Movable Door Mirror Actuator for Wind Flow Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles experience a decline in compartment temperature due to wind-generated heat loss through side windows, especially at high speeds, which reduces heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A door mirror system with a movable mirror body and actuator that adjusts its position relative to the vehicle body, altering the interval between the mirror and the vehicle body to manage wind flow and minimize heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the door mirror stay and mirror body are used to rectify traveling wind, then aerodynamic characteristics are improved, but heat loss from the vehicle compartment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the mirror body movable relative to the door mirror stay through an actuator mechanism. The mirror body can pivot between a first position (for aerodynamic performance) and a second position (for reduced heat loss). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining good aerodynamic characteristics and preventing excessive heat loss from the vehicle compartment.
2Productivity
If the mirror body is positioned close to the vehicle body, then aerodynamic characteristics are maintained, but wind flow along the side window increases heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle by enabling the mirror body to dynamically change its position relative to the vehicle body. When the mirror body is in the first position, it maintains aerodynamic characteristics by allowing wind to flow smoothly along the vehicle body. When switched to the second position, it redirects the wind flow away from the side window area, reducing heat loss and preventing excessive cooling of the compartment. The actuator enables this dynamic repositioning based on environmental conditions.
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 system effectively reduces heat loss from the vehicle compartment, maintaining a stable temperature and improving heating efficiency by redirecting wind flow away from the side windows.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator that changes an interval between the vehicle body and the mirror body. The mirror body is actuated in accordance with at least any of a traveling environment and a passenger state
Implementation Method 2
Traveling wind flowing along a side window while the vehicle is traveling, however, takes away heat from the vehicle compartment via the side window in some cases
Data Source
AI summary
A door mirror is disposed at a side of a vehicle body, and the door mirror includes a mirror body that is provided at a tip of a door mirror stay extending from the side of the vehicle body in at least one of a width direction and a vertical direction of the vehicle body, and an actuator that changes an interval between the vehicle body and the mirror body. The mirror body is actuated in accordance with at least any of a traveling environment and a passenger state.