Vehicle Shutter Frame Structure for Narrow Heat Exchanger Gaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to design a shutter device for vehicles that can be mounted in a narrow space between heat exchangers without compromising rigidity, as reduced thickness leads to elastic deformation and potential contact with the heat exchanger cores during vehicle vibrations, risking damage to the cores.
Innovation Solution
The shutter device incorporates a frame with protrusions that contact the remaining portions of the heat exchangers, restricting further deformation and preventing contact with the core areas, thereby enhancing rigidity and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the shutter device is mounted in a narrow space between heat exchangers, then the space utilization is improved, but the frame rigidity deteriorates causing elastic deformation during vehicle vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple segments with protrusions at specific locations. These protrusions act as independent reinforcement elements that contact the heat exchanger remaining portions to prevent elastic deformation of the frame segments between them, resolving the rigidity issue while maintaining compact mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame utilizes a composite structure combining the frame body with protrusions that interact with the heat exchanger remaining portions. This composite arrangement creates a reinforced system where the protrusions and heat exchanger remaining portions work together to prevent frame deformation during vibrations.
2Reliability
If the frame rigidity is increased to prevent deformation, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are integrated directly into the frame structure rather than being separate components. This merging approach reinforces the frame to prevent deformation while avoiding the complexity of additional separate parts, fasteners, or adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger remaining portions serve a dual function: their original heat exchange function plus acting as deformation prevention surfaces for the protrusions. This self-service approach prevents frame deformation without requiring additional dedicated support structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If the frame is allowed to deform elastically, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the harmful factors increase as the frame and blades may contact the heat exchanger cores
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions act as intermediary elements between the frame and the heat exchanger remaining portions. They transmit and limit the elastic deformation, ensuring the frame stays within safe deformation boundaries that prevent contact with the vulnerable heat exchanger cores.
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 effectively restricts the frame and blades from deforming into the heat exchanger cores, ensuring the shutter device maintains functionality and prevents core damage from vibrations, while allowing airflow control.
Implementation Method 1
when the frame is elastically deformed due to vibrations of the vehicle or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter device includes a frame, an opening-closing portion, and a protrusion. The frame is disposed between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger and defines an inner space through which air introduced from a grill opening of a vehicle flows in an airflow direction. Each of the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger has a core and a remaining portion other than the core. The opening-closing portion is configured to selectively open and close the inner space of the frame. The protrusion protrudes, in a direction parallel to the airflow direction, from the frame toward the remaining portion of at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.