Streamlined Windshield Housing for Airflow Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical and electronic components mounted inside vehicle windshields disrupt the airflow, leading to issues with window defrosting and heating, causing potential ice formation and visual impairment for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A fluidically optimized housing design with a teardrop-shaped outer contour that tapers in the airflow direction, minimizing disruption and ensuring smooth airflow around the components, which are mounted in a way that aligns with the airflow, reducing turbulence and vortex formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical and electronic components are mounted on or behind the inside of the vehicle windscreen, then damage to components is avoided and cleaning is simplified, but the airflow for defrosting and heating is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a streamlined, curved outer contour that follows the airflow direction along the windscreen. This curvature allows the air to flow smoothly around the housing without separating, preventing vortex formation and maintaining effective defrosting and heating airflow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing exhibits asymmetric geometry with a tapered cross-section that is larger at the inflow region and smaller at the outflow region. This asymmetric design optimizes airflow by gradually reducing the obstruction in the flow direction, minimizing turbulence while providing sufficient internal space for housing components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If components are mounted in the airflow area of air nozzles, then defrosting and heating are disrupted, but relocating components away from the windscreen reduces protection benefits
Solution Approach 1:
The streamlined curved housing allows components to be positioned in the airflow path without causing flow separation. The curvature guides air smoothly around the housing, ensuring that even though components are located in the airflow area for easy access and protection, the defrosting and heating functions remain effective.
3Volume of moving object
If housing cross-sectional area is large to accommodate components, then component integration is improved, but turbulence and vortex formation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing employs asymmetric cross-sectional geometry that tapers in the airflow direction. The cross-sectional area is larger at the upstream end to accommodate components and gradually reduces toward the downstream end. This asymmetric tapering minimizes flow separation and vortex formation while providing sufficient internal volume for housing electrical and electronic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved, streamlined outer contour of the housing with gradually varying cross-section reduces abrupt changes in flow area. This smooth geometric transition prevents flow separation and turbulence, allowing the housing to accommodate necessary components without generating harmful airflow disturbances.
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 ensures reliable defrosting, defrosting, and heating of the windshield by minimizing airflow disruption, preventing ice formation and maintaining driver visibility, even with essential components installed inside the windshield.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air nozzle directed air stream flows on the inside of the vehicle windshield
Implementation Method 2
the housing has an outer contour that is fluidically optimized and/or rounded with regard to the flow around it by the air flow
Implementation Method 3
The windscreen is usually defrosted by a conditioned air flow that exits from air nozzles or air outlet openings and flows upwards along the windscreen
Implementation Method 4
the air flow...flows upwards along the windscreen
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention discloses an interior element (1) of a motor vehicle comprising a housing (2) in which at least one electrical and/or electronic functional component (8) is provided and which is arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle on or behind the inner surface of a vehicle windshield (4) in an area through which an airflow directed at least partially towards the inner surface of the vehicle windshield (4) flows at least temporarily from an air outlet opening (7). The interior element (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the housing (2) has a flow-optimized, rounded outer contour with regard to the airflow around it by the airflow directed towards the inner surface of the vehicle windshield (4), the cross-sectional area of which, exposed to a portion of the airflow flowing along or at least nearly parallel to the vehicle windshield (4), is larger than a cross-sectional area located in the outflow area.