FR3056184A1 - STRUCTURE OF LOWER CARRIAGE OF VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A lower vehicle fairing structure according to a configuration of the present invention is arranged at the bottom of an engine compartment (100b) of a vehicle (100a) in which a radiator (102), a motor (104), and a frame suspension members (106) are arranged in this order from the front side of the vehicle. The lower vehicle fairing structure includes a lower fairing (110) extending from the lower end of a front bumper (108) of the vehicle to the rear side of the suspension frame (106) and constitutes the underside of the engine compartment (100b), and an opening (120) which is formed at a position in the lower fairing (110) which is on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to a central portion (105) of the engine (104) and on the vehicle front side of the suspension frame (106).

Description

056 184

58641 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 62 D 25/20 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 19.09.17. © Applicant (s): SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION - © Priority: 21.09.16 JP 2016184140. JP. @ Inventor (s): TAKEDA KAZUMA. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 23.03.18 Bulletin 18/12. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: The latter was not established on the date of publication of the request. (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION. related: ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET PLASSERAUD.

Pty VEHICLE LOWER FAIRING STRUCTURE.

FR 3 056 184 - A1 (5 /) A vehicle lower fairing structure according to a configuration of the present invention is arranged at the bottom of an engine compartment (100b) of a vehicle (100a) in which a radiator (102) , an engine (104), and a suspension frame (106) are arranged in this order from the front side of the vehicle. The lower vehicle fairing structure includes a lower fairing (110) which extends from the lower end of a front bumper (108) of the vehicle to the rear side of the suspension frame (106) and constitutes the lower face of the engine compartment (100b), and an opening (120) which is formed at a position in the lower fairing (110) which is on the rear side of the vehicle relative to a central part (105) of the engine (104) and on the vehicle front side of the suspension frame (106).

D

VEHICLE LOWER FAIRING STRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a lower fairing structure of a vehicle.

An engine / engine group is arranged in the engine compartment / engine group of a vehicle such as an automobile, and the bottom wall of the engine compartment / engine group is constituted by a lower fairing such as that disclosed in patent document 1 for example.

A radiator for cooling the engine / engine group is also arranged in the engine / engine group compartment. In order to increase the cooling performance of the radiator, it is necessary to increase the air flow which passes through the engine compartment / engine group. In view of this, in patent document 1, the cooling air flow can be maintained by causing the shape of the lower shroud to change according to the height of the floor panel.

Patent document 1: publication published for the public inspection of Japanese patent No. JP 2012-136062.

However, as disclosed in patent document 1 also, structural members of the vehicle body such as cross members are generally arranged in the engine compartment / engine group. According to the configuration in patent document 1, cooling air flows efficiently in the rear direction of the vehicle above the engine / engine group, but the cooling air flow below the engine / group motor is blocked by the crossmembers. For this reason, air is easily stagnant in the engine / engine compartment, and further improvements are needed in order to increase the flow of air passing through the engine / engine compartment.

In view of this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lower fairing structure which can increase the air flow rate which passes through an engine compartment / engine group, and increase the cooling performance of a radiator.

In order to solve the problem described above, a configuration representative of a lower vehicle fairing structure according to the present invention is a lower vehicle fairing structure arranged at the bottom of an engine compartment / engine group of a vehicle wherein a radiator, an engine / power unit, and a suspension frame are arranged in this order from a front side of the vehicle, the vehicle lower fairing structure including: a lower fairing which extends from a lower end of a front bumper of the vehicle to a rear side of the suspension frame, and constitutes a lower face of the engine compartment / engine group; and an opening formed at a position in the lower fairing which is on a rear side of the vehicle relative to a central part of the engine / power unit and on the front side of the vehicle of the suspension frame.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lower fairing structure of a vehicle which can increase the air flow rate which passes through an engine compartment / engine group, and increase the cooling performance of a radiator.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle lower fairing structure according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the lower fairing structure in Figure 1 is viewed from below.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating effects of the lower fairing structure according to the embodiment.

A lower vehicle fairing structure according to one embodiment is a lower vehicle fairing structure arranged at the bottom of an engine / engine compartment of a vehicle in which a radiator, an engine / engine group, and a frame suspension systems are arranged in this order from a front side of the vehicle, the lower vehicle fairing structure including: a lower fairing which extends from a lower end of a front bumper of the vehicle to one side rear of the suspension frame, and constitutes a lower face of the engine compartment / engine group; and an opening formed at a position in the lower fairing which is on a rear side of the vehicle relative to a central part of the engine / power unit and on the front side of the vehicle of the suspension frame.

According to the above configuration, air which passes under the engine / power unit can be exhausted from the opening without being blocked by the suspension frame. Consequently, it is possible to eliminate the stagnation of air inside the engine / engine group compartment, and to increase the air flow which is introduced into the engine / engine group compartment, thus making it possible to improve the radiator cooling performance.

It is preferable that the lower fairing has an inclined portion which is inclined downward while extending in a rear direction of the vehicle from the front bumper, and a horizontal portion which is continuous with a rear end of the portion inclined and extends substantially horizontally in the rear direction of the vehicle from the rear end, and the opening is arranged in the horizontal portion. According to this configuration, air which flows along the inclined surface under the engine / engine unit in the engine compartment / engine unit can be effectively exhausted from the opening.

It is preferable that the horizontal portion includes a front horizontal region which is between the rear end of the inclined portion and the opening, and a rear horizontal region which is at the rear of the opening. By providing the front horizontal region as in the above configuration, negative pressure increases on the front face of the lower fairing, thereby reducing air resistance. Likewise, the provision of the rear horizontal region increases the negative pressure, thereby improving the effect in which air is drawn through the engine compartment / engine group. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the air resistance and to dissipate heat favorably in the engine compartment / engine group to the outside.

It is preferable that the lower fairing has a pipe which is inclined upwards while extending in a vehicle front direction from an edge on the vehicle rear side of the opening in the horizontal portion, and a upper end of the pipe is located higher than a lower end of the suspension frame or at the same height as the lower end. In this configuration, air flowing to the suspension frame can be quickly exhausted to the outside before reaching the suspension frame.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, and the like in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention unless specifically indicated otherwise. It should be noted that the same reference signs have been given to elements having substantially the same functions and configurations in this description and the drawings in order to omit redundant descriptions, and elements not directly related to the present invention have been omitted in drawings and descriptions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a vehicle lower fairing structure (hereinafter called lower fairing structure 100) according to the present invention.

To facilitate understanding, the air flow in an engine compartment 100b is indicated by arrows in phantom in Figure 1. Similarly, on all of the drawings of this application, the reference signs U, D , F, and R respectively indicate the directions up, down, front, and rear relative to the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the lower fairing structure 100 of the present embodiment, a radiator 102, a motor 104, and a suspension frame 106 are arranged inside an engine compartment 100b of a vehicle 100a (not shown in full) in the order indicated starting from the front side of the vehicle.

The front face of the vehicle is constituted by a front bumper 108, and a front grille 108a is fixed to this front bumper. Air passes through the front grille 108a and is introduced into the engine compartment 100b. The air introduced into the engine compartment 100b passes through the radiator 102 in order to cool the cooling water inside the radiator 102. The suspension frame 106 is a structural body of a vehicle body which supports an arm of suspension (not shown) on which a vehicle wheel is suspended on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

A lower fairing 110 which constitutes the lower face of the engine compartment 100b is arranged below the engine 104. The lower fairing 110 is joined to the lower end of the front bumper 108 of the vehicle 100a, and extends from there to the rear of the suspension frame 106.

A feature of the lower fairing structure 100 of this embodiment is that an opening 120 is formed in the lower fairing 110 at a position which is on the rear side of the vehicle relative to a central part.

105 of engine 104 and is on the vehicle front side of suspension frame 106.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the central part 105 indicates a geometric center, that is to say a central part of the engine 104 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Consequently, air which is introduced into the engine compartment 100b and passes under the engine 104 during the movement is evacuated from the opening 120 arranged on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the central part 105 of the engine. 104.

Due to the fact that the opening 120 is arranged on the front side of the vehicle of the suspension frame 106, the air which passes under the engine 104 at this instant is discharged from the opening 120 without being blocked by the frame. suspension 106. Consequently, it is possible to eliminate the stagnation of air inside the engine compartment 100b, and to increase the air flow which passes through the engine compartment 100b, thus improving the cooling performance of the radiator 102.

Likewise, as described above, air inside the engine compartment 100b is exhausted from the opening 120, thereby making it possible to reduce the air pressure behind the engine 104 in the engine compartment 100b. As a result, air inside the engine compartment 100b is easier to escape in the rear direction of the vehicle. This therefore makes it possible to increase the amount of air which is introduced into the engine compartment 100b, and thus the amount of air supplied to the radiator 102. Consequently, it is possible to further increase the cooling performance of the radiator 102.

A phenomenon has been confirmed in which, if the speed of flow of air flowing under the vehicle is high, the pressure decreases in the vicinity of the rear door (not shown) when this air is exhausted from the rear side of the vehicle , and the air resistance increases. To address this, with the lower fairing structure 100 of this embodiment, when air flows from the front side of the vehicle to the lower side of the vehicle along the lower fairing 110, the high speed of the air s the flow under the floor is reduced by interacting with the slower flow of air which is exhausted from the engine compartment through the opening 120. Consequently, the speed of exhaust air in the rear direction of the vehicle decreases, thus eliminating a pressure reduction in the vicinity of the rear door, and thus reducing air resistance.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the lower fairing structure 100 in FIG. 1 is seen from below. As shown in Figure 2, the opening 120 can be formed to be elongated in the vehicle width direction. As a result, air passing under the engine 104 (see Figure 1) can be more effectively exhausted to the outside. It should be noted that the shape of the opening 120 is not limited to this shape, and effects similar to those above can also be obtained if the opening 120 is a plurality of holes which are arranged in the direction of vehicle width, for example.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the lower fairing 110 has an inclined portion 112 and a horizontal portion 114. The inclined portion 112 is a surface which is gently inclined downward while extending in the rear direction of the vehicle from the front bumper 108. The horizontal portion 114 is a surface which is continuous with the rear end 112a of the inclined portion 112 and extends substantially horizontally in the rear direction of the vehicle from the rear end of the inclined portion 112. It should be noted that the inclined portion 112 can be inclined at any angle as long as it is inclined downward, and can have a flat surface or curved surface. Likewise, it is preferable that the inclined portion 112 and the horizontal portion 114 are uniformly continuous.

It is preferable that the opening described above 120 is arranged in the horizontal portion 114 of the lower fairing 110. Consequently, it can be arranged for the exhaust of air from the opening 120 to interact with the air having the highest speed due to the flow below the engine 104 (lower side of the vehicle) from the front side of the vehicle and then from the passage over the inclined portion 112. Therefore, it is possible effectively reduce the speed of the air passing below the motor 104.

Likewise, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the horizontal portion 114 is formed to include a front horizontal region 114a and a rear horizontal region 114b which are arranged respectively in front of and behind the opening 120. The front horizontal region 114a is a region which extends substantially horizontally in the rear direction of the vehicle between a rear end 112a of the inclined portion 112 and the opening 120, and the rear horizontal region 114b is a region which extends substantially horizontally in the rear vehicle direction behind the opening 120.

Due to the provision of the rear horizontal region 114b behind the opening 120, as in the above configuration, it is possible to rectify the air flow which has become turbulent due to the air discharged from the opening 120. Consequently, the air flow on the suspension frame 106 in the engine compartment 100b at the rear end of the lower fairing 110 can be guided smoothly towards the rear. It is therefore possible to prevent an increase in air resistance.

It should be noted that although the present embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the opening 120 is arranged between the inclined portion 112 and the front region 114a of the horizontal portion 114, this configuration is not limited. For example, the opening 120 may be arranged in the vicinity of the rear side of the rear end 112a of the inclined portion 112, which is the limit between the inclined portion 112 and the horizontal portion 114, that is to say may be arranged in the vicinity of the front end of the horizontal portion 114.

It should be noted that, if the opening 120 were arranged in the inclined portion 112 of the lower fairing 110, the opening 120 would be open towards the front side of the vehicle. In this case, air would flow into the engine compartment 100b from the front side of the lower fairing 110 and be blocked by the suspension frame 106, thus causing the air to be stagnant in the engine compartment 100b , and increasing air resistance. Therefore, it is preferable that the opening 120 is arranged in the horizontal portion 114 of the lower fairing 110 as described above.

Likewise, as shown in FIG. 1, in the lower fairing structure 100 of the present embodiment, the lower fairing 110 has a pipe 130 which is inclined upwards while extending in the front direction of the vehicle. from an edge 120a on the rear side of the vehicle of the opening 120 in the horizontal portion 114. An upper end 130a of this pipe 130 is situated higher than the lower end of the suspension frame 106.

According to the above configuration, air which passes below the motor 104 is guided through the pipe 130 in order to be discharged towards the outside through the opening 120. Consequently, it is possible to increase the efficiency of the evacuation of air from the opening 120, and it is possible to increase the amount of air which is introduced into the engine compartment 100b, and thus the amount of air which is supplied to the radiator 102.

Also, due to the fact that the upper end 130a of the pipe 130 is located higher than the lower end of the suspension frame 106, the air flowing to the suspension frame 106 can be quickly evacuated to outside. It should be noted that, although the present embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the upper end 130a of the pipe 130 is located higher than the lower end of the suspension frame 106, this configuration is not limited. For example, even with a configuration in which the upper end 130a of the pipe 130 is located at the same height as the lower end of the suspension frame 106, effects similar to those above can be obtained.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating effects of the lower fairing structure 100 according to the present embodiment. In Figure 3, the horizontal axis indicates the volume of air passing through the radiator, and the vertical axis indicates a Cd value (air resistance coefficient). Likewise, “embodiment” indicates the lower fairing structure 100 according to the present embodiment, that is to say the lower fairing structure 100 which has the opening 120 in the lower fairing 110. Furthermore, "Comparative example" indicates a lower fairing structure in which an opening is not provided in the lower fairing.

As shown in FIG. 3, with the comparative example not provided with an opening in the lower fairing, the Cd value is higher, and the volume of air passing through the radiator is smaller. On the other hand, with the present embodiment, the Cd value is significantly lower, and the air volume is greater than that of the comparative example. From this, it can be understood that the provision of the opening 120 in the lower fairing 110, as in the present embodiment, makes it possible to increase the air flow rate passing through the engine compartment 100b, thus allowing d '' increase the cooling performance of radiator 102.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown above. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and variations can be made within the scope of the invention, and it should be understood that these modifications and variations are included within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is applicable to a lower fairing structure of a vehicle.

Reference numbers index

100 ... lower fairing structure; 100a ... vehicle; 100b ... engine compartment; 102 ... radiator; 104 ... motor; 106 ... suspension frame; 108 ... front bumper; 108a ... front grille; 110 ... lower fairing; 112 ... inclined portion; 112a ... rear end; 114 ... horizontal portion; 114a ... front horizontal region; 114b ... rear horizontal region; 120 ... opening; 120a ... edge; 130 ... driving; 130a ... upper end

Claims (5)

1. Vehicle lower fairing structure (100) arranged at the bottom of an engine compartment / engine group (100b) of a vehicle (100a) in which a radiator (102), an engine / engine group (104), and a suspension frame (106) are arranged in this order from a front side of the vehicle, the lower fairing structure of the vehicle (100) comprising: a lower fairing (110) which extends from a lower end of a front bumper (108) of the vehicle (100a) to a rear side of the suspension frame (106), and constitutes a lower face of the engine compartment / power unit (100b); and an opening (120) formed at a position in the lower fairing (110) which is on a rear side of the vehicle relative to a central portion (105) of the engine / power unit (104) and on the front side of the vehicle of the suspension frame (106). The vehicle lower fairing structure (100) according to claim 1, wherein the lower fairing (110) has an inclined portion (112) which is inclined downward while extending in a rear direction of vehicle from of the front bumper (108), and a horizontal portion (114) which is continuous with a rear end (112a) of the inclined portion (112) and extends substantially horizontally in the rear direction of the vehicle from the rear end (112a), and the opening (120) is arranged in the horizontal portion (114). 3. Vehicle lower fairing structure (100) according to claim 2, in which the horizontal portion (114) includes a front horizontal region (114a) which is between the rear end (112a) of the inclined portion (112) and the opening (120), and a rear horizontal region (114b) which is at the rear of the opening (120). The vehicle lower fairing structure (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the lower fairing (110) has a conduit (130) which is tilted upward while extending in a forward direction from vehicle to from an edge (120a) on the rear vehicle side of the opening (120) in the horizontal portion (114), and an upper end (130a) of the pipe (130) is located higher than one end lower of the suspension frame (106) or at the same height as 5 the lower end. 1/3