Wheel Cavity Airflow Splitter for Drag and Brake Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The airflow around vehicle wheels becomes turbulent, causing increased drag and interference with aerodynamics, particularly at the front wheels, and designing brake cooling inlets that do not generate turbulence is challenging.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic device with an aerodynamic body located in the wheel cavity, dividing incoming airflow into separate passages to guide it efficiently around the wheel, reducing turbulence and improving airflow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If airflow passes around the wheel, then the wheel can rotate freely, but the airflow becomes turbulent causing increased drag
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel cavity is divided into multiple passages (first passage between aerodynamic body and wheel well, second passage between aerodynamic body and wheel) to segment the airflow path. This segmentation allows different airflow patterns in different regions, reducing turbulence while maintaining wheel rotation freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic body acts as an intermediary element positioned between the wheel well and the wheel. It mediates the airflow by providing structured passages that guide air smoothly, preventing direct turbulent interaction between the wheel rotation and the wheel well environment.
2Temperature
If brake cooling inlet is designed to cool brakes, then brake temperature is reduced, but turbulence is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic body provides different local airflow characteristics in different passages. The first passage is optimized for general airflow management while the second passage can be specifically configured for brake cooling, allowing localized temperature control without generating excessive turbulence in either region.
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 device effectively reduces turbulence behind the wheel, enhancing aerodynamic performance and brake cooling efficiency by guiding airflow in a controlled manner.
Implementation Method 1
the aerodynamic body defining a first passage between the aerodynamic body and the wheel well and a second passage between the aerodynamic body and the wheel, so that when the incoming airflow moves through the wheel cavity, the incoming airflow is divided into a first airflow through the first passage and a second airflow through the second passage
Implementation Method 2
The device effectively reduces turbulence behind the wheel, enhancing aerodynamic performance
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an aerodynamic device for guiding airflow around a wheel of a vehicle, the device comprising: a wheel well defining a wheel cavity arranged to receive the wheel, the wheel cavity comprising an inlet and an outlet, so that when the vehicle is in forward motion, incoming airflow enters the wheel cavity at the inlet, moves through the wheel cavity, and exits the wheel cavity at the outlet; and an aerodynamic body located in the wheel cavity and between the wheel well and the wheel, the aerodynamic body defining a first passage between the aerodynamic body and the wheel well and a second passage between the aerodynamic body and the wheel, so that when the incoming airflow moves through the wheel cavity, the incoming airflow is divided into a first airflow through the first passage and a second airflow through the second passage.