Variable Grille Linkage for Adaptive Airflow and Low Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active air flaps in vehicle grilles are complex, heavy, and inefficient due to their linkage structure, which affects airflow control and fuel efficiency, especially during initial start-up and high-speed driving.
Innovation Solution
A variable-type grille apparatus with a housing, guide holes, and a drive motor that uses a guide link and rotation plate to control airflow through advanced opening and closing operations, preventing jamming and optimizing structural arrangement for diversified operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional active air flaps use a complex linkage structure to control airflow, then airflow control capability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex linkage structure from the conventional active air flap system. Instead of using multiple connected components and linkages, the invention employs a simplified direct-drive mechanism where the drive motor directly controls the air flap rotation through a rotation plate, removing unnecessary intermediate linkage elements while preserving airflow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotation plate as an intermediary component that simplifies the control mechanism. The rotation plate receives rotational motion from the drive motor and directly transmits it to the air flap, serving as a simple mediator that eliminates the need for complex linkages while maintaining effective airflow control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional active air flaps use a complex linkage structure, then airflow control is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy linkage structure from the air flap assembly, extracting only the essential rotational control function. This elimination of redundant mechanical linkages directly reduces the overall weight of the moving air flap system while maintaining the ability to control airflow effectively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional active air flaps use a complex linkage structure, then airflow control is achieved, but larger motors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex linkage structure that would require larger motors to overcome mechanical disadvantages. By eliminating the linkage system with its potential friction losses and mechanical inefficiencies, the drive motor only needs to provide sufficient torque for direct rotation, significantly reducing the required motor size and power consumption.
4Temperature
If the grille is always open to allow cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but fuel efficiency decreases during initial start-up and high-speed driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the grille aperture variable rather than fixed. The active air flap can dynamically adjust the opening size or closure state based on real-time operating conditions, allowing the system to optimize between cooling performance and fuel efficiency by controlling airflow only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the aperture parameter of the grille from a constant open state to a variable state controlled by the drive motor. By adjusting the aperture size or closure based on temperature and driving condition parameters, the system optimizes the balance between cooling requirements and fuel consumption.
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
Enhances marketability and reliability by controlling airflow rates through optimized opening and closing operations, improving fuel efficiency and reducing air resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a rotation portion including a rotation shaft connected to the drive motor and a rotation plate coupled to the rotation shaft
Implementation Method 2
an opening and closing portion provided to be movable along the guide hole in the housing, coupled a guide link, and rotating when the guide link moves linearly
Implementation Method 3
the vehicle-induced airflow introduced through the grille passes through the powertrain components and cooling system components to cool each component through air and heat exchanges
Data Source
AI summary
A variable-type grille apparatus may be configured for controlling the airflow rate passing through the grille and enhances marketability through advanced opening and closing operations during airflow rate control. That is, by diversifying the opening and closing operations of the grille including sequential operations, simultaneous operations, or the like, the opening and closing operations of the grille are advanced, the external designs are diversified, and the airflow rate is secured through an optimized structural arrangement. Furthermore, preventing jamming and malfunctions of components during opening and closing operations enhances the reliability of the opening and closing operations of the grille.