Movable Vehicle Grille for Aerodynamic and Cooling Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front end structures for vehicles face a conflict between aerodynamic and cooling performance due to the varying air flow rate through the grille, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs, weight, and potential breakage of active air flap systems.
Innovation Solution
A movable grille body system that adjusts its position relative to the front end body in the longitudinal direction, guided by actuators and controllers, to optimize air flow based on vehicle conditions, improving both aerodynamic and cooling performance without the complexities of active air flap systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the grille openings are kept open to improve cooling performance, then aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to increased air flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The grille body is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing the opening area to be dynamically adjusted based on vehicle speed and cooling requirements. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the grille to provide maximum cooling when needed while minimizing aerodynamic drag during high-speed travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening area of the grille is changed as a variable parameter rather than being fixed. By controlling the movement of the grille body, the opening area can be adjusted to optimize the balance between cooling performance and aerodynamic efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an active air flap system is used to adjust air flow, then cooling and aerodynamic performance improve, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex motor, support structure, and sensor systems from the active air flap design. Instead, it uses a simplified movable grille body system that achieves air flow adjustment through structural design rather than active mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable grille body system is designed to operate without requiring additional motors, complex support structures, or breakage sensors. The system self-regulates air flow based on its movable design, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an active air flap system is used, then air flow can be controlled, but vehicle weight increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the heavy motor, support structure, and sensor components from the air flow control system. The movable grille body achieves air flow control through a lightweight structural design, significantly reducing the weight added by the control system.
4Ease of manufacture
If the grille body is fixed, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but aerodynamic and cooling performance cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The grille body is designed with movable capability rather than being fixed, allowing the opening area to be adjusted based on operating conditions. This dynamic design enables performance optimization while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening area is designed as a variable parameter that can be changed through the movement of the grille body. This allows the same basic structure to provide different performance levels without requiring multiple fixed grille designs, balancing manufacturing simplicity with performance adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A front end structure for a vehicle includes a front end body having a front end surface and a grille body having a plurality of openings. The grille body is mounted to be movable with respect to the front end body. The grille body is movable between a position close to the front end surface of the front end body and a position recessed from the front end surface of the front end body.