JPH06298129A - Air dam spoiler device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an air dam spoiler device for vehicle which can be converted to a developed posture and a received posture without being influenced from the streamline shape of a vehicle, and efficiently decreases drag and lift applied on the vehicle at developing. CONSTITUTION:In an air dam spoiler device which is provided on the front part of a vehicle and improves aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle, it is provided with an air dam spoiler 7 which is arranged along the vehicle width direction on the front part of the vehicle and supported capably of being developed and received, movable mechanisms 3, 4 which can move the air dam spoiler 7 J-shape from the receiving posture to advancingly rise after descent, and a driving device 5 which can operate the movable mechanisms 3, 4, and it is constituted so that the air dam spoiler 7 can be converted to the received posture and the developed posture by operating the movable mechanisms 3, 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air dam spoiler device which is provided at a lower front portion of a vehicle and reduces drag and lift acting on the vehicle during traveling, and particularly to a device which can be deployed and stowed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of an air dam spoiler device of this type, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-50634 is known.

As shown in FIG. 5, this device is a spoiler device in which a spoiler (air dam spoiler) 101 can be moved up and down by a motor 100 which is an elevating device provided on a vehicle body, and is located near the center of the spoiler 101. Central guide devices A1 and A2 for guiding the elevation of those parts of the spoiler 101 are provided between the left and right two places and the vehicle body, and similarly, those parts of the spoiler are provided between both side parts of the spoiler 101 and the vehicle body. Side guide devices C1 and C2 for guiding up and down are provided respectively, and the movable side parts of the left central guide device A1 near the center of the spoiler 101 and the right side guide device C1 are synchronized with each other. So as to move up and down, a linking device D1 for linking the guiding devices A1 and C1 to each other, a central guiding device A2 on the right side near the center of the spoiler 101, and a left side part. As part between the movable side is synchronized to lift each other on the side guiding device C2 Prefecture is provided a link apparatus D2 to coordinate the mutual of each guiding device A2, C2.

According to this prior art, when the spoiler 101 moves up and down, the central guide device A1 on the left side near the center of the spoiler 101, the side guide device C1 on the right side, and the central guide device on the right side near the center. Since the device A2 and the side guide device C2 on the left side are moved up and down in synchronization with each other, for example,
Even when an unbalanced load is applied due to a change in aerodynamic balance during traveling or a slight weight unbalance between the left and right of the spoiler 101, the change in one aerodynamic balance or the like causes the linkage device D.
Since 1 and D2 affect the other central guide devices A1 and A2, it is possible to prevent the vertical movement from becoming unsmooth.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
It is known that the lower space of the front end portion of the vehicle is closed as wide as possible and the lift force and the drag force can be sufficiently reduced by projecting as much as possible to the vicinity of the front end portion of the front bumper.

In recent years, due to vehicle design requirements,
The streamlined shapes that round the vehicle corners and the like are diversified, and, for example, the front bumper also has a curved shape from the front end to the lower end.

However, in the above conventional technique,
In the case of a front bumper where the streamlined shape is diversified and the storage space is becoming smaller, the air dam spoiler can be switched between the use position and the storage position only by lowering and raising the air dam spoiler from inside the front bumper using the lifting device. , It has become difficult to store the air dam spoiler in front of the front bumper. Therefore, there is a problem that the air dam spoiler cannot be projected to the front side of the vehicle, which is a position that is originally suitable for improving aerodynamic performance.

[0008]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an air dam spoiler device arranged at the front of a vehicle for improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. An air dam spoiler disposed along the vehicle width direction and supported so as to be able to be deployed and stowed; a movable mechanism capable of causing the air dam spoiler to perform a substantially J-shaped operation of descending, advancing and ascending from a storage position; A drive device capable of operating the movable mechanism, and by the operation of the movable mechanism,
There is provided an air dam spoiler device for a vehicle, wherein the air dam spoiler can be switched between a stored position and a deployed position.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the air dam spoiler is lowered from the storage position of the movable mechanism even when it is difficult to store the air dam spoiler in front of the front bumper due to the diversification of the streamline shape of the vehicle. The substantially J-shaped operation of raising and raising the rearward enables the air dam spoiler to be pushed out to the front side of the vehicle, which is a position suitable for sufficiently improving the aerodynamic performance, and the streamlined shape of the vehicle when stored. It can be stored without being affected by.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an air dam spoiler device for a vehicle of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of an air dam spoiler device, and FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the operation of the air dam spoiler device. Is.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a vehicle and 2 is a front bumper attached to the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the air dam spoiler device of this embodiment includes an air dam spoiler 7 that reduces drag and lift acting on a vehicle during traveling, and a first link mechanism section that forms a movable mechanism that moves the air dam spoiler. 3 and the second link mechanism section 4,
It is composed of an electric motor 5 which constitutes a drive device for driving the second link mechanism portion 4.

The air dam spoiler 7 has a horizontally long, generally long plate shape having a length substantially equal to the width of the vehicle, and both side ends are bent toward the rear of the vehicle along the shape of the vehicle.
It has a shape and a size such that the lower spaces on both sides of the front end of the vehicle 1 are also closed to some extent when deployed, and can be accommodated in the front bumper 2 when stored.

The first link mechanism section 3 is disposed between the vehicle 1 and the vicinity of the front center of the air dam spoiler 7. The first link member 6 having one end engaged with the vehicle 1, the second link member 8 linking the other end of the first link member 6 and the air dam spoiler 7, and the operation of the air dam spoiler 7 And a third link member 9 that defines

One end of the first link member 6 is rotatably engaged with the vehicle 1, and the other end is rotatably engaged with one end of the second link member 8. The other end of the second link member 8 is rotatably engaged with the air dam spoiler 7. One end of the third link member 9 is rotatably engaged near the center of the second link member 8, and the other end is rotatably engaged with the vehicle 1 side.

On the other hand, the second link mechanism portion is arranged between both side portions of the air dam spoiler 7 and the vehicle 1. The second link mechanism portion includes the electric motor 5, and the first link member 6 rotated by the electric motor 5 and the other end of the first link member 6 and the air dam spoiler 7 are linked together. It is composed of two link members 8 and a third link member 9 that regulates the operation of the air dam spoiler 7.

One end of the first link member 6 is engaged with the rotary shaft of the electric motor 5, and the other end is rotatably engaged with one end of the second link member 8. The other end of the second link member 8 is rotatably engaged with the air dam spoiler 7. Then, one end of the third link member 9 has the second
The link member 8 is rotatably engaged near the center and the other end is rotatably engaged with the vehicle 1.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the stored position and the solid line indicates the expanded position. Then, when the air dam spoiler device is deployed, the first electric motor 5 provided in the second link mechanism section 4 is driven to rotate in the first direction.
The link member 6 is rotated. Further, this rotational movement is caused by the second link member 8 engaged with the third link member 9 at the central portion.
Be transmitted to. The second link member 8 is engaged with one end of the third link member 9 in the vicinity of the central portion thereof, and thus the operation is regulated by the third link member 9, and the second link member 8
The engaging portion of the third link member 9 is constrained and rotated in an arcuate locus.

Therefore, with the restraint of the third link member 9, the engaging portion of the second link member 8 and the air dam spoiler 7 is rotated in a substantially J-shaped locus for descending and advancing as shown by an arrow 10. Will be done. At this time, the respective electric motors 5 can be expected to operate smoothly by synchronizing with each other.

In the first link mechanism section 3, the operation of the second link mechanism section 4 disposed between both sides of the air dam spoiler 7 and the vehicle 1 is interlocked. Here, the first link mechanism section 3 and the second link mechanism section 4 face each other at a specific point on the locus B10 of the engaging portion between the second link member 8 and the air dam spoiler 7 in the second link mechanism section 4. When a circle is drawn with the distance at the part as a radius, the circle and the locus A10 of the engaging portion between the second link member 8 of the first link mechanism portion 3 and the air dam spoiler 7 are
It is arranged so that two or more points do not intersect.

If two or more points intersect each other, that is, between the specific point on the locus B10 of the second link mechanism section 4 and the locus A10 of the first link mechanism section 3, there are two parts having the same distance.
If there are more than one location, the operating direction of the first link mechanism section 3 that interlocks with the second link mechanism section 4 will be uncertain, and the air dam spoiler 7 will not operate smoothly.

In the above-described embodiment, only the second link mechanism section 4 is moved by the electric motor in terms of cost, but the first link mechanism section 3 is also synchronized in the same manner as the second link mechanism section 4. Therefore, by moving the electric motor 5 and the like, it is possible to smoothly deploy and store the air dam spoiler 7 without considering the above-mentioned conditions.

According to the first embodiment described above, even when it is difficult to store the air dam spoiler in the front part of the front bumper due to the versatile streamline shape, the air dam spoiler descends from the inside of the front bumper. However, it is possible to project to the outside and then approach the front of the vehicle so that the effect as an air dam spoiler increases due to the aerodynamic characteristics, and when the air dam spoiler is deployed, the drag force and lift force acting on the vehicle during traveling are sufficiently reduced. In addition, it is possible to store the vehicle without being affected by the streamline shape of the vehicle when the vehicle is stored. [Second Embodiment] Next, FIGS. 3 to 4 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of an air dam spoiler device, and FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the air dam spoiler device. Is.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, in FIG. 3, 1 is a vehicle, 2 is a front bumper attached to the vehicle, and an air dam spoiler 7 for reducing drag and lift acting on the vehicle during traveling. , This Air Dam Spoiler 7
It comprises a movable mechanism 20 for moving the movable mechanism and a drive device for driving the movable mechanism 20.

As in the first embodiment, the air dam spoiler also has a horizontally long, generally long plate shape having a length substantially equal to the width of the vehicle, and the both side ends of the air dam spoiler follow the shape of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle. The shape and size are such that the lower spaces on both sides of the front end of the vehicle are closed to some extent when the vehicle is unfolded, and can be accommodated in the front bumper 2 when stored.

The movable mechanism 20 is provided between both sides of the air dam spoiler 7 and the vehicle 1, and between the center of the air dam spoiler 7 and the vehicle 1, respectively. The movable mechanism 20 includes a set of guide stays 22 having a substantially J-shaped guide groove 21 that regulates the operation of the air dam spoiler 7, one end of which is fixed to the air dam spoiler 7 and the other end of which is provided with the above-mentioned guide stay 22. Spoiler stay 24 provided with a shaft 23 that forms a sliding shaft that slides along the guide groove 21.
And a geared cable 25 that pushes and pulls the shaft 23. Further, a guide portion 26 is provided between the guide stays 22 for communicating the both guide grooves 21 with each other along the shape of the guide grooves 21.

Then, one end of the geared cable 25 is fixed to the center of the shaft 23 in the longitudinal direction. The geared cable 25 is guided through the inside of the guide portion 26 and then led out from one end of the guide portion 26. , Is guided to the drive device through the inside of the front bumper 2.

On the other hand, the drive unit comprises a gear 27 for pushing and pulling the geared cable 25 and an electric motor 5 for rotating the gear. Next, the second book in the above configuration
The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the stored position, and the solid line indicates the expanded position. Then, when the air dam spoiler device is deployed, the gear 27 is rotated by rotationally driving the electric motor 5, and the geared cable 25 is simultaneously pulled. By this operation, the shafts 23 fixed to the end portions of the respective geared cables 25 are pushed and pulled in the guide groove 21 and the guide portion 26, and operate in a substantially J-shape, so that they are fixed to the shaft 23. The air dam spoiler 7 is expanded and stored from the inside of the front bumper 2 via the spoiler stays 24.

Also in the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. By providing a cushioning material 11 such as rubber at the contact portion between the front bumper 2 and the air dam spoiler 7, the adhesion between the two can be improved.

Further, in order to limit the movement range of the air dam spoiler between the stored position and the deployed position, for example, a limit switch for detecting the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the guide portion 26 is provided, and by this operation By stopping the operation of the electric motor 5, burning of the electric motor 5 can be prevented.

Further, the shape of the front air dam 7 is not limited to the above-mentioned shape and may be a known shape.

[0032]

According to the present invention, even when it is difficult to store the air dam spoiler in the front part of the front bumper due to the versatile streamline shape, the air dam spoiler descends from the inside of the front bumper to the outside. It becomes possible to project and then push forward toward the vehicle so that the effect as an air dam spoiler is further increased in terms of aerodynamic characteristics, and when the air dam spoiler is deployed, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the drag force and lift force acting on the vehicle during traveling. During storage, the vehicle can be stored without being affected by the streamline shape of the vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration perspective view of an air dam spoiler device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the operation of the air dam spoiler device showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration perspective view of an air dam spoiler device showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the air dam spoiler device showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a conventional air dam spoiler device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Front bumper 3, 4, 20 Movable device 6 1st link member 7 Air dam spoiler 8 2nd link member 9 3rd link member 5 Electric motor which constitutes a drive device 11 Buffer member 21 Guide groove 22 Guide stay 23 Sliding shaft Shaft 24 Spoiler stay 25 Geared cable 26 Guide portion 27 Gear that forms the drive unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshito Hayashi 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya city, Aichi prefecture Nihon Denso Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An air dam spoiler device arranged at a front portion of a vehicle for improving aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle, wherein the air dam is provided at a front portion of the vehicle along a vehicle width direction so as to be expandable and retractable. The air dam includes a spoiler, a movable mechanism for causing the air dam spoiler to perform a substantially J-shaped operation of descending, then moving forward and rising, and a drive device for operating the movable mechanism. An air dam spoiler device for vehicles, characterized in that the spoiler can be switched between a stored position and a deployed position. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air dam spoiler is stored in the front bumper of the vehicle in the storage position and contacts the outer surface of the front bumper in the deployment position. Air dam spoiler device for. 3. The vehicle air dam spoiler device according to claim 1, wherein a cushioning member is provided on a contact surface between the outer surface of the front bumper and the air dam spoiler. 4. The movable mechanism links a first link member whose one end is engaged with the drive unit or the vehicle and an air dam spoiler engaged with the other end of the first link member. 4. A second link member, and a third link member that links the second link member and the vehicle and regulates the operation of the air dam spoiler. 4. The air dam spoiler device for vehicles described in 1. 5. The first link mechanism portion, wherein the movable mechanism is disposed between the vehicle and a central portion of the air dam spoiler, and one end portion of the first link member can be engaged with the vehicle. , A second link mechanism portion which is disposed between the vehicle and both side portions of the air dam spoiler, and one end portion of the first link member is engageable with the drive device. The air dam spoiler device for a vehicle according to claim 4. 6. The movable mechanism includes a guide stay having a substantially J-shaped guide groove for defining the operation of the air dam spoiler, and one end of the movable member is engaged with the air dam spoiler and slides along the guide groove. An air dam spoiler for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spoiler stay includes a moving sliding shaft and a geared cable that pushes and pulls the sliding shaft. apparatus.