GB1593142A - Motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, BOALLOY LIMITED, a British Company of Radnor Park Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state menu: This invention relates to motor vehicles.

It is well known that as a motor vehicle progresses along the road air turbulence is created under the vehicle which has an adverse affect on the vehicle's speed. The greater the road clearance of the vehicle the greater the turbulence and consequently the more adverse the affect on the vehicle's speeds. Van type vehicles suffer particularly from this problem.

It has been proposed, especially with certain saloon cars, to obviate or mitigate this problem by reducing road clearance at the front of the vehicle to a minimum. This is done by extending the vehicle body downwardly below the bumper at the vehicle front, or by fixedly securing to and across the vehicle front a plate extending below the bumper. Such extension or plate is hereafter and in the claims called "an air dam".

Such previous solutions are disadvantageous in that access to the underside of the vehicle at the front is restricted and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air dam facility for a motor vehicle which allows such access.

According to the present invention there is provided means for reducing air turbulence under a motor vehicle, the means comprising a support arrangement for attachment to the front bumper of the motor vehicle, an air dam adapted to extend across the front of the vehicle and pivotally carried by the support arrangement for movement between a first position where it reduces the ground clearance of the motor vehicle and a second position where it does not impede access to the underside of the motor vehicle, and releasable retention means for maintaining the air dam in the first position.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle having suspended from its front bumper an air dam adapted for pivotal movement upwardly of the bumper, there being means preventing such movement when the vehicle is in use.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a van incorporating an air dam arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the van; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the vehicle front bumper and air dam; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of the bumper and air dam arrangement.

The van is generally indicated at 10 and its front bumper at 11.

The air dam 12 extends across the front of the van 10 and may, of course, be of any convenient shape and dimensions.

In the illustrated embodiment the air dam 12 is formed with an air intake depression 13, the top of which depression is open or partly apertured to allow for ingress of air to the vehicle engine where the latter is air cooled.

This depression 13 may accommodate the vehicle number plate (not shown).

The air dam 12 has a strengthening curved lip 14 along its bottom edge, which formation facilitates handling of the air dam 12 for upward pivoting as will be described later.

The air dam 12 may be formed of any convenient material but a preferred material is glass reinforced plastics.

A pair of straps 15 is secured to the air dam 12 by, for example, nuts and bolts 15A. The top of each strap 15 is in the form of a bush 16.

A support arrangement constituted by a pair of brackets 17 is secured to the bumper II by bolts 18 and nuts 19. The brackets 17 are of inverted L-shape and extending upwardly from the top horizontal limb of each bracket 17 is a bracket extension 20 mounting a pivot pin 21 parallel with the bumper II.

Projecting forwardly of the vertical limb of each bracket 17 at each side is a bracket extension 22 having a hole 23. A headed bolt 24 is provided to extend through the holes 23 of each bracket 17 and a nut 25 secures the bolt 24 bridging the bracket extensions 22.

With the brackets 17 secured on bumper 11, the air dam 12 is mounted by engaging the bushes 16 on the pivot pins 20. The straps 15 fit between the bracket extensions 22 of the brackets and are secured therebetween by bolts 24 and nuts 25.

When the vehicle is in use therefore pivotal movement of the air dam 12 is prevented.

When, however, it is desired to service the vehicle or to jack same upwardly at the front, bolts 24 and nuts 25 are removed and mechanic grasps lip 14 and pivots the air dam 12 upwardly out of the way.

It is envisaged that the straps 15 may be adjustable in construction or be adjustably secured to the air dam 12 so as to accommodate a wide range of bumpers. As a result one size of air dam can fit most vehicles.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Means for reducing air turbulence under a motor vehicle, the means comprising a support arrangement for attachment to the front bumper of the motor vehicle, an air dam adapted to extend across the front of the vehicle and pivotally carried by the support arrangement for movement between a first position where it reduces the ground clearance of the motor vehicle and a second position where it does not impede access to the underside of the motor vehicle, and releasable retention means for maintaining the air dam in the first position.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the support arrangement is a pair of brackets adapted for securement, in laterally-spaced disposition, on to the front bumper and each presenting a pivot pin parallel with the bumper.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2 in which a pair of laterally-spaced straps are secured to the air dam, each having a bush in which one of the pivot pins is engageable thus establishing a pivoting relationship between the air dam and its support arrangement.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, in which each bracket has a pair of extensions perpendicular to the bracket and between which th9 complementary strap is adapted to lie, when the air dam is in the first position, a bolt bridging each pair of bracket extensions to impede movement of the air dam from the first position.

5. Means as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 in which the air dam has an air intake depression.

6. Means as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 in which the air dam has along its bottom edge, when considered in the first position fitted on a motor vehicle, a strengthening curved lip.

7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the air dam is formed of glass reinforced plastics.

8. Means for reducing air turbulence under a motor vehicle, substantially.as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A motor vehicle fitted with means for reducing air turbulence thereunder, the means being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A motor vehicle having suspended from its front bumper an air dam adapted for pivotal movement upwardly of the bumper, there being means preventing such movement when the vehicle is in use.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. extension 22 having a hole 23. A headed bolt 24 is provided to extend through the holes 23 of each bracket 17 and a nut 25 secures the bolt 24 bridging the bracket extensions 22. With the brackets 17 secured on bumper 11, the air dam 12 is mounted by engaging the bushes 16 on the pivot pins 20. The straps 15 fit between the bracket extensions 22 of the brackets and are secured therebetween by bolts 24 and nuts 25. When the vehicle is in use therefore pivotal movement of the air dam 12 is prevented. When, however, it is desired to service the vehicle or to jack same upwardly at the front, bolts 24 and nuts 25 are removed and mechanic grasps lip 14 and pivots the air dam 12 upwardly out of the way. It is envisaged that the straps 15 may be adjustable in construction or be adjustably secured to the air dam 12 so as to accommodate a wide range of bumpers. As a result one size of air dam can fit most vehicles. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Means for reducing air turbulence under a motor vehicle, the means comprising a support arrangement for attachment to the front bumper of the motor vehicle, an air dam adapted to extend across the front of the vehicle and pivotally carried by the support arrangement for movement between a first position where it reduces the ground clearance of the motor vehicle and a second position where it does not impede access to the underside of the motor vehicle, and releasable retention means for maintaining the air dam in the first position.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, in which the support arrangement is a pair of brackets adapted for securement, in laterally-spaced disposition, on to the front bumper and each presenting a pivot pin parallel with the bumper.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2 in which a pair of laterally-spaced straps are secured to the air dam, each having a bush in which one of the pivot pins is engageable thus establishing a pivoting relationship between the air dam and its support arrangement.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, in which each bracket has a pair of extensions perpendicular to the bracket and between which th9 complementary strap is adapted to lie, when the air dam is in the first position, a bolt bridging each pair of bracket extensions to impede movement of the air dam from the first position.

5. Means as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 in which the air dam has an air intake depression.

6. Means as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 in which the air dam has along its bottom edge, when considered in the first position fitted on a motor vehicle, a strengthening curved lip.

7. Means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the air dam is formed of glass reinforced plastics.

8. Means for reducing air turbulence under a motor vehicle, substantially.as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A motor vehicle fitted with means for reducing air turbulence thereunder, the means being as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A motor vehicle having suspended from its front bumper an air dam adapted for pivotal movement upwardly of the bumper, there being means preventing such movement when the vehicle is in use.