Wheel Air Guide Element for Drag Reduction and Brake Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicles face challenges in achieving optimal aerodynamics, leading to increased air resistance and energy inefficiency, particularly due to airflow into the wheel arch and rim, which can also cause corrosion and contamination.
Innovation Solution
An air guidance device with an air guide element having a surface perpendicular to the wheel's axis of rotation, positioned adjacent to the rim, and optionally featuring a movable closing element and vortex generators to manage airflow, ensuring minimal air resistance and targeted airflow to components like the brake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air flows freely towards the wheel arch and rim, then brake cooling is improved, but air resistance increases and energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide element is designed to be movable relative to the rim, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. In the first position, it blocks airflow to reduce air resistance and improve energy efficiency. In the second position, it allows airflow to cool the brakes. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between brake cooling and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the air guide element relative to the rim. By varying the distance and angle between the air guide surface and the rim, the system can switch between blocking airflow (for energy efficiency) and allowing airflow (for brake cooling), thus resolving the contradiction.
2Quantity of substance
If air flows into the wheel arch and rim, then brake ventilation is improved, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable air guide element enables dynamic control of airflow quantity. When positioned to block the rim, it minimizes air resistance. When repositioned to allow airflow, it provides brake ventilation. This resolves the contradiction between air flow quantity and air resistance.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the air guide surface is fixed close to the rim, then aerodynamics is improved, but the risk of rubbing and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide element is designed to be movable, allowing it to maintain an optimal dynamic distance from the rim. It can be positioned close to the rim for aerodynamic efficiency but can also be repositioned to avoid rubbing and reduce contamination risk, thus resolving the contradiction between aerodynamics and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guide element acts as an intermediary between the airflow and the rim. By being movable, it mediates the interaction, allowing the system to achieve aerodynamic efficiency when needed while avoiding direct contact and contamination when not needed, thus resolving the contradiction.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the air guide element is positioned to block airflow, then energy efficiency is improved, but brake cooling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable air guide element allows dynamic switching between energy efficiency mode (blocking airflow) and brake cooling mode (allowing airflow). This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to optimize for one parameter at a time based on operational conditions.
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 solution reduces air resistance, enhances energy efficiency, prevents corrosion, and maintains component cleanliness, while allowing demand-based brake ventilation.
Implementation Method 1
The air guide element has an air guide surface by means of which air, which flows towards the air guide surface during a journey, in particular a forward journey, of the motor vehicle, is to be guided or is guided
Implementation Method 2
the air guide surface extends in a plane perpendicular to the wheel's axis of rotation. If the wheel's axis of rotation runs, for example, in the transverse direction of the vehicle or parallel to it, the plane is defined by the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction) and its vertical direction (z-direction)
Implementation Method 3
The air guide element has at least one or more vortex generators projecting from the air guide surface in the transverse direction of the vehicle, particularly inwards, by means of which at least one vortex can be selectively generated in the air flowing towards the air guide element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an air-guiding device for a motor vehicle, with at least one motor vehicle wheel (14) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the wheel and has a rim (18) with an inside diameter, and with an air-guiding element (24) which is assigned to the wheel and has an air-guiding surface (26) for guiding air approaching the air-guiding surface (26) while the motor vehicle is underway, wherein the air-guiding surface (26) extends in a plane which runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel and is inwardly adjacent in the transverse direction of the vehicle to a lower region (B), in the vertical direction of the vehicle, of a flank (28) of the rim (18) and/or is upwardly directly adjacent thereto in the vertical direction of the vehicle and extends over less than half of the inside diameter in the vertical direction of the vehicle.