Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
  • B62D35/005—Front spoilers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
  • Y02T10/82—Elements for improving aerodynamics

Definitions

• the present invention relates to flexible aerodynamic devices for motor vehicles to reduce the lift of moving vehicles.
• the flexible skirt pivots easily when a substantially perpendicular stress is applied thereto, and this is the case when an obstacle is encountered on the ground, while the vehicle is moving in a substantially rectilinear path and parallel to the ground .
• the skirt undergoes a stress substantially perpendicular to the chassis of the vehicle, this may be the case when the vehicle crosses a low sidewalk. speed, this constraint can be reflected in the shield and cause damage.
• the motor vehicle manufacturers have reinforced both the shield and the connection with the skirt. However, the costs of such reinforcement are significant.
• a problem that arises and that aims to solve the present invention is to provide an aerodynamic device including a skirt that not only allows to cross certain obstacles without causing damage to the front bumper of the vehicle, but also that can be produced at an advantageous cost.
• the present invention proposes a flexible aerodynamic device intended to be installed at the front of a motor vehicle.
• Said motor vehicle comprises a frame member and a shield mounted at the front of said motor vehicle substantially perpendicularly to said frame member, said shield having a lower free edge curved towards said frame member.
• Said lower free edge extends away from said frame member and said aerodynamic device comprises a skirt defining a cylindrical surface, said skirt having a profiled upper portion adapted to be applied against said lower free edge of said shield, while said skirt extends in the extension of said shield.
• Said skirt is adapted to be pivotally driven towards said frame member when it undergoes a stress substantially perpendicular to said skirt.
• the aerodynamic device further comprises a flexible holding plate integral with said profiled upper portion of said skirt and extending substantially perpendicular to said skirt, said flexible holding plate being able to be connected to said frame member in a connecting zone so as to maintain said skirt in the extension of said shield. And, said flexible holding plate is able to bend around said connection zone to allow the movement of said skirt in a direction substantially parallel to the generatrices of said cylindrical surface of said skirt, of so as to allow the retraction of said skirt behind said shield when said skirt undergoes a stress substantially parallel to said generatrices.
• a feature of the invention lies in the implementation of a skirt integral with the frame member through the holding plate and which is independent of the shield.
• the skirt undergoes a vertical stress, or perpendicular to said frame member of the motor vehicle, and in a direction directed towards the shield, it does not undergo any effort because the skirt retracts precisely behind the shield, in a direction substantially parallel to the generatrices of the cylindrical surface of the skirt, while the flexible holding plate flexes.
• the skirt extends along the shield which itself extends over the entire width of the front portion of the vehicle. Also, the skirt is capable of retracting precisely in a determined part of the width while the other parts remain intact.
• the holding plate flexes substantially in an area corresponding to said determined portion of skirt.
• the holding plate is elastically deformable so that, when the vertical stresses on the skirt cease, the holding plate tends to return to its original shape and the skirt resume its position in the extension of the shield.
• the aerodynamic device further comprises support members secured to said profiled upper skirt portion and which extend to the skirt. opposite said skirt, and said support members bear against said shield when said skirt and said support members are driven together pivotally to said frame member, while said flexible support plate flexed between said shaped upper portion of skirt and said connection zone.
• the skirt is not rotated either around the profiled upper part but at the level of the support members which makes it possible to obtain a greater radius of pivoting curvature of the skirt.
• it is the holding plate which flexes between the profiled upper part and the connection zone when the skirt pivots.
• said support members extend substantially parallel to said generatrices of the cylindrical surface of the skirt.
• the support members and the skirt then form a rigid assembly, so that, when the skirt is subjected to a perpendicular stress, it pivots with the supporting members which extends it, and when the skirt undergoes a stress substantially parallel to the generatrices, the skirt and the support members are driven in translation in a direction substantially coincident with the generatrices.
• said support members comprise tabs terminated respectively by a free hook. And they are spaced step by step over the entire length of the aerodynamic device.
• the free hook is intended to bear on a bearing surface formed in the shield so as to lock the skirt in translation in a direction parallel to the generatrices, but oriented towards the ground.
• the skirt can pivot towards the frame member with the support member around the bearing surface where the free hook is engaged.
• said flexible holding plate comprises a fastening edge opposite said profiled upper skirt portion and intended to be connected to said frame member in said connecting zone.
• the holding plate being deformable elastically, when the forces exerted on the skirt to rotate it cease, then the holding plate returns to its original shape and the skirt its position in the extension of the shield where the profiled upper portion is applied against the lower free edge of the shield.
• said attachment edge is raised relative to said flexible holding plate in a direction opposite to said skirt, so as to move the flexible support plate of the frame member to allow him an amplitude of movement in sufficient beat.
• the aerodynamic device comprises a lip which protrudes from said profiled upper part of said skirt in a direction opposite to said holding plate, and which is intended to be applied against the lower free edge of the shield so as to waterproof. In this way, the air flows along the shield and then the skirt without penetrating under the frame element between the shield and the skirt. The aerodynamic device is thus more efficient.
• said lip is curved in a direction opposite to said skirt. In this way, it comes to apply perfectly against the inside of the lower free edge of the shield which itself is advantageously curved.
• the aerodynamic device extends in an arc and has two parts symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane so as to be applied over the entire width of the front bumper of the motor vehicle.
• the device extends in arc from a front wheel to the other front wheel, and limits the air intake under the vehicle between these two wheels.
• said skirt, said profiled upper portion, said flexible holding plate, said support members and said lip are advantageously molded together in one piece. This makes it possible to obtain an aerodynamic device at a very advantageous cost.
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the aerodynamic device represented in FIG. 1 along plane 11-1 and associated with other elements of a motor vehicle;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerodynamic device shown in FIG. 1 along the plane associated with the other elements of the motor vehicle;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerodynamic device according to the invention according to another embodiment.
• Figure 1 shows in perspective an aerodynamic device 10 according to the invention intended to be installed in the front of a motor vehicle under the shield of the vehicle.
• the shield usually designates a large bumper that is intended to protect the body of the vehicle shocks occurring at low speeds.
• the shield is contoured and extends over the full width of the body, at the front of the vehicle so as to promote the best possible flow of air when the vehicle is moving.
• the aerodynamic device 10 is adapted to be connected to the shield as will be explained below, and it extends in an arc between two opposite ends 12, 14. Moreover, it has two opposite parts 16, 18 symmetrical l one from the other with respect to a median plane P.
• the aerodynamic device 10 seen in cross section is arranged with elements of a motor vehicle.
• These elements comprise a shield 20 having a free front surface 21 and a frame member 22 having a bottom wall 24.
• the shield 20 extends substantially perpendicularly to the frame member 22. Also, in the rolling situation of the vehicle, the air flows to the free front surface 21 of the shield 20.
• the shield 20 has a lower free edge 26 curved towards the frame member 22.
• it consists of two superposed profiled elements, the upper one 28, the other lower 30.
• These two profiled elements 28, 30 present respectively a lower flange 29 and an upper flange 31 curved flat and supported on one another.
• These flanges 29, 31 extend substantially to the right of the lower free edge 26 curved towards the frame member.
• the aerodynamic device 10 in straight section, it is shown here in solid lines in its rest position, and in broken lines in an active position. It comprises an inverted T-shaped upper part 32 and a skirt 34.
• the inverted T-shaped upper part 32 has on the one hand a return 33 with respect to the skirt 34, oriented towards the lower free edge 26 and corresponding to the T bar, and secondly a rib 35 oriented away from the skirt 34, substantially offset towards the lower free edge 26 and corresponding to the leg of T.
• the skirt 34 defines a cylindrical surface Se which appears clearly on 1, and which is defined by generatrices G.
• the aerodynamic device 10 further comprises a flexible holding plate 36 which extends substantially perpendicular to the skirt 34 and opposite the return 33.
• the holding plate 36 On the opposite side, the holding plate 36 has a fixing edge 39 raised with respect to the middle plane of the plate. 36.
• the holding plate 36 is connected to the fixing edge 39 via a connecting edge 41. This connecting edge forms an angle close to 120 ° with both the holding plate 36 and the fixing edge 39.
• the fixing edge 39 is installed in a fixed position against the bottom wall 24 of the frame member. 22 in a connection zone 37.
• the aerodynamic device 10 has a support member 40 consisting of a tab terminated by a hook 42, which extends from the profiled upper portion 32 parallel to the generatrices G and in a direction opposite to the skirt 34.
• the lug of the support member 40 extends for example over a length greater than the length of the skirt 34 in the direction of its generatrices, for example one and a half times greater as shown in FIG. Figure 2.
• the leg of the support member which extends substantially in the extension of the skirt 34 is with it a relatively rigid assembly in the direction of generators G and little subject to buckling. It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the lugs of the support members 40 are spaced substantially regularly from each other on the aerodynamic device 10 from one opposite end 12 to the other opposite end 14.
• the hook 42 has a shoulder 44 oriented towards the profiled upper part 32 and able to bear against the lower rim 29 of the upper profiled element 28.
• the skirt 34 is held in the extension of the shield 20 in a relatively tight manner thanks to the lip 28 which matches the shape of the inner surface of the lower free edge 26.
• the skirt 34 is an aerodynamic wall that is intended to extend in the vicinity of the ground surface when the vehicle is supported on the ground and on its four wheels. Thanks to this aerodynamic wall the coefficient of penetration into the air of the moving vehicle, in correspondence with the Scx, is improved and consequently, the fuel consumption of the vehicle decreases. Therefore, the CO 2 release of the vehicle is less at equal speed.
• the aerodynamic device 10 is made in one piece of plastic material, for example by means of an injection press.
• the chosen polymeric material is elastically deformable.
• the skirt 34 is pivotable when it undergoes a perpendicular stress oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle. This is particularly the case when in rolling situation, an asperity is present on the ground.
• the skirt 34 thus undergoes a local stress substantially perpendicular to itself according to the arrow F.
• the skirt 34 tends to pivot with the leg of the support member 40 which prolongs it in turn. closer to the frame member 22.
• the hook 42 indeed bears against the lower rim 29 and the lug of the support member 40 pivots with the skirt 34 which it rigidly extends, and this, around the hook 42.
• the profiled upper portion 32 is driven to the connection zone 37 so that the holding plate 36 is bent towards the frame member 22 between the fixing edge 39 which is held in a fixed position and precisely the profiled upper portion 32.
• holding 36 flexes elastically, so that when the obstacle or roughness is crossed, the skirt 34 returns to its original position.
• the impact on the skirt 34 may occur over a more or less wide area and for example at a level located between two legs of consecutive support members 40, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Also, the skirt 34 then pivots, in the manner as indicated above, while the hooks 42 of the two consecutive tabs 40 are biased. Then, when the holding plate 36 flexes, this deflection occurs over a certain width of holding plate 36, located opposite the impact on the skirt 34. Moreover, the width of the deflection, where the holding plate 36 is curved, is substantially greater than the width of the impact zone on the skirt 34.
• radius of curvature corresponding to the movement of the free end of the skirt 34 during its pivoting is greater than that which would have the free end of a skirt which would pivot at the level of the profiled upper portion 32, as is the case for aerodynamic devices according to the prior art.
• FIG. Figure 3 showing the aerodynamic device in straight section, no longer at the leg of a support member 40, but precisely between two legs of support members 40 as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and in addition.
• this Figure illustrates a different mode of operation of the flexible aerodynamic device according to the invention compared to that which is exposed with regard to Figure 2.
• the skirt 34 is likely to undergo an upward vertical stress, where the lower edge of the skirt 34 falls back on the edge of the sidewalk.
• the skirt is driven in translation behind the shield 20 while the holding plate 36 bent towards the frame member 22 and the lip 38 leaves the inner surface of the lower free edge 26 on which it is based to be driven to the upper rim 31 of the lower profile member 30.
• the holding plate 36 tends to pivot about the connection area 37 and be driven towards the frame member 22.
• the width of the support plate 37 36, between the profiled upper portion 32 and the connecting edge 41 is greater than the length of the skirt 34, for example two times greater, so that the pivoting of the holding plate 36, leads to an average stroke of the skirt 34 substantially rectilinear. Moreover, the holding plate 36 tends to pivot around the connecting edge 41.
• the skirt 34 retracts behind the shield 20 during the crossing of the obstacle or the sidewalk, and then as soon as the vehicle finds a relatively flat surface, the skirt 34 returns to its position corresponding to the rest position of the aerodynamic device, since the holding plate 36 has elastically deformed beforehand.
• the skirt 34 plays its role of aerodynamic wall.
• the device aerodynamic 10 has two distinct parts; a skirt 34 'made of a more flexible material than a holding plate 36'.
• the skirt 34 ' is L-shaped and thus has a fastening back 50 applied against the holding plate 36' on which it is riveted by means of a rivet "pop" 52.
• the aerodynamic device 10 does not include a support member of the aforementioned type.
• the skirt 34 is made for example of a polyurethane-type plastic material, and consequently when it is struck by an obstacle in a perpendicular direction, it is deformed and tends to bend towards the holding plate 36 .
• the skirt 34 retracts vertically during the crossing of the sidewalk and then returns to its position corresponding to the rest position through the holding plate 36' which s is elastically deformed beforehand.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=42269729

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Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 2009
  • 2009-12-10 FR FR0958838A patent/FR2953798B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-11-05 EP EP10792975.4A patent/EP2509851B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2010-11-05 WO PCT/FR2010/052386 patent/WO2011070259A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

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