DE102011018445A1 - Vehicle has air guide device fixed at body fixed base, where air guide device has guiding element that is extended in vehicle transverse direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle (2) has an air guide device (5) and a body fixed base provided at lower side bow area (1) of a bow side before front wheels. The air guide device is fixed at the body fixed base. The air guide device has a guiding element (6) that is extended in vehicle transverse direction. The guiding device is adjusted by an actuating mechanism (7) between a rest position and a lowered operating position. The displacement between the rest position and the operating position of the guide element is carried out through parallel displacement or angular displacement of the guide element.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle having an air guiding device according to the preamble of claim 1.

So far vehicles are provided in the lower bow area only with a fixed, invariable front section, which is designed for aerodynamic and optical aspects and legal requirements. These specifications include, among other things, the ground clearance and the slope angle, which is often in the range of about 15 °.

These known, permanently installed, invariable nose parts are often installed on the vehicle below the level of a bumper as a front bumper.

Due to all the specifications that are incorporated into the design of this bow section, compromises have to be made from an aerodynamic point of view. When designing the bow section, in particular the ground clearance and the slope angle are frequently taken into consideration. However, these are taken into account especially for low speeds, which results in higher speeds, a non-optimal flow around the nose part and thus the front of the vehicle.

In particular, influencing the flow conditions in the bow region of the vehicle has considerable effects on the flow around the entire vehicle and thus on the flow coefficient.

As described above, the design of the nose portion is primarily low speed. The reasons for this are, for example, different operating ranges of the vehicle at low and high speeds. Thus, a vehicle is driven at low speeds, in particular during parking operations, near curbs or other elevations, whereas when operating the vehicle at higher speeds of such obstacles is rather unlikely.

In this respect, the specifications that were considered when designing the nose piece for low speed operation are of lesser importance at higher speeds. In other words, this means that the configuration of the nose piece for operation at higher speeds may differ from the configuration of the nose piece at lower speeds in order to ensure optimal aerodynamic flow around the front of the vehicle in both speed ranges.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a vehicle with an air guiding device, which enables both in low speed ranges and in high speed ranges optimal aerodynamic flow around the vehicle front area.

This object is achieved by the vehicle with a spoiler with the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, therefore, a vehicle with an air guiding device is proposed, wherein the vehicle comprises a body-mounted base on a lower bow region in front of the front wheels, and the air guiding device is fastened to the body-mounted base, and the air guiding device comprises a guide element extending in the vehicle transverse direction, which by means of an actuating mechanism is adjustable between a raised rest position and a lowered operating position.

The body-mounted base may for example be provided as a body element of the vehicle, but may for example also be provided as an element of the front apron of the vehicle.

The essence of the invention is therefore that the spoiler at the lower bow portion of a vehicle due to an adjustment between a rest position and a lowered operating position is adaptable to different driving situations. For example, the rest position can be assumed at low speeds and the lowered operating position can be assumed, for example, at higher speeds. By lowering the guide element, the distance to the roadway can be reduced.

Thus, it becomes possible to comply with the requirements for ground clearance and slope angle of the lower bow portion of the vehicle at low speeds by assuming the raised rest position, and on the other hand it becomes possible to optimize the aerodynamic flow around the vehicle front at higher speeds by assuming the lowered operating position.

Particularly at higher speeds, the coefficient of flow of the vehicle, which is influenced in particular by the shape of the vehicle front, is very significant. Therefore, it is of particular advantage, at higher speeds by changing the spoiler in the lower bow portion of the vehicle, the flow coefficient of the vehicle accordingly positive to influence. This is done by the lowered operating position of the spoiler.

Especially at higher speeds, in which the lowered operating position is assumed, is not expected with obstacles that would require a high ground clearance or a corresponding slope angle.

Thus, the vehicle travels at low speeds, for example during parking, often near obstacles or curbs, which require a high ground clearance and a corresponding slope angle, whereas in a highway driving is not expected to such obstacles.

By adjusting the guide element can also be influenced on a weighted cooling air flow by the over the car flowing air flow is controlled up or down accordingly. As a result, the air mass flowing past the radiator is controllable.

In an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle, the adjustment between the rest position of the guide element and the operating position of the guide element is effected by parallel displacement and / or angular displacement of the guide element. This allows a particularly flexible adjustment of the guide element.

Depending on the setting, the guide element can then divide the air which hits the front of the vehicle into an air stream via the vehicle and an air flow under the vehicle. By parallel displacement or angular adjustment of the guide element, the percentage distribution of the total air flow to the air flow through the vehicle and the air flow under the vehicle can be particularly easily influenced. It can be selected for the required depending on the driving situation Abtriebsbeiwerte optimal position of the guide.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the air guiding device comprises a sealing element, which can seal a gap between the lower-side bow region of the vehicle and the guide element against an air flow. In particular, in the lowered operating position, it may come to a gap formation between the guide element and the lower bow region of the vehicle due to the described parallel displacement and / or angular displacement. As a result, the flow conditions would be disturbed at this point and cause a worse flow coefficient. The sealing element can just seal this gap and forces the flow of air to flow through the vehicle or under the vehicle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises a multi-joint mechanism with at least two links, which are each articulated on the one hand on the guide element and on the other hand on the lower bow region. With such an actuating mechanism, both parallel displacement and angle adjustment can be realized together or independently with intermediate positions in a structurally simple manner.

If only a linear guide or parallel displacement should be necessary, it can also be used a drive, which is in particular a linear adjustment element, so replaced a handlebar of the multi-joint mechanism.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the links allows the adjustment of an angle of attack of the guide element. This can be taken in a structurally simple way influence on the angle of attack of the guide element and thus the percentage air flow distribution. The setting of the angle of attack of the guide element can be done for example by length change and / or angular position change of the handlebars.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the multi-joint mechanism comprises a four-bar linkage. A four-bar joint allows a simple design movement of the guide element in all dimensions.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the multi-joint mechanism is driven by a Zweifachtotpunktkurbelschleife. This offers particular advantages in a guide element, which is to be operated only in two defined positions.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the multi-joint mechanism is driven by a spindle drive. The spindles can also replace individual or all links of the multi-joint mechanism. This variant allows a structurally simple manner a continuous adjustment of the guide element.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the multi-joint mechanism is driven via a link drive. This variant also offers the advantage, in a structurally simple way, of being able to infinitely adjust the guide element.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject invention are the description, the drawings and the claims removed.

An embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention formed with air guiding device is shown schematically simplified in the drawing and will be explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

1 a bow portion of a vehicle according to the prior art;

2 a lower bow region of a vehicle with an air guiding device in the raised rest position; and

3 a lower bow portion of a vehicle with spoiler in lowered operating position.

1 shows a lower bow area 1 of a vehicle 2 according to the prior art. The front area 3 of the vehicle 2 has a front apron 4 which has to comply with a given ground clearance as a distance to the ground. Also, a so-called slope angle X is given by the design of the front apron, which is, for example, 15.7 ° and indicates the slope that can drive the vehicle maximum, without the road is touched by parts of the body.

By predetermined ground clearance and predetermined slope angle according to the prior art, the lower bow area 1 fixed and does not change while driving. This has the disadvantages described above.

2 shows a spoiler 5 for a lower bow area 1 of a vehicle 2 as well as a vehicle 2 comprising an air guiding device 5 , The air guiding device 5 comprises a guide element extending in the vehicle transverse direction 6 , which could also be called a splinter. The guiding element 6 is in the raised position of rest. In this position, the guide element lies 6 flat on the lower bow area 1 of the vehicle 2 or is sunk in this. The outer shape of the front apron 4 is thus front guide element 6 barely changed in the raised position of rest and complies with the requirements for ground clearance and slope angle.

3 shows the mounted in the lower bow area spoiler 5 according to 2 with located in lowered operating position guide element 6 , The guiding element 6 is about a four-joint 7 hinged and over the two handlebars 9 connected to the lower bow area of the vehicle. The handlebars 9 may alternatively also indirectly via a base member (not shown), which on the spoiler 5 is provided, to be connected to the lower bow portion of the vehicle. The base element may be fastened to a body element, for example to a front apron of the vehicle.

As a result, the guide element 6 depending on the design of the two links relative to the lower bow area moved parallel and / or adjusted according to its angle of attack. The air guiding device 5 furthermore has a sealing element 8th which a gap 10 between the guide element 6 and the lower bow area seals.

In lowered operating position thus reduces the guide element 6 the ground clearance of the front of the vehicle and thus influenced at higher speeds, the aerodynamics of the vehicle positively. The percentage airflow split between airflow over the vehicle and airflow under the vehicle can thus be controlled.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

lower bow area

2

vehicle

3

front area

4

front apron

5

spoiler device

6

vane

7

actuating mechanism

8th

sealing

9

handlebars

10

gap

Claims (9)

Vehicle ( 2 ) with an air guiding device ( 5 ), where the vehicle ( 2 ) at a lower bow area ( 1 ) on the bow side in front of the front wheels comprises a body-fixed base, characterized in that the air guiding device ( 5 ) is attached to the body-mounted base, and the air guiding device ( 5 ) extending in the vehicle transverse direction guide element ( 6 ), which by means of an actuating mechanism ( 7 ) is adjustable between a raised rest position and a lowered operating position. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment between the rest position of the guide element ( 6 ) and the operating position of the guide element ( 6 ) by parallel displacement and / or angular displacement of the guide element ( 6 ) he follows. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air guiding device ( 5 ) a sealing element ( 8th ) comprising a gap between a body member of the vehicle ( 2 ) and the guiding element ( 6 ) can seal against an air flow. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating mechanism ( 7 ) a multi-joint mechanism with at least two links ( 9 ), each on the one hand on the guide element ( 6 ) and on the other hand at the lower bow region ( 1 ) are articulated. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the handlebars ( 9 ) the setting of an angle of attack of the guide element ( 6 ). Vehicle ( 2 ) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the multi-joint mechanism ( 7 ) comprises a four-bar linkage. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by a Zweivachtotpunktkurbelschleife which drives the multi-joint mechanism. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by a spindle drive which drives the multi-joint mechanism. Vehicle ( 2 ) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by a slide drive, which drives the multi-joint mechanism.

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