Active Grille Shutter Vanes With Integrated Support for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Active Grille Shutter (AGS) devices for motor vehicles face issues such as deformation under pressure, leading to unwanted contact with cooling modules and noise due to vane vibrations, which affect airflow control and vehicle performance.
Innovation Solution
An air flow control device with rotatable vanes and a support bar system that includes fins and a guiding groove, allowing vanes to rotate between open and closed positions while minimizing deformation and vibration, and utilizing vibration damping materials to enhance stability and reduce noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long vanes are used to block airflow effectively, then the cooling performance is improved, but the vanes deform under pressure and contact cooling modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical support bar dimension perpendicular to the vane's main extension direction. This additional dimensional support prevents the vane from deforming in the horizontal plane under pressure, allowing the vane to maintain its structural integrity while still blocking airflow effectively when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining the vane material with a vibration damping material layer. This composite construction allows the vane to resist deformation under pressure while reducing vibrations and noise during operation, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and vibration control.
2Reliability
If long vanes are used to block airflow effectively, then the cooling performance is improved, but the vanes generate unwanted noise due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining the vane material with a vibration damping material layer. This composite construction allows the vane to resist deformation under pressure while reducing vibrations and noise during operation, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and vibration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the vane by adding vibration damping material and introducing support bars, which modifies the vane's stiffness and damping characteristics. This allows the vane to maintain cooling performance while reducing vibration-induced noise.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional support elements are added to prevent vane deformation, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to prevent vane deformation, acts as a vibration damping element, and guides the vane's rotation between open and closed positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate support elements, maintaining structural stability while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the support function with the existing vane structure by integrating the support bar directly into the frame assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate support components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining vane stability.
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 solution effectively modulates airflow, reduces deformation and noise, and simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for additional support elements, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the device.
Implementation Method 1
the edges of the fins comprise a vibration damping material
Data Source
AI summary
An air flow control device for a front face module of a motor vehicle, the control device including a frame and a plurality of vanes extending within and attached thereto in a rotatable manner, each vane being rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main extension direction of each vane. The vanes being able to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The frame includes an integral support bar extending in direction perpendicular to the main extension direction of the vanes, with the vanes having fins configured to rest on the support bar when the vanes are closed and pressured towards the support bar.