WO2018087047A1

WO2018087047A1 - Spoiler

Info

Publication number: WO2018087047A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/078357
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew WESTON; Andrew Wheel
Original assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
Priority date: 2016-11-11
Filing date: 2017-11-06
Publication date: 2018-05-17
Also published as: GB2555822B; GB2555822A

Abstract

A spoiler (10) for a vehicle (2) comprising: a first body part (14) having an upper surface and a lower surface; a first tailgate part (16) positionable adjacent to the first body part and having an upper surface and a lower surface; a channel (24) having a body portion (26) formed in the upper surface of the first body part and a tailgate portion (28) formed in the upper surface of the first tailgate part; and an aperture (32) formed in the first tailgate part (16) and extending from the tailgate portion of the channel to the lower surface of the first tailgate part.

Description

SPOILER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spoiler. Aspects of the invention include but are not limited to a spoiler for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising a spoiler.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle spoilers are used to provide aerodynamic benefit to vehicles. Air flowing over the spoiler is often directed away from the rear of the vehicle to increase downforce when the vehicle is moving forward, and particularly at speed. This can lead to an area of low air pressure at the rear of the vehicle which may cause soiling on the tailgate. Methods to clean the tailgate, and particularly the rear windscreen, are known but are not discussed further herein.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Throughout this specification the terms "front" and "rear" are to be given their conventional meanings in relation to the vehicle. The terms left and right are used to describe the respective sides of the vehicle spoiler when viewed from the rear of the vehicle facing forwards towards the front. The term "longitudinal" (and derivatives thereof) is used herein with reference to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (X-axis). The term "transverse" (and derivatives thereof) is used herein with reference to a transverse axis of the vehicle (Y-axis). The term "vertical" (and derivatives thereof) is used herein with reference to a vertical axis of the vehicle (Z-axis). The terms "direction of the air passing over the vehicle" and "direction of air passing over the rear windscreen" used herein are used to describe the travelling direction of the air over vehicle surfaces when the vehicle is moving in a forward-facing direction.

Aspects of the invention relate to a spoiler and a vehicle as defined in the appended claims. Embodiments of the invention advantageously provide a spoiler which reduces soiling effects.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a spoiler for a vehicle comprising: a first body part having an upper surface and a lower surface; a first tailgate part positionable adjacent to the first body part and having an upper surface and a lower surface; a channel having a body portion formed in the upper surface of the first body part and a tailgate portion formed in the upper surface of the first tailgate part; and an aperture formed in the first tailgate part and extending from the tailgate portion of the channel to the lower surface of the first tailgate part.

The channel may comprise a u-shaped cross section. There may be a gradual narrowing of the channel from the body portion to the tailgate portion. Optionally the tailgate portion of the channel comprises an equal width to the aperture.

The spoiler may comprise a plurality of said apertures. Each aperture may comprise an insert positioned within the aperture. In an embodiment the opening of the aperture is of a height not less than 20mm

The spoiler may comprise a packaging pocket in the upper surface of the first tailgate part.

The first tailgate part may comprise a rear windscreen wiper locatable in the lower surface of thereof. Optionally a washer jet is located in the lower surface of the first tailgate part.

The spoiler may comprise a second tailgate part locatable on the outer side edges of the first tailgate part and comprising side air-guiding sections. In another aspect of the invention there is provide a vehicle comprising a spoiler having the features of the spoiler as hereinbefore defined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 s a perspective view of a vehicle;

Figure 2 s a rear perspective view of a vehicle with a spoiler;

Figure 3 s a top perspective view of a spoiler;

Figure 4 s a cross sectional view through A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 5 s a cross sectional view through B-B of Figure 3;

Figure 6 s a cross sectional view through C-C of Figure 3;

Figure 7 s a lower rear quarter left view of a first tailgate part;

Figure 8 s a rear quarter perspective view of a vehicle with a spoiler; and

Figure 9 s a bottom view of a tailgate part of a spoiler. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a vehicle 2 comprising a roof 4, a front end 6, a rear end 8 and a spoiler 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spoiler 10 is positioned at the upper rear end 12 of the vehicle 2. The vehicle shown in Figure 1 is a sports utility vehicle (SUV), however it should be understood that the invention could be used with other vehicle types.

As shown in Figure 2, the spoiler 10 comprises a first body part 14 located adjacent to or on the roof 4 of the vehicle 2 and a first tailgate part 16 located adjacent to the first body part 14 and above a rear windscreen 18 of the vehicle 2. The first tailgate part 16 is attached to a tailgate 20 of the vehicle 2. In some embodiments the first body part 14 may be integral to the roof 4 of the vehicle 2 and/or the first tailgate part 16 may be integral to the tailgate 20. A split 22 is present between the first body part 14 and the first tailgate part 16 to allow for uninhibited opening of the tailgate 20. In some embodiments the split 22 between the first body part 14 and the first tailgate part 16 is not less than 3mm. Other split sizes may be useful.

The spoiler 10 comprises two roof channels 24 each formed in the first body part 14 and the first tailgate part 16. The portion of the channel 24 formed in the first body part 14 is herein referred to as the body portion 26 of the channel 24 and the portion of the channel 24 formed in the first tailgate part 16 is herein referred to as the tailgate portion 28. The roof channels 24 are longitudinally orientated and configured to gather and guide air 30 passing over the vehicle, when it is moving forward, into respective apertures 32 formed in the first tailgate part 14 for direction onto or over the rear windscreen 18 of the vehicle 2. Air flowing onto or over the rear windscreen 34 acts as an air curtain and advantageously reduces the likelihood of soiling on the rear windscreen 18.

In the embodiment of Figure 2 the roof channels 24 depend from upper surfaces 36, 38 of the first body part 14 and first tailgate part 16. The apertures 32 extend from the tailgate portion 28 of the roof channels 24 to a lower surface, or underside, (not shown in Figure 2) of the first tailgate part 16.

It will be appreciated that the channels 24 are mirror images of each other about a centre longitudinal line through the vehicle 2. Accordingly the following description of one channel applies to both channels.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the spoiler 10 on a vehicle 2. As shown the body portion 26 of the roof channels 24 extends from or near to the front 40 of the first body part 14 to the rear 42 thereof. The body portion 26 of the roof channels 24 deepens and narrows from the front to the rear. The narrowing may be measured as an angle 44 of between 5 and 25 degrees between the sides 46 of the channels and the longitudinal axis X. In other arrangements there may be no narrowing so that angle 44 is 0 degrees.

The tailgate portion 28 of the channels 24 extends from the front 29 of the first tailgate part 16, where it meets the body portion 26, to the apertures 32. The profile of the tailgate portion 28 of the channel 24 continues to deepen and narrow as per the body portion 26 to provide a smooth passage of air through the channel 24. It will be appreciated that without a smooth transition of air, resistance would build up and drag efficiency would be reduced.

In plan view the sides 46 of the channel 24 are substantially straight over the body portion 26 with a curve 48 toward the aperture 32 over the tailgate portion 28. Other shaped sides may be useful.

Side wings, or second tailgate parts, 15 shown in Figure 3 are located at either longitudinal end of the first tailgate part 16 on the spoiler 10 and are connected to the sides of the vehicle tailgate 20. Each side wing 15 sits flush with the side of the vehicle 2 and has an arc-like shape connecting it from the side of the vehicle 2 to lip 23 of the spoiler 10 so as to improve the aerodynamics of the air passing down the side of the vehicle 2 and over the vehicle 2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross section through the first body part 14 of the spoiler 10 taken through line A-A as shown in Figure 3. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the channel 24 has a substantially lateral U-shaped cross section 50 depending from the upper surface 36 of the first body part 14. Advantageously this may provide a smooth form which mitigates the build-up of turbulent air flow at the sides 46 of the channel 24. U-shape roof channels 24 are also advantageous in that they can be readily released from a mould during manufacturing. Other profile shapes may be useful. Figure 5 shows a schematic cross section through the spoiler 10 taken through line B-B as shown in Figure 3. As hereinbefore described the channel 24 deepens from its origin at or near to the front 40 of the first body part 14 to the rear of the channel 24 at the aperture 32 in the first tailgate part 16. The deepening of the channel 24 may be measured as an angle 58 of between five and twenty degrees between the base 52 of the channel 24 and the upper surface 36 of the first body part 14. The aperture 32, at the end of the channel 24, extends between the base 52 of the channel 24 and a point 56 on or adjacent to the upper surface 55 of the first tailgate part 16, through to an underside 54 of first tailgate part, which is configured to guide air flowing in the channel 24 towards the rear windscreen 18. The point 56 may be shaped, for example curved, to guide air into the aperture 32, which is adjacent to the rear windscreen 18 of the vehicle 2. This is advantageous to provide a smooth air flow entry to the aperture.

The base 52 of the channel 24 has a substantially smooth surface from the first body part 14 over the second body part 16 to the apertures 32. Advantageously this provides an uninterrupted surface for the air travelling in the channel 24 to the apertures 32 which improves air flow in the channels 24.

In embodiments of the invention each aperture 32 is orientated at an angle 60 of approximately ninety degrees to the base 52 of the channel 24. In the absence of the channel the angle 60 would be formed between the aperture and the roof line and would as a result be much larger. Embodiments of the invention therefore have the advantage of reducing the aperture angle in relation to incident air flow and thus mitigating turbulent air flow around the apertures.

As shown in Figure 3 the aperture 32 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view with substantially straight side and a height not less than 20mm. It will be appreciated that the size, structure and location of the apertures 32 can be selected in dependence on the shape and/or size of the rear windscreen 18 to provide an even distribution of air to the rear windscreen 18.

Embodiments of the invention comprise an aperture insert 62 releasably fixable inside the apertures 32. In an embodiment the aperture inserts 62 are moulded to tune the air flow over the rear windscreen 18. The inserts 62 may comprise a flexible material and may be replaceable. Replacement inserts may provide different air flow characteristics so that, for example, less or more air is directed onto the rear windscreen 18. This can be used to tune the aerodynamic performance of the spoiler 10. The insert 62 may comprise an aerodynamic step 63 arranged to guide the air flow 34 flowing through the apertures 32 over the vehicle rear windscreen wiper 75.

The apertures 32 allow air passing over the vehicle 2 to be directed downwards over the rear of the vehicle 20 earlier than with conventional spoilers where turbulent air flow can result below the spoiler at the rear of the vehicle. Once the air flow 34 has passed through the aperture 32, it is directed downwards by the underside 54 of the first tailgate part 16 which, in an embodiment, is angled toward the rear windscreen 18 at an angle 61 of between five and twenty degrees. Coupled with the aerodynamic step 63 in the insert or otherwise, the air flow 34 is guided over the windscreen wiper 75 and onto the rear windscreen 18. Advantageously an air curtain is then formed over the rear windscreen 18 which reduces the likelihood of soiling to the rear windscreen 18 while the vehicle 2 is moving forward.

In embodiments of the invention each insert 62 has a doughnut-like shape and surrounds the perimeter of the aperture. The inserts may be replaceable and can serve to protect the bodywork of the spoiler aperture 32. Figure 6 shows a schematic cross sectional view through line C-C as shown in Figure 3. Figure 6 shows the first tailgate part 16 of a spoiler 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The first tailgate part 16 comprises a packaging pocket 60 located between two channels 24 as described above. The packaging pocket 60 comprises a power connection 65 for a centre high mounted stop light (CHMSL) 64, washer jets 70, windscreen wiper 75 and an antenna plate 80. This packaging pocket 60 is located centrally on the first tailgate part 16 and creates a protrusion in the centre of the upper surface 38 thereof. The packaging pocket 60 is of a greater height at the front-most portion 83 and slopes in a downward direction towards the rear of the first tailgate part 16 to provide an aerodynamic profile which reduces drag. All sides 85 of the packaging pocket 60 have sloping edges to allow for the air passing over the vehicle 12 to flow with greater ease and thus minimise any aerodynamic impact of the packaging pocket 60. Figure 6 further illustrates the side view of the spoiler 10 to show that the outer rear edge of the first tailgate part 16, that being the part at the rearmost of the vehicle 2 and overhanging the rear windscreen 18, comes to a point 68 on the upper surface 38 of the first tailgate part 16. The lower surface 54 of the first tailgate part 16 is of a shorter length and may extend at an angle 78 upwards to cooperate with the upper surface 38 of the first tailgate part 16. The upper 38 and lower 54 surface of the outer rear edge of first tailgate part 16 in this embodiment cooperate to create a lip 23. This lip 23 allows for CHMSL 64 to be located longitudinally on the lower surface 39 of the lip 23 in a rear-facing direction.

As shown in Figure 7, the first tailgate part 16 is attached to the vehicle tailgate (not shown) by means of bolts 25 which extend from arms 26 on the lower surface 39 of the first tailgate part 16. These bolts 25 are inserted into receiving cavities (not shown) in the vehicle tailgate (not shown). In the present embodiment, a plurality of bolts 25 and a plurality of receiving cavities (not shown) are provided as securing means from the first tailgate part 16 to the vehicle tailgate (not shown)and the first tailgate part 16 is secured to the vehicle (not shown) during the manufacturing of the vehicle. In use, the spoiler 10 as disclosed herein reduces the amount of soiling that would otherwise occur on the rear windscreen of a vehicle, as the vehicle moves in a forward direction. This reduced soiling occurs because of the air curtain 34 that flows over the rear windscreen 18.

This air curtain 34 results from air flow through two elongated and horizontally aligned apertures 32 that are defined by the first body part 14 and the first tailgate part 16. A rearward view directed along the top surface of the roof 4 would enable a viewer to see along the two spaced channels 24 which are formed in the first body part 14 and the first tailgate part 16, and eventually to also see through the two elongated and aligned apertures 32 and toward the rear windscreen 18.

Several exemplary embodiments of this spoiler 10 can also be seen in applicant's currently pending U.S. Design Patent Application Serial Numbers 29/602,961 , filed on May 5, 2017, entitled "Vehicle;" and 29/603,614, filed on May 1 1 , 2017, entitled "Vehicle Spoiler." Each of these two pending applications is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety.

This specification discloses presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this disclosure is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting, when considered in the context of the following claims.

Claims

A spoiler for a vehicle comprising:

a first body part having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a first tailgate part positionable adjacent to the first body part and having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a channel having a body portion formed in the upper surface of the first body part and a tailgate portion formed in the upper surface of the first tailgate part; and an aperture formed in the first tailgate part and extending from the tailgate portion of the channel to the lower surface of the first tailgate part.

A spoiler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a u-shaped lateral cross section.

A spoiler as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel has a front end and a rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the aperture, and wherein the channel transversely narrows from the front end to the rear end.

A spoiler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear end of the channel comprises an equal width to the aperture.

A spoiler as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of said channels.

A spoiler as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of said apertures.

A spoiler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an opening of the aperture is of a height not less than 20mm

A spoiler as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an insert positionable within the aperture.

A spoiler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first tailgate part comprises a packaging pocket.

A spoiler for a vehicle and as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first tailgate part comprises a rear windscreen wiper arranged to wipe a rear windscreen of the vehicle. A spoiler for a vehicle and as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first tailgate part comprises a washer jet arranged to wash a rear windscreen of the vehicle.

A spoiler for a vehicle and as claimed in claim 10, comprising an aerodynamic step positionable adjacent to the windscreen wiper arrangement.

A spoiler for a vehicle and as claimed in claim 1 1 , comprising an aerodynamic step positionable adjacent to the washer jet arrangement.

A spoiler as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 when dependent on claim 8, wherein the insert comprises said aerodynamic step.

A spoiler as claimed in any proceeding claim, comprising a second tailgate part locatable on the outer side edges of the first tailgate part, wherein the second tailgate part comprises side air-guiding sections.

A spoiler for a vehicle and as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lower surface of the first tailgate part is shaped from the aperture towards a rear windscreen of the vehicle.

A vehicle comprising a spoiler having the features of the spoiler as claimed preceding claim.