JPH04287778A - Mobile rear spoiler device for vehicle and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the rear visual field from being hindered when mobile fins are erected, improve the overall running performance at a high speed, and improve the running stability. CONSTITUTION:A pair of the right and left mobile fins 11 are fitted on rotary brackets 7 capable of rotating upward centering on pins 10 inclined into a divergent shape at both side sections of the upper face of a trunk lid 1. An air cylinder 15 connected to the rotary bracket 7 at the tip of a piston rod 15a is pivotally fitted to a sliding member 14 slidably coupled with a guide member 13 fixed on the lower face of the trunk lid 1, and the sliding member 14 is connected to a geared cable 22 driven in the longitudinal direction by a motor 20. The mobile fin 11 can be erected to a position A by the action of the motor 20 and to a position B from the position A by the action of the air cylinder 15 in two steps.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movable rear spoiler device mounted on the upper surface of a trunk lid at the rear of a vehicle body, and a method for controlling the same.

0002

[Prior Art] A rear spoiler improves aerodynamic characteristics during high-speed driving, especially the road holding performance of the rear wheels.
They are installed to improve running stability, and are generally fixed. However, since the fixed rear spoiler always protrudes from the top surface of the trunk lid, etc., it may actually become a hindrance when the vehicle is not running at high speeds. Recently, in order to deal with this problem, various movable rear spoiler devices that are raised upward only when necessary have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-24
(See Publication No. 7984).

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional movable rear spoiler device rotates the entire spoiler (air guiding member), which is formed to have approximately the same size as the left-right length of the trunk lid, around an axis pointing in the left-right direction. Since the device is designed to stand up to the position of use, there is a problem in that as the rotation angle increases, the rear visibility through the rear window becomes narrower. Furthermore, it is not possible to effectively control the airflow that flows around the center of the trunk lid from the vicinity of the rear quarter pillar. Furthermore, since the entire spoiler is simply controlled up and down, the steering performance, turning performance, etc.
It was difficult to improve overall performance during high-speed driving.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to not obstruct the rear visibility even when the vehicle is in an upright position, and to improve overall driving performance during high-speed driving. An object of the present invention is to provide a rear spoiler device for a vehicle and a control method thereof, which can improve running stability.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the rear spoiler device of the present invention has shafts that are provided on the upper surface of the trunk lid at the rear of the vehicle body and that are inclined in a V-shape with their front ends facing inward. A pair of left and right movable fins that can stand up and rotate upward from the center, and rotate each movable fin between a non-use position where it is almost flush with the top surface of the trunk lid and a use position where it stands up at a predetermined angle. The invention is characterized by comprising a driving means for causing the

Furthermore, the control method for the rear spoiler device described above is such that when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined value or in response to a braking operation, the left and right movable fans are simultaneously rotated toward the use position, and in response to a steering operation, the left and right movable fans are simultaneously rotated. The present invention is characterized in that the driving means is controlled to rotate either one of the movable fins toward the use position.

[0007]

[Operation] When the drive means is activated, the left and right movable fins
Since the trunk lid stands up and rotates diagonally forward and outward on the trunk lid around the shafts that are inclined to each other in a V-shape, the rear visibility is not obstructed (Claim 1). When the left and right movable fins stand up at the same time, it is possible to increase the ground contact force of the rear wheels during high-speed driving, or to stand up to a higher position during braking, increasing running resistance and shortening the braking distance. When the movable fin on the side opposite to the steering direction stands up, an aerodynamic yawing moment acts in the direction that cancels out the wobbling of the vehicle body, and the wobbling of the vehicle body can be quickly eliminated. When the vehicle stands up, an aerodynamic yawing moment acts in the steering direction, improving steering performance (turning performance) (claim 2).

[0008]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear spoiler device S of the present invention is provided symmetrically on both sides of the upper surface of the trunk lid 2 at the rear of the vehicle body 1, and has the same configuration on the left and right sides. A detailed description will be given only of the device on the left side as viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle. 1 to 4, on the upper surface of the trunk lid 2 slightly to the left of the center, there is a concave portion 3 for storing the movable fin 11 (to be described later) in a non-use position, which has the same planar shape as the movable fin 11. It is formed into a roughly pentagonal shape.

On the lower surface (bulging surface) of the concave portion 3, a reinforcing plate 4 in the shape of a flat plate having substantially the same shape as the recessed portion 3 is provided with a lower front and outer side thereof, that is, an outer sloped side where the front end is sloped inward. 4a
is positioned slightly obliquely forward of the outer inclined end surface 3a of the concave portion 3 and fixed by spot welding or the like. A hinge 5 having a U-shape in plan view is located inwardly of the flange 4b which is connected upwardly to the edge of the inclined side 4a.
is fixed with 6 bolts facing diagonally forward.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a rotating bracket consisting of a rectangular support plate 7a and a pair of left and right support pieces 7b and 7c fixed to both sides of the lower surface of the long side of the support plate so as to protrude forward by a required distance. The tip ends of both support pieces 7b and 7c have an upwardly bent hook shape, and their upper end surfaces and the upper surface of support plate 7a are aligned substantially horizontally with each other (see FIG. 1). The rotation bracket 7 has an intermediate part between both support pieces 7b and 7c.
By inserting a pair of long holes 8 and 9 on the left and right sides facing diagonally in the front-rear direction, which are bored in the concave part 3 of the trunk lid 1 slightly behind the hinge 5 and in the reinforcing plate 4, the rear half including the support plate 7a is inserted. The support pieces 7b and 7c are disposed within the recessed portion 3 so that the front end portions of the support pieces 7b and 7c are located within the trunk space directly below the trunk lid 1, respectively. Both support pieces 7b, 7c
The bent end portion of the bracket 7 is pivotally attached to the hinge 5 with a pin 10, so that the entire rotating bracket 7 can be rotated upwardly in an oblique front-rear direction, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the inclined side 4a, about the pin 10. can. Note that sealing members (
(not shown) is fitted to prevent rainwater etc. from entering the trunk room through the elongated holes 8 and 9.

On the support plate 7a of the rotating bracket 7, a flat pentagonal movable fin 11 of a size that can be stored in the recess 3 is fixed with fixing means 12 such as four rivets. A guide member 13 facing in the same direction as the rotation bracket 7 is fixed to the inward lower surface of the reinforcing plate 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide groove 13a formed in the guide member 13 is provided with a groove so that the upper end of the sliding member 14, which has a downward U-shaped bracket 14a at its lower part, can move in the oblique front-rear direction. , and are fitted in a suspended manner.

[0012] Inside the bracket 14a, an air cylinder 15 is pivotally supported by a pair of support shafts 16 on both sides of its intermediate portion, so that it faces obliquely in the front-rear direction in the same direction as the rotating bracket 7, and is oriented upwardly and downwardly. It is rotatably provided. The tip of the piston rod 15a of the air cylinder 15 is rotatably connected to the inner surface of the tip of the inner support piece 7c of the rotation bracket 7 with a pin 17.

The lower surface of the trunk lid 1 on the right side of the air cylinder 15 accommodates a motor 18 and a known speed reduction mechanism such as a worm, a worm wheel, etc. (both not shown) linked to the output shaft of the motor 18. An electric device 20 consisting of a gear case 19 is fixed with a support fitting 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a geared cable (push-pull wire) that slides in the oblique front-rear direction and left-right direction within the guide tube 23, and its front end is connected to the rear end of the sliding member 14. The rack portion passes through the gear case 19 and is meshed with a pinion (not shown) fixed on the rotating shaft of the worm wheel.

The electric device 20 is activated by an output signal from a control device to be described later, and the geared cable 2
2 to move the entire air cylinder 15 diagonally forward and backward, as shown in detail in FIG. It can be rotated between an intermediate position of 45°, that is, the A position which is the normal high speed mode.

The air cylinder 15 is also actuated by an output signal from a control device, which will be described later, and the piston rod 15a expands and contracts at a position slightly moved rearward by the operation of the electric device 20, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the movable fin 11 can be rapidly rotated from the above-mentioned position A to the B position standing at approximately 90°.

Next, an example of controlling the apparatus of the above embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, 25 is a vehicle speed sensor connected to a speedometer, etc., 26 is a steering angle sensor that detects the steering amount (angle) of the steering wheel, 27 is a yaw rate sensor that detects wobbling of the vehicle body, and 28 is a sensor that detects the left and right direction of the vehicle body. An acceleration sensor 29 detects acceleration and longitudinal acceleration, and a brake switch 29 is turned on in response to depression of the brake pedal.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a high-speed mode control circuit which simultaneously outputs signals to the right fin drive circuit 35 and left fin drive circuit 36 when it is detected that the vehicle speed has reached a predetermined high speed based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 25. emit a signal. 32 is a steering mode control circuit, which includes a vehicle speed sensor 25 and a steering angle sensor 2.
6 and the yaw rate sensor 27, the right fin drive circuit 35 and the left fin drive circuit 3 detect the yaw rate that occurs in the vehicle during sudden steering, and cancel it.
An output signal is output alternately to one or both of 6 and 6. Reference numeral 33 designates a turning mode control circuit, which is configured to respond to signals from the vehicle speed sensor 25, steering angle sensor 26, and acceleration sensor 28, and to improve steering performance when the vehicle turns by gentle steering. An output signal is issued to either one of the left fin drive circuit 36. A braking mode control circuit 34 responds to signals from the acceleration sensor 28 and the brake switch 29 and simultaneously issues output signals to the right fin drive circuit 35 and the left fin drive circuit 36 depending on the braking state.

Reference numeral 37 denotes right fin drive means consisting of the aforementioned air cylinder 15 and electric device 20, which operates the air cylinder 15 based on a signal from the right fin drive circuit 35.
and one of the electric devices 20 is actuated, and the right movable fin 11 (the same configuration as the left movable fin 11 is given the same reference numeral) is raised to either the A position or the B position. 38 is a left fin drive means that operates either the air cylinder 15 or the electric device 20 based on the signal from the left fin drive circuit 36, and moves the left movable fin 11 to either the A position or the B position. Make the crab stand up.

Thus, during high-speed driving, when the high-speed mode control circuit 31 detects that the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined high speed based on the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 25, the right fin drive circuit 35 and the left fin drive circuit 36 are operated together, and the right fin driving means 37 and the left fin driving means 38
An output signal is issued to the left and right electric devices 20 to start them simultaneously. As a result, the geared cable 22 is driven backward, and the air cylinder 1 is driven together with the sliding member 14.
5 as a whole moves diagonally rearward, and as shown in FIG. 5, the left and right movable fins 11, which had been in the retracted position, are erected and rotated to the intermediate position A position. This improves the ground contact force of the rear wheels and increases driving stability.

During high-speed running, the steering mode control circuit 32 detects sudden steering (sudden turning) of the vehicle based on the steering angular velocity determined based on the signal from the steering angle sensor 26, and detects the sudden steering (sudden turn) of the vehicle based on the signal from the yaw rate sensor 27. When detecting the occurrence of wobbling at the rear of the vehicle body, that is, the occurrence of a large yaw rate, one or both of the right fin drive circuit 35 and the left fin drive circuit 36 are activated alternately, and either the left or right air cylinder 15 is activated. That is, an output signal is issued to the air cylinder 15 in the direction in which it swayed (on the opposite side to the steering direction) to operate it. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the piston rod 15a retracts at the position moved backward by the electric device 20, thereby moving the movable fin 11 in the wobbling direction from the previous position A to the position B. Stand up and turn around rapidly. This applies an aerodynamic yawing moment to the rear of the vehicle in a direction that cancels out the wobbling (yaw rate), and the wobbling is quickly eliminated. Furthermore, when the vehicle sways in the left-right direction, the left and right movable fins 11 are alternately raised to position B, and aerodynamic yawing moments are alternately applied to the vehicle body, thereby controlling the yaw rate to be quickly damped.

During high-speed driving, the turning mode control circuit 33 detects that the vehicle is being gently steered based on the steering angular velocity determined based on the signal from the steering angle sensor 26, and detects that the vehicle is being gently steered based on the signal from the acceleration sensor 28. When it is detected that the lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined value, either the right fin drive circuit 35 or the left fin drive circuit 36 is activated, and an output signal is sent to either the left or right air cylinder 15. The movable fin 11 on the steering direction side
stand up to position B. This provides an aerodynamic yawing moment in the steering direction, improving steering performance (turning performance).

When the braking mode control circuit 34 detects braking based on the ON signal from the brake switch 29 and detects that the deceleration applied to the vehicle body has reached a predetermined value based on the signal from the acceleration sensor 28, the right fin drive is started. The circuit 35 and the left fin drive circuit 36 are activated to issue output signals to the left and right air cylinders 15 at the same time, causing both the left and right drive fins 11 to stand up and rotate to the B position. This obstructs the flow of air, increases running resistance, reduces the amount of depression of the front of the vehicle, and shortens braking distance. Note that this braking control is effective for sudden braking during high-speed driving.

As explained above, in the spoiler device of the above embodiment, the left and right sides are independently configured, and
Since two systems of driving means are provided so that the movable fin 11 can be raised in two stages, it is possible to control the four modes described above, and improve the overall running performance during high-speed running. Can be done. Moreover, since the rotation axes of the left and right movable fins 11 are inclined to each other so as to form a V-shape, it goes without saying that it does not obstruct the rear view when standing up, and the rotational axes of the left and right movable fins 11 do not interfere with the rear view when standing up. Airflow can be controlled effectively.

[0024] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can take various forms. For example, in the spoiler device S described above, the electric device 20 that raises the left and right movable fins 11 to the A position is provided near the air cylinder 15, and the drive arm (not shown) of the electric device is linked to the rotation bracket. They may also form an integrated unit. Instead of the air cylinder 15, an electromagnetic solenoid, a hydraulic cylinder, or the like may be used. As long as the air cylinder 15 and the electric device 20 can be controlled in two stages, either one of them may be omitted.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the left and right movable fins are
Since the trunk lid stands up and rotates diagonally forward and outward on the shafts that are inclined to each other in a V-shape, rear visibility is not obstructed when standing up, and the airflow that comes around from the rear quarter pillars. In addition, since the left and right movable fins can be independently driven, it not only improves the ground contact of the rear wheels, but also prevents the vehicle from wobbling and improves steering stability. (Turnability)
It is possible to improve overall driving performance at high speeds, such as by increasing the speed and braking effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a main part taken along line A-A in FIG. 2, showing an embodiment of a rear spoiler device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a rear spoiler device on the left side of the vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the rear part of the vehicle body.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing details when the movable fin stands up to position A.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing details when the movable fin stands up to position B;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Trunk lid 2 Vehicle body ３　　　Concave part 4 Reinforcement plate 5 Hinge 7 Rotating bracket 10 pin 11 Movable fins 13 Guide member 14 Sliding member 15 Air cylinder 15a Piston rod 18 Motor 19 Gear case 20 Electric device 22 Geared cable 23 Guide tube 25 Vehicle speed sensor 26 Steering angle sensor 27 Yaw rate sensor 28 Acceleration sensor 29 Brake switch 31 High-speed mode control circuit 32 Steering mode control circuit 33 Swing mode control circuit 34 Braking mode control circuit 35 Right fin drive circuit 36 Left fin drive circuit 37 Right fin drive means 38 Left fin drive means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right movable fins that are provided on the upper surface of the trunk lid at the rear of the vehicle body and that can stand up and rotate upward about shafts that are inclined in a V-shape with their front ends facing inward; A movable rear spoiler device for a vehicle, comprising a drive means for rotating the movable fin between a non-use position where the movable fin is substantially flush with the top surface of a trunk lid and a use position where the movable fin stands up at a predetermined angle. 2. A method for controlling a rear spoiler device according to claim 1, wherein the left and right movable fans are simultaneously rotated toward a use position when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined value or in response to a braking operation, and the steering A method for controlling a movable rear spoiler device for a vehicle, comprising controlling a drive means so as to rotate one of left and right movable fins toward a use position in response to an operation.