Motor Vehicle Front End Cooling Flaps with Rotating Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a challenge in designing a front end part of a motor vehicle that balances high cooling airflow with a low drag coefficient, as existing solutions either compromise on airflow or drag.
Innovation Solution
The design features cooling air openings separated by webs with rotatable flaps that can pivot between closed and open positions, mounted on reinforcing ribs, allowing for joint displacement about a common axis and enhanced airflow guidance through lips on the flaps, eliminating the need for additional retaining frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooling air openings are made larger to increase cooling airflow, then cooling performance is improved, but drag coefficient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flap positions adjustable between closed and open states. The flaps can be dynamically positioned based on cooling requirements, allowing the system to adapt to varying thermal loads while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency when full cooling is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of flap position to control the effective opening area of cooling air openings. By adjusting the flap angle, the system can vary the cooling airflow rate independently of the physical opening size, thus decoupling cooling performance from drag coefficient.
2Ease of operation
If flaps are mounted inside cooling air openings to control airflow, then airflow control is achieved, but bearing points interfere with cooling airflow when flaps are open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict by moving the bearing points from the interior space of the cooling air openings to the exterior surface of the front end part. This dimensional relocation allows the flaps to rotate without their pivot points obstructing the cooling airflow path when in the open position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reinforcing ribs as intermediary structures that provide mounting surfaces for the flaps outside the cooling air openings. These ribs serve as mediators between the flap mechanism and the front end part structure, enabling airflow control while avoiding interference with the cooling airflow.
3Strength
If additional retaining frames are added to secure flaps, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of structural reinforcement and flap mounting by integrating reinforcing ribs that serve both purposes. These ribs provide both the structural integrity needed to support the flaps and the mounting surfaces for attachment, eliminating the need for separate retaining frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing ribs perform multiple functions: they strengthen the front end part structure, provide mounting surfaces for the flaps, and serve as the axis of rotation for flap movement. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A front end part (10) of a motor vehicle has cooling air openings (11) arranged next to one another and separated by webs (12). Flaps (13) are arranged next to one another and are assigned to the cooling air openings (11). The flaps (13) can be displaced between a first position in which the flaps (13) prevent a cooling airflow through the cooling air openings (11), and a second position in which the flaps (13) enable a cooling airflow through the cooling air openings (11). Reinforcing ribs (18) extend in the region of the webs (12) on an inwardly directed side thereof. The flaps (13) are mounted rotatably on the reinforcing ribs (18) so that corresponding bearing points of the flaps (13) on the reinforcing ribs (18) lie outside the cooling air openings (11) and thus outside the cooling airflow when the flaps (13) are in the second position.