediary allows pressurized air to escape while the seal prevents water and dirt from entering, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing performance and closing effort.
2Force
If grille openings are provided to vent pressurized air from the storage space, then the closing effort is reduced, but water and dirt may enter through the openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the venting portal selective in its function. The portal is designed with specific characteristics (such as being positioned above the seal line or having specific geometry) that allow it to vent air while preventing water and dirt from entering, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing closing effort and preventing contaminant entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of pressurized air (which increases closing effort) into a beneficial flow pattern where the escaping air creates a protective effect that prevents water and dirt from entering through the venting portal. The air flow itself becomes a barrier against contaminants.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealed system is used to prevent water and dirt entry, then the protection against contaminants is improved, but pressurized air cannot escape during hood closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protection system into two distinct functions: a seal that prevents water and dirt entry, and a venting portal that allows pressurized air to escape. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the venting portal active during the closing process. The portal allows air to escape when needed (during closure when pressurization occurs) while maintaining protection against contaminants during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between sealed protection and pressure relief.
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
Facilitates easy hood closure with reduced effort and maintains compartment cleanliness by sealing the system from external elements.
Implementation Method 1
A bladder, that may be an inflatable bladder, is coupled with the conduit to receive the pressurized air from the storage space upon closing of the hood. The bladder expands upon receiving the pressurized air.
Implementation Method 2
A seal surrounds the opening of the containment member. The seal contacts the hood when it is in its closed position to provide an airtight seal pressuring air within the containment member.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle storage space closing assist system has an air inlet portal in the storage space to enable air to exit from the storage space upon closing a hood covering the storage space. A conduit directs air away from the storage space upon closing of the hood. A bladder couples with the conduit to receive pressurized air upon closing of the hood. An outlet portal is coupled with the conduit to enable exiting of the pressurized air back into the storage space upon opening of the hood.