Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J1/00—Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor
  • B60J1/20—Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds
  • B60J1/2002—Wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling, e.g. for side windows
  • B60J1/2005—Wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling, e.g. for side windows for windscreens
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
  • B60J7/22—Wind deflectors for open roofs
  • B60J7/223—Wind deflectors for open roofs specially adapted for convertible cars

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an aerodynamic improvement made to discoverable vehicles and in particular to vehicles of the convertible type, with a sunroof in the form of a soft top or a retractable rigid roof, intended for example to be housed in the rear trunk.
• the passenger compartment of this type of vehicle is very often the seat of aerodynamic disturbances when it is traveling at high speed, and the various means adopted to limit these disturbances sometimes give rise to other drawbacks.
• a solution used consists of installing non-return nets, located at the rear of the two seats furthest forward of the vehicle, to provide protection for the occupants of these front seats.
• the disadvantage of this system lies in the fact that it considerably restricts rearward visibility; moreover, in a vehicle comprising two rows of seats, the installation of this type of net condemns the places arranged at the rear.
• the corresponding nets constitute an accessory which requires user intervention for its installation, and in general for a limited use since it only relates to periods of high speed driving.
• these nets when these nets are in the active position, they tend to modify the appearance of the vehicle.
• it must also find its place in the vehicle to be properly stored.
• the vehicle according to the invention comprises a deflector panel which extends from the trailing edge of the windscreen and which is provided, in its central or central part intended to be located between the two front seats, with intrinsic means arranged to deflect an air flow towards the interior of the passenger compartment, so as to reduce, in the central part of the latter, the swirling air flows caused by the low pressure zone which is located behind the windshield, when whether the vehicle is moving at high or very high speed.
• the means for deflecting an air flow which flows over the passenger compartment consist of a sort of scoop disposed in the middle part of the deflector panel.
• the scoop in question is arranged in the rear middle part of the deflector panel; preferably it is in the form of a tilting flap housed in a reservation arranged in said deflector panel.
• the corresponding flap is advantageously articulated at the rear edge of the deflector panel, and its leading edge is preferably located at the level of the conductor's face.
• the deflector panel is provided with appropriate means which make it possible to adjust and maintain the orientation of the scoop flap, to allow the flow rate of the air flow deflected towards the interior of the passenger compartment to be adjusted.
• the discoverable vehicle comprises a telescopic type deflector panel which consists of at least two side bands provided with means for securing to the windshield, and a transverse panel associated with said side bands by an arrangement of type slides, so as to vary at will the longitudinal position of the inlet opening of the scoop.
• the means for diverting the air flow towards the interior of the vehicle consist of a sort of scoop in the form of a channel arranged over at least part of the length of the deflector panel, and whose axis extends perpendicular to the front edge of said panel.
• the corresponding channel extends substantially over the entire length of the deflector panel. Its entrance opening is located advantageously at the front edge of the deflector panel, arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane P of the latter; its outlet opening is located at the rear end of said deflector panel, disposed in the plane P of said panel, or at an angle between this plane P and the plane of the inlet opening.
• the inlet opening of this channel has a larger section than the section of its outlet opening.
• the deflector panel is provided with means which allow the articulation of its front edge on the trailing edge of the vehicle windshield.
• the deflector panel is provided with means for securing to the vehicle windshield, of the rigid fastening type, which fastenings correspond to the means for securing the sunroof to the windshield.
• the discoverable vehicle comprises means which allow the articulation of the rear edge of the deflector panel on a hoop secured to the windshield.
• the deflector panel comprises means which allow its automatic lifting in the absence of a roof, associated with a lifting limitation stop. These automatic lifting means can consist of a return spring system (s) or a simple air intake.
• the distance between the trailing edge of the windscreen and the rear edge of the deflector panel is between 200 and 350 mm, depending on the arrangement of the vehicle and its own aerodynamics, in particular the aerodynamics of its windshield.
• the invention also relates to the wind deflector for a discoverable vehicle as defined above; this wind deflector consists of a deflector panel intended to extend over the entire width of the windshield, and it is provided with intrinsic means making it possible to deflect the air flow towards the interior of the passenger compartment to oppose the formation of vortex recirculations.
• this deflector panel can be integrated into the structure of the vehicle or even consist of a simple accessory secured to the windshield as required.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a discoverable vehicle of the convertible type, provided with a possible embodiment of a deflector system according to the invention
• - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view from above, showing the arrangement of the deflector system according to Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the deflector system according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of a deflector panel according to the invention, seen in perspective from below;
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of Figure 4;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a discoverable vehicle provided with the deflector panel illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, this panel being fixed directly on the windshield;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view from above, showing the arrangement of the deflector system of Figures 4 to 6;
• FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of the invention, comprising a deflector panel according to Figures 4 and 5, articulated at its rear edge on a hoop secured to the vehicle windshield;
• Figure 9 is a schematic view, in section, which shows the alternative embodiment of Figure 8 with the deflector panel in the active position;
• FIG. 10 is a schematic view, in section, which shows the alternative embodiment of Figure 8 with the deflector panel in the inactive position, covered by the sunroof.
• the vehicle 1, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a discoverable vehicle of the convertible type, with a sunroof 2 and two front seats 3 and 4.
• the sunroof 2 is shown in dotted lines only in FIG. 1.
• This vehicle 1 is shown with a single row of seats, but it can also, without distinction, include two rows of seats, the seats arranged at the rear being more or less close to the front seats.
• the windshield 5 of this vehicle comprises, at its trailing edge, a deflector 6 which forms a sort of extension of said windshield towards the rear.
• This deflector 6 makes it possible to guide the air flow and to protect the driver, and possibly the front passenger, who is (are) just below.
• the deflector 6 is in the form of a large transverse panel of plane P of the sun visor type, provided with a front border 7 and a rear border 8.
• This panel 6 extends in width over the entire width of the trailing edge of the windshield 5, and in length over a few tens of centimeters. Its front edge 7 is associated with the windshield 5 by means of an articulation system 10. This articulation 10 makes it possible to pass the deflector 6 from a retracted position, folded under the windshield 5, to an active position , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which it is positioned substantially horizontally, in the extension of said windshield 5.
• the trailing edge 8 of the deflector 6 is carried towards the rear, providing effective protection for persons installed at the front of the vehicle.
• This deflector 6 extends the windshield and further comprises means for reducing or even eliminating aerodynamic disturbances in the passenger compartment. These means are suitable for deviating an air flow, and this forced air flow is introduced into the central part of the passenger compartment, substantially between the two front seats 3 and 4.
• These means for deflecting the air flow consist of a sort of scoop 12 arranged here at the rear and central part of the deflector panel 6.
• This scoop 12 consists of an opening 13 formed in the deflector panel 6, associated to a deflector flap 14.
• the flap 14 can be articulated at the rear edge 8 of the deflector panel 6. Appropriate means, not shown, are provided between this flap 14 forming the scoop 12 with the opening 13, and the deflector panel 6, for adjusting and maintain its orientation, in order to obtain the appropriate air flow.
• this deflector system can be of the telescopic type .
• the corresponding deflector 6 comprises a transverse panel 16 secured to the windshield 5 by means of lateral strips 17 which extend longitudinally. These lateral bands 17 are articulated at the trailing edge of the windshield by means of the hinge pins 10.
• the side strips 17 form an extension of the windshield and also channel the air flow.
• the space between the trailing edge of the windshield and the upstream edge 7 of the panel 16 is relatively small, so as not to disturb the flow.
• the flap 14 forming the scoop 12 with the opening 13 is positioned as previously at the trailing edge 8 of the panel 16. This flap 14 is articulated on this trailing edge 8.
• the panel 16 is associated with the lateral bands 17 to the by means of an arrangement in the form of slides 18. These slides 18 make it possible to adjust the distance from the trailing edge of the panel 16 relative to the trailing edge of the windshield 5.
• the distance between the trailing edge of the windscreen and the trailing edge of the deflector panel is advantageously between 200 ' and 350 mm, depending on the type of vehicle and its aerodynamics, and in particular aerodynamics of the windshield.
• the leading edge 19 of the flap 14 of the scoop 12 is generally located substantially at the level of the plumb of the face of the conductor of the vehicle, to efficiently channel the air flow in the central part of the passenger compartment, between the front seats 3 and 4, at the rear part of the latter.
• This position of the leading edge 19 of the flap 14 is adjustable in the case of the telescopic deflector shown in FIG. 3, so that it can be adapted to the position of the driver.
• FIGS 4 to 7 illustrate another alternative embodiment of the deflector system according to the invention.
• this wind deflector is in the form of a panel 6 ′ of plane P, with a substantially straight front edge 7 and a generally curved rear edge 8 which gives it slightly longer in the center than the sides.
• anchoring means shown schematically at 20, intended to come and hang on the additional anchoring means arranged on the windshield of the vehicle, to ensure the fixing of the deflector panel 6 'in the extension of the trailing edge of said windshield.
• These anchoring means 20 are preferably adapted to ensure a rigid connection between the panel 6 'and the windshield 5; they advantageously correspond to the means for anchoring the sunroof to said windshield.
• the panel 6 ′ On its median axis 22, the panel 6 ′ comprises the scoop-shaped means 12 which make it possible to channel an air flow in the center and towards the rear of the cabin of the equipped vehicle.
• the scoop 12 here consists of a channel or a sort of tunnel 24 centered on the median axis 22 of the panel 6 '; this channel 24 extends perpendicular to the front edge 7 of the deflector panel, and it extends over the entire length of this panel.
• the inlet opening 25 of the channel 24 is located at the front edge 7 of the panel 6 '; this inlet opening 25 is flattened and lies in a plane P 'which is substantially perpendicular to the plane P of the deflector panel 6'.
• the outlet opening 26 of the channel 24 is located on the side of the rear edge 8 of the panel 6 '.
• This outlet opening 26 is also flattened and it extends in a plane P "at an angle, lying between the plane P of the panel 6 'and the perpendicular plane P' of the inlet opening 25.
• the section of the inlet opening 25 is larger than the section of the outlet opening 26, and the arch of the channel 24 is arranged at an angle, or has a slightly arched shape in the direction of its longitudinal axis, to orient the air flow down as best as possible, in association with the orientation of the outlet opening 26.
• Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the deflector panel 6 'of Figures 4 and 5 in position, in line with the trailing edge of the windshield 5 of a vehicle 1. Most or all of the inlet opening 25 of the scoop 12 is located just above the trailing edge of the windshield 5 and the outlet opening 26 is located between the two front seats, above the head of the front passengers.
• This deflector panel 6 ′ can be produced by molding of plastic or resin. It is used as a removable accessory, mounted as required after opening the removable roof.
• Figures 8 to 10 also show an alternative embodiment of the invention, with a deflector panel 6 'identical or similar to that illustrated in relation to Figures 4 to 7, but fixed here by its rear edge on a hoop 28 secured to the windshield 5.
• the ends of the arch 28 can be fixed permanently on the uprights or on the upper crosspiece of the windshield, and the shape of this arch is adapted to that of the deflector panel 6 'so that the front edge of the latter comes position near the trailing edge of the windshield.
• the rear edge 8 of the panel 6 ' is secured to the arch 28 by means of a hinge 30, and its front edge is carried by any suitable means to allow it to be retracted under the trailing edge of the windshield when one does not wish to use the deflector means, and to allow its extraction or its projection above said windshield to activate the deflector system.
• the active position of the deflector panel 6 ' is illustrated in Figure 9, and its inactive position is shown in Figure 10.
• the deflector panel 6' is covered by the sun roof 2 of the vehicle.
• the front part of the deflector panel 6 ′ can come to rest on the structure of the vehicle in the inactive position, and this front part can be raised to place in the active position, when the roof of the vehicle is removed.
• This lifting can for example be carried out by means of an air intake system, when the vehicle is traveling above a certain speed, or by an appropriate system of return spring (s).
• a stop system for example in the form of a hook 32, can be used to limit the ascent of the front part of the deflector panel 6 ′, in order to precisely adjust its active position.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29797616

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2002
  • 2002-07-22 FR FR0209253A patent/FR2842468B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-07-22 EP EP03755624A patent/EP1534547A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-07-22 US US10/522,163 patent/US7357441B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-07-22 WO PCT/FR2003/002319 patent/WO2004009389A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-07-22 AU AU2003273464A patent/AU2003273464A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events