JP6932054B2 - Rectifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rectifying device that rectifies air that enters under the vehicle body when traveling.

In vehicles such as automobiles, the air resistance that the vehicle body receives during driving greatly affects driving stability and fuel efficiency. As one of the means for reducing this air resistance, a rectifying device that suppresses the flow of air that enters under the vehicle body during traveling is known.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-68240 describes a rectifying device provided with a wing-shaped rectifying plate that drives up and down according to the speed of an automobile and suppresses the flow of air entering under the vehicle body.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-317656 describes an airflow generator that generates an airflow by the action of discharge plasma. This airflow generator is arranged so as to be flush with the side surface of a moving body moving in a gas such as an automobile.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-68240 JP-A-2007-317656

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-68240, it is necessary to provide a movable portion for driving the wing-shaped rectifying plate up and down, and as a result, the structure of the rectifying device becomes complicated and the weight of the vehicle body increases. There is a problem of doing.

Therefore, instead of suppressing the flow of air entering under the vehicle body, it is conceivable to rectify this air to suppress the generation of eddy currents, thereby reducing air resistance. However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-317656, rectification of the air entering under the vehicle body is not considered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rectifying device capable of rectifying the air entering under the vehicle body with a simple structure.

The rectifying device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body and has a guide portion that guides the air that enters under the vehicle body when traveling, and at least one that is arranged in the guide portion and rectifies the air. The guide portion includes two plasma actuators, and the guide portion penetrates the first air guide hole that penetrates the guide portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and the guide portion in the direction from the first air guide hole toward the road surface. The at least one plasma actuator is arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the first air guide hole .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rectifying device capable of rectifying the air entering under the vehicle body with a simple structure.

It is a front view which shows the body body of the automobile provided with the rectifying device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the rectifying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the rectifying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows one plasma actuator in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the structure of the plasma actuator in embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the plurality of plasma actuators in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the rectifying device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle body of an automobile provided with a rectifying device. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views showing a rectifier. Note that FIGS. 2 and 3 show a cross section at the center of the vehicle body in the width direction.

The rectifying device 1 according to the present embodiment includes an induction unit 10 and at least one plasma actuator arranged in the induction unit 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the guiding portion 10 is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 30. In particular, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 10 is attached to the lower part of the front bumper 31 of the vehicle body 30 of the automobile.

Here, the definition of the direction in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the present embodiment, the width direction of the vehicle body 30 is represented by the symbol D1 (see FIG. 1), and the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 30 is represented by the symbol D2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Direction D1 and direction D2 are orthogonal to each other. The direction D2 is also a front-rear direction in the traveling direction of the automobile. Further, the position in the direction away from the road surface 40 (see FIG. 1) with respect to the reference position is referred to as "upper", and the position in the direction closer to the road surface 40 with respect to the reference position is referred to as "downward". ..

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the guide portion 10 has a first air guide hole 11. The first air guide hole 11 penetrates the guide portion 10 in the front-rear direction D2 of the vehicle body 30. In FIG. 1, the straight line with the symbol C represents the center of the vehicle body 30 in the width direction D1. The first air guide hole 11 has a long shape in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30 and intersects the center C of the vehicle body 30 in the width direction D1. The first air guide hole 11 preferably has a shape symmetrical with respect to the center C in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide portion 10 further has a second air guide hole 12. The second air guide hole 12 penetrates the guide portion 10 in the direction from the first air guide hole 11 toward the road surface 40 (see FIG. 1). Although not shown, the second air guide hole 12 has a long shape in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30 and intersects the center C of the vehicle body 30 in the width direction D1. The second air guide hole 12 preferably has a shape symmetrical with respect to the center C in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30.

The guidance unit 10 has a function of guiding air that enters under the vehicle body 30 when traveling. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the arrows with reference numerals 51 and 52 represent the air flow during traveling. In the present embodiment, as indicated by the arrows with reference numerals 51, a part of the air flowing from the front of the vehicle body 30 toward the guide portion 10 is guided by the first air guide hole 11. .. Further, as indicated by the arrows with reference numerals 52, the other part of the air flowing from the front of the vehicle body 30 toward the guide portion 10 is guided by the second air guide hole 12.

In addition, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the broken line with reference numeral 32 schematically shows the undercover provided below the engine. As shown in FIG. 2, the positional relationship between the rectifying device 1 and the undercover 32 may be such that the first air guide hole 11 is located below the front end portion of the undercover 32. In this case, the air guided by the first and second air guide holes 11 and 12 enters the underside of the undercover 32.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the positional relationship between the rectifying device 1 and the undercover 32 may be such that the first air guide hole 11 is located above the front end portion of the undercover 32. .. In this case, the air guided by the first and second air guide holes 11 and 12 flows along the upper surface of the undercover 32, and then from the rear end portion (not shown) of the undercover 32 to the vehicle body 30. Go under.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the present embodiment, at least one plasma actuator is one plasma actuator 20. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the plasma actuator 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the plasma actuator 20 has a long shape in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30 and intersects the center C of the vehicle body 30 in the width direction D1. The plasma actuator 20 preferably has a shape symmetrical with respect to the center C in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the plasma actuator 20 is arranged on the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11. Hereinafter, the arrangement of the plasma actuator 20 will be described in detail. The inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11 has an upper portion 11a1 located above the center of the first air guide hole 11 in the vertical direction of the vehicle body 30 and a lower portion 11a2 located below the center. And is included. The plasma actuator 20 is arranged in the upper portion 11a1. The second air guide hole 12 is opened in the lower portion 11a2. The plasma actuator 20 faces the second air guide hole 12.

Next, an example of the configuration of the plasma actuator 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The plasma actuator 20 includes a dielectric layer 21 made of a dielectric material, an electrode 22 made of a conductive material arranged on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 21, and an electrode 23 made of a conductive material arranged on the lower surface of the dielectric layer 21. It has an insulating layer 24 made of an insulating material that covers the upper surface of the dielectric layer 21 and the electrodes 22, a power source 25, and a wiring 26 that electrically connects the power source 25 and the electrodes 22 and 23. The electrodes 22 and 23 each have a flat plate shape. The electrode 23 is arranged in front of the electrode 22. The electrode 23 may be embedded in the dielectric layer 21.

The plasma actuator 20 shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the upper portion 11a1 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11 in a posture in which the lower surface of the dielectric layer 21 faces the road surface 40 (see FIG. 1). There is.

Next, the operation of the plasma actuator 20 will be described. The plasma actuator 20 generates an air flow that flows backward along the surface of the plasma actuator 20. In the case of the plasma actuator 20 having the structure shown in FIG. 5, when an AC voltage having a voltage of several to several tens of kV and a frequency of several to several tens of kHz is applied to the electrodes 22 and 23 by the power supply 25, a dielectric barrier discharge is generated. appear. As a result, an external force is generated in the direction from the electrode 23 toward the electrode 22. As a result, an air flow flowing backward is generated along the lower surface of the dielectric layer 21.

Next, the operation and effect of the rectifying device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the plasma actuator 20 rectifies the air guided by the guiding unit 10 by the air flow generated as described above. Specifically, the airflow changes the velocity distribution of the boundary layer of air flowing in the first air guide hole 11 to suppress air separation. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the generation of eddy currents, and as a result, it is possible to reduce air resistance and improve running stability and fuel efficiency.

Further, in the present embodiment, the velocity of the air flow can be controlled by changing the AC voltage applied to the electrodes 22 and 23. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform appropriate rectification according to the vehicle speed of the automobile.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plasma actuator 20 does not include a moving portion. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the structure can be simplified and the increase in the weight of the vehicle body 30 can be suppressed as compared with the rectifying device having a structure including a movable portion.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plasma actuator 20 is arranged in the first air guide hole 11 of the induction unit 10. As a result, according to the present embodiment, as compared with the case where the plasma actuator 20 is arranged on the surface of the vehicle body 30, foreign matter adheres to the plasma actuator 20, flying objects such as pebbles, obstacles, and the plasma actuator. Contact with 20 can be prevented.

Further, in the present embodiment, the induction portion 10 is provided with a second air guide hole 12 in addition to the first air guide hole 11. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the amount of air guided by the guiding portion 10 can be sufficiently increased as compared with the case where the second air guide hole 12 is not provided. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the rectifying effect of the plasma actuator 20 can be sufficiently increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plasma actuator 20 is arranged on the upper portion 11a1 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the guide portion 10 can be provided with the second air guide hole 12. Further, mainly, the air received by the upper portion 11a1 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11 is guided so as to enter under the vehicle body 30. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the plasma actuator 20 enters under the vehicle body 30 more effectively than when the plasma actuator 20 is arranged in the lower portion 11a2 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11. The air can be rectified.

[Modification example]
Next, a modified example of the rectifying device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the modified example, the rectifier 1 includes a plurality of plasma actuators 120 instead of the plasma actuator 20. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a plurality of plasma actuators 120. As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of plasma actuators 120 are arranged so as to line up in the width direction D1 of the vehicle body 30. Further, the plurality of plasma actuators 120 are arranged in the upper portion 11a1 of the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guide hole 11 and face the second air guide hole 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

The structure of each of the plurality of plasma actuators 120 is, for example, the same as the structure of the plasma actuator 20 shown in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, modifications, and the like can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. For example, the structure of the plasma actuator 20 or 120 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 5, and is arbitrary.

Further, the plasma actuator 20 or 120 may be embedded in the guiding portion 10 so that the surface thereof coincides with the inner peripheral surface 11a of the first air guiding hole 11.

Further, the guide portion 10 may be a part of the front bumper 31. In this case, the first and second air guide holes 11 and 12 are provided in the front bumper 31.

1 ... Rectifier, 10 ... Induction part, 11 ... First air guide hole, 12 ... Second air guide hole, 20 ... Plasma actuator, 21 ... Dielectric layer, 22, 23 ... Electrode, 24 ... Insulation layer, 25 ... Power supply, 26 ... Wiring, 30 ... Body, 31 ... Front bumper, 32 ... Undercover, 40 ... Road surface.

Claims (5)

An induction unit provided at the front of the vehicle body that guides the air that enters under the vehicle body when traveling.
It is provided with at least one plasma actuator arranged in the induction portion and rectifying the air .
The guide portion includes a first air guide hole that penetrates the guide portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and a second air guide hole that penetrates the guide portion in the direction from the first air guide hole toward the road surface. And have
A rectifying device characterized in that the at least one plasma actuator is arranged on an inner peripheral surface of the first air guide hole. The inner peripheral surface includes an upper portion of the first air guide hole located above the center of the vehicle body in the vertical direction.
The rectifier according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one plasma actuator is arranged on the upper portion. The rectifying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first air guide hole has a shape long in the width direction of the vehicle body and intersects the center in the width direction of the vehicle body. The rectifying device according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is attached to a lower portion of a front bumper of the vehicle body. The rectifying device according to claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is a part of a front bumper of the vehicle body.

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