GB2435246A

GB2435246A - Spoiler

Info

Publication number: GB2435246A
Application number: GB0603224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven John Watson
Original assignee: DECOMA U K Ltd
Current assignee: DECOMA U K Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-17
Filing date: 2006-02-17
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Also published as: GB0603224D0

Abstract

A spoiler (20) for mounting on the roof of a lorry cab (10) has a wind-deflecting surface (22) which is pivotally mounted at its front edge. The position of the wind-deflecting surface can be altered by means of a hydraulic ramp (28) extending between the roof of the cab and the undersurface of the wind-deflecting surface. The extension of the hydraulic ram (28) is under the control of an electronic control unit (42) which receives input commands from a remote unit (50).

Description

1 2435246

DESCRIPTION

SPOILER

The present invention relates to spoilers and in particular, but not exclusively, to spoilers for lorries (trucks).

Most lorries comprise a driver's cab at the front of the vehicle and a separate cargo housing behind the cab. The cab and cargo housing may share a common chassis or may instead form an articulated vehicle with the cab mounted on a tractor unit and the cargo housing being mounted on a trailer, the two being connected by means of a "fifth-wheel" linkage.

The forwardmost wall of the cargo housing is often planar and thus a spoiler is often provided on the roof of the cab to deflect the flow of air around the forward end of the cargo housing to reduce air turbulence, thereby improving aerodynamic efficiency and reducing wind noise.

Most spoilers are fixedly secured to the roof of the cab and thus are optimised to operate with a specific trailer.

However, trailers come in many different shapes and sizes and thus it is difficult, if not impossible, to design a spoiler which is suitable for use with all trailers.

In addition, a fixed spoiler (whenever fitted to an articulated or an non-articulated vehicle) is unable to take into account the prevailing conditions (for example the speed of the vehicle) and as a consequence optimal air flow around the front of the trailer can normally only be achieved in specific circumstances.

In accordance with the present invention, a spoiler for a vehicle having a driver's cab and a separate cargo container located behind the cab comprises a wind-deflecting surface, mounting means for diplaceably mounting the wind- deflecting surface on the roof of the cab, powered means for displacing the wind-deflecting surface with respect to the cab and control means for operating the powered means.

Preferably, the control means comprises an electronic control unit and input means.

In one embodiment, the control means and the input means communicate with each other wirelessly.

The mounting means may conveniently comprise means for pivotally mounting the wind-deflecting surface with respect to the cab.

Preferably, the powered actuation means comprises a fluid-operated rain, e.g. a hydraulic ram.

The spoiler may be provided with one or more sensors, e.g. an accelerometer for detecting movement and/or vibration of the wind-deflecting surface, a position sensor for sensing the position of the wind-deflecting surface or a load sensor for sensing the force on the wind-deflecting surface.

The control means may be adapted to monitor the output from one or more of the sensors and to adjust the actuation of the powered actuation means in response to the sensed values.

Alternatively, or in addition, the control means may be adapted to displace the wind-deflecting means to a selected one of a plurality of preset positions as selected on the input means.

Alternatively, or in addition, the control means may be adapted to respond to a command from the input means to raise or lower the wind-deflecting surface.

The present invention also includes a vehicle fitted with a spoiler in accordance with the present invention.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. I is a schematic side view of an embodiment of lorry cab in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is an illustration of a control panel of the embodiment of fig. 1.

Fig. I illustrates the cab 10 of a so-called tractor unit 12 to which a trailer may be connected to form an articulated vehicle. The cab 10, in which a driver sits, is located above an engine 14 on a lorry bed 16. A so-called "fifth-wheel" connector 18 is located at the rear of the lorry bed for releasably securing a trailer unit (not shown).

A spoiler 20 is mounted on the roof of the cab. The spoiler 20 comprises an upwardly convex moulded plastics shell 22 which is shaped to deflect air flow around the front of a towed trailer. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the leading edge of the spoiler is pivotally connected to the roof of the cab at a plurality of pivots 24 (only one of which is shown). The trailing edge of the spoiler is formed into a downwardly-projecting lip 26 in order to inhibit turbulent back flow of air.

The spoiler 20 can be pivoted between a rest position (illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1) in which the downwardly projecting rear lip 26 rests on the roof of the cab and a deployed position in which it is pivoted upwardly around the pivots 24 (two possible positions are illustrated in chain dot in Fig. 1). This is achieved by means of a double-acting hydraulic ram 28 located under the spoiler and pivotally connected to the roof of the cab and the undersurface of the spoiler at lower and upper pivots 30, 32. Extension of the hydraulic ram 28 causes the spoiler 20 to pivot upwardly and retraction of the ram causes the spoiler 20 to pivot downwardly.

The ram 28 is connected by means of fluid lines 34 to a solenoid-actuated fluid control valve 36. The fluid return lines have been omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake of clarity. The fluid control valve 36 receives pressurised hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic accumulator 38 which in turn is fed with pressurised hydraulic fluid from a pump 40. The operation of the valve is under the control of a digital controller 42 located in the cab 10.

A load cell 44 and a ram extension sensor 46 are also provided on the ram 28 for sensing the stresses in the ram and its extension respectively. An accelerometer 48 is also located on the rear lip of the spoiler to detect movement of the spoiler. The sensors are all connected to the digital controller 42 by means of wires.

A radio frequency wireless remote controller 50 is also provided for use by the driver in order to interact with the controller 42 in order to adjust the position of the spoiler 20.

As shown in Fig. 2, the remote control 50 unit comprises an LCD screen 52, spoiler up and down buttons 54, 56, an "auto position" button 58 and three pre-set position buttons 60, 62, 64. The remote control unit 50 is powered by rechargeable batteries and fits into a docking cradle 66 in the cab which serves to recharge the batteries and to provide a direct cable link with the controller 42.

In use, a trailer is hitched to the rear of the tractor bed 16 using the fifth wheel connection 18. The cab driver then sets the position of the spoiler in one of a number of ways. The driver has the option of adjusting the position of the spoiler manually using the up and down buttons 54, 56. The angle of inclination of the spoiler is indicated on the display, as shown at 68. Another option is to press the appropriate pre-set position button 60, 62, 64, if the attached trailer was of the type for which the setting had been stored for one of the pre-set buttons. A third option would be to press the auto position button 58, which would adjust the position of the spoiler as the vehicle travels, under the control of the controller 42, depending upon the circumstances. For example, the angle of inclination of the spoiler may be adjusted dependent upon vehicle speed, braking etc. In particular, the control system may be arranged to lower the spoiler during hard braking, to increase the wind resistance experienced by the trailer, to assist in slowing the vehicle.

It will also be noted that the display 52 of the remote control unit is provided with indications of aerodynamic load and hydraulic ram extension as detected by the sensors 44, 46.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment.

For example, a different operating regime may be adopted, a different control interface may be provided and/or the spoiler may have a different configuration.

Moreover, the embodiment shows the spoiler as being displaceable by means of a hydraulic ram. However, other means of displacing the spoiler may be provided, for example an electric motor, pneumatic ram etc. Indeed, although the spoiler has been shown as being pivoted to the roof of the cab, this need not necessarily be the case, as long as its position is adjustable with respect to the cab.

In the embodiment described, the pre-set position buttons 60, 62, 64 are for setting the spoiler inclination to suit one of three particular trailers, the buttons instead may be arranged to correspond to different conditions, e.g. motorway, downhill, town driving, etc., which the driver can select manually depending on the circumstances.

In addition, although the invention has been illustrated as being applied to a tractor/trailer configuration it is also applicable to non-articulated lorries and trucks. Although no adjustment will be required to take account of different load containers, it would be advantageous to adjust the position of the spoiler to take account of different driving conditions, for example different speeds.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A spoiler for a vehicle having a driver's cab and a separate cargo container located behind the cab, comprising a wind-deflecting surface, mounting means for displaceably mounting the wind-deflecting surface on the roof of the cab, powered actuator means for displacing the wind-deflecting surface with respect to the cab and control means for remotely operating the powered actuating means.

2. A spoiler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means comprises an electronic control unit and input means.

3. A spoiler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control means and the input means communicate with each other wirelessly.

4. A spoiler as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprises means for pivotally mounting the wind-deflecting surface with respect to the cab.

5. A spoiler as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the powered actuation means comprises a fluid-operated ram.

6. A spoiler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fluid-actuated ram comprises a hydraulic ram.

7. A spoiler as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising -20 one or more sensors.

8. A spoiler as claimed in claim 7, comprising an accelerometer for detecting movement and/or vibration of the wind-deflecting surface.

9. A spoiler as claimed in claim 7 or 8, comprising one or more sensors selected from the group comprising a position sensor for sensing the position of the wind-deflecting surface and a load sensor for sensing the force on the wind-deflecting surface.

10. A spoiler as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is adapted to monitor the output from one or more of the sensors and to adjust the actuation of the powered actuation means in response to the sensed values.

11. A spoiler as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control means is adapted to displace the wind-deflecting means to a selected one of a plurality of preset positions as selected on the input means.

12. A spoiler as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control means is adapted to respond to a command from the input means to raise or lower the wind-deflecting surface.

13. A spoiler substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

14. A vehicle fitted with a spoiler as claimed in any of the preceding claims.