[Jeep TrackHawk News]

Allpar found a patent detailing a new automated airdam, created and filed on behalf of FCA by Mark DeAngelis.

The automated Air Dams would work in much the same way as the active grille shutters in place on other models. Flaps would open or close depending on speed and need for cooling, all controlled by the ECU.

Its thought that the new Air Dam patent could be relevant to the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

Hellcat engines notoriously demand heavy duty cooling and this could certainly be one way to force feed the engine even more cold air. The flaps look to be mounted down low on the splitter, instead of having the dams drop down from behind the slpitter FCA seems to be planning to cut flaps in the splitter, meaning they avoid the clearance issues that come from lowering and raising the air dams.

 

[RedTail]

So it's basically two extra holes in the splitter?

 

[BlackHawk]

So it's basically two extra holes in the splitter?

As surprising as that may be, creating something like this for the purpose they need it for and to be activated when they need it to could come down to something as simple as that!

 

[RedTail]

Such a cimplicated diagramf or such a simple concept. I still don't quite understand how it'll work but all the power to Jeep.

 

[BlackHawk]

It's quite simple actually but if you've never seen something like this and never compared it to the real life object it is supposed to represent then it'll be hard to visualize it.

 

[Jeepers]

With it being so simple, it's hard to believe that it is something that could be deserving of its very own patent at this point. Simple, but apparently no one has done it before now.

 

[BlackHawk]

It being so simple is probably why they wanted to patent it, since it could be easily copied with little effort, or just slightly changed so some other car maker can call it their own.

 

[Jeepers]

It being so simple is probably why they wanted to patent it, since it could be easily copied with little effort, or just slightly changed so some other car maker can call it their own.

So now other companies will have to pay Jeep to use it, or just not be able to use it. Or use it and then get sued. Ahh, business. It's such a wonder to behold.

 

[RedTail]

Will be interesting to see it open and close while you're driving.

 

[BlackHawk]

So now other companies will have to pay Jeep to use it, or just not be able to use it. Or use it and then get sued. Ahh, business. It's such a wonder to behold.

That's if they deem is so important that they must reserve the rights to use it, but i'm sure they rather develop a system unique to them which they don't need to pay out royalties for.

 

[Jeepers]

That's if they deem is so important that they must reserve the rights to use it, but i'm sure they rather develop a system unique to them which they don't need to pay out royalties for.

Sometimes very minor tweaks can amount to something different enough that you don't need to pay royalties. The whole system began with good intentions, but now is just fodder for lawyers.

 

[JeepersCreepers]

If only other automotive companies followed Tesla in this regard and opened up their patents for those who want to use their technology in good faith.

 

[BlackHawk]

I think Tesla did that just to help themselves out, to help stimulate the market and not just what's going on, on their end.

 

[Jeepers]

If only other automotive companies followed Tesla in this regard and opened up their patents for those who want to use their technology in good faith.

Pretty sure they still charge money though. It's not a free for all.

 

[JeepersCreepers]

Not sure if they do charge a fee for using their patents but at least they're accessible to the other companies without the fear of being sued.

 

[Jeepers]

Not sure if they do charge a fee for using their patents but at least they're accessible to the other companies without the fear of being sued.

Tesla doesn't make money off their cars so I would guess that this is one way they actually can make some money.

 

[BlackHawk]

I think that's just how it has to be at the start just to build the brands image and then they at some point scale things up enough to make a profit on vehicles sold, Model 3 and Model X might be part of that.

 

[Jeepers]

I think that's just how it has to be at the start just to build the brands image and then they at some point scale things up enough to make a profit on vehicles sold, Model 3 and Model X might be part of that.

In a way you can think of the company as a technology and research/development company. They make money off patents, and trading carbon credits since they don't use any really. After plenty of time building up those patents, production capacity, and branding, they can move into actually make money off their vehicles.

 

[BlackHawk]

Yeah that's the way I thought it would follow, scale in that production is also what will help them turn a profit, might just be an upward trend leading to that in the future.

 

[TIME]

So it's basically two extra holes in the splitter?

they're not holes, they're intake ducts to feed your engine cold air. The diagram is complicated becasue they're variable and open/close at different speeds