Retractable Vehicle Wing Cover for Flush Sealing and Compact Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable wing assemblies for vehicles are too bulky and protruding, requiring significant space inside the vehicle and compromising the uniformity of the bodywork when retracted.
Innovation Solution
A retractable wing assembly with a casing that can pivot between retracted and deployed positions, featuring a cover that folds onto the casing in the retracted position to minimize protrusion and a cover that extends to close the opening, ensuring a flush fit with the vehicle's bodywork.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the casing has protruding parts to close the receptacle in deployed position, then the sealing function is improved, but the retraction space requirement increases and bodywork uniformity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into two functional parts: a fixed portion attached to the casing that provides sealing when deployed, and a movable portion that can fold against the casing during retraction. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained while reducing the protruding volume during retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover transitions from a static protruding structure to a dynamic component that can change its configuration. In deployed position, it extends to seal the receptacle opening; in retracted position, it folds against the casing to minimize protrusion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and retraction space.
2Reliability
If the casing has protruding parts to close the receptacle in deployed position, then the sealing function is improved, but the bodywork uniformity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into fixed and movable portions, allowing the sealing function to be concentrated in the fixed portion that remains aligned with the receptacle opening, while the movable portion folds during retraction. This ensures the sealing interface maintains bodywork uniformity while the movable part retracts cleanly.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic folding mechanism allows the cover to maintain a flush appearance with the bodywork in both deployed and retracted states. When deployed, the fixed portion seals the opening; when retracted, the movable portion folds against the casing, preventing any protrusion that would disrupt bodywork uniformity.
3Volume of moving object
If the casing is made compact for retraction, then the retraction space is reduced, but the sealing capability in deployed position is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cover's fixed portion is designed to extend sufficiently to seal the receptacle opening when deployed, while the movable portion can be compact during retraction. This segmentation allows the sealing capability to be maintained in the fixed portion without requiring the entire cover to be large, thus reducing retraction space.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic configuration allows the cover to optimize its size for different operational states. In deployed position, it extends to provide adequate sealing capability; in retracted position, it folds to a compact form factor that minimizes retraction space requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention refers to a retractable wing assembly (1) for vehicles, the assembly (1) comprising: a receptacle (2) having an opening (5) and a casing (3) fitted with a functional device (7), wherein the casing (3) is assembled with the receptacle (2), and it can move through the opening (5) of the receptacle (2). The casing (3) can reciprocate between a retracted position in which a major part of the casing (3) is concealed inside the receptacle (2), and a deployed position in which part of the casing (3) is deployed outside the receptacle (2). The assembly further comprising at least one cover (4, 4') that in the deployed position, the at least one cover (4, 4') is extended with respect to the casing (3) and the casing (3) together with the at least one cover (4, 4'), close at least a portion of the opening (5) of the receptacle (2) to prevent dirt or water from entering into the receptacle (2).