Vehicle Grille Flap Mechanism for Variable Airflow and Jam Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active air flaps for controlling airflow through vehicle grilles are complex, heavy, and require large motors due to their complex linkage structure, and they primarily function for simple airflow control.
Innovation Solution
An external variable opening and closing apparatus with a housing, a flap unit that tilts to open or close the opening portion, and a drive unit comprising a driver and an actuating member. The actuating member has guide holes with maintenance and tilting regions, allowing for sophisticated opening and closing operations and adjustable airflow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional active air flaps with complex linkage structure are used, then airflow control function is achieved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex linkage structure from conventional active air flaps, retaining only the essential airflow control function through a simplified flap unit that rotates directly on a rotation axis without intermediate linkages
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a motor to drive complex linkages to move multiple doors, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple rotation mechanism where the flap unit directly rotates on a rotation axis to control airflow, achieving the same function with inverted mechanical complexity
2Reliability
If conventional active air flaps with multiple rotating doors are used, then airflow control is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the flap control into independent flap units that can operate autonomously, each with its own simplified rotation mechanism, eliminating the need for heavy interconnected linkage structures while maintaining airflow control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the heavy linkage structure and multiple rotating door mechanism, extracting only the essential function of airflow control through a lighter flap unit that rotates on a simple rotation axis
3Ease of operation
If large motors are used to operate complex linkage structure, then flap operation is achieved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the large motor and complex linkage system, replacing them with a simplified rotation mechanism where the flap unit rotates directly on a rotation axis, achieving flap operation with reduced complexity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a motor to drive complex linkages, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple rotation mechanism where the flap unit directly rotates on a rotation axis, achieving the same operational capability with inverted system complexity
4Temperature
If grille remains open all the time for heat exchange, then cooling function is achieved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by making the grille opening variable through the flap unit that can rotate between open and closed positions, allowing the system to dynamically adjust airflow based on operating conditions rather than remaining statically open
Data Source
AI summary
Diversified opening and closing operations of a grille such as sequential or simultaneous operations enhance the sophistication of the opening and closing operations of the grille, contribute to the diversification of external design, and secure the airflow rate through the optimized structural arrangements. Furthermore, an external variable opening and closing apparatus that prevents jams and malfunctions of portions during the opening and closing operations of the grille to improve the reliability of the grille opening and closing operation is disclosed.