Vehicle Cab Chassis Gap Sealing Flap for Aerodynamic Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The gap between the chassis and the cab in vehicles leads to soiling accumulation and aerodynamic impairment due to airflow disturbances, resulting in reduced cleanliness and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device comprising a tiltably mounted flap with resilient members, such as torsion springs, that maintains contact with the chassis front panel to close the gap, accommodating vertical movement and ensuring aerodynamic and cleanliness performance improvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gap is provided between the chassis and cab to allow relative movement and tilting, then the vehicle can accommodate vertical movement and cab tilting for maintenance, but soiling accumulates in the gap and aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible flap is mounted on the cab front panel that can deflect to accommodate vertical movement between chassis and cab while maintaining sealing. The flap acts as a flexible barrier that moves with the suspension rather than creating a fixed gap, preventing soiling accumulation while allowing relative motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing solution transitions from a static gap to a dynamic flap mechanism that actively adapts to changing positions. The flap can tilt and deflect based on suspension movement and cab tilting requirements, maintaining sealing functionality across different operational states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a gap is provided between the chassis and cab to allow relative movement and tilting, then the vehicle can accommodate vertical movement and cab tilting for maintenance, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to airflow disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible flap creates a continuous surface that smooths airflow across the transition zone between chassis and cab. By eliminating the sharp discontinuity of a fixed gap, the flap reduces turbulence and drag, improving aerodynamic efficiency while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic flap mechanism allows the sealing surface to adapt to different vehicle positions and speeds, optimizing aerodynamic performance during road travel while preserving the ability to accommodate suspension movement and maintenance tilting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealing device with a tiltably mounted flap is installed to close the gap, then aerodynamic performance and cleanliness improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flap is equipped with resilient means that automatically maintain contact with the chassis front panel without requiring external actuation or complex control systems. The resilient means provide self-adjusting pressure to ensure sealing while accommodating movement, reducing the need for additional actuators or control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted as a separate, modular flap assembly with integrated resilient means, allowing it to be independently designed and optimized. This modular approach simplifies the overall system by dedicating a specific component to the sealing function rather than integrating it into the main suspension or cab structure.
4Reliability
If resilient means are added to the sealing device to maintain flap contact with the chassis, then sealing reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient means automatically adjust to maintain optimal contact between the flap and chassis front panel, providing self-regulating sealing pressure. This eliminates the need for complex control systems, sensors, or adjustable mechanisms while ensuring reliable sealing contact under varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient means enable the sealing system to dynamically adjust contact pressure parameters in response to varying gaps and loads, maintaining optimal sealing force without requiring complex control. The resilient material properties provide automatic parameter adaptation to different operational states.
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
The sealing device effectively prevents soiling and airflow penetration, enhancing the vehicle's aerodynamic and cleanliness performance while allowing for vertical movement and tilting without interference.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing device comprises at least one resilient member, which is mounted on the bracket and which acts on the flap so as, by tilting the flap relative to the bracket, to maintain the flap in contact with the corresponding chassis front panel
Data Source
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AI summary
The vehicle (1) comprises a chassis (10), which at the front of the vehicle (1) comprises at least one chassis front panel (11, 12), and a driving cab (20), which is arranged at the front of the vehicle (1) and which is mounted on the chassis (10) by a suspension allowing the driving cab to move at least vertically relative to the chassis when the vehicle is driven on-road, the driving cab comprising, for the or each chassis front panel (11, 12), a cab front panel (21, 22) which is disposed above and in vertical alignment with the chassis front panel, while being separated from the chassis front panel by a gap (G) permitting relative movement between the chassis front panel and the cab front panel at least vertically. For the or each gap (G), the vehicle comprises a sealing device (30) for closing the gap, the sealing device comprising a bracket (31), which is attached to the corresponding cab front panel (22), and a flap (32), which is tiltably mounted on the bracket (31) and which extends from the bracket towards the corresponding chassis front panel (12) across the gap (G), the sealing device (30) being adapted to maintain the flap (32) in contact with the corresponding chassis front panel.