Segmented Ventilation Flap Geometry to Avoid Grille Collision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation flaps for vehicle fronts face challenges in minimizing the spacing between the flap and the foremost location of the vehicle front, leading to increased drag coefficients due to collisions with components like the grille during rotational movement.
Innovation Solution
The ventilation flap is divided into two regions, with the upper region extending vertically and parallel to the grille to avoid collisions, and the lower region extending downward, allowing the flap to be positioned closer to the front while minimizing drag coefficient impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the ventilation flap is positioned as close as possible to the foremost location of the vehicle front, then the drag coefficient is reduced and airflow over the vehicle is maximized, but the ventilation flap may collide with additional components such as the grille during rotational movement
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation flap is divided into two separate flaps: a first ventilation flap and a second ventilation flap. This segmentation allows each flap to have optimized geometry and positioning, enabling the first flap to extend closer to the foremost location while the second flap's geometry prevents collision with the grille during rotation. The segmented design resolves the contradiction by allowing the improving feature (drag reduction through forward positioning) while maintaining the worsening feature (collision prevention through geometric design).
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ventilation flap system are given different geometric properties. The first ventilation flap has a first geometry optimized for forward positioning, while the second ventilation flap has a second geometry specifically designed to avoid collision. This local quality differentiation allows each component to fulfill its specific function - the first flap minimizes drag by positioning close to the front, while the second flap's geometry ensures reliable operation without collision.
2Reliability
If the ventilation flap is positioned further away from the foremost location of the vehicle front, then collision with additional components is prevented, but the drag coefficient increases due to impact location formation
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ventilation flap into two separate flaps, the system can position the first flap closer to the front for better aerodynamics while the second flap's geometry prevents collision. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both reliability (collision prevention) and reduced drag coefficient simultaneously, rather than having to choose one over the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-flap design to a two-flap design, adding another dimension to the system. This dimensional change allows the first flap to optimize for aerodynamic positioning while the second flap provides the necessary clearance and geometric constraints to prevent collision, effectively resolving the contradiction through system expansion.
3Reliability
If regular additional components such as a grille are arranged between the foremost location and the ventilation flap, then collision is prevented, but the spacing requirement increases and drag coefficient worsens
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a grille component that would increase spacing, the invention applies local quality by designing the second ventilation flap with specific geometric properties that prevent collision. This geometric design allows the ventilation flap to be positioned closer to the foremost location without requiring additional protective components, thereby reducing the spacing distance while maintaining collision prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a ventilation flap for a ventilation flap assembly of a vehicle front. The ventilation flap blocks an air inlet of the vehicle front in a closed position and allows the air inlet in an open position. The ventilation flap can be rotated from the closed position into the open position by means of a rotational movement about a rotational axis by an actuator which can be connected to the rotational axis. The ventilation flap is divided into two adjoining regions in the vehicle vertical direction. A first upper region of the two regions in the vehicle vertical direction extends substantially in the vehicle vertical direction, and a second lower region of the two regions in the vehicle vertical direction extends rearwards in the vehicle longitudinal direction and downwards in the vehicle vertical direction from the first region.