Passively Deployable Air Dam for Vehicle Aerodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air dams for automotive vehicles face a tradeoff between aerodynamic drag improvement at high speeds and protection from damage at low speeds, with active systems being costly and weight-additive due to motor, linkages, and controllers.
Innovation Solution
A passively deployable air dam assembly using springs to move between retracted and deployed positions based on ram air pressure, eliminating the need for motors and controllers, with deployment controlled by speed to optimize aerodynamics and ground clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the air dam is positioned lower to the ground, then aerodynamic drag is improved at high speeds, but the air dam is more susceptible to damage from contact with curbs or parking lot blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam is designed to be moveable rather than fixed, transitioning between a lowered position (when parked) and a raised position (when moving). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize aerodynamic drag during high-speed travel while protecting the air dam from damage during low-speed parking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's own motion and aerodynamic forces to automatically position the air dam. When the vehicle moves forward, aerodynamic pressure automatically raises the air dam to its aerodynamic position without requiring external actuators or control systems.
2Reliability
If an active air dam with motor and linkages is used to overcome the tradeoff, then both high-speed aerodynamics and low-speed protection are achieved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam system uses the vehicle's natural aerodynamic forces and the spring mechanism to automatically position itself without requiring external power sources, motors, or electronic controllers. The system serves itself by utilizing the aerodynamic pressure generated during vehicle operation to raise and hold the air dam in its aerodynamic position.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex active components (motors, linkages, controllers, wiring) are completely removed from the system. Only the essential spring mechanism remains, which works passively with aerodynamic forces to achieve the desired air dam positioning without any active control systems.
3Ease of operation
If an active air dam system with motor and wiring is installed, then deployment control is achieved, but the vehicle weight increases and warranty concerns arise from exposed components
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for power supplies, motors, and electronic control systems by using passive aerodynamic forces combined with a spring mechanism. This dramatically reduces vehicle weight while maintaining effective deployment control through the natural interaction between aerodynamic pressure and the spring-biased air dam structure.
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
Improves high-speed fuel economy without compromising low-speed parking protection, reducing costs and warranty concerns by using natural aerodynamic pressures for deployment, minimizing deployment cycling, and eliminating the need for a power supply.
Implementation Method 1
a passive deployment assembly including at least one spring biasing the passively deployable air dam into a retracted position
Implementation Method 2
a ram air pressure on the front surface of the passively deployable air dam at the activation speed will cause the passively deployable air dam to move closer to the ground against the bias of the spring
Data Source
AI summary
An air dam assembly mounted under a front end of a vehicle includes a passively deployable air dam assembly. The passively deployable air dam assembly includes a passively deployable air dam having a front surface at least partially exposed to ram air when the vehicle is traveling in a forward direction, and a passive deployment assembly including at least one spring biasing the passively deployable air dam into a retracted position, with the passive deployment assembly engaging the passively deployable air dam to allow the passively deployable air dam to move, against the bias of the spring, from the retracted position to a deployed position closer to ground under the vehicle when a forward speed of the vehicle reaches or exceeds a predetermined activation speed.