Vehicle Wind Deflector Arm Segmentation for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roof closure assemblies with wind deflector arrangements suffer from 'wind shower' issues due to the wind deflector being inactive for a long rearward displacement of the panel, leading to unpleasant wind drops into the passenger compartment, and require stronger components to address the high forces involved in a steeper wind deflector arm.
Innovation Solution
The roof closure assembly features an arm that is both rotatably and slidably connected to the stationary part, with an auxiliary arm and a spring mechanism, allowing the wind deflector to move more quickly vertically and position closer to the front edge of the roof opening, reducing wind shower and increasing stability by enabling a steeper active position while maintaining a distant point of engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the wind deflector arm is made steeper and engaged at a shorter distance from the roof opening front edge, then the wind shower effect is reduced, but high forces are generated on the panel and drive motor during closing
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector arm is divided into two segments: a first arm rotatably connected to the stationary part, and a second auxiliary arm rotatably connected to the first arm. This segmentation allows the closure to engage the auxiliary arm at a distant rearward position while the first arm maintains a steep inclination, reducing wind shower without generating high forces on the panel and motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the first arm and the stationary part is changed from purely rotational to a combination of rotation and sliding movement. The first arm slides forwardly along a guide relative to the stationary part while rotating upwardly, adding a translational dimension to the motion. This dimensional change enables the arm to achieve a steep active position without requiring high engagement forces.
2Loss of time
If the wind deflector is operated early when the panel is at great distance from the roof opening, then the panel travel distance is reduced, but the wind deflector cannot prevent fast wind drops into the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector is activated in advance by engaging the auxiliary arm with the closure panel during its rearward movement. The curved engagement surface on the auxiliary arm ensures that the wind deflector begins to rise before the panel reaches the front of the roof opening, preparing the system to prevent wind drops while maintaining adequate panel travel distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement surface of the auxiliary arm is curved, which influences the movement of the wind deflector in dependence of the closure displacement. This curvature enables the wind deflector to be held down in a first phase and then moved up quickly in a second phase, optimizing the timing of activation to prevent wind shower while accommodating the panel's movement trajectory.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the arm is made shorter to take up a steeply inclined active position, then wind deflector stability is improved, but the point of engagement must be positioned closer to the front edge
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is segmented into a first arm and a second auxiliary arm. The first arm can be made shorter to achieve a steep inclined active position, improving wind deflector stability and resistance to wind forces. The auxiliary arm extends the engagement point rearwardly, allowing the closure to engage at a distant position without compromising the stability provided by the shorter first arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary arm acts as an intermediary between the closure and the first arm. It transfers the engagement force from the closure at a rearward position to the first arm, which maintains the steep inclination for stability. This intermediary allows the system to simultaneously achieve short arm length for stability and distant engagement point.
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
This design effectively reduces or prevents wind shower, enhances wind deflector stability, and simplifies the movement mechanism, while maintaining the original closure and activation functionality, thus improving the anti-trap system and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a spring is acting on the arm such that it is biased to its upper position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A roof closure assembly (1) for a vehicle having a roof opening (3) in its fixed roof (2) comprises a stationary part (5) to be attached to the vehicle roof and a closure (4) adapted to close the roof opening and to move at least to an open position rearward of the closed position. A wind deflector arrangement (6) includes a transverse elongated wind deflector body (8) adapted to be arranged near the front side of a roof opening in a vehicle roof. The wind deflector body is movable between an upper active position in which it protrudes above the vehicle roof and a lower inactive position in which it is retracted below the fixed roof. The elongated wind deflector body has two ends which are connected to arm assemblies (7, 12) which are movably coupled to the stationary part and adapted to be engaged by the closure in order to move the wind deflector body when the closure moves near the closed position. The arm assemblies (7, 12) each comprise an arm (7) connected between the wind deflector body (8) and the stationary part (5) and an auxiliary arm (12) directly connected to the arm (7) and to the stationary part (5). The auxiliary arm (12) is adapted to be engaged by the closure (4).