Front Spoiler Flow Guide with Detent Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Front spoiler arrangements face challenges in protecting the flow guiding component from collisions at high driving speeds without increasing space requirements, as existing solutions either deform under wind loads or provide limited deviation in case of obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A front spoiler arrangement with a connection device featuring a surmountable detent formation that separates two operating positions, preventing retraction beyond a retracted end position and allowing for a controlled deviation movement upon collision, using a coupling element between the moving actuator and flow guiding component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sliding coupling is used to allow deviation movement in case of collision, then the flow guiding component can move freely, but the device requires a lot of space both in axial and radial directions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling device is segmented into a coupling element with a coupling body and a separate connection device with detent formation. This segmentation allows the overload protection function to be integrated into the connection device without requiring additional space for a separate sliding coupling mechanism, thus reducing overall coupling space while maintaining collision protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device combining the detent formation is merged with the coupling element to integrate the overload protection function directly into the force and torque transmission path. This merging eliminates the need for separate sliding coupling components, reducing both axial and radial space requirements while providing effective collision protection through the detent formation mechanism.
2Reliability
If elastic or elastomeric material is used for the flow guiding component, then collision forces are absorbed through deformation, but the component deforms under wind loads at high speeds affecting flow guiding function
Solution Approach 1:
The detent formation is designed with a surmountable retention force that provides beforehand cushioning against collision forces. The retention force acts as a pre-set threshold that allows normal operational forces (including wind loads) to pass through while absorbing extreme collision forces through controlled disengagement, thus protecting the flow guiding component without affecting its shape stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device utilizes parameter changes in the detent formation retention force to differentiate between normal operational loads and collision forces. By setting the retention force parameter appropriately, the system maintains rigid connection during normal operation (preserving flow guiding shape) while allowing controlled disengagement under collision conditions (absorbing impact forces).
Data Source
AI summary
A front spoiler arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a support component, a flow guiding component, which is positioned on the support component in a movable way between a further retracted position and a further extracted position, a guiding formation, which guides the movement between the two positions and a moving actuator, which is coupled to the flow guiding component by way of a coupling element, the coupling element and at least one component of either the moving actuator and the flow guiding component are coupled to each other through a connection arrangement, which has a surmountable detent formation, which separates from each other two possible relative operating positions between a component and the coupling element, i.e. a normal operating position and an emergency operating position, wherein a retraction movement of the flow guiding component in the direction opposite to the further extracted position beyond a retracted end position is mechanically prevented.