Downforce generating duct for a vehicle

• US 10,029,746 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Fahland, Jason D., Auden, Joshua R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US15/380,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 29618709
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/02 Streamlining the undersurfaces B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/0025 using passive means, i.e. without external energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A duct is configured for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis. The vehicle body includes a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion, a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end. The duct has a fully-enclosed structure in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal body axis. The duct also has a first port positioned to receive a portion of the oncoming airflow and a second port positioned to exhaust the portion of the oncoming airflow from the duct. The first and second ports together with the fully-enclosed structure are configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and including a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow and a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end; and

a duct arranged on the vehicle body along the longitudinal body axis and configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion, the duct having;

a fully-enclosed structure in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal body axis;

a first port positioned to receive a portion of the oncoming ambient airflow; and

a second port positioned to exhaust the portion of the oncoming ambient airflow from the duct;

wherein the first and second ports and the fully-enclosed structure are together configured to generate the aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the duct additionally includes a venturi arranged between the first port and the second port and configured to accelerate the portion of the oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a valve configured to control passage of the portion of the oncoming ambient airflow through the duct.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the duct is defined by the vehicle body.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the duct defines an aperture configured to accept a fastener for mounting the duct to the vehicle body.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the duct defines a plurality of parallel conduits arranged longitudinally relative to the vehicle body.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body includes a vehicle underbody section, and wherein the duct is arranged on the vehicle underbody section and configured to direct the portion of the oncoming airflow along the vehicle underbody section to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising an internal combustion engine connected to an exhaust system configured to route a flow of exhaust gas from the engine to the ambient, and wherein the duct is configured to accommodate the exhaust system such that the exhaust system extends along the longitudinal body axis through the duct.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first port is positioned proximate the first vehicle body end and the second port is positioned proximate the second vehicle body end.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle body includes a vehicle top body section, and wherein the duct is arranged on the vehicle top body section and configured to direct the portion of the oncoming airflow along the underbody section to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

11. A duct configured for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and including a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion and a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end, the duct comprising:

a fully-enclosed structure in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal body axis;

a first port positioned to receive a portion of the oncoming ambient airflow; and

a second port positioned to exhaust the portion of the oncoming ambient airflow from the duct;

wherein;

the duct is configured to be arranged on the vehicle body along the longitudinal body axis; and

the first and second ports and the fully-enclosed structure are together configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion.

12. The duct of claim 11, further comprising a venturi arranged between the first port and the second port and configured to accelerate the portion of the oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion.

13. The duct of claim 11, wherein the duct is defined by the vehicle body.

14. The duct of claim 11, wherein the duct defines an aperture configured to accept a fastener for mounting the duct to the vehicle body.

15. The duct of claim 11, wherein the duct defines a plurality of parallel conduits configured to extend longitudinally relative to the vehicle body.

16. The duct of claim 11, wherein the vehicle body includes a vehicle underbody section, and wherein the duct is configured to be arranged on the vehicle underbody section and configured to direct the portion of the oncoming airflow along the vehicle underbody section to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

17. The duct of claim 16, wherein the vehicle additionally includes an internal combustion engine connected to an exhaust system configured to route a flow of exhaust gas from the engine to the ambient, and wherein the duct is configured to accommodate the exhaust system such that the exhaust system extends along the longitudinal body axis through the duct.

18. The duct of claim 11, wherein the first port is configured to be positioned proximate the first vehicle body end and the second port is configured to be positioned proximate the second vehicle body end.

19. The duct of claim 11, wherein the vehicle body includes a vehicle top body section, and wherein the duct is configured to be arranged on the vehicle top body section and configured to direct the portion of the oncoming airflow along the underbody section to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

20. The duct of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second ports has an oblong shape.