FR2889680A1 - Deflector aileron for convertible type openable vehicle, has rear edge and front edge, and is permeable to air and inclined in order of ten to thirty degrees with respect to horizontal for assuring windbreak effect and deflector effect - Google Patents

Abstract

The aileron (2) has a rear edge, and a front edge placed at a level lower than that of a cross piece of a windshield so as to receive air stream (F2) provided from the windshield. The front edge is disposed at the upstream of rear passengers. The aileron is permeable to the air and is inclined in the order of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal for assuring windbreak effect and deflector effect. The rear edge is placed at a height greater than that of the front edge due to the inclination.

Description

Permeable fin

  The invention relates to a fin intended to equip a convertible vehicle.

  It also relates to convertible vehicles of the convertible type such as vehicles with retractable or removable roof, in particular vehicles having two rows of seats. Such roofs may be for example hard-top, rigid roofs foldable or soft roofs roof.

  This type of vehicle is usually subject to circulations and turbulent air turbulence inside the cabin which are particularly troublesome for passengers occupying the rear seats (see Figure 1).

  Indeed, some of the air that passes over the windshield does not flow over the vehicle but enters the volume occupied by the head of the passengers.

  A solution usually adopted to limit this disadvantage is to place a partition or an anti-backwater net transversely to the vehicle, behind the heads of the occupants. Usually this partition or net extends vertically. However, this is not an optimal solution, especially for double row seats.

  An object of the invention is to substantially reduce or even eliminate these circulations and turbulent air turbulence.

  For this, it is proposed to have a breathable deflector flap, preferably transversely to the vehicle, in an area of the passenger compartment upstream of the potential turbulence areas for the rear passengers.

  The fin is permeable to air, i.e., it has a structure or orifices or channels allowing air to pass therethrough, preferably transversely to its main surface.

  Preferably the permeability rate of the fin will be between 20 and 50%, that is to say that the area occupied by the orifices will represent between 20 and 50% of a given surface of the fin.

  When the fin is arranged with a certain inclination with respect to the flow of air, it plays aerodynamically, because of its permeability, a role of windbreak; that is to say, it makes it possible to substantially reduce the phenomena of turbulence and pulsations downstream (see threads F2b in FIGS. 2 and 7) and therefore inside the passenger compartment (in speed local average, local peak speed and turbulence intensity).

  The fin is also deflector, it also allows to deflect a portion of the air flow over the occupants of the rear seats so that a portion of the flow (F2a in Figures 2 and 7) collects more far backward at the trunk lid.

  In addition, the permeable fin generates very little drag and lift compared to a full fin, which ensures a healthy behavior to the vehicle.

  The permeable fin, due to the low drag and lift generated, therefore has very little influence on the aerodynamic behavior of the vehicle. By way of comparison, a full (non-permeable) fin placed in an inclination with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle may cause the vehicle to be unloaded and thus a loss of adhesion.

  The position of the fin on the vehicle will obviously depend on the aerodynamic profile of the vehicle, for example the shape and inclination of the windshield, the front and rear hoods etc. To obtain a good efficiency, the fin preferably will be arranged: - its front edge at a level lower than that of the windshield cross member so as to receive the air streams (F2, FIGS. 1 and 7) coming from the windshield, and / or - its front edge upstream of the rear passengers, substantially vertically to the backs of the front seats so as to receive the air streams (F2) from the windshield, and / or, - with an inclination of the order 10 to 30 from the horizontal to provide the windbreak effect (F2b) and the deflector effect (F2a).

  More precisely, the rear edge of the fin will be higher than the front edge.

  It should be noted that the angle of inclination R with respect to the horizontal can be adjusted automatically according to the speed of the vehicle and / or the level of turbulence detected by sensors: thus the inclination may be lower at high speed at low speed (see FIGS. 3 and 4 for the means for adjusting the inclination).

  The invention will be better understood from the following description given by way of example with reference to the drawing which represents: FIG. 1 represents a side view of an open vehicle, according to the state of the art illustrating , the phenomenon of air turbulence in the passenger compartment.

  Figure 2 shows a side view of a vehicle equipped with a permeable fin according to the invention and its effect on the air flow.

  Figures 3A to 3D show different embodiments of a fin according to the invention.

  Figure 4 shows a top view of a vehicle according to the invention with a fin 10 of the type Figure 3D Figures 5 and 6 show enlarged views of different embodiments of the permeable portion of the fin.

  Figure 7 shows a side view of a vehicle equipped with a boundary layer eater and a permeable fin.

  Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of the boundary layer eater of Fig. 7.

  Referring to the drawing, we see in Figure 1 a discoverable vehicle 1 not equipped with the invention.

  It can be seen that part of the airflow flowing along the upper cross member 3 of the windshield penetrates into the passenger compartment.

  In Figure 2, there is shown a vehicle comprising a deflector 2 fin according to the invention.

  It can be seen that this fin is arranged so that its front edge 2A is at a level lower than that of the windshield cross member 3 so as to receive the air threads (F2, FIGS. 1 and 7) coming from the windshield broken.

  Its front edge 2A is upstream of the rear passengers 4, substantially vertical to the back of the front seats to receive the air streams (F2) from the windshield.

  It is inclined so that its rear edge 2B is higher than the front edge.

  Preferably, it will have an inclination R of the order of 10 to 30 relative to the horizontal to ensure the windbreak effect (F2b) and the deflector effect (F2a) .The airflow strikes its face superior or main.

  In Figure 3A, the fin is made of solid material that has been provided with through holes. Such orifices 5 are illustrated for example in FIG. 6A, B, C.

  The section of these through holes may be circular, oblong, triangular or other.

  The section may vary along the axis or even several channels branch.

  In FIGS. 3B, the fin has a transverse front portion 6A and a transverse rear portion 6B interconnected by plates 7 or webs 7 provided with orifices as illustrated for example in FIGS. 5 and 6.

  In the case of fabrics, the front and rear parts are rigidly secured by spacers 8 or form a frame (frame 11 in Figure 4).

  In Figure 3C, the fin has a front element and a substantially rounded rear element and interconnected: a fabric provided with orifices, illustrated for example in Figures 5 and 6, is stretched around the two front and rear elements.

  In Figure 3D, the flap is similar to that of Figure 3C but the fabric is stretched only one side of the two elements namely the upper or main face.

  In these four figures 3A to 3D, it will be noted that the fin 2 has forward a transverse bar, the bar being articulated on an axis 9 articulated on feet directly or indirectly integral with the body. This arrangement allows on the one hand the adjustment of the inclination of the fin. It also allows, when the cabin is covered with its roof, the erasure of the wing which then comes to be placed against an inner surface of the roof or against the back of the front seat.

  The return of the fin can be achieved by elastic means such as torsion springs arranged in the vicinity of the axis 9. In this case, the inclination of the fin can vary automatically depending on the speed of the vehicle and will be a means of automatic adjustment of the inclination. It is also possible to link the fin to the vehicle so that it can easily detach it from the vehicle with releasable connection means.

  An electric motor allows to adjust and position the orientation of the permeable deflector flap.

  Instead of an electric motor, mechanical means can be used.

  FIG. 4 shows a view from above of a vehicle according to the invention with a 3D-type fin: the fin 2 has a substantially rectangular frame 11 having the lateral pivots and / or releasable connection means connected to feet of support themselves connected to the cash register. A fabric 7 is stretched on the frame 11. It should be noted that the feet 10 may advantageously be guiding / sealing elements of the side windows.

  In another variant (not shown), the fin is split into two sections so that each independent section is carried by a front seat, for example by the seat back.

  This facilitates access to the rear seats in the case of a cut vehicle. The flap can be folded down against the headrest or against the backrest.

  Figures 5 and 6 show enlarged views of different embodiments of the permeable portion of the fin.

  In Figures 5A to 5C, it is a mesh structure 12 whose meshes are formed between son 13 (Figures 5A and 5b) or strips 14 (Figure 5C) intersecting. The son or the strips may be flexible but advantageously taut or rigid. A structure forming a lattice or grid is obtained. In order to increase their mechanical strength, the son or the strips may be connected to their intersections, for example by welding or gluing.

  The meshes here have the shape of squares or lozenges, but can take other forms.

  The interlocking strip structure can be made in a cane form.

  Such mesh structures may advantageously be flexible but tense materials, such as webs, obtained for example by weaving and fixed on a rigid frame.

  FIGS. 6A to 6C show a structure perforated by openings 5 passing through the plates from one side to the other in the direction of the thickness. The openings can take different forms such as circular (Figure 6A), triangle-shaped (Figure 6B), oblong (Figure 6C) honeycomb or others.

  The shaping may for example be carried out by injection, by molding or by methods associating fibers and curable resins: the material of the structure 2889680 6 will then have a continuous shape which will allow the conservation of a given shape and will improve resistance. By given form is meant both the pattern of the frame, that is to say the set of meshes, than the general shape in volume of the fin. Figures 7 and 8 show an additional element, called the boundary layer eater, to improve aerodynamics and thus, in combination with the permeable fin 2, to increase the efficiency of the latter. This system works and produces its effect independently of the fin but combined with the latter, it improves the efficiency.

  Figure 7 shows a side view of a vehicle equipped with a boundary layer eater and a permeable fin.

  Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of the boundary layer eater of Figure 7; in Figure 8A, the roof 16 is in place over the boundary layer eater and seals with a seal 17 located at the front and coming into contact with the windshield rail.

  In FIG. 8B, the roof is withdrawn or retracted and the layer-layer eater produces its effect, that is, it draws one or more air streams (F3) into an inlet channel and directs this / these air flows in an area under the windshield. In this way the pressure under the boundary layer eater increases slightly, which prevents the net F2 passing just above the boundary layer eater from undergoing a strong depression at the passage between the windshield and the passenger compartment which reduces turbulence. created and makes it possible to send the air stream F2 without turbulence towards the permeable fin which produces its effect as described in relation to FIG. 2.

  The effect of the boundary layer eater has been represented by a representation of a speed profile in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 showing the air flow velocities above the windshield cross member according to FIG. vertical axis Z. In FIG. 7, it can be seen that the speed of the air streams at the trailing edge of the boundary layer eater is very little affected and therefore generates very little turbulence, contrary to the effect produced by the windshield crossbar illustrated in Figure 1 which generates large variations in speed and therefore turbulence on the net F2.

  The effect of the boundary layer eater can be further improved by giving its trailing edge 15A a tapered shape (see Fig. 8).

  This layer-layer eater is, for example, constituted by a structure carried by the cross-member of the windshield. This structure comprises channels comprising, from the air inlet, a rearwardly extending upper portion 18A, a so-called bypass portion 18B guiding the flow to the said lower channel 18C guiding the flow towards the inner face windshield.

  It should be noted that the nets or air flows considered above flow substantially over the entire width of the passenger compartment either continuously or segmentally by several channels parallel to each other and flowing longitudinally. This last feature will reduce the sensitivity to side winds.

  In the latter case, the vehicle therefore comprises means for segmenting the flow of air into several streams substantially parallel to each other and flowing longitudinally.

Claims (20)

claims   1. A deflector flap intended to equip a convertible vehicle characterized in that it is permeable to air.   2. deflector wing according to claim 1 characterized in that the permeability of the fin is between 20 and 50%.   3. deflector wing according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it comprises means for directing and fixing directly or indirectly on the vehicle body.   4. Discoverable vehicle comprising a breathable baffle (2) deflector intended to reduce turbulence in the passenger compartment when the vehicle is discovered.   5. Vehicle according to claim 4, comprising two rows of seats, characterized in that said fin (2) is placed, in the direction of air flow, upstream of the passengers (4) rear.   6. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the aileron (2) extends substantially transversely to the vehicle so as to receive a flow of air deflected by the windshield.   7. Vehicle according to claim 6 characterized in that the fin (2) is in one or two sections.   8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 7 characterized in that the fin has a main surface receiving said air flow, the surface being inclined relative to the horizontal of an angle (R) of preferably between 10 and 30.   9. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the permeability of the fin is between 20 and 50%.   10. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the fin has a structure having orifices (5) passing through said structure and realizing the permeability.   11. Vehicle according to claim 10 characterized in that the structure of the fin consists of fabric (s) and / or perforated plate (s).   12. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the structure is stretched on a carrier frame (11). 13. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims wherein the fin is carried by an axis (9) for adjusting its inclination.   14. Vehicle according to claim 13 characterized in that it comprises resilient return means of the aileron arranged in the vicinity of the axis (9).   15. Vehicle according to claim 4 or 13 wherein the fin is carried on the vehicle by feet (10) integral with the body.   16. Vehicle according to claim 4 or 13 characterized in that the fin is carried by the front seat.   17. Vehicle according to claim 4 or 15 or 16 characterized in that the fin is detachably mounted on the vehicle by means of releasable connection means.   18. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a device (15) said boundary layer eater disposed in the vicinity of a windshield crossbar so as to direct a flow of air to a main surface of the fin.   19. Vehicle according to claim 18 characterized in that the boundary layer eater has a tapered leakage edge (15A).   20. Vehicle according to claim 18 characterized in that the vehicle has means for segmenting the flow of air in several streams substantially parallel to each other and flowing longitudinally.