Two-Part Vehicle Air Guide for Wheel-Arch Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air guide devices for motor vehicles fail to minimize air resistance coefficient effectively, particularly in the rear-end region, leading to increased turbulence and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A two-part air guide device with a slat arrangement in the front-end region and an air curtain section at the wheel arch, allowing for controlled airflow and diversion past the wheel to reduce turbulence and air resistance, utilizing a movement device with an actuator and bevel gear drive shaft for adjustable slats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single flow channel with slat arrangement is used, then airflow can be controlled for cooling components, but air resistance coefficient increases due to turbulence at the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel is divided into two separate parallel channels: a first channel part with slat arrangement for controlled cooling airflow, and a second channel part that freely guides air past the wheel. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each channel's function, resolving the contradiction between controlled cooling and turbulence reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If airflow is diverted past the wheel to reduce turbulence, then air resistance coefficient decreases, but cooling of drive assembly becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the flow channel into two independent parts, the invention allows one channel to optimize for low air resistance (second channel part guiding air past the wheel) while the other optimizes for cooling performance (first channel part with controllable slat arrangement), ensuring both functions are simultaneously satisfied.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide device as a whole performs multiple functions through its two channel parts: one part handles cooling of the drive assembly while the other handles turbulence reduction. This multi-functionality allows the system to address both cooling requirements and aerodynamic efficiency without compromise.
3Adaptability or versatility
If slat arrangement is made movable with actuator, then airflow cross section can be varied for optimization, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slat arrangement is made movable through an actuator and movement device, allowing the flow cross section to be dynamically adjusted based on operating conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt between different airflow requirements, such as maximizing cooling when needed or minimizing air resistance during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air guide device of a motor vehicle body has a flow channel including an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is formed in a front-end region and the outlet opening is formed at least partially in the region of a wheel arch of the motor vehicle body. The flow channel is provided for being flowed through by air from the front-end region of the motor vehicle body in the region of a rear end of the motor vehicle body. The inlet opening has a slat arrangement for changing a flow cross section of the inlet opening. The flow channel is at least partially of two-part form, wherein a first channel part, which includes the slat arrangement, is designed for a controlled throughflow, and wherein a second channel part can be flowed through freely.