Rear Side Air Guide With Cable Pull Actuation for Compact Airflow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air directing devices for motor vehicles lack a compact and reliable mechanism to optimally guide airflow in the lateral rear region behind the rear wheel housing, as they often require complex mechanisms or are not robust enough for effective displacement.

Innovation Solution

A compact air directing device with a cable pull drive mechanism that allows the air guidance element to be displaced between a retracted and extended position, using a guide and drive unit with a drive cable wound around a drive drum, enabling reliable and robust airflow guidance via a sliding block and guide rail system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex mechanism is used to displace the air guidance element, then the airflow guidance can be optimized, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of air guidance element displacementVSAvoidcomplexity of displacement mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of displacing the air guidance element and implements it through a simplified cable pull mechanism rather than a complex multi-component actuation system. The cable pull drive with drum and cable isolates the essential displacement function from unnecessary mechanical complexity, achieving reliable airflow guidance element actuation with a minimalistic mechanism that includes only the drum, cable, and basic mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex actuator to directly push or pull the air guidance element, the patent inverts the approach by using a cable pull mechanism where the cable is wound around a drum. This inverted mechanism converts rotational drum motion into linear cable tension, which then displaces the air guidance element through a connecting arm, achieving reliable displacement with fewer components and lower complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the air guidance element is extended out of the lateral rear region, then optimal airflow guidance is achieved, but the device occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow guidance effectivenessVSAvoidspace occupied by air directing device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic air guidance element that can transition between retracted and extended positions based on operational requirements. The cable pull mechanism allows the element to be extended out of the lateral rear region when optimal airflow guidance is needed, and retracted when space is constrained. This dynamic positioning capability enables the device to achieve effective airflow guidance while minimizing space occupation during non-operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The air guidance element is designed to move in multiple dimensions - primarily in the longitudinal direction when extended rearward for airflow guidance, and can also be positioned in the lateral dimension. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the element to achieve optimal airflow guidance positioning while maintaining a compact retracted profile that occupies minimal space when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides optimal airflow guidance in the lateral rear region by ensuring the air guidance element can be reliably transitioned between positions, maintaining a compact design and robust operation, thus enhancing airflow directionality and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a drive of the guide and drive unit is designed as a cable pull drive with a drive cable, which is preferably wound at least twice around a drive drum of the cable pull drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS20240343320A1Lateral rear region of a motor vehicle comprising an air directing device, and motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.10.17 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A lateral rear region of a vehicle includes a rear body member, which extends at least behind a rear wheel housing of the vehicle, and an air directing device. An air guidance element of the air directing device is displaceable relative to the rear body member between a rest position retracted into the lateral rear region and a service position extended out of the same such that, in the retracted rest position, a flow guide surface of the air guidance element is covered by the rear body member and that, in the extended operating position, the flow guide surface of the air guidance element is rearwardly displaced from the rear body member at least in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The air directing device includes a guide and drive unit, which guides and drives the air guidance element during the displacement relative to the rear body member.