Vehicle Shutter Elastic Claw Decoupling Jammed Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shutter devices for vehicle front grilles are immobilized if one flap jams, potentially causing engine overheating due to inability to decouple and allow airflow for cooling.
Innovation Solution
The shutter device incorporates elastic claws to decouple jammed flaps from the transmitting part, allowing other flaps to pivot and prevent engine damage, with elastic claws oriented to facilitate decoupling when moving from the blocking to open position and re-coupling when returning to the blocking position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all flaps are coupled to the transmitting part, then the shutter device can maintain structural integrity and synchronized movement, but the entire shutter device becomes immobilized if one flap jams
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting part is segmented into multiple independent elastic claws, each capable of independently coupling to and decoupling from flaps. This segmentation allows individual flaps to be decoupled when jammed while other flaps remain coupled and functional, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and allowing operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic claws provide dynamic coupling and decoupling capability. The elastic deformation of the claws allows them to automatically decouple when a flap jams (by deforming beyond the engagement tolerance) and re-couple when the flap is freed, enabling the system to adapt its coupling state based on operational conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the shutter device uses a rigid transmitting part, then movement transmission is precise and reliable, but the device cannot adapt to jammed flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting part changes its physical state from rigid to elastic, allowing it to deform when flaps are jammed. This parameter change enables the system to maintain precise movement transmission during normal operation while adapting to abnormal conditions by allowing individual elastic claws to decouple from jammed flaps.
3Ease of repair
If the elastic claws are oriented for easy decoupling, then jammed flaps can be quickly released, but the coupling mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic claws are oriented and dimensioned to automatically decouple from jammed flaps through elastic deformation without requiring external intervention. The system performs the decoupling action itself based on the physical condition of the flaps, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms while maintaining ease of repair.
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
Enables the shutter device to function even with jammed flaps, preventing engine overheating and maintaining aerodynamic optimization by allowing airflow when needed, while allowing decoupled flaps to re-couple when unjammed.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitting part is coupled to each flap through a respective elastic claw, such that if one of the flaps jams and cannot pivot when it goes from the blocking position to the open position, said flap is decoupled from the elastic claw of the transmitting part
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Shutter device for a front grille of a vehicle, comprising a frame (2), a plurality of flaps (4) coupled in a pivoting manner to said frame (2) and suitable for pivoting between an airflow blocking position and an open position, an actuator (3), and a transmitting part (5) for transmitting the movement of the actuator (3) to the flaps (4). The transmitting part (5) is coupled to each flap (4) through a respective elastic claw (50), such that if one of the flaps (4) jams and cannot pivot when it goes from the blocking position to the open position, said flap (4) is decoupled from the elastic claw (50) of the transmitting part (5), allowing the rest of the flaps (4) to pivot.