JP2009012763A - Wheel spats device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a vehicle-body airflow control device that controls the airflow acting on a vehicle to an even greater extent in response to the driving state of the vehicle in order to improve the driving performance of the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: In a wheel spats device 112, wheel spats plates that form the wheel spats device are allowed to rotate in at least a vehicle width direction. By detecting a steering state of a vehicle with a steering-state detecting means and by rotating the wheel spats plates of the wheel spats device 112 in response to the detected steering state, the airflow acting on the vehicle can be controlled, thereby enabling the driving performance of the vehicle to be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle spats device.

  Some vehicles have spats provided in front of the wheels to control the air flow during traveling. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a movable spat for a vehicle in which the spat is lowered or raised to perform yawing control or rolling control of the vehicle.

By the way, in an actual vehicle, it is desired to improve the motion performance of the vehicle by further controlling the air flow acting on the vehicle in accordance with the motion state of the vehicle.
JP-A-5-105124

  In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to obtain a vehicle spats device capable of further improving the motion performance of a vehicle by further controlling the air flow acting on the vehicle according to the motion state of the vehicle. And

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the spats body disposed in front of the wheels, the spats body disposed in front of the wheels, and the spats rotating means for driving the spats body to rotate in the vehicle width direction. And a steer state detecting means for detecting at least one of oversteer or understeer with respect to the turning direction of the vehicle, and when the vehicle oversteer is detected by the steer state detecting means, the steer state detecting means is disposed inside the turning direction of the vehicle. Rotating the spats body opposite to the vehicle turning direction, and controlling the spats turning means to turn the spats body arranged outside the vehicle turning direction in the vehicle turning direction, When understeer of the vehicle is detected by the steer state detecting means, it is arranged inside the vehicle turning direction. Control means for controlling the spats rotating means to rotate the spats main body in the vehicle turning direction and to rotate the spats main body arranged outside the vehicle turning direction opposite to the vehicle turning direction. And having.

  Therefore, when the steer state of the vehicle is detected by the steer state detection means, the control means controls the spats rotation means based on the detection result, and the spats body is rotated. Specifically, when oversteer of the vehicle is detected, the spats body arranged on the inner side with respect to the vehicle turning direction is rotated opposite to the vehicle turning direction and arranged on the outer side with respect to the vehicle turning direction. The spats body is rotated in the vehicle turning direction. Further, when understeer of the vehicle is detected, the spats main body arranged inside with respect to the vehicle turning direction is rotated in the vehicle turning direction, and the spats main body arranged outside with respect to the vehicle turning direction is Turn in the direction opposite to the vehicle turning direction. Since the spats body is rotated so that an aerodynamic moment in a direction to correct oversteering or understeering of the vehicle is applied, steering stability can be improved.

  Here, “rotation in the vehicle width direction” includes all rotations such that the rotation end moves in the vehicle width direction by rotation. That is, all the rotations in which the rotation center has a vertical component apply. By this rotation, the area of the spats body when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction changes.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the spats body is disposed in front of all the wheels, and the control means is configured to detect all the results based on the detection result by the steer state detecting means. The spats rotating means is controlled to rotate the spats body.

  Since all the spats main body is rotated based on the detection result by the steer state detection means, compared with the configuration in which only a part of the spats main body is rotated, steering stability when turning the vehicle by using the air flow more effectively. Can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the length of the spats body is variable in the vehicle width direction.

  By changing the length of the spats body in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to adjust the area that receives the air flow and further improve the steering stability. For example, by increasing the length of the spats body at a specific part, the area that receives the air flow at this part can be increased, and the steering stability can be further improved.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to further control the air flow acting on the vehicle in accordance with the motion state of the vehicle to improve the motion performance of the vehicle.

  FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 including a vehicle spats device 12 according to a first reference example of the present invention. In each drawing, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the upper side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow UP, and the outer side in the vehicle width direction is indicated by an arrow OUT. In the first reference example and the second reference example described later, the slip angle of the vehicle is further reduced. In the first embodiment of the present invention (which will also be described later), the first reference example and the first reference example will be described. 2 The configuration of the reference example is referred to as appropriate.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the first reference example, the vehicle spats device 12 is provided only for the front tire 14F of the vehicle, and the vehicle spats device corresponding to the rear tire 14R is not provided. As in the first embodiment to be described later, a vehicle spats device 112 having the same structure as the vehicle spats device 12 may be provided corresponding to the rear tire 14R. Further, in the following, when it is necessary to distinguish between the vehicle spats 12 and 112 on the left and right, the left side is marked with L and the right side is marked with R.

  FIG. 2 shows a specific configuration of a vehicle spats device (hereinafter abbreviated as “spats device”) 12. In FIG. 2, the spats device 12L located on the left side is shown as an example, but the spats device 12R located on the right side has a symmetrical structure and arrangement with respect to the vehicle center line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the spats device 12 includes a box-shaped rotation box 16 having an open bottom surface. From the vehicle width direction outer side edge part of the rotation box 16, the rotation axis | shaft 18 protrudes upwards, and is penetrated by the insertion hole of the vehicle main body which is not shown in figure so that it cannot detach | leave. The rotation box 16 rotates about the rotation shaft 18 as indicated by an arrow A.

  A rack bar 22 is fixed to the inner end of the rotating box 16 in the vehicle width direction via a continuous pin 20. The rack bar 22 is formed in an arc shape with the rotation shaft 18 as the center, and is accommodated in an accommodation recess 24 formed in the vehicle body. A rack gear 26 is formed on the outer surface of the rack bar 22 and meshes with a pinion gear 30 driven by a motor 28. Therefore, the rack bar 22 is moved in the direction of arrow B while being guided in the housing recess 24 by the rotation of the pinion gear 30 driven by the motor 28. Due to the movement of the rack bar 22, the rotation box 16 also rotates around the rotation shaft 18. The motor 28, the pinion gear 30 and the rack bar 22 (rack gear 26) constitute a spats rotating means 32.

  Two spat boards 34 and 36 are accommodated in the rotation box 16. As shown in FIG. 3, these spat boards 34 and 36 have substantially the same size and are arranged so as to overlap in the vehicle longitudinal direction. As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), two engagement grooves 38 along the vehicle width direction are formed on the rear surface of the spats plate 34 located on the front side of the vehicle. On the front surface of the spats plate 36, an engaging convex portion 40 that is accommodated in the engaging groove 38 and engages in a non-detachable manner is projected (engagement that engages with the upper engaging groove 38 in FIG. 2). The convex portion 40 is not shown).

  Further, a motor 42 and a pinion gear 44 are attached to the spats plate 34, and the pinion gears 44 mesh with a rack gear 46 formed on the upper surface of the spats plate 36. When the pinion gear 44 is rotated by driving the motor 42, the spats plate 36 is in the vehicle width direction (arrow C direction) with respect to the spats plate 34 while maintaining the state where the engagement convex portion 40 is engaged with the engagement groove 38. Slide. The motor 42, the pinion gear 44 and the rack gear 46 constitute a spats width changing means 48.

  A lift guide plate 50 extends upward from the spats plate 34 and is inserted into a guide hole 52 formed in the rotation box 16. A motor 54 and a pinion gear 56 are attached to the upper surface of the rotating box 16, and the pinion gear 56 meshes with a rack gear 58 formed on the lifting guide plate 50. When the pinion gear 56 is rotated by driving the motor 54, the lifting guide plate 50 and the spats plate 34 are moved up and down in the direction of arrow D while maintaining the state where the lifting guide plate 50 is inserted and guided through the guide hole 52. The motor 54, the pinion gear 56, and the rack gear 58 constitute a spats lifting / lowering means 60.

  Hereinafter, the spats rotating means 32, the spats width changing means 48, and the spats raising / lowering means 60 are collectively referred to as a spats driving means 62. As shown in FIG. 4, the spats driving means 62 is controlled by the control means 64 independently for each of the spats devices 12 corresponding to the respective tires.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the vehicle 10 is provided with a slip angle sensor 66 that detects a motion state of the vehicle and calculates a slip angle. The calculated value of the slip angle calculated by the slip angle sensor 66 is sent to each of the control means 64. As the slip angle sensor 66, for example, a yaw rate sensor, a lateral G sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and the like are used in an appropriate combination, and data obtained by these sensors and the direction in which the vehicle 10 is going to travel (front wheels) The slip angle can be estimated from the deviation from the direction of the center plane.

  In the present embodiment having such a configuration, drive control of the spats 34 and 36 is performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6A, before the vehicle travels or immediately after the vehicle travels, the spat boards 34 and 36 (the rotation box 16) are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Has been. Further, from the viewpoint of reducing the air resistance during travel, as shown in FIG. 7, the spats plate 36 has a maximum overlapping range with the spats plate 34, and the area when viewed from the front is reduced. Yes. Further, from the same point of view, the spat plates 34 and 36 are at the most elevated position.

  While the vehicle is running, first, in step S102, the slip angle is estimated. In step S104, it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the slip angle is larger than a preset threshold value θ. If it is smaller, the process returns to step S102. If it is larger, in step S106, the control means 64 calculates an appropriate spats drive amount. This “appropriate spats driving amount” is to rotate the spats plates 34 and 36 in order to make the slip angle smaller and smaller than the threshold value θ, and to make the slides slide. The amount of sliding, the amount of elevation for raising and lowering.

  In step S108, the spat boards 34 and 36 are driven, so that the slip angle can be reduced and the steering stability can be improved. At this time, based on the lift amount obtained in step S106, the motor 54 is first driven to lower the spat boards 34, 36 by a predetermined amount as shown in FIG. 8, and then the slide obtained in step S106 is also obtained. The motor 42 is driven based on the amount, and the spats plate 36 is slid by a predetermined amount with respect to the spats plate 34 as shown in FIG.

  Here, for example, when the slip angle is reduced by rotating the spats plates 34 and 36, the spats device 12 inside the vehicle turning direction is rotated in the vehicle turning direction to increase the area viewed from the traveling direction. And the spats apparatus 12 arrange | positioned on the outer side is rotated opposite to a vehicle turning direction, and makes the area seen from the advancing direction small. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the vehicle 10 turns to the left and has a slip angle in which the traveling direction D1 is directed to the right with respect to the direction W1 to advance, the size of the spat boards 34 and 36 as viewed from the traveling direction. The counterclockwise direction is turned counterclockwise in the turning direction so as to be increased by the left spat device 12L, and is rotated clockwise that is opposite to the turning direction so as to be reduced by the right spat device 12R.

  If necessary, the motor 42 may be driven to slide the spats plate 36 with respect to the spats plate 34 to reduce the slip angle. That is, as described above, in order to reduce the slip angle, the area of the spats plates 34 and 36 on the inner side in the vehicle turning direction is increased as viewed from the traveling direction, and the outer spat plates 34 and 36 are viewed from the traveling direction. It is sufficient to reduce the area. Similarly, the slip angle may be reduced by driving the motor 54 to raise and lower the spat boards 34 and 36. That is, such an area changing operation as viewed from the traveling direction of the spat boards 34, 36 may be performed not only by rotation but also by sliding or raising / lowering.

  Further, the amount of elevation of the spats plates 34 and 36 and the amount of slide of the spats plate 36 may be set appropriately according to the amount of adjustment of the slip angle. It is necessary to avoid contact with other members, and the slide range is limited. Moreover, when raising and lowering, it is necessary not to interfere with the road surface.

  Further, in the present embodiment, not only the control for reducing the slip angle as described above but also the spat plates 34 and 36 can be controlled so as to apply an aerodynamic moment in the turning direction according to the slip ankle. is there. In this case, in the flow shown in FIG. 5, the spats drive amount calculated in step S106 may be changed to a spats drive amount that provides a desired aerodynamic moment. In this manner, by controlling the spat plates 34 and 36 so that a desired aerodynamic moment is obtained when the vehicle turns, the slip angle of the vehicle can be reduced as a result, and the steering stability can be improved.

  In the above description, when the spats device 12 is driven from the state shown in FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. 2, first, the spats plates 34 and 36 are lowered as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the spats plate 36 may be first slid and then the spats plates 34 and 36 may be lowered.

  Further, in the present invention, a configuration for lowering the spats plates 34 and 36 and a configuration for sliding the spats plates 36 are not essential. May be. Even in this configuration, if at least the spat plates 34 and 36 (the rotation box 16) are rotatable, the slip angle can be adjusted by the rotation.

  11 and 12 show a vehicle 80 according to a second reference example of the present invention. In the second reference example, the spats device 12 having the same configuration as that of the first reference example is provided not only for the front tire 14F but also for the rear tire 14R.

  In the second reference example, since the spats device 12 is provided corresponding to all the tires as described above, for example, when it is desired to reduce the slip angle, as shown in FIG. 12, all the spats devices 12 are driven. Thus, the slip angle can be reduced more effectively than in the first reference example. For example, by rotating all the spat plates 34, 36 in the same direction, the area where the spat plates 34, 36 receive the air flow with respect to the vehicle turning direction is increased, so that the air flow can be used more effectively. May be.

  13 and 14 show a vehicle 110 including the spats device 112 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the spats device 112 is provided not only for the front tire 14F of the vehicle 110 but also for the rear tire 14R.

  In the spats device 112 of the first embodiment, instead of (or in combination with) the slip angle sensor 66 of the first reference example, a steer state sensor 116 that can detect oversteer or understeer of the vehicle 110 as shown in FIG. Is provided. Based on the steer state detected by the steer state sensor 116, the spats device 112 is controlled so as to improve the steering stability of the vehicle. That is, when oversteer or understeer of the vehicle 110 is detected, a deviation occurs between the traveling direction intended by the driver and the actual traveling direction of the vehicle 110. Therefore, for example, when oversteer is detected when the vehicle 110 is turning left, the spats device 112 on the inner side of the vehicle turning direction is turned clockwise opposite to the vehicle turning direction, and the outer spats device 112 is turned on the vehicle. Turn counterclockwise. When understeer is detected when the vehicle 110 turns left, the spats device 112 on the inner side in the vehicle turning direction is turned counterclockwise as the vehicle turning direction, and the outer spats device 112 is opposite to the vehicle turning direction. Rotate clockwise. As a result, the spat device 112 is controlled such that an aerodynamic moment in a direction to correct oversteer or understeer of the vehicle 110 is applied, so that the steering stability of the vehicle 110 is improved.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the direction W1 in which the driver wants to travel is the left direction, and a counterclockwise moment is generated in the vehicle (see the traveling direction indicated by the arrow D1). The spats device 112 is driven so that the aerodynamic moment M1 around (the direction opposite to the vehicle turning direction) acts. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the direction W2 that the driver wants to travel is the left direction, and a clockwise moment is generated in the vehicle (see the traveling direction indicated by arrow D2). In this case, the spats device 112 is driven so that a counterclockwise (same direction as the vehicle turning direction) aerodynamic moment M2 acts.

  In the first embodiment, similarly to the first reference example, the motor 42 is driven to slide the spats plate 36 with respect to the spats plate 34, or the motor 44 is driven to raise and lower the spats plates 34, 36. May be.

  Further, in the first embodiment, it is not always necessary to drive all four spats devices 112 as long as an appropriate rotational moment can be obtained. However, in the case of oversteer, for example, as indicated by the arrow S1 in FIG. 13, the rear tire 14R often tends to slip, so the spats device 112 corresponding to the rear tire 14R is actively driven to rotate clockwise. It is preferable to obtain the moment. Further, in the case of understeer, as indicated by an arrow S2 in FIG. 14, the front tire 14F tends to slip in particular, so the spats device 112 corresponding to the front tire 14F is actively driven and left It is preferable to obtain a turning moment.

  As the steering state sensor 116 according to the first embodiment, a sensor that detects a traveling direction intended by the driver with a steering angle sensor or the like and calculates a difference between the traveling direction and the actual traveling direction of the vehicle 110 can be cited. .

  As described above, in the present invention, the driving stability of the vehicle can be further improved by driving the spats device based on the steering state of the vehicle. Further, it is possible to drive the spats device so that the aerodynamic resistance acting on the vehicle is not excessively increased, thereby improving the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Further, the spats device may be driven not only in the vehicle turning state but also in the vehicle straight traveling state, thereby further improving the fuel consumption performance and steering stability of the vehicle. The control in the straight vehicle state may be performed based on, for example, data on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection means (only the vehicle speed may be used, but it is preferable to take acceleration into consideration). . Of course, the vehicle speed data detected by the vehicle speed detecting means can also be used in the control in the turning state.

  In the above description, the pair of spats on the left and right sides of the vehicle is taken as an example. For example, even if only one spats device is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction, the spats device is rotated in the vehicle width direction. Then, it becomes possible to apply an appropriate rotational moment to the vehicle.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the vehicle which concerns on the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the specific structure of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. In the spats device of the first reference example of the present invention, the state where the spats plate is slid is shown, (A) is when the sliding amount is small, (B) is when the sliding amount is large. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the control block of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention, (A) is the state which is not rotating, (B) and (C) are the states which rotated. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the vehicle which concerns on the 1st reference example of this invention in the state which operated the spats. It is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the spats apparatus of the 1st reference example of this invention. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the vehicle which concerns on the 2nd reference example of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the vehicle which concerns on the 2nd reference example of this invention in the state which operated the spats. It is a schematic plan view which shows the vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention in the state which operated the spats. It is a schematic plan view which shows the vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention in the state which operated the spats. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the spats apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 12 Spatz apparatus 12L Spatz apparatus 12R Spatz apparatus 14F Front tire 14R Rear tire 16 Rotating box 18 Rotating shaft 20 Linking pin 22 Rack bar 24 Receiving recessed part 26 Rack gear 28 Motor 30 Pinion gear 32 Spats rotating means 34 Spats plate (spats Body)
36 Spats board (Spats body)
38 engaging groove 40 engaging convex part 42 motor 44 pinion gear 46 rack gear 48 spats width changing means 50 elevating guide plate 52 guide hole 54 motor 56 pinion gear 58 rack gear 60 spats elevating means 62 spats driving means 64 control circuit (control means)
66 Slip angle sensor 80 Vehicle 110 Vehicle 112 Spatz device 112 Vehicle spats device 116 Steer state sensor (steer state detecting means)

Claims (3)

Spats body placed in front of the wheels,
Spats rotating means for driving the spats body to rotate in the vehicle width direction;
Steer state detecting means for detecting at least one of oversteer or understeer with respect to the turning direction of the vehicle;
When oversteer of the vehicle is detected by the steer state detecting means, the spats body arranged on the inner side with respect to the vehicle turning direction is rotated opposite to the vehicle turning direction, and at the outer side with respect to the vehicle turning direction. When the understeer of the vehicle is detected by the steering state detecting means, the spats rotating means is controlled so as to rotate the spats body arranged in the vehicle turning direction. The spats main body is rotated in the vehicle turning direction, and the spats rotating means is controlled so that the spats main body arranged outside the vehicle turning direction is rotated opposite to the vehicle turning direction. Control means to
A vehicle spats device characterized by comprising: The spats body is located in front of all the wheels,
2. The vehicle spats according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the spats rotating means to rotate all the spats main bodies based on a detection result by the steering state detecting means. apparatus.   The spats device for vehicles according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the length of the spats body is variable in the vehicle width direction.

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