Wheel Well Airflow Aperture for Brake Cooling With Low Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel well designs fail to effectively manage thermal energy levels of brake components while minimizing drag and debris/moisture interference.
Innovation Solution
A wheel well thermal energy management system comprising a wheel well liner and a deflector that establish an aperture to direct air flow, with an underbody tunnel guiding air to cool brake components, and a diverter redirecting debris and moisture around the air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is allowed to move freely through the wheel well for brake cooling, then thermal energy management is improved, but drag increases due to high-pressure air zone creation
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel well airflow system is segmented into multiple controlled aperture zones rather than a single open structure. The liner includes multiple apertures of varying sizes and positions, allowing differentiated airflow patterns that cool brake components while managing pressure zones to reduce drag.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the wheel well liner are designed with locally optimized aperture characteristics. Upper regions have smaller apertures for controlled cooling, while lower regions have larger openings for debris exclusion. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of thermal management and aerodynamic performance.
2Temperature
If the wheel well is open for air flow, then brake cooling is improved, but debris and moisture enter the wheel well
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel well liner implements local quality differentiation where upper apertures are smaller and positioned to allow airflow while lower portions feature larger openings that act as debris exclusion zones. This spatial variation in aperture characteristics simultaneously achieves cooling and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The design converts the potentially harmful effect of open wheel wells (debris entry) into a benefit by strategically positioning larger aperture openings at the lower portion where debris naturally settles, while maintaining smaller upper openings for controlled airflow. The airflow pattern itself helps prevent moisture accumulation.
3Strength
If a solid wheel well liner is used, then structural strength is improved, but thermal energy dissipation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel well liner incorporates a porous aperture structure that maintains overall structural integrity while enabling thermal energy dissipation. The apertures are distributed throughout the liner in a pattern that preserves structural strength while allowing controlled airflow for brake cooling.
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
Enhances aerodynamics, manages thermal energy, and maintains brake performance by cooling components and preventing debris/moisture from entering the air flow, thus improving braking efficiency and reducing drag.
Implementation Method 1
guiding a flow of air through an aperture into a wheel well of the vehicle... the flow of air cooling the brake component
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel well thermal energy management system includes a wheel well liner, and a deflector. The wheel well liner and the deflector both establish a portion of an aperture that is configured to direct a flow of air to a wheel well of a vehicle. A wheel well thermal energy management method includes moving a vehicle and, during the moving, guiding a flow of air through an aperture into a wheel well of the vehicle. The aperture is established by a wheel well liner together with a deflector.