Air Intake Grille Shutter Mounting for Modular Front Fascias
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle front fascia assemblies are not compatible with multiple engine types, leading to reduced production gains and increased energy consumption due to airflow through air intake grilles, which is particularly problematic for electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A modular front fascia assembly with a shutter that attaches directly to the grille's mesh using fastening means, allowing integration without structural modifications, maintaining pedestrian safety and optimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If air intake grilles are closed off for electric vehicles to reduce aerodynamic losses, then energy consumption is reduced and driving range is optimized, but production gains from mass production are reduced due to the need for specific adjustments for different engine types
Solution Approach 1:
The front fascia assembly is divided into modular components: a reusable bumper skin element, a removable grille assembly, and an optional shutter. This segmentation allows the same bumper assembly to be used across multiple engine types while enabling configuration changes (grille open/closed) based on specific vehicle powertrain requirements, thus maintaining production efficiency while adapting to different energy consumption needs
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter assembly introduces dynamic configurability to the front fascia, allowing the air intake to transition between open and closed states. This dynamic element enables the same physical assembly to serve both combustion engine vehicles (intake open) and electric vehicles (intake closed), resolving the contradiction between energy optimization and production versatility
2Use of energy by moving object
If a shutter is added to the air intake grille to control airflow, then energy consumption is reduced, but the complexity of the front fascia assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter assembly is merged with the grille assembly as an integrated unit that can be pre-assembled and then installed as a single module onto the bumper skin. This combining approach consolidates multiple functions (grille structure, shutter mechanism, fastening means) into one assembly, reducing the number of separate installation steps and minimizing the increase in overall system complexity while still achieving energy reduction benefits
3Reliability
If fastening means are added to attach the shutter to the grille, then the shutter can be securely fixed, but the ease of installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening means are extracted as a distinct functional component of the grille assembly, separate from the bumper skin element. This allows the grille and shutter to be pre-assembled with fastening mechanisms already in place, enabling quick installation onto the bumper without requiring complex assembly steps during vehicle production or service, thus maintaining ease of installation while ensuring secure attachment
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a front fascia assembly (16) for a motor vehicle, available in electric or internal combustion engine versions. The front fascia assembly comprises a bumper skin element, an air inlet opening delimited by the bumper skin element, a grille (32) for the air inlet opening (26), said grille comprising a plurality of partitions (42) defining meshes (44) communicating with the air inlet opening; and a shutter (34) comprising at least one panel (36) covering the grille. The shutter includes fastening means (40) cooperating with the partitions of the grille to secure the shutter to the grille.