JP2017121872A - Restraining device against blowing out from vehicular wheel part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a restraining device against blowing out from a vehicular wheel part, having sufficient robustness against disturbances, while reducing air resistance during a high-speed travel.SOLUTION: A shutter 16 with a cable 20 inserted through an open hole 36 moves radially inward of a wheel house 14 against an energization force of a return spring 32 in a cylinder 18 due to the cable 20 being wound up by a driving of an actuator 22. As the result, a gap between the wheel house 14 and a tire 50 is reduced by the shutter 16 so that a blowing of traveling wind through the gap is suppressed, and thereby air resistance of a vehicle during a high-speed travel is to be reduced. Also, as the shutter 16 is driven by the actuator 22, the energization force of the return spring 32 in the cylinder 18 can be secured sufficiently large enough. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress a movement of the shutter 16 at an unexpected timing in a radial direction by disturbances from such as road surface input. That means, sufficient robustness against disturbances can be provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device.

  Conventionally, a vehicle wheel unit that is provided along a wheel house and in which a shutter is movable between an open position that allows a running wind to be blown out from the wheel house and a closed position that suppresses a running wind from the wheel house. A blowout suppression device has been proposed.

  By moving the shutter to the closed position when the vehicle is traveling at high speed, the blowing of traveling wind from the wheel house is suppressed and air resistance during high-speed traveling is reduced.

  For example, with the aim of simplifying the device configuration, there has been proposed a vehicle wheel blowout suppression device that moves a shutter attached to a pneumatic cylinder from an open position to a closed position by dynamic pressure during high-speed running (patent) Reference 1).

JP 2006-327548 A

  In the case of the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device described in Patent Document 1, the dynamic pressure is not so great even at high speeds (for example, 100 km / h). Therefore, in order to enable the shutter to move from the open position to the closed position, the biasing force toward the open position in the pneumatic cylinder cannot be set too large. As a result, the shutter may move (move to the closed position or the open position) due to road surface input (load) acting on the vehicle when traveling on a rough road.

  In other words, the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device described in Patent Document 1 has a disadvantage that it is difficult to construct a shutter moving mechanism that is robust against disturbance.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle wheel part blowout suppression device that reduces air resistance during high-speed traveling and has sufficient robustness against disturbance.

  The invention according to claim 1 is provided between the open position where a plurality of running winds from the wheel house are allowed and the closed position which restrains the running wind from the wheel house. A shutter having a through hole formed along the circumferential direction of the wheel house, and one end fixed to the vehicle, and a plurality of the shutters along the circumferential direction of the wheel house toward the other end. A cable inserted through the through hole, the other end of the cable being locked, and an actuator for winding the cable when the shutter is moved to the closed position, and a direction from the closed position toward the open position Biasing means for constantly biasing the shutter.

  According to this configuration, when the vehicle travels at a low speed or stops, the actuator is not driven, and the shutter is positioned at the open position by the urging force of the urging means. On the other hand, when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed or the like, the actuator is driven to wind the cable inserted through the through hole of the shutter. At this time, the cable having one end locked to the vehicle and the other end locked to the actuator moves so that the portion of the cable routed along the circumferential direction of the wheel house is reduced in diameter. That is, the shutter having the cable inserted into the through hole moves inward in the radial direction of the wheel house against the urging force of the urging means. That is, the shutter moves from the open position to the closed position. As a result, the shutter suppresses the blowing of traveling wind from the wheel house. This reduces the air resistance of the vehicle when traveling at high speed.

  By the way, since the shutter is configured to be movable from the open position to the closed position by the driving force of the actuator, the urging force of the urging means for urging the shutter in the direction from the closed position toward the open position is applied by an external input load. It can be set sufficiently large so that the shutter does not move. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the shutter from moving due to road surface input or the like (load) acting on the vehicle when traveling on a rough road. That is, it has sufficient robustness against disturbance.

  Since the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it can reduce air resistance during high-speed traveling and ensure sufficient robustness against disturbance.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state during high-speed running. It is a side view which shows the principal part structure of the wheel part blowing suppression apparatus for vehicles which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention in the state at the time of a stop. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the wheel part blowing suppression apparatus for vehicles which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention in the state at the time of high speed driving | running | working. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (A) is an operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the open state and (B) of the shutter of the wheel part blowing | balloon suppression apparatus for vehicles which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention which shows a closed state. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the wheel part blowing suppression apparatus for vehicles which concerns on another example in the state at the time of high speed driving | running | working.

  A vehicle wheel blowout suppression device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicular wheel portion blowing suppression device, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a state where a shutter is located at an open position and a closed position, respectively. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an operation state when the shutter is positioned at the open position and FIG. 4B is at the closed position. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  In each figure, the arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the arrow W indicates the vehicle width direction, the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width direction inner side, and the arrow OUT indicates the vehicle width direction outer side.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of shutters 16 disposed along a wheel house 14 (wheel arch 15) of the vehicle 12, and a shutter 16 described later. A cylinder 18 that is urged radially outward to maintain the open position, and a cable 20 that is inserted into the plurality of shutters 16 and moves the shutters 16 radially inward of the wheel house 14 by applying a tensile force. The actuator 22 for applying a tensile force to the cable 20 and the control unit 23 for controlling the actuator 22 are basically provided.

  In the following description, the radial direction (of the wheel house 14) refers to the direction from the wheel arch 15 toward the wheel center C, and the circumferential direction (of the wheel house 14) refers to the direction along the wheel arch 15. I mean.

Hereinafter, each component will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cylinder 18 is attached to the inside of the wheel house 14 in the vehicle width direction via a bracket 24. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cylinder 18 includes a cylinder tube 26 extending in the radial direction of the wheel house 14, a piston 28 disposed in the cylinder tube 26 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and a piston 28, a piston rod 30 extending radially inward of the cylinder tube 26, and a return spring 32 disposed inside the cylinder tube 26 radially inward of the piston 28 and biasing the piston 28 radially outward. And. The tip of the piston rod 30 protrudes outward (inward in the radial direction) from a hole 34 provided in the radially inner end face of the cylinder tube 26.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the shutter 16 is attached to the tip on the radially inner side of the piston rod 30. Therefore, it can be moved together with the piston 28 of the cylinder 18 in the axial direction of the cylinder tube 26, that is, in the radial direction of the wheel house 14. When the actuator 22 is not driven, the shutter 16 is positioned radially outward (open position) by the biasing force of the return spring 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 4A). The shutter 16 is a substantially fan-shaped plate formed in an arc shape, and a through hole 36 extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel house 14 is formed on the inner peripheral side thereof.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of bulging portions 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B projecting radially inward are respectively provided on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of the vehicle lower end portion of the wheel house 14 (wheel arch 15). Is formed. Pins 40A and 40B projecting outward in the vehicle width direction for suspending the cable 20 are formed on the bulging portions 38A and 38B. After one end of the cable 20 is locked to the actuator 22 and wound around the pin 40A, the cable 20 is inserted through the through hole 36 of each shutter 16 along the circumferential direction of the wheel house 14 and wound around the pin 40B. The other end is locked to the locking portion 42.

  Based on the output of a vehicle speed sensor (not shown), the control unit 23 determines that the vehicle is traveling at a high speed when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a threshold value, and outputs a drive signal to the actuator 22. When the vehicle speed falls below the threshold value, a stop signal is output to the actuator 22.

  The actuator 22 arranged on the vehicle front side of the wheel house 14 of the vehicle 12 winds up the cable 20 with a predetermined force when a drive signal is input from the control unit 23, and when a stop signal is input, The winding force is released to make the cable 20 free.

  Therefore, when the cable 20 is wound by driving the actuator 22, the length of the cable 20 is shortened, so that the diameter of the cable 20 inserted through the through hole 36 is reduced (the radial direction of the wheel house 14). Try to move inward). That is, it is a configuration in which a radially inward force is applied to the shutter 16 to move the shutter 16 radially inward (closed position) against the biasing force of the return spring 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4B). reference).

(Function)
The operation (operation) of the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  For example, when the vehicle is stopped, the actuator 22 is not driven, so that only the urging force of the return spring 32 of the cylinder 18 acts on the shutter 16 to position the shutter 16 in the radially outward open position (FIGS. 2 and 2). 4 (A)). That is, the shutter 16 is retracted to the inside of the wheel house 14.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle travels at a high speed, the control unit 23 determines that the vehicle speed has exceeded a threshold speed determined to be a high speed travel based on the output of a vehicle speed sensor (not shown), and outputs a drive signal to the actuator 22. Thereby, the actuator 22 winds up the cable 20 with a predetermined force. Since one end of the cable 20 is locked to the actuator 22 and the other end is locked to the locking portion 42, the cable 20 is routed along the circumferential direction of the shutter 16 between the pins 40 </ b> A and 40 </ b> B. Try to reduce the diameter. That is, the shutter 16 with the cable 20 inserted through the through hole 36 is pulled radially inward. As a result, each shutter 16 moves radially inward against the urging force of the return spring 32 and moves until it contacts the adjacent shutter 16 in the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 3 and 4B).

  That is, the shutter 16 protrudes radially inward from the wheel house 14 to reduce the gap between the wheel house 14 and the tire 50. As a result, running wind can be prevented from blowing out or flowing in between the wheel house 14 and the tire 50, and the air resistance of the vehicle can be reduced.

  Further, since the driving force of the actuator 22 is transmitted to the shutter 16 by the cable 20, the shutter 16 can be moved radially inward with a strong force. Therefore, the urging force of the return spring 32 of the cylinder 18 can be set to such a strength that the shutter 16 does not move due to road surface input or the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the shutter 16 from moving to the closed position or the open position at an unintended timing when traveling on a rough road. That is, the vehicle wheel portion blowing suppression device 10 is more robust against disturbance.

  Further, since the plurality of shutters 16 arranged in the circumferential direction of the wheel house 14 are driven by the actuator 22 via the cable 20, the plurality of shutters 16 are uniformly formed by the single cable 20 and the single actuator 22. Can be driven. In other words, the configuration can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which each shutter 16 is driven by a different driving device. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and weight of the vehicle wheel portion blowout suppressing device 10.

  In the present embodiment, there is a gap between the shutter 16 and the tire 50 at the closed position, but this can be made as small as possible. Moreover, although the some shutter 16 was arrange | positioned over the perimeter of the wheel house 14, some may be sufficient.

(Other examples)
A vehicle wheel blowout suppressing device 60 according to another example will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a rubber tube 62 is disposed along the wheel house 14 in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the wheel house 14 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the wheel house 14. The rubber tube 62 communicates with a pump 64 and a pipe 66, and is disposed so as to expand and contract along the radial direction when the pump 64 is driven. That is, when the rubber tube 62 contracts (open position), the rubber tube 62 contracts radially outward and retracts to a position where it is hidden inside the wheel house 14. On the other hand, at the time of expansion (closed position), the rubber tube 62 expands radially inward and protrudes radially inward from the wheel house 14. As a result, the clearance (area) between the wheel house 14 and the tire 50 can be reduced, the traveling wind passing through the clearance during high-speed traveling can be suppressed, and the air resistance of the vehicle can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle wheel part blowing suppression apparatus 14 Wheel house 16 Shutter 22 Actuator 20 Cable 32 Return spring (biasing means)
36 Through hole

Claims (1)

A plurality of wheels are provided along the wheel house, and are movable between an open position that allows the blowing of running wind from the wheel house and a closed position that inhibits blowing of running wind from the wheel house, and the wheel A shutter having a through hole formed along the circumferential direction of the house;
One end is fixed to the vehicle, and the cable is inserted through the through holes of the plurality of shutters along the circumferential direction of the wheel house toward the other end,
An actuator that winds up the cable when the other end of the cable is locked and the shutter is moved to the closed position;
A biasing means for constantly biasing the shutter in a direction from the closed position toward the open position;
A vehicle wheel part blowout suppression device comprising:

Images