Vehicle Grille Fin Structure for Wind Noise and Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle grille structures generate wind noise due to airflow whirlpools near the partition lines of the grille fins, and attempts to mitigate this often result in a poor appearance when the partition lines are altered.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle grille structure featuring a reinforcement rib on the rear surface of the grille fin, which is thinner and inclined, disrupting the airflow whirlpools while being less visible from the outside, maintaining a uniform appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the partition line of the grille fin is set to offset or be inclined to suppress wind noise, then wind noise is reduced, but the appearance of the vehicle grille structure deteriorates as the partition line becomes easily visible and inclined when viewed laterally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wind noise suppression function from the visible partition line by introducing a separate reinforcement rib structure on the rear surface. This rib is positioned and sized to disrupt whirlpools while being less visible from outside, separating the aerodynamic function from the aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the wind noise control mechanism from the lateral view (partition line inclination) to the rear surface dimension (reinforcement rib on rear surface extending in up-down direction). This dimensional shift allows the rib to suppress whirlpools effectively while remaining less visible from the front/side views, thus resolving the appearance contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a reinforcement rib is added on the rear surface to suppress whirlpools, then wind noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement rib is integrated with the molding process of the grille fin, combining two functions (aesthetic appearance and wind noise suppression) into a single molded structure. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components while achieving both appearance and aerodynamic goals.
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 reinforcement rib effectively reduces wind noise by disrupting airflow whirlpools without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle grille structure.
Implementation Method 1
the airflow flowing through the vehicle forms a whirlpool near the stepped portion on the rear side of the grille fin
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a vehicle grille structure that is capable of suppressing wind noise and taking into account appearance. The vehicle grille structure includes: a vehicle exterior member, having a grille opening; a grille fin, provided on the grille opening and across the grille opening in an up and down direction of the vehicle; and a reinforcement rib, provided on a rear surface of the grille fin and having a size in a width direction of the vehicle that is smaller than a size of the grille fin in the width direction. The reinforcement rib extends in the up and down direction and is inclined in the width direction.