Elastomeric Mudguard Scoop for Wheel Arch Water Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wing structures of motor vehicles experience overpressure and potential damage when driving through water, leading to stretching or loosening of the mudguard due to rising water levels in the wheel arches.
Innovation Solution
A scoop-shaped design is integrated into the mudguard at its lower rear part, allowing for the evacuation of water and excess pressure air from the wheel arch, made from a flexible elastomeric material that can deform to accommodate high pressures and direct water away from the vehicle's underbody.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the mudguard is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the mudguard cannot accommodate water pressure buildup when crossing fords
Solution Approach 1:
The mudguard is constructed from flexible elastomer material that can deform under water pressure to create escape routes, then return to its original shape. This flexibility allows the mudguard to adapt to varying water pressures while maintaining structural integrity through material properties rather than rigid construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The mudguard transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can change its configuration in response to water pressure. The flexible material allows the mudguard to dynamically create escape routes by deforming under pressure, enabling adaptation to different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mudguard is made flexible to accommodate water pressure, then adaptability is improved, but the mudguard may stretch or come loose
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elastomer material provides controlled deformability that allows the mudguard to create escape routes under water pressure while maintaining attachment stability. The material's elastic properties enable it to flex without permanently stretching or detaching from the vehicle body.
Solution Approach 2:
The mudguard's physical state changes in response to water pressure, with the flexible material deforming to create escape routes when pressure exceeds a certain threshold. This parameter-based response allows the mudguard to maintain reliability by only deforming when necessary, rather than continuously stretching.
3Reliability
If water is retained in the wheel arch to maintain sealing, then waterproofing is improved, but overpressure builds up causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible mudguard extracts excess water from the wheel arch by deforming to create escape routes that allow water to exit the sealed environment. This extraction mechanism prevents overpressure buildup while maintaining the waterproofing benefit of the sealed wheel arch under normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible mudguard prepares for potential overpressure by having the capability to deform and create escape routes before damage occurs. This preliminary adaptability prevents the harmful effect of overpressure by allowing water to escape before critical pressure levels are reached.
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 scoop effectively prevents overpressure issues, avoiding stretching, loosening, or breakage of the mudguard by facilitating the evacuation of water and air, ensuring a smoother passage through water and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the mudguard is made of a flexible elastomer material based on polypropylene or on polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, allowing the scoop to deform elastically to come into contact with a surrounding part of the vehicle body in case of high overpressure of air or water in the wheel arch
Implementation Method 2
the scoop is shaped to create a zone for draining water behind the mudguard under the underbody of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention concerns a structure of a motor vehicle wing having a mudguard provided with a water discharge scoop. According to the invention, the vehicle wing structure is characterised in that the mudguard (6) comprises, in the rear lower portion (7a) of the contour of said mudguard, a scoop (8) shaped to create an area for discharging water or overpressure air into the wheel arch (5) behind the mudguard (6) under the underbody of the vehicle. The invention is applicable to the motor vehicle field.