Wind Deflector Locking Device with Shiftable Anchors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind deflectors for convertible vehicles are inadequately secured to the roof front edge, leading to unintentional release during journeys, and their geometrical design inadequately guides airflow, causing noise and air flow back into the passenger compartment.
Innovation Solution
A wind deflector with a locking device featuring shiftable anchors, actuators, and springs for secure mounting to the upper cowl, combined with a geometrical contouring that allows parallel extension of the fastening and air-guiding sections, ensuring optimal airflow guidance and preventing unintentional release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple fastening section is used to mount the wind deflector to the roof front edge, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of fastening is insufficient leading to unintentional release during journeys
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device incorporates movable anchors that can shift between locked and unlocked positions, transforming a static fastening structure into a dynamic one. This allows the simple fastening section to achieve reliable securing through mechanical movement rather than complex structural design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element automatically engages the anchor with the retainer when the wind deflector is mounted, providing self-locking functionality. This eliminates the need for additional locking mechanisms while ensuring reliable fastening through the self-actuating spring-loaded anchor system.
2Manufacturing precision
If the geometrical contouring of the wind deflector is simplified, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but the airflow guidance becomes inadequate causing noise and air flow back into the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector features differentiated geometrical contouring where the air-guiding section has specific curved surfaces optimized for airflow management, while other sections maintain simpler forms. This localized optimization of geometry provides effective airflow guidance without requiring high precision across the entire structure.
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 provides a secure, releasable fastening system that prevents unintentional release and optimizes airflow guidance, reducing noise and airflow back into the passenger compartment, while allowing easy removal and installation for roof operation.
Implementation Method 1
the respective spring presses the respective anchor into a locking position
Implementation Method 2
A spring may be arranged in the retainer of the upper cowl and is deformable counter to a restoring force thereof by the fastening section of the wind deflector when the wind deflector is locked in the retainer. The restoring force of the spring element partially presses the wind deflector out of the retainer when the wind deflector is unlocked
Data Source
AI summary
A wind deflector (10) for a vehicle has a fastening section (11) for mounting the wind deflector (10) releasably on a retainer (13) of an upper cowl (14) of the vehicle and an air-guiding section (12) for guiding the flow of air. A locking device (17) assigned to the fastening section (11) releasably locks the wind deflector (10) to the retainer (13) of the upper cowl. The locking device (17) has at least one shiftable anchor (18), an actuator (19) and a spring (20). The actuator (17) interacts with the anchor (18) so that, when the actuator (19) is not actuated, the spring (20) presses the anchor (18) into a locking position, and, when the actuator (19) is actuated, that actuator presses the anchor (18) into an unlocking position counter to a spring force of the spring (20).