Vehicle Hood Shield Aerodynamic Diverter and Adhesive Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle hood shields cause excessive hood flutter at high speeds and often require clips or fasteners for attachment, which can be impractical for vehicles with horizontal leading edges, and there is a need for improved aerodynamics to enhance fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle hood shield with a protection surface and an attachment surface featuring adhesive tape sections, a contoured aerodynamic diverter, and optional attachment clips that apply spring force, allowing for secure attachment without clips and enhancing aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clips or mechanical fasteners are used to attach the hood shield, then secure attachment is achieved, but the device complexity increases and adaptability to different vehicle designs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fastening systems (clips, screws, brackets) with an adhesive-based attachment system. The adhesive tape provides secure attachment while eliminating the complexity of mechanical components, allowing easy installation and removal without tools or specialized hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive attachment system provides universal applicability across different vehicle models and hood designs. The same adhesive-based hood shield can be attached to various vehicle types without requiring model-specific clips or mechanical fasteners, significantly improving adaptability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional hood shield design is used, then protection is provided, but excessive hood flutter occurs at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates aerodynamic contours and curved surfaces on the hood shield design. The contoured shape allows air to flow smoothly over the shield, reducing turbulence and pressure differentials that cause hood flutter at high speeds, while still providing effective protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the hood shield including its profile height, curvature radius, and edge geometry to optimize aerodynamic performance. These parameter changes reduce drag and minimize airflow-induced vibrations while maintaining protective functionality.
3Ease of operation
If adhesive tape is used for attachment, then ease of installation and adaptability improve, but attachment strength may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite adhesive tape construction combining multiple adhesive layers and reinforcement materials. This composite structure provides both the ease of application characteristic of adhesive systems and the attachment strength typically associated with mechanical fasteners, resolving the strength concern.
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 reduces hood flutter and provides effective protection and improved aerodynamics, enabling secure attachment without mechanical fasteners and accommodating various vehicle designs, including those with horizontal leading edges.
Implementation Method 1
the attachment surface comprising a first adhesive tape section extending along a leading edge of the attachment surface, and a second adhesive tape section extending along a trailing edge of the attachment surface
Implementation Method 2
an attachment clip comprises a first surface in contact with a top side of the hood, a second surface in contact with a bottom side of the hood, wherein the first and second surfaces apply a spring force onto the hood
Data Source
AI summary
A hood shield for use in protecting a vehicle hood from damage while the vehicle is in motion can include a protection surface configured to face away from the hood of the vehicle, an attachment surface opposite the protection surface and configured to face towards the hood of the vehicle, and an attachment clip configured to secure the hood shield to the vehicle.