Movable Side Mirror Aerofoil for Adaptive Airflow and Drag Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The airflow around vehicle side mirrors is inefficient, leading to turbulence and increased drag, which interferes with the vehicle's aerodynamics.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic device comprising a side mirror with a movable aerodynamic body that can change its angle of attack and configuration to guide airflow efficiently, using actuators and drivers to adjust its position and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed aerodynamic body is attached to the side mirror, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the aerodynamic performance cannot be optimized for different driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic body is made movable relative to the side mirror cover through a rotation mechanism, allowing it to change its angle of attack dynamically. This enables the system to adapt to different driving conditions (highway, city, parking) while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complete redesign for each condition.
2Productivity
If the aerodynamic body is made movable with multiple configurations, then aerodynamic performance can be optimized, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic body is segmented into a modular design that can rotate independently from the side mirror cover. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual components while enabling multiple operational configurations through the rotation mechanism, balancing manufacturing ease with aerodynamic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic body's orientation parameter (angle of attack) is made variable through rotational movement. This allows optimization of aerodynamic performance for different driving scenarios without requiring complex multi-component systems, as only the orientation parameter needs to be adjusted rather than changing the entire structure.
3Productivity
If the aerodynamic body projects further from the side mirror, then airflow guidance improves, but the risk of interference with adjacent vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic body's projection distance is made dynamic through the rotation mechanism. In highway mode, it projects further to maximize airflow guidance efficiency. In city or parking modes, it rotates to a retracted position, minimizing the risk of interference with adjacent vehicles or obstacles, thus adapting to different operational contexts.
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 device improves airflow guidance around the side mirror, reducing turbulence and drag, enhancing vehicle performance by optimizing aerodynamic forces.
Implementation Method 1
an aerodynamic body being movably attached to the side mirror, the aerodynamic body projecting from the side mirror, the aerodynamic body being actuatable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration of the aerodynamic body having a first angle of attack and the second configuration of the aerodynamic body having a second angle of attack
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
Disclosed is an aerodynamic device (210) for guiding airflow around a side mirror (200) of a vehicle (700), the device comprising: the side mirror comprising a mirror surface (201), a cover (202) and a support structure (203) for mounting the cover to the vehicle at a mounting zone (204); and an aerodynamic body (205) being movably attached to the side mirror, the aerodynamic body projecting from the side mirror, the aerodynamic body being actuatable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration of the aerodynamic body having a first angle of attack and the second configuration of the aerodynamic body having a second angle of attack, the first angle of attack being different to the second angle of attack.