JPH0444467Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a side skirt that covers the lower side of a vehicle such as a truck.

[Prior Art] A technique is known in which the lower sides of a vehicle such as a truck are covered with side skirts to reduce air resistance when the vehicle is running.

For example, this side skirt is from Jitsukai Showa 52-130826.
It is also possible to use a device such as that shown in the above publication, which serves not only to rectify the air but also to prevent the wheel from flying up.

The lower the ground height of the side skirt, the more effective it becomes. However, lowering the ground height increases the risk of interference with the road surface and damage to the side skirts.

Incidentally, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-58959 discloses a technology that allows the side skirts to be folded freely around the vertical axis, but since this known technology does not allow the side skirts to move up and down, damage to the side skirts is prevented. It is not possible.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-209369 discloses a technique for moving an air spoiler up and down depending on the driving condition of the vehicle. However, this known technology aims to control lift according to the driving conditions of the vehicle to obtain good steering stability, and cannot prevent damage to the side skirts.

[Problems to be Solved] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a side skirt for a vehicle that can be positioned sufficiently downward without being damaged by road surface conditions. .

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, in a side skirt of a vehicle that covers the lower side of the vehicle, the side skirt is guided and supported by the side plate of the vehicle to be movable up and down and covers the lower side of the vehicle, and the side skirt covers the lower side of the vehicle. A drive means for moving the skirt up and down, a control device for controlling the drive means, a manual switch for inputting a signal to the control device, a road sensor, a speed sensor, and a vibration sensor. The driving means is controlled by signals from the road sensor, the speed sensor, and the vibration sensor to position the side skirts at an upper position, an intermediate position, and a lower position.

[Description of Functions and Effects] Therefore, when inspecting and servicing the vehicle, by pulling up the side skirt to the upper position using the manual switch, the lower side surface becomes open, making inspection and maintenance easier.

Additionally, when driving, if the side skirts are lowered to the intermediate position, they do not interfere with the road surface and function as normal side skirts. When driving at high speeds, the side skirts are lowered to the lower position in response to a signal from the speed sensor. Since there is no vertical vibration of the vehicle on the expressway, there will be no damage even if it is positioned sufficiently downward. However, since road sensors monitor road surface conditions and vibration sensors detect vehicle vibrations, when road conditions are poor, the side skirts are placed in an intermediate position and the side skirts are not damaged.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the side skirts serve the original purpose of rectifying airflow and preventing people and objects from getting caught in them, and also reduce air resistance by lowering the side skirts to a sufficiently lower position. I can do it.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle 1 such as a truck or bus, in which the front wheels 2 are located approximately below a driver's seat 3, and the rear wheels 4 are located below a cargo platform or the like.
As shown in Fig. 2, the rear wheels 4 are located below the platform floor 6, etc. placed on the frame 5, and a work space is formed for inspection and maintenance such as changing tires and adjusting air pressure. There is.

On the other hand, since the front wheels 2 are steered wheels, the front wheels are provided with space to turn left and right within the tire housing. A plate-shaped side skirt 8 is inserted into the side plate 7 at the rear of the vehicle, and is suspended by, for example, a wire 9.

The other end of the wire 9 is wound around an electric winch 10, as shown in FIG.
0 is controlled by a control device 11.

For this control device 11, a manual switch 12,
The circuit is configured such that signals from each of the load sensor 13, speed sensor 14, and vibration sensor 15 are input.

Therefore, in the case of inspection and maintenance of the vehicle 1, by operating the manual switch 12, the electric winch 10 is hoisted and the side skirt 8 is raised to the height.
Pull up to the upper position of H3. As a result, the lower side surface of the loading platform 6 including the rear wheels 4 is in an open state, making inspection and maintenance easier.

Next, when driving, the electric winch 10 is lowered by the switch 12, the side skirts 8 are placed in the middle position of the height H2, and the vehicle is driven on a general road or the like.

When driving at high speeds such as on a highway, speed sensor 1
4 detects this and sends a signal to the control device 11,
The electric winch 10 is further lowered to lower the side skirt 8 to the minimum height of the ground height H1, that is, to the lower position.

In this state, the air resistance caused by the airflow flowing along the sides of the vehicle being caught in the lower part of the cargo bed during high-speed travel is significantly reduced by the rectifying effect of the side skirts. However, when the side skirt 8 is at the minimum ground height H1, it is easily damaged by road irregularities, vehicle vibrations, and the like.

Therefore, the road sensor 13 monitors the road surface condition and sends the information to the control device 11, while the vehicle vibration sensor 15 detects the vibration condition of the vehicle while driving and sends the information to the control device. .

The control device 11 receives information from these sensors, and when determined to be necessary, gives a command to the electric winch 10 to raise the side skirt to the ground height of H2 to prevent damage to the side skirt 8.

Note that the height of the ground height H2 is not limited to a constant height, but may be between the minimum ground height H1 and the maximum ground height H3, and may be variably controlled to be optimal depending on the driving conditions at that time. You can also do it.

Furthermore, as an actuator for moving the side skirt 8 up and down, instead of using a wire and an electric winch, an appropriate actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder can be used.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, the present invention provides the following excellent effects.

(1) The side skirts are guided and supported by the side plates, so they do not move while driving and can be stably supported.

(2) Since the side skirts automatically move up and down to the intermediate and lower positions during normal driving and high-speed driving, the side skirts are not damaged and can perform their original purpose.

(3) It can be moved to the upper position using a manual switch, improving inspection and maintainability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram. 1...Vehicle, 2...Front wheel, 4...Rear wheel, 6
... Loading platform floor, 8 ... Side skirt, 9 ... Wire, 10 ... Electric winch, 11 ... Control device,
13...Load sensor, 14...Speed sensor, 1
5... Vibration sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A side skirt for a vehicle that covers a lower side of the vehicle includes a side skirt that is guided and supported by a side plate of the vehicle to be movable up and down and covers the lower side of the vehicle, a drive means for vertically moving the side skirt, and a drive means for moving the side skirt up and down. The control device includes a manual switch, a road sensor, a speed sensor, and a vibration sensor that input signals to the control device, and the control device receives signals from the manual switch, road sensor, speed sensor, and vibration sensor. A side skirt for a vehicle, characterized in that the side skirt is positioned at an upper position, an intermediate position, and a lower position by controlling a drive means.