JPS6346303Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to an air dam skirt that prevents the generation of lift generated in a running automobile. In other words, when driving at high speeds, the air dam skirt is made larger and lowered by wind pressure, increasing its anti-lift effect, while when driving at low speeds, it automatically rises and retracts to prevent obstacles on the road. This invention relates to a new type of air dam skirt that is characterized by being able to prevent damage to the air dam skirt caused by.

(Prior art) The current air dam skirt, including a member called a chin spoiler, is a member that protrudes downward from the bottom of the front of the car body with the purpose of reducing the amount of air flowing into the bottom of the car body. .

By reducing the total amount of airflow flowing along the bottom surface of the vehicle body compared to the total amount of airflow flowing along the top surface of the vehicle body, it is possible to reduce the lift force generated on the entire vehicle body during high-speed running. If you install a chin spoiler or air dam skirt that protrudes downward at the bottom of the front of the car and prevents airflow from flowing into the bottom of the car, the center of wind pressure at the front of the car moves downward, causing the car to lean forward. This reduces lift at the front of the vehicle, and sometimes changes in the distribution of wind pressure across the vehicle reduce separation and turbulence in the airflow, resulting in less air resistance.

For safe driving, it is necessary to reduce the lift generated on the vehicle body when driving at high speeds, with crosswinds and turning, especially in the mountains, on seaside roads, and at the exit of tunnels.

Therefore, it is desirable that the air dam skirt be large and have a large aerodynamic effect as described above.For example, for racing cars participating in the Le Mans race in France,
She wears a large air dam skirt that almost touches the ground.

By the way, if the air dam skirt is large, the above-mentioned aerodynamic effect is large, but on the other hand, the air resistance of the air dam skirt itself will certainly increase, and in practical use, it is especially important for parking wheels, slight slopes, and road surfaces. Irregularities can cause damage to the air dam skirt.

Therefore, if it can be reduced in size during low-speed driving and housed within the vehicle body, its practical value can be increased.

However, as of 1981, there has never been a case of a mass-produced car being equipped with a movable air dam skirt that automatically lowers only at high speeds when it is necessary to reduce lift.

By the way, the current air dam skirt is a part of the front outer plate or bumper of the car body, and is not an independent and separate member, so when viewed from below, it has almost the same shape as the bumper or apron. In short, the current air dam skirt is limited mainly by the design, structure and material of the parts, and the shape of the bumper and apron, and the current air dam skirt is designed to minimize air resistance and at the same time minimize the airflow flowing into the bottom of the vehicle body. There are many difficulties in shaping it into a shape. By the way, in order to reduce the air resistance that occurs in the downwardly protruding member itself,
For the purpose of reducing collision damage, it is desirable to model and select materials from a free standpoint as an independent member that purely improves aerodynamic performance, without being constrained by the shape of a bumper that emphasizes aesthetics.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an air dam skirt that has better aerodynamic performance than the current one and can prevent damage from obstacles on the road at a low cost.

(Problems to be improved) List the problems with the current air dam skirt.

1.It is not large enough to reduce the lift generated on the vehicle body when driving at high speeds, in crosswinds, or when rotating.

2. Racing cars are large and have good aerodynamic performance, but
It is not practical because it is easily damaged by obstacles on the road.

3. Because it is a part of the bumper or apron, it is subject to design constraints, and instead of having a shape that allows air to flow smoothly to the side of the vehicle, many have large air resistance, catching the air at almost right angles.

4. The shape of the vehicle forces the airflow that hits the center of the front toward the side of the vehicle, and insufficient consideration has been given to reducing the air resistance of the air dam skirt member itself.

5. Most of the parts are part of the bumper, and the whole part is exposed, so aesthetics are important and painting costs are high.

6. It is not a member that also serves as an air blower to the radiator, and has no effect on directly improving air blowing performance.

7. Since it is a part of the bumper and apron, even if either the air dam skirt or the bumper is damaged, the cost of replacing both parts is high.

(Means for solving the problem) 1. Provide an opening in the center of the air dam skirt, and fix a thin air introduction plate with the front end lower than the rear end inside the opening. It is rotatably attached to the vehicle body at the rear in order to automatically lower and increase its size by utilizing the difference in air pressure that occurs between the two.

2. When driving at low speeds, the wind is weak, and the spring automatically pulls the vehicle upwards toward the vehicle, keeping it off the road and preventing damage.

3 The material is separated from the bumper and apron,
Freely select a shape with low air resistance as a separate member to avoid constraints on structural shape.

4. Do not force the wind that hits the center of the vehicle to flow to the sides to reduce air resistance.

5. Except when driving at high speeds, most of the parts can be hidden inside the car body, making it unpainted black and reducing manufacturing costs.

6. The opening is a part of the air blower to the radiator, and we hope to improve its performance and reduce its size.

7. Make the parts separate from the bumpers and aprons, which are frequently damaged, to reduce the unit replacement cost.

(Explanation of the invention using drawings of embodiments) Fig. 1 is a side view showing the operation of this invention, in which the air introduction path 3 of this invention is raised when stopped.
and the air introduction plate 1 attached to the opening in front of it are shown by solid lines, and the state in which the air introduction passage 3 is pulled down by reverse lift acting on both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1 during high-speed driving is shown by dotted lines. It shows.

The radiator 2 is normally arranged, and is shown by a dotted line at a position approximately near the front end of the front wheel, and an air introduction passage 3 is rotatably pivoted at the rear end of the frame 4 of the vehicle body, which is the mounting part for the radiator 2. It is attached to the vehicle body, and its front portion is crimped to the vehicle body above by a spring 5. The tip of the air introduction path 3 is supported by the upper vehicle body, bumper 6, etc., and the air introduction path 3 is
It can only go down to a certain limit.

Air dam skirts 7 located on both left and right outer sides of the air introduction path 3 are omitted in FIG. 1.

The air introduction passage 3 is a ventilation cavity for the radiator 2 having an opening in the front direction, and although its shape cannot be specified, its existence is shown by the side wall in FIG.

Figure 2 shows the air dam skirt 7 and the air introduction plate 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an air introduction path 3. FIG.

In this invention, the air introduction passage 3 is a hollow part for taking in cooling air, but in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. ing.

A front air intake section for blowing air to the radiator 2 is provided at the front part of the air introduction path 3, and the air introduction plate 1 has its front end lower than the rear end and is located inside the side wall 10 at both left and right ends. Fixed.

The air dam skirt 7 is a member having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and is fixed to the outside of the side wall 10. Between the back side of the air dam skirt 7 and the side wall 10, a stay 11 is provided to withstand wind pressure.
is reinforced with. At the rear of the side wall 10, there is a shaft 12 for attachment to the vehicle body, and a spring 5 wound around the shaft 12 is shown. Although there are various shapes and positions of the spring 5, it has a biasing force that can press the front part of the air dam skirt 7, which is integral with the air dam skirt 7 provided with the hollow air introduction passage 3, against the vehicle body or bumper above. is a requirement.

Although the side wall 10 has the effect of rectifying the airflow and improving the efficiency of blowing air to the radiator 2, it is not an essential member in this invention.

In this invention, any member may be used as long as it supports the shaft 12 for attachment to the vehicle body.

For example, the stay 11 shown in FIG. 2 can be used as it is as a vehicle body mounting shaft. Further, the left and right members of the air dam skirt 7 having the same shape as that shown in FIG. 2 can be bent and connected to form an integral body, and the upper edge of the central portion thereof can be screwed diagonally backward to form the air introduction plate 1.

The purpose of the air introduction plate 1 is to prevent air flow from escaping from its upper edge, whereas the air dam skirt 7 has the purpose of preventing air flow from escaping from its upper edge.
The purpose of this member is to actively flow airflow diagonally backward and upward from both the upper and lower surfaces of the upper edge, and therefore the cross-sectional shape of the lower edge may be the same.

The bottom surface 13 connecting the left and right side walls 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a guard plate for the radiator 2, but it is not an essential member in this invention, but is only a reinforcing member similar to the side walls 10 and the stay 11. .

Figure 3 shows that the air introduction plate 1 is made of a soft elastic material.
FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment in which the rear end is separated from the side wall and fixed so that the rear end can be lowered, during high-speed running;

This invention is characterized in that the attachment angle between the air introduction passage 3 and the vehicle body is different at low speeds and at high speeds. Therefore, the reverse elevation angle of the air introduction plate 1 fixed to the air introduction path with respect to the air flow also increases during high-speed running, and may become excessive.

Particularly in the case of an automobile with a short nose, the angle at which the air introduction passage 3 is attached to the vehicle body changes greatly between high speed and low speed, and it is necessary to suppress the reverse elevation angle of the air introduction plate 1. In short, in the case of strong wind pressure during high-speed running, it is desirable that the rear part of the reverse lift plate 1 be slightly lowered to maintain an ideal reverse elevation angle that is optimal for increasing reverse lift and has little air resistance.

Figure 3 shows a state in which a portion of the airflow that passes through both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1 at high speeds does not flow into the radiator, but instead flows along the bottom of the vehicle body and is lost to the rear, which is a feature of the air dam skirt of this invention. This indicates that the function is different from that of current members.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one side showing the bottom surface of the air introduction path 3 and air dam skirt 7 in FIG.
Together with other drawings, both of them are shown rotatably attached to the vehicle body as an integral member.

In FIG. 4, the air introduction passage 3 is shown by its bottom surface 13 and side wall 10, and the side wall 10 of the air introduction passage 3 is attached to the frame corresponding member 4 by a spring 5 and a shaft 12. It shows.

In this Fig. 4, the radiator 2 is installed at the front of the car body, and the cooling air outlet 1 is located at the bottom of the car body behind it.
This shows that 4 exists.

Although there is no device for introducing air into the bottom of the vehicle body, an opening is provided toward the front inside the side wall 10 near the bottom of the vehicle body, and the air introduction plate 1 is fixed inside the opening, and the bottom surface of the air introduction path 3 is provided with an opening facing forward. It is installed in front of 13 and can introduce air from the front and lower direction of the vehicle body.

In other words, in contrast to the current air dam skirt that dams up air, in this invention, an opening for the air introduction path 3 to the radiator 2 is provided in the middle part of the left and right air dam skirts 7, and the air dam skirt is actively A major feature is the introduction of airflow.

The following explanation will be added regarding the constituent members in this invention.

1 Air dam skirt 7 It is the same as the current one in that it is a downwardly protruding member located on the bottom of the car body, but it is not directly attached to the car body, and there is a part in the center that is used to blow air to the radiator 2. Intake portions are provided toward the front and are integrally formed as members on both sides of the air introduction path 3. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape is approximately C-shaped.

2 Air introduction path 3 A cooling air blowing cavity provided in the front and lower direction of the radiator 2. The shape depends on the surrounding parts, but there is a member at the rear for pivoting to the vehicle body, and a member at the front end facing forward. There is an air intake part, and an air introduction plate 1 is fixed to the inside thereof to form an integral member, and is rotatably attached to the upper vehicle body by a shaft 12 at the rear thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion is composed of the side wall 10, the bottom surface 13, and the like.

This air introduction path 3, together with the air introduction plate 1, shows the characteristics of this invention, but compared to the air introduction plate 1 which is a solid member, it is a mere cavity and is not an independent member.

Therefore, there is no other way than to specify the space and position occupied by the surrounding parts, such as the upper vehicle body, the air dam skirt 7, the side walls 10, the bottom surface 13, etc. do not have.

However, this hollow part allows the air to pass through smoothly and travel along both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1, reducing the speed and increasing the pressure on the upper surface, and increasing the speed on the lower surface. It constitutes the basic conditions that enable the work of reducing pressure.

In order for the air pressure to change due to the passage of this air flow, it is necessary for the air flow to flow over a certain distance, and this idea is particularly useful for utilizing the suction force of the low air pressure on the bottom surface of the air introduction plate 1. It has the characteristics of

Therefore, the air introduction plate 1 is attached to this air introduction path 3.
It can be said that the technical idea behind this is the essence of the features that distinguish this invention from others.

3 Frame applicable member 4 A strong member that forms the frame of the vehicle body, and in the example, is a member near the front wheel suspension attachment portion or the radiator 2 attachment portion, and is the portion that pivots the air introduction passage 3 to the vehicle body. .

Although it is not sometimes called a frame in a monokotsu car body, in this invention it is a strong member that can withstand the wind pressure of the air dam skirt 7, which is larger than the current one, and refers to the inner part of the car body excluding the outer panel.

4 Air introduction plate 1 This is a member that represents the characteristics of this invention, and the front end is provided lower than the rear end, and the member is fixed to the inside of the air intake part that opens in front of the front part of the air introduction path 3 at both left and right ends. In contrast to the purpose of the air dam skirt 7 to prevent airflow from flowing out from its upper edge, this member aims to allow airflow to flow out smoothly along both upper and lower surfaces of the upper edge.

However, the cross-sectional shape of the lower edge where the air is divided into upper and lower parts may be the same as that of the air dam skirt. In order to obtain maximum reverse lift, an inverted airfoil cross-sectional shape is desirable.

When the cross-sectional shape of the air introduction plate 1 is an inverted airfoil type, reverse lift can be obtained even when the reverse elevation angle is zero, but the maximum reverse lift can be obtained when the reverse elevation angle is moderate.

This air introduction path 1 is required to be attached to the opening of the air introduction path 3 at a reverse elevation angle.

When the air introduction plate 1 is manufactured with a cross-sectional shape in which a thin plate is bent into a horizontal U-shape, the bent part is the front part, and the upper rear end is extended further rearward than the lower rear end to create a reverse elevation angle. , it is possible to direct the airflow diagonally backward and upward, thereby reducing the occurrence of turbulence and generating reverse lift.

The air introduction plate 1 can be manufactured in various cross-sectional shapes by bending a thin plate, but it is necessary to make the rear edge thin. At the rear end, turbulence is likely to occur due to airflow adhesion in that area, and it is necessary to prevent this.
I don't like thick things. The front end, which is the branching point of the air, is located lower than the rear end, which is the convergence point of the air, and the cross-sectional shape turns the airflow diagonally backwards and upwards to flow smoothly, and does not cause large turbulence.
This is an essential condition for the air introduction plate.

(Operations and effects of this invention) When a car runs at high speed and the wind strength becomes stronger, the reverse lift force acting on both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1 at the front of the air introduction path 3 becomes stronger, resisting the biasing force of the spring 5. and pull down the air introduction passage 3.

The mounting position of the air introduction plate 1 is not near or below the radiator 2, where the air flow rate is slow and the pressure increases, because there are many members that create air resistance, but at the opening at the front end of the air introduction path 3. Therefore, the air flow along both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1 flows smoothly in a lawful laminar flow state.

That is, on the upper surface of the air introduction plate 1, where the rear end is higher than the front end, the air flow rate is low and the pressure increases, whereas on the lower surface, the air flow rate is high and the pressure is low.

This difference in air pressure between the upper and lower surfaces generates a reverse lift force, which pulls the air introduction plate 1 downward.

The front part of the air introduction passage 3 is supported by the upper vehicle body by a fastener and can only be lowered to a certain limit.

Since the air dam skirt 7 is integrated with the air introduction passage 3, when the air introduction passage 3 is lowered, most of it is exposed, allowing the running wind to flow to both sides of the vehicle body.

Compared to the current air dam skirt, which forces the running wind that hits the center of the skirt to flow far away to the side of the car body, this design takes in the running wind as it is, first generates reverse lift, and then cools it. Use it as a wind. In addition, compared to the current air dam skirt that catches the wind while driving at almost a right angle, the air dam skirt 7 of this invention deflects the wind at an angle, reducing air resistance.

When the rear edge of the air introduction plate 1 is made of a soft elastic material and is separated from the side wall of the air introduction passage 3, the third
As shown in the figure, the trailing edge can be lowered slightly by utilizing the difference in wind pressure between the upper and lower surfaces during high-speed driving. Therefore,
Even if the air introduction path 3 has been lowered and the reverse elevation angle of the air introduction plate 1 has become excessive, it can be corrected to an appropriate reverse elevation angle to find the optimal reverse elevation angle that minimizes air resistance and maximizes reverse lift. Can be retained. In the action of the air flow along both the upper and lower surfaces of the air introduction plate 1, the suction force that attracts the lower surface to the ground is several times stronger than the pressure that pushes the upper surface downward, and the use of this negative pressure is a feature of this invention.

As described above with reference to the embodiment drawings and the effects of this invention, the automobile to which this invention is applied is
During high-speed driving, the shape resembles a high-speed racing car equipped with a large air dam skirt, which deflects the air flowing into the bottom of the car from side to side, thinning the air at the bottom and reducing the lift generated on the car during high-speed driving. This makes driving stable and safe.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is stopped or traveling at normal speed, most of the air dam skirt 7 is hidden, so the air dam skirt 7 is smaller and there is less air resistance than in a general automobile.

The movable air dam skirt of this invention has the following effects when compared with the air dam skirt of current general automobiles.

A: Because it is an independent component separate from the apron, bumper, and fender at the front of the vehicle, there are no restrictions on their shape or material, and the aerodynamic performance is excellent, reducing air resistance and reverse lift. Easy to shape as a shaped aerodynamic member. In other words, it reduces air resistance at high speeds and low speeds, and generates strong reverse lift at high speeds. To enable the design and manufacture of air dam skirts that are superior to current ones.

B. Except when driving at high speeds, most of the parts are stored in the fenders and bumpers, so without placing emphasis on aesthetics, they are molded without painting using black synthetic resin, synthetic rubber, etc., and are coated to prevent rust and finish. Costs can be omitted.

Additionally, parts of the outer panels at the front of the vehicle body and under the fenders can be removed, reducing manufacturing costs and reducing repair costs for those parts that are prone to damage. In other words, since the air dam skirt is pulled upward except when driving at high speeds, it is difficult to damage the air dam skirt when parking or driving at other low speeds.

C Manufactured from soft elastic materials, members with resilience, etc.
It can also reduce damage to yourself and others when it comes into contact with other objects.

In addition, even in the event of damage, since it is separated from the bumper and the outer panel of the car body, these parts will not be damaged at the same time, making it possible to reduce the cost of frequently replaced parts and reduce maintenance and repair costs.

D As long as the size is the same, it is possible to install the same air dam skirt even on cars with slightly different shapes of fenders and bumpers.

Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs, improved compatibility, inventory control, quality control, etc.

E The amount of cooling air blown to the radiator drops at high speeds and increases due to the air introduction path 3 expanded downward. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the radiator 2 is improved, and the size of the radiator 2 and the size of the radiator grill can be reduced. Therefore, the air resistance inside and outside the vehicle body due to airflow can be reduced, albeit slightly.

(Industrial applicability) In this way, automobiles to which this invention is applied will have less air resistance than current cars, regardless of whether they are at high speeds or low speeds, and will be able to save on fuel consumption. Since the spring 5 and the air dam skirt 7 are larger than the current model, manufacturing costs will increase.

However, after long-term use, the increased cost is outweighed by the improved safety due to the increased ground contact force at high speeds, as well as the savings in fuel consumption and parts, so there is currently no social demand for this idea. However, it is high and I think it will increase more and more in the future.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing the operation of the air introduction passage 3 when stopped and when driving at high speed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air introduction path 3 and the air dam skirt 7. FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment in which the rear end of the air introduction plate 1 is fixed apart from the side wall 10. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one side of the air dam skirt 7 and the air introduction path 3 seen from the bottom. 1 is an air introduction plate, 2 is a radiator, 3 is an air introduction path, 4 is a corresponding member of the frame, 5 is a spring,
6 is a bumper, 7 is an air dam skirt, 8 is a fender, 9 is an engine, 10 is a side wall, 11 is a stay, 12 is a shaft, 13 is a bottom surface, and 14 is a cooling air outlet.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The thin air introduction plate 1 has its front end lower than its rear end, and its left and right ends are located at the front of the air introduction passage 3, which is a cooling air blowing cavity provided in the front and lower direction of the radiator 2. It is fixed to the inside of the cooling air intake part opened in the direction, and the rear pivoting part of the air introduction passage 3 is rotatably pivoted to the corresponding frame member 4 of the vehicle body or its vicinity near the front end of the front wheel, The front parts of the air introduction passage 3 and the air dam skirt 7 are pressed against the vehicle body or the bumper 6 by a spring 5, and the air dam skirt 7 is fixed to both left and right outer sides of the air introduction passage 3 to form an integral member. 6 and the fender 8, and the rear end of the air introduction plate 1 is installed at a distance of 10 cm or more from the radiator 2.
A movable air dam skirt attached to a car having a cooling air outlet 14 on the bottom of the car body at the rear.