Rear Bumper Shield Layout for Silencer Concealment and Airflow Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lower vehicle-body structures with a silencer transversely disposed on the lower front side of the rear bumper degrade the vehicle's appearance when viewed from the rear, especially under night lighting, and suffer from aerodynamic inefficiencies due to underfloor air entrainment.
Innovation Solution
A shielding member is positioned between the rear bumper and the silencer, extending in the vehicle width direction to overlap with the silencer's rear vertical wall and featuring a guide portion that directs underfloor air downward, with optional blow-out holes to enhance airflow deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the silencer is disposed lower than the rear bumper to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the appearance of the vehicle is degraded when viewed from the rear side
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding member is introduced as an intermediary component between the silencer and the rear bumper. This shielding member has a guide portion that directs underfloor traveling air downward, preventing air entrainment while maintaining the silencer's lower position for aerodynamic benefits. The shielding member thus mediates between the aerodynamic requirements and appearance requirements.
2Loss of energy
If the rear bumper is positioned to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the silencer becomes visible from the rear side degrading appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding member serves as a mediator that allows the rear bumper to be positioned optimally for aerodynamics while preventing the silencer from being visible. The shielding member's guide portion actively manages airflow to prevent entrainment, thus resolving the contradiction between aerodynamic performance and appearance.
3Loss of energy
If the silencer is positioned lower to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but underfloor traveling air is entrained by the rear bumper
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding member is positioned between the silencer and rear bumper to prevent air entrainment. The guide portion of the shielding member actively redirects underfloor traveling air downward, preventing it from being entrained by the rear bumper while maintaining the aerodynamic benefits of the lower silencer position.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect of air entrainment is extracted and redirected by the guide portion of the shielding member. The guide portion separates the underfloor traveling air from the rear bumper area, directing it downward instead of allowing it to be entrained, thus eliminating the harmful effect while preserving aerodynamic benefits.
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
This configuration improves the vehicle's appearance by reducing silencer visibility from the rear and enhances aerodynamic characteristics by deflecting underfloor air, thereby reducing air entrainment behind the rear bumper.
Implementation Method 1
the shielding member is provided with a guide portion that guides underfloor traveling air downward, the underfloor traveling air flowing to a rear side through a lower portion of the silencer
Data Source
AI summary
A shield may be provided between a rear bumper and a silencer, the shield may be provided so as to extend in the vehicle width direction to overlap with at least a rear vertical wall of the silencer in the up-down direction in vehicle rear view, and the shield may be provided with a guider that guides underfloor traveling air downward, the underfloor traveling air flowing to the rear side through a lower portion of the silencer.