JPH06144296A - Air resistance reducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of air turbulence around a tire so as to reduce air resistance. CONSTITUTION:The vehicle width direction outer side 2a of a wheel opening 2 is closed by a bellows like member (hereinafter referred to as bellows) 1, and the inner side 2b is closed by bellows 5, 6. A circle rod 10 working together with a tire 9 is disposed around the tire 9, and four bearings 12, 13, 14, 15 are fitted to the circle rod 10. The end part of the bellows 1 is extended upward in such a way as to come in contact with the bearing 12 so as to form a plate 16. In the same way, the plate 17 of the bellows 1 is in contact with the bearing 13, the plate 18 of the bellows 5 is in contact with the bearing 14, and the plate 19 of the bellows 6 is in contact with the bearing 15. Since the bearings push the plates and move on the plates according to the movement of the tire 9, the wheel opening is always closed by the bellows 1, 5, 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air resistance reducing device for reducing air resistance around a tire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since the influence of a wheel house on C _D is extremely large, it is desirable that a large tire or suspension is not directly exposed to wind as an active ingredient.

Therefore, as an air resistance reducing device, it has been proposed for a long time that a fixed cover is attached to the vehicle body to cover the side surface of the rear wheel to some extent.

Further, since the front wheels are steering wheels, it is difficult to attach a fixed cover. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, there is proposed a method in which a front wheel 101 is covered with a metal cover 102 that moves together with the front wheel 101 and a stretchable special rubber coating 103 is attached to the outside of the wheel house. According to the device, even if the metal cover 102 is projected from the vehicle body during turning, as shown in FIG.
Since it is covered with, the generation of vortices is suppressed. (For example, as a conventional technique, Ford probe 1V manufactured by Ford Co., Ltd.)

[0005]

However, in such a conventional air resistance reducing device, since the lower portion of the tire remains exposed, the air resistance due to the exposed portion of the tire, which is the rotating body, is reduced. There was a big problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air resistance reducing device in which turbulence of air around a tire is reduced.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a bellows-like member is attached to the wheel opening, and the bellows-like member moves following the movement of the tire to close the wheel opening.

Further, the tire has the same rotation axis as the rotation axis of the wheel, is larger than the outer dimensions of the tire, and has a spindle-shaped cross section in the circumferential direction. I tried to wrap it up.

[0009]

Since the wheel opening is always closed by the bellows-like member, turbulence of air around the tire does not occur.

Further, since the tire is covered with the spats having a spindle-shaped cross section, the turbulence of air around the tire does not occur.

Therefore, the air resistance is greatly reduced.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment relates to a wheel opening cover of a solar car, FIG. 1 is a plan view and FIG. 2 is a side view.

First, the configuration will be described. Reference numeral 1 denotes a bellows-shaped member (hereinafter referred to as a bellows), which is arranged so as to cover the outer side 2a of the wheel opening 2 in the vehicle width direction, and is fixed to the under cowl 3 inside the vehicle compartment by a bracket 4.

The bellows 5 and 6 are also arranged so as to cover the inner side 2b of the wheel opening 2 in the vehicle width direction like the bellows 1, and are fixed to the under cowl 3 inside the cabin by brackets 7 and 8, respectively. ing.

A circle rod 10 is arranged around the tire 9 and fixed to both ends 11a and 11b of an axle 11. The circle rod 10 has four bearings 12,
13, 14, 15 are attached. Bearing 1
Corresponding to No. 2, the end of the bellows 1 extends upwardly to form a plate 16, and the bearing 12 is in contact with the plate 16. Similarly, the bearing 13 is in contact with the plate 17 at the end of the bellows 1, the bearing 14 is in contact with the plate 18 at the end of the bellows 5, and the bearing 15 is in contact with the plate 19 at the end of the bellows 6.

Further, the bellows 1 and 5 are provided with a spring 20.
The bellows 1 and the bellows 6 are connected by a spring 21, and the plates 16, 17, 18, and 19 are respectively urged by the springs 20 and 21, and the plates 16, 17, 18, and 19 are respectively bearings 12,
Always in contact with 13, 14 and 15. Reference numeral 22 is an axle housing 23 is a side rod, 24 is a steering wheel, and 25 is a battery.

Next, the operation will be described. When the tire 9 bounces or rebounds, the bearings 12, 13, 1
Reference numerals 4 and 15 roll on the surfaces of the plates 16, 17, 18 and 19, respectively, and only the tire 9 moves, and the bellows 1, 5 and 6 keep the wheel opening 2 closed.

When the steering is turned, for example, when the steering wheel is turned to the left, the bearing 12 pushes the plate 16 on the front side of the bellows 1, and the front side of the bellows 1 is tightened. Further, the bellows 5 also contracts because the bearing 14 pushes the plate 18.
On the other hand, the rear side of the bellows 1 connected to the bellows 5 by the spring 20 is pulled and deployed, and the bellows 6 is similarly deployed. In this way, the opening area of the wheel opening 2 is kept constant in accordance with the movement of the tire 9, and the bellows 1, 5, 6 are always maintained.
Since it is blocked by, the disturbance of the air flow around the tire 9 is reliably prevented, and the air resistance is reduced.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment also relates to the wheel opening cover.

First, the structure will be described. Under cowl 3
Only the wheel opening 2 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is bellows 1
And a leaf spring 26 is attached to the end of the bellows 1.

The operation will be described. For example, when the handle is turned to the left, the bearing 12 pushes the leaf spring 26 to compress the front side of the bellows 1. On the other hand, the leaf spring 26 pulls the rear side of the bellows 1 and expands it by the lever principle.

In this way, the wheel opening 2
Since the notch portion 2a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is covered with the bellows 1,
The turbulence of the air flow around the tire 9 is significantly reduced.

4 to 6 show a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment relates to vehicle spats.

First, the structure will be described with reference to FIGS.
Rotating spats 3 to cover almost the entire tire 31
2 is arranged around the axle 33. The rotary spats 32 are provided with stopper holes 34, and a stopper 35 is fixed to a suspension arm 36 at a position where the stopper holes 34 are fitted.

The sprocket 37 is driven by a motor 39 attached to a vehicle body 38 via a chain 40. Further, the tire 31 is provided with a bent beat 41 and a tread pattern 42 as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the spats 32 extend to a position very close to the ground to cover the tire 31, and the cross-sectional shape of the spats 32 is:
Since it has a spindle shape as shown in FIG. 5, the air resistance is greatly reduced.

Further, when the spats 32 are extended downward, the front or rear of the spats 32 may come into contact with an impacting object or the like during traveling. In this embodiment, at this time, the spats 32 are deformed and pressure-bonded to the tire 31, and from that moment, the tire 31
Since it rotates together with the spats 32, the spats 32 are not damaged. When the spats 32 are rotated 1/2 turn, the stoppers 35 are fitted into the stopper holes 34 and the rotation of the spats 32 is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 6 in which the ends of the spats 32 are enlarged, the folding beat 41 is provided so that the spats 32 are deformed at a predetermined position when the spats 32 come into contact with an impacting object. Therefore, it prevents the sprocket 37 from being deformed outward near the axle 33 and interfering with the sprocket 37. Further, since the tread pattern 42 is provided, the grip force is ensured while the spats 32 are in contact with the ground.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the notch 4 which is the tire exposed portion of the spats 43 is used.
4 is one place on the ground side, and the stopper hole 45 is provided at one place.

When the spats 43 come into contact with an impacting object or the like and are pressed against the tire 31 and rotate together with the tire 31, the rotation cycle of the spats 43 is one rotation.

According to this embodiment, the tire 31 is covered more reliably, so that the air resistance can be further reduced.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the spats are applied to a passenger car.

Spats 46 are provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body and cover the tires 47. Suspension arm 4
The stopper 49 attached to 8 is the stopper hole 50.
And the rotation of the spats 46 is stopped.

According to this embodiment, the air resistance is reduced by the spats 46, and the spats 46 serve as a mudguard to prevent the mud from being applied to the inside of the vehicle body.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the wheel opening is always closed by the bellows-like member, and the tire is covered with the spats having the spindle-shaped cross section. The occurrence of turbulence in the air flow is suppressed, and the air resistance can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is likewise a side view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the same.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing the spats end portion of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state at the time of turning of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 5, 6 ... Bellows 2 ... Wheel opening 9 ... Tire 10 ... Circle rod 12, 13, 14, 15 ... Bearings 16, 17, 18, 19 ... Bellows end plate 20, 21 ... Spring 26 ... Leaf spring 31 ... Tire 32 ... Rotary spats 34 ... Stopper hole 35 ... Stopper 41 ... Beat 42 ... Tread pattern 43 ... Spats 44 ... Notch 45 ... Stopper hole 46 ... Stopper 47 ... Tire 48 ... Suspension arm

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air resistance reducing device, characterized in that a bellows-shaped member is attached to a wheel opening, and the bellows-shaped member moves following the movement of a tire to close the wheel opening. 2. A vehicle spats having a rotary shaft identical to that of a wheel, having a spindle-shaped cross section in the circumferential direction, which is larger than the outer dimensions of the tire and which is made of a flexible material to form a tire for a vehicle. An air resistance reduction device characterized by being wrapped.