Horizontal Wind Deflector Steering Airflow Under Door Handles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wind deflectors do not effectively reduce self-soiling of door handles and improve aerodynamics simultaneously, as they fail to adequately direct airflow to prevent dirt and water from reaching the handles, leading to impaired airflow and increased pollution.
Innovation Solution
A wind deflector element with a horizontally extending longitudinal axis, designed to steer airflow onto and under the door handle, forming an air protective barrier that reduces dirt and water deposition, and features a flow-optimized roof and side surface to improve aerodynamics and prevent dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional wind deflectors are mounted on the front corner of the vehicle, then air resistance is reduced, but door handles remain exposed to whirling dirt and water
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector element is extended in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to create a horizontal airflow channel that spans from the front corner toward the rear of the vehicle. This dimensional extension allows the deflector to intercept and redirect airflow horizontally across the door handle area, preventing dirt and water from reaching the handle while maintaining the aerodynamic benefits of traditional deflectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind deflector element acts as an intermediary structure positioned between the incoming airflow and the door handle. It creates a protective airflow barrier that mediates the interaction between wind-driven contaminants and the door handle surface, directing clean air over the handle area while allowing contaminated air to flow underneath.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wind deflectors are extended to cover door handles, then self-soiling is reduced, but airflow aerodynamics may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector element features differentiated surface geometries with a roof surface and a side surface that create distinct airflow zones. The roof surface directs airflow horizontally over the door handle area, while the side surface allows airflow to pass underneath. This local differentiation of surface properties enables simultaneous protection of the door handle and maintenance of overall airflow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector element is designed with specific geometric parameters including a horizontal longitudinal axis and optimized surface angles that change the flow parameters of the air stream. These parameter changes create a controlled airflow pattern that reduces turbulence and energy loss while effectively shielding the door handle from contaminants.
3Ease of operation
If wind deflectors are mounted vertically, then they provide basic air guidance, but they create flow separation and poor aerodynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector element employs curved surface transitions between the roof surface and side surface, replacing sharp vertical edges with smooth, rounded contours. This curvature guides the airflow more effectively around the deflector, reducing flow separation and turbulence while maintaining the air guidance function. The curved geometry allows air to follow the surface more closely, minimizing energy loss.
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 effectively reduces self-soiling of door handles by creating an air protective barrier that prevents dirt and water from reaching the handles, while enhancing airflow aerodynamics and reducing pollution, thereby improving vehicle cleanliness and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the wind deflector element is designed and arranged to steer an airflow Z caused by a head wind onto and / or under the door handle 2.3
Implementation Method 2
whereby in particular an air protective barrier can be created in order to essentially prevent (e.g. from a wheel arch or the road surface ) Whirling up dirt (e.g. water, snow, dirt, spray, etc.) reaches the door handle
Implementation Method 3
The combination of an expediently upper roof surface and a side surface to form a wind deflector element can in particular enable a reduced flow separation on the side wall device, so that this z. B. the flow of the airstream for the sidewall device and / or the airstream aerodynamics can be improved in general
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement with a wind deflector (1) and a side wall device (2) for a vehicle (F), wherein the wind deflector (1) extends along the side wall device (2) and preferably has a roof surface (D) and preferably at least one side surface (S). The arrangement is characterized in particular by the fact that a longitudinal axis (A) of the wind deflector (1) extends substantially horizontally and/or the wind deflector (1) is designed and arranged to direct airflow (Z) onto or under a door handle (2, 3) of the side wall device (2).