Air guide for a vehicle front structure

• US 10,688,862 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Jaldelid, Michael Lonn, Torgilsson, Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs, James J
• Application Number:
  US16/298,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20190315223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/03 characterised by material, e.g. composite B60R19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/12 vertically spaced
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/527 integral with bumpers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2410/123 Over-moulded parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/10 Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers

Abstract

An air guide for a vehicle front structure, the air guide is mountable on the vehicle front structure and is configured to redirect an incoming air flow towards a cooling device of the vehicle, the air guide including: a frame portion including a fixation portion having mounting elements for mechanical fixation to a vehicle structure when mounted for use, the frame portion is adapted to reinforce the air guide and define the general shape of the air guide, an air guide material, wherein the frame portion is over-molded with the air-guide material, wherein the stiffness of the frame portion is higher than the stiffness of the air guide material.

Claims

1. An air guide for a vehicle front structure, the air guide is mountable on the vehicle front structure and is configured to redirect an incoming air flow towards a cooling device of the vehicle, the air guide comprising:

a frame portion comprising a fixation portion having mounting elements for mechanical fixation to a vehicle structure when mounted for use, the frame portion is adapted to reinforce the air guide and define the general shape of the air guide, and

an air guide material, wherein the frame portion is over-molded with the air-guide material to seal open areas in the frame portion, wherein the stiffness of the frame portion is higher than the stiffness of the air guide material.

2. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion comprises a plastic material and the air guide material comprises one or more of a thermoplastic elastomer and a rubber material.

3. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion comprises a plurality of interconnected elongated ribs separated by gaps larger than the width (w, w′

) of the elongated ribs.

4. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the frame portion comprises a pattern of reinforcing structures.

5. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the fixation portion is adapted to be arranged down stream of the incoming air flow compared to the location of an opposite air flow receiving portion, wherein the average stiffness of the air guide is higher on the frame portion side of the air guide compared to the stiffness of the air flow receiving portion.

6. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the fixation portion is adapted to be mountable facing towards the cooling device of the vehicle such that the less stiff side faces in a forward direction of the vehicle, when in use.

7. A vehicle comprising a cooling device and an air guide according to claim 1.