Air separator and air separator with ducting for maximum cooling and fuel economy
First Claim
1. An assembly for maximizing at least one of cooling and fuel economy in an automotive vehicle having an engine compartment, the assembly comprising:
- a grille opening on the vehicle allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path;
a front fascia extending below the grill opening on the vehicle having a bottom opening allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a second path; and
an air separator extending between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of air flows along the first and second paths, wherein the air separator includes a deformable portion that changes conformation in response to increased vehicle speed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly is provided for maximizing cooling and fuel economy. A grille opening in the vehicle allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path and a bottom breather opening allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a distinct, second path. An air separator extends between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of airflow along these paths. The air separator may be a thin dividing wall of a deformable material that extends toward a condenser/radiator assembly at low vehicle speeds. At increased vehicle speeds, the deformable portion deflects to enhance airflow along the second path. An associated method of controlling airflow includes terminating the air separator closely adjacent a condenser/radiator assembly to limit mixing of airflow along separate paths, and deflecting in response to increased air flow to alter airflow through at least one of the first and second paths.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An assembly for maximizing at least one of cooling and fuel economy in an automotive vehicle having an engine compartment, the assembly comprising:
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a grille opening on the vehicle allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path; a front fascia extending below the grill opening on the vehicle having a bottom opening allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a second path; and an air separator extending between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of air flows along the first and second paths, wherein the air separator includes a deformable portion that changes conformation in response to increased vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19)
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9. An assembly for directing air flow through an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a grille opening on the vehicle allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path; a front fascia extending below the grille opening on the vehicle having a bottom opening allowing air to flow toward the engine compartment along a second path; and an air separator extending between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of air flows along the first and second paths, the air separator being configured to selectively increase and decrease air flow to one of the first and second paths in response to vehicle speed, wherein at least a first portion of the air separator is made of a deformable material that alters its contour in response to increased vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method of controlling air flow through an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:
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providing a grille opening and an opening along a bottom of a lower, front fascia; and dividing air flow along first and second paths toward the engine compartment with a deformable air separator; and forming at least a portion of the air separator from a deformable material that selectively deflects in response to increased air flow/vehicle speed to alter air flow through at least one of the first and second paths. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of controlling air flow through an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle comprising:
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providing a grille opening and an opening along a bottom of a lower, front fascia; and dividing air flow along first and second paths toward the engine compartment with a deformable air separator; and forming at least that portion of the air separator that terminates adjacent the condenser/radiator assembly from a deformable material that collapses upon impact with the condenser/radiator assembly in response to a crash event.
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Specification