Vehicle Air Flap Control for Engine Warm-Up and Aerodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radiator grill in vehicles is always open, allowing external air to flow into the cooling module before the engine has warmed up, which slows down engine warming and deteriorates aerodynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a coolant temperature sensor, control unit, actuator, and flap unit that opens or closes an air flap to control airflow into the cooling module based on engine temperature, using guide columns, upper and lower flaps, and a power transmission unit to manage airflow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the radiator grill is always open, then the cooling module can be cooled continuously, but the engine warm-up time increases and aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air flap movable rather than fixed. The flap can dynamically change its position between open and closed states based on engine temperature conditions. This allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements: closed during warm-up to improve aerodynamics and accelerate warming, and open during overheating to provide cooling, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous cooling and warm-up time
2Loss of energy
If the radiator grill is always open, then air can flow freely for cooling, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to wind flow into the engine room
Solution Approach 1:
The movable air flap enables dynamic control of airflow. During normal driving conditions, the flap remains closed to maintain good aerodynamic performance by preventing wind from flowing into the engine room. When overheating occurs, the flap opens to allow cooling airflow. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between cooling efficiency and aerodynamic performance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the air flap is closed to improve aerodynamics, then external air cannot flow in, but the cooling module cannot be cooled when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control through the temperature sensor that continuously monitors engine temperature and sends signals to the control unit. When the sensor detects overheating conditions, the control unit activates the actuator to open the air flap, allowing cooling airflow. This feedback mechanism ensures the flap is closed during normal operation to maintain aerodynamics, but opens automatically when cooling is needed, resolving the contradiction between aerodynamic performance and cooling capability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for opening and closing an air flap for a vehicle. The apparatus for opening and closing an air flap may include a coolant temperature sensor provided at an engine to measure a coolant temperature of the engine, a control unit comparing a measurement value input from the coolant temperature sensor with a reference value stored therein, thus outputting a control signal, an actuator rotating in response to the control signal of the control unit, a power transmission unit connected to the actuator to transmit rotating force of the actuator, and a flap unit installed in an opening of a front end module carrier, and being selectively movable in a vertical direction in the opening by power transmitted from the power transmission unit to the flap unit to open or close the opening, thus permitting or preventing an inflow of air into the cooling module.