Vehicle Wheel House Airflow Collision and Guiding Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aerodynamic structures for vehicles fail to effectively adjust airflow within the wheel house due to interference with the wheel and limitations in airflow control, leading to insufficient airflow management.

Innovation Solution

An aerodynamic structure featuring an airflow collision wall and an airflow guiding wall, positioned strategically relative to the wheel, which guides and blocks airflow to suppress entry and exit within the wheel house, preventing interference and adhered matter like snow or ice from accumulating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a baffle projects out from the wheel house to adjust airflow, then airflow control capability is improved, but it causes interference with the wheel and limits the effectiveness of airflow adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow control capabilityVSAvoidinterference with wheel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from projecting baffles outward (horizontal dimension) to forming concave portions with airflow guiding walls and collision walls within the wheel house (vertical and longitudinal dimensions). This dimensional shift allows effective airflow control without external projection, eliminating wheel interference while maintaining aerodynamic functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The airflow guiding wall and collision wall are nested within the wheel house structure, forming concave portions that contain airflow control mechanisms inside the existing wheel house volume. This nested arrangement achieves effective airflow adjustment without requiring external space, avoiding interference with the wheel while preserving aerodynamic control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If conventional baffles are used for airflow adjustment, then some airflow control is achieved, but sufficient airflow adjusting effect cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow adjusting effectVSAvoidinsufficient airflow management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates localized concave portions with specific airflow guiding walls and collision walls at strategic positions within the wheel house. These localized structures provide targeted airflow control in specific regions, achieving sufficient overall airflow adjustment effect that conventional uniform baffles cannot accomplish.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the airflow guiding wall extends toward the wheel side and lower side, then airflow control is improved, but adhered matter like snow or ice may accumulate between the wheel house inner surface and the wheel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow control effectivenessVSAvoidadhered matter accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the airflow guiding wall extend in a direction that creates accumulation zones (toward upper and wheel side), the patent inverts the orientation to extend toward the lower side and wheel side. This inverted configuration prevents matter accumulation by directing airflow and potential debris away from trapped zones, while maintaining effective airflow control through the concave portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 structure effectively adjusts airflow within the wheel house, reducing air resistance, improving driving stability, and preventing wind noise and splashing, while allowing smooth airflow and easy discharge of adhered matter.

Implementation Method 1

an airflow collision wall provided at a front or a rear in a vehicle body longitudinal direction with respect to a wheel in a wheel house, and extending in a vehicle width direction and facing a lower side in a vehicle body vertical direction; and an airflow guiding wall extending toward the lower side in the vehicle body vertical direction from an end portion of the airflow collision wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow guidance and blocking:

Implementation Method 2

accompanying traveling of the vehicle (rotation of the wheel), airflow, that is dragged-in by rotation of the wheel and is directed toward the front (the downstream side in the wheel rotating direction) arises within the wheel house

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrag-induced airflow: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS8276971B2Aerodynamic structure for vehicle

Publication Date: 2012.10.02 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An aerodynamic structure for a vehicle that can effectively adjust airflow within a wheel house is provided.An aerodynamic structure (10) for a vehicle has an airflow collision wall (24) provided rearward, in a vehicle body longitudinal direction, with respect to a front wheel (15) in a wheel house (14), and extending in a vehicle width direction and facing a lower side in a vehicle body vertical direction, and an airflow guiding wall (22) hanging downward in the vehicle body vertical direction from a rear end portion (24A) in the vehicle body longitudinal direction of the airflow collision wall (24). The airflow guiding wall (22) extends in the vehicle body vertical direction, or extends in a tilting direction directed both toward the front wheel (15) side and toward the lower side in the vehicle body vertical direction.