JPH0342381A - Spoiler device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the damage of a spoiler due to collision with an obstruction located in front by a method wherein a spoiler is rotatably supported below the front end part of an automobile and to a car body, the spoiler is energized toward a working position by means of a spring means, and is positioned in a working position by means of a stopper means. CONSTITUTION:A spoiler 1 extended in the direction of the width of a car is locked to an approximate L-shaped moving arm 3, pivotally supported to a shaft 2 fixed to a car body, by means of a screw, and the one end of an engaging arm 4 is pivotally supported on the shaft 2. The other end of the engaging arm 4 is coupled to a crank arm 9, locked on an output shaft 7a of a reduction part 7 of a motor 8, through a link 6. The moving arm 3 is energized clockwisely toward the engaging arm 4 through the force of a twist spring 5 engaged with the shaft 2, and is stopped in a working position through contact with a stopper 12. In the spoiler using state, aerodynamic characteristics during high speed running of an automobile are improved. When an obstruction is collided with the spoiler 1 during running, the spoiler 1 is rotated against the spring 5 to protect the spoiler against damage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a spoiler device for an automobile provided at the front end of an automobile.

"Prior Art" Conventional spoiler devices for automobiles have a spoiler made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber attached to the lower front end of the automobile to improve aerodynamic characteristics during high-speed driving.

"N Problems to be Solved by the Invention" In the conventional automobile spoiler device as described above, when the spoiler comes into contact with an obstacle such as a fallen object on the road or a wheel stop in a parking lot, at the initial stage, Although the spoiler deforms elastically, if the user does not notice the contact and continues to drive the car, the spoiler may be damaged. Furthermore, when driving on a rough road, the spoiler may come into contact with an obstacle or the road itself due to unevenness of the road surface, resulting in damage.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems described in "U.
The 'an' is to provide a spoiler device for an automobile in which the spoiler is not deformed or damaged.

"Means and Effects for Solving the Problems" A spoiler device for an automobile according to the present invention for solving the above problems is provided at the front end of an automobile, and rotatably pivoted to the vehicle body on the F side of the front end. The spoiler is characterized in that it includes a spoiler with a fixed spoiler, a spring that biases the spoiler toward the use position, a stage, and a stopper means that positions the spoiler in the use position.

According to the above configuration, since the spoiler is biased toward the use position by the spring means, when the spoiler in the use position comes into contact with an obstacle in front, the spoiler rotates toward the storage position. External forces exerted by obstacles are absorbed by the spring means.

The spoiler device for an automobile according to the present invention also includes a spoiler driving means for rotating the spoiler between a use position and a storage position, and a spoiler drive means for rotating the spoiler from the use position to the storage position by an external force. The present invention is characterized in that the spoiler is configured to include a rotation detection means for detecting a movement, and the spoiler is rotated to a storage position by the spoiler drive means based on a detection signal from the rotation detection means.

J:, According to the structure, when the spoiler in the use position comes into contact with an obstacle in front and rotates toward the storage position, the spoiler is forcibly set to the storage position by the spoiler rotation means. , subsequent contact with obstacles is prevented.

"First Embodiment and Operation" A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows the front end of the automobile as seen from the left side in the direction of travel, and particularly shows the spoiler in storage with the dashed-two dotted line. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automobile spoiler device.

A spoiler 1 extending in the width direction is attached to a shaft 2 fixed to the vehicle body.
It is screwed onto a substantially L-shaped movable arm 3 which is pivoted at. Also, one end of an engaging arm 4 is pivotally supported on the shaft 2.
The engaging arm 4 is biased clockwise by the engaging arm 4. One end of a link 6 is connected to the other end of the retaining arm 4. The other end of the link 6 is connected to a crank arm 9 that is properly attached to the output shaft 7a of the reduction unit 7 of the motor 8.

These engaging arms4. Torsion spring5. A drive mechanism 30 is configured by the link 6 and the crank arm. Also, the driving machine 130. Reduction unit 7. and motor 8 correspond to spoiler driving means. A cam plate constituting a position detection switch 7b is fixed to the output shaft 7a. The 0 position detection switch 7b is connected to the controller 20, and the drive unit'!
The f430 has the spoiler l set to the usage position.
It detects whether it is set in the storage position and outputs it to the controller 20. A normally open limit switch 10 serving as rotation detection means is attached to the engagement arm 4. The limit switch 10 is connected to the controller 20, detects the relative position of the upper edge 3a of the movable arm 3 with respect to the engagement arm 4, and outputs the detected position to the controller 20. Furthermore, the controller 20 includes an operation switch 40 that is operated by the user inside the vehicle. Transmission gear position detection means 51. A vehicle speed sensor 52 and the like are connected. The operation switch 40 is a normally open self-resetting switch, rDOWN.

is used to drive the spoiler to the use position, and rUP is used to drive it to the storage position. A stopper 12 serving as a stopper comes into contact with the movable arm 3 when the spoiler 1 is in the use position shown by the solid line, and the movable arm 3 is biased by the torsion spring 5.
is being positioned. The stopper 11 is arranged between the movable arm 3 and the engaging arm 4 when the spoiler l is in the storage position.
pinch the upper edge 3a of the.

The action of E is explained below.

First, the operation when setting the spoiler 1 in the storage position to the use position will be explained.

When the rDOWNJ of the operation switch 40 in the vehicle interior is turned on, the controller 20 supplies current to the motor 8, causing it to rotate, and the crank arm 9, which is fixed to the output shaft 7a of the reduction unit 7, rotates approximately 180 degrees counterclockwise. When the rotation occurs, a detection signal from the position detection switch 7b is sent to the controller 20.
is output, and the motor 8 is stopped. crank arm 9
, the link 6 moves downward and the engagement arm 4
rotates clockwise. At this time, the movable arm 3 biased by the torsion spring 5 also rotates clockwise together with the engagement arm 4, comes into contact with the stopper 12 and stops, and the spoiler 1 is set at the use position. In this state, the spoiler 1 improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the automobile during high-speed driving.

Further, when moving the spoiler 1 from the use position to the storage position, the operation is reversed to that described above. That is, when rtJPj of the operation switch 40 is turned on, the motor 8 is driven in reverse by the controller 20, the crank arm 9 is rotated approximately 80 degrees clockwise, the link 6 is moved upward, and the engagement arm 4 and the movable The arm 3 rotates counterclockwise, and the L end edge 3a of the movable arm 3 comes into contact with the stopper 11.
When the spoiler 1 is sandwiched between the stopper 11 and the engagement arm 4, a detection signal from the position detection switch 7b is output to the controller 20, the motor 8 is stopped, and the spoiler 1 is set at the storage position. In this state, the spoiler 1 is mainly prevented from coming into contact with obstacles or the road surface when the vehicle is driving on rough roads.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation when an obstacle such as a fallen object on the road or a wheel stopper in a parking lot comes into contact with the spoiler 1 in the use position from the front. Obstacles from ahead! When the spoiler l contacts the movable arm 3, the spoiler l rotates counterclockwise together with the movable arm 3. At this time, the motor 8 is stopped, and the drive mechanism 30 is in use (+7. as shown by the solid line).Since it is set in the stomach, the torsion spring 5 deforms and absorbs the external force applied to the spoiler 1.

Further, the limit switch 10 detects that the engagement arm 4, which is stopped, and the upper edge 3a of the movable arm 3, which moves counterclockwise due to contact with an obstacle, have separated, and the detection signal is transmitted. =1 m force is applied to the controller 20. The control roller 20 operates the motor 8 to drive the spoiler 1 toward the storage position.

In this way, the external force acting on the spoiler 1 due to the obstacle is first absorbed by the torsion spring 5, and then the spoiler is moved to the storage position to prevent a subsequent collision, and the spoiler i
to prevent deformation and damage.

Next, Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the control program.
It is assumed that the spoiler of the automobile spoiler device is initially set to the use position (DOWN>).

When you turn on the main switch of the car, first step 10
Initialization and flag reset are performed at step 1. The flag is set when the spoiler, which is set at the use position, is set to the stowed position [(tJP) by the motor 8 due to an obstacle coming into contact with it from the front.

Next, in step 102, it is determined whether the flag is set. If the spoiler is set in the use position, the flag is not set, and it is then determined in step 104 whether or not the limit switch 10 is on. When the spoiler 1 is in the use position, the limit switch 10 is off and the following Stellar 7105,1
At step 06, the state of the operation switch 40 is determined. If the user does not operate the operation switch 40 and the operation switch 40 is neither l'Ur) nor rDOWN, the process returns to step 102.

If an obstacle comes into contact with the spoiler l from the front and moves together, an ON signal is output from the limit switch 10, so the process advances from step 104 to step 107, and the motor 8
is driven to forcibly set the spoiler 1 to the storage position, and in the subsequent step 108 a flag is set and the process returns to step 102. Here, since the flag is set, the process advances to step 109 and the operating switch 40 is
It is determined whether or not is rDOWNJ, and if not, the process returns to step 102.

Next, in this state, the user turns the operation switch 40 to rDOW.
If N, step 09 is replaced by step 110.
Proceeding to step 102, the flag is first reset.
Return to The process then proceeds to step 104, and if the spoiler 1 is in the retracted mW position, the limit switch 10 is not on, so the process proceeds to step 106 via step 105.
The process further proceeds to step 111, where the vehicle speed sensor 51. Based on the detection result of the transmission gear position detection means 52, etc., it is determined whether or not the spoiler 1 can be set to the use position. If not, the process returns to step 102, and the spoiler 1 remains in the storage position and is not driven. Spoiler 1 in 111
If it is determined that it is OK to set the spoiler 1 to the use position, the process proceeds to step 112, the motor 8 is driven, the spoiler 1 is set to the use position, and the process returns to step 102.

When the spoiler 1 is stowed in contact with an obstacle in this way, the spoiler 1 will not move to the use position unless the operator sets the operation switch 4o to "D○WNJ" again.

Next, when the spoiler 1 is set to the use position, the user turns the operation switch 4o to rUP.

If so, the process proceeds from step 105 to step 113, where the motor 8 is driven and the spoiler 1 is set at the storage position. In this case, the flag is not set and the process returns to step 102.

"Second embodiment and operation" FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 for a second embodiment of the present invention.

This will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the front end of the automobile as viewed from the left side in the direction of travel, and in particular, the dashed line indicates when the spoiler is retracted. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the automobile spoiler device.

A spoiler 1 extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to a shaft 2 fixed to the vehicle body.
It is screwed to a movable arm 3 which is rotatably supported. The movable arm 3 is always urged clockwise against the stopper 13 by a torsion spring 5 engaged with the shaft 2.

The stopper 13 has an upper end 3b of the movable arm 3.
3, and is positioned in the use position.

The wire 14 has one end connected to the lower end of the movable arm 3 and the other end wound around a pulley 15. The pulley 15 is fixed to the output shaft 7a of the reduction unit 7 and rotated by the motor 8. Driven. These torsion springs5. Wire 14. A drive mechanism 30 is constituted by the pulley 15 and the pulley 15 . Further, the drive mechanism 30° reduction section 7 and motor 8 correspond to spoiler drive means. A cam plate constituting a position detection switch 7b is fixed to the output @7a.The 1-position detection switch 7b is connected to the controller 20, and the drive mechanism 3
0 detects whether the spoiler 1 is set in the use position or the storage position and outputs it to the controller 20. A normally open limit switch IO serving as rotation detection means is attached above the shaft 2. The limit switch 10 is connected to the controller 20, detects the position of the upper end 3b of the movable arm 3, and outputs the detected position to the controller 20.

Furthermore, the controller 20 includes an operation switch 40 that is operated by the user inside the vehicle. Transmission gear position detection means 51
．． A vehicle speed sensor 52 and the like are connected. Regarding the operation switch 40, there is no difference from the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained.

First, the operation when setting the spoiler 1 in the storage position to the use position will be explained.

When rDOWNJ of the operation switch 40 in the vehicle interior is turned on, current is supplied to the motor 8 by the controller 20, the pulley 15 rotates clockwise, and the wire 14 is sent out. Since the movable arm 3 is always biased clockwise by the torsion spring 5, it rotates clockwise as the wire 14 is fed out. Then, when the pulley 9 has rotated by a predetermined angle, a detection signal from the position detection switch 7b is output to the controller 20, the motor 8 is stopped, and the motor 8 is set at the use position. In this state, the spoiler 1 adjusts the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle during high-speed driving.

Further, the stopper 13 is designed to set the spoiler 1 to the use position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 5 in the event that the wire 14 is cut, but preferably the position detection switch 7
It is preferable that the use position of b is the same as the position of the stopper 13.

On the other hand, when moving the spoiler 1 from the use position to the storage position, the operation is reversed to the above. That is, when rUPJ of the operation switch 40 is turned on, the motor 8 is reversely rotated by the controller 20, the pulley 15 rotates counterclockwise, and the wire 14 is wound up. Movable arm 3 is wire 1
The pulley 15, that is, the drive shaft 7a, is rotated counterclockwise by being pulled by the
The phase of the motor 8 is detected and the controller 20 stops the motor 8. In this state, the spoiler 1 is prevented from coming into contact with objects or the road surface, mainly when the vehicle is running at low speed.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation when an obstacle such as a fallen object on the road or a wheel stopper in a parking lot comes into contact with the spoiler 1 set at the use position from the front.

When the obstacle comes into contact with the spoiler l, it rotates counterclockwise together with the movable arm 3. At this time, the torsion spring 5 deforms and absorbs the external force applied to the spoiler 1. At this time, the wire 14 becomes slack and the pulley or motor 8
No external force from obstacles acts on the movable arm 3, and the movement of the upper end 3b of the movable arm 3 is detected by the limit switch 10, and the detection signal is sent to the controller 20. The controller 20 operates the motor 8 to move the spoiler 1 to the storage position.

In this way, the external force acting on the spoiler 1 due to an obstacle is absorbed by the torsion force 5, and the spoiler 1 is further moved to the storage position to prevent a subsequent collision, thereby preventing deformation and damage of the spoiler 1. do.

Next, a flowchart of the control program No. 513ij is shown. It is assumed that the spoiler of the automobile spoiler device is initially set to the use position W (D OW N ).

When you turn on the main switch of the car, first step 20
Initialization and flag reset are performed at step 1. In addition, does this flag mean that the spoiler set in the use position is obstructed from the front? Storage position 1 due to contact with V object
(UP) is set. Next, in step 202, it is determined whether or not the flag is set.

If the spoiler is set to the use position, the flag is not set, so the process proceeds to step 203, and the position detection switch 7b in the reduction unit 7 detects that the output @7a is in the C1γ phase corresponding to the use position of the spoiler 1. In this embodiment, the limit switch 10 is rotated by the E end 3b of the movable arm 3 and issues an on signal, so if an obstacle abuts the spoiler 1 from the front and the limit switch 10 rotates. In addition to this, the on signal is also emitted when the device is set from the storage position to the use position. Since it is not necessary to judge whether or not the limit switch 10 is on except when the limit switch 10 is set to the use position, prior to this judgment, the drive mechanism is brought into a state corresponding to the use position of the spoiler ■ in step 203. A judgment is made as to whether or not there is. Since the spoiler 1 is now set at the use position, the process proceeds to step 204, where it is determined whether the limit switch 10 is on. Since the limit switch 10 is off unless the spoiler 1 is rotated due to contact with an obstacle from the front, the state of the operation switch is determined in the following step 205206. without user operation,
If the operation switch 40 is set to RUP but not DOWN, the process returns to step 202.

When the spoiler 10 comes into contact with an obstacle from the front and rotates, an ON signal is output from the limit switch 10, and the process proceeds from step 204 to step 207, where the motor 8 is driven and the spoiler l is forced into the storage position. Once set, a flag is set in the following step 208,
Return to step 202. Since the flag is set here, the process proceeds to step 209 and the operation switch 40 is set to "D".
OWN, is determined, and if not, the process returns to step 202.

Next, from this state, the user turns the operation switch 40 to rDO.
WN, step 209 and step 2
Proceed to step 10, first the flag is reset and step 2
Return to 02. Then, proceed to step 203 and spoiler 1
1. When is in the storage position. ! Since the limit switch 10 is not on, step 205 is followed by step 206.
Proceeding to step 211, the vehicle speed sensor 5
1. Based on the detection result of the transmission gear position detection means 52, a judgment is made as to whether or not the spoiler l can be set to the use position. If not, the process returns to step 202, and the spoiler l remains in the stored position and is not driven. If it is determined in step 211 that it is OK to set the spoiler 1 to the use position, the process proceeds to step 212, where the motor 8 is driven to set the spoiler 1 to the use position, and the process returns to step 202.

Next, when the spoiler 1 is set to the use position and the user sets the operation switch 40 to "Ul) J", the process proceeds from step 205 to step 213,
The spoiler 1 is set to the first storage position by driving the motor 8. In this case, the flag is not set and the process returns to step 202.

"Effects of the Invention J As described above, the spoiler device for an automobile according to the present invention includes a spoiler that is provided at the front end of an automobile and is pivotally supported to the vehicle body under the force of the front end. The spoiler is characterized by comprising a spring means for biasing toward the use position, and a stopper means for positioning J3 and the spoiler at the use position, so that when the spoiler comes into contact with an obstacle etc., since the spoiler is pivotally supported on the vehicle body. When the spoiler rotates, the external force applied by the FIw object etc. is absorbed by the elastic means, which has the effect of preventing the spoiler from being deformed or damaged.Also, the spoiler is not limited to an elastic body. This has the effect of allowing a wide range of materials to be selected.

Further, the automotive spoiler device of the present invention includes a spoiler drive means for rotating the spoiler between a use position and a storage position, and a spoiler drive means for rotating the spoiler from a state where the spoiler is set at the use position toward the storage position by an external force. and rotation detection means for detecting the rotation of the spoiler, and the spoiler is configured such that the spoiler is simultaneously moved to the storage position by the spoiler drive means based on a detection signal from the rotation detection means. Is it III? When the spoiler comes into contact with an object and moves, the spoiler is retracted by the spoiler rotation meansf)γ
He was forcibly driven to the position, and the number was 11! 1. Contact with IV objects is prevented, and spoiler deformation and damage are reliably prevented. It has a frightening effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a spoiler device for eye movement i% according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a spoiler device for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control program for an automobile spoiler device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing an automobile spoiler device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a flowchart showing a control program for an automobile spoiler device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 1, Spoiler, 511. Torsion spring, 8.1. Motor, 101. Limit switch, 11, 12
132. Ri, Totsuba, 30. ,, drive mechanism. Diagram

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A spoiler provided at the front end of the automobile and rotatably pivoted to the vehicle body below the front end; a spring means for biasing the spoiler toward the use position; and a spring means for biasing the spoiler toward the use position. An automobile spoiler device comprising stopper means for positioning. (2) Spoiler driving means for rotating the spoiler between the use position and the storage position, and a rotation for detecting rotation of the spoiler from the use position to the storage position due to an external force. The spoiler for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a detection means, and configured such that the spoiler is rotated to a storage position by the spoiler drive means based on a detection signal from the rotation detection means. Device.