Spoiler system for a vehicle

• US 10,442,476 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hermann, Felix, Collet, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US15/871,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20180215422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 2961801-1805
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/07 Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, B60J10/25 take precedence; integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A spoiler system for a vehicle includes a spoiler body having a spoiler surface for influencing an air flow around the vehicle; and a spoiler receptacle having a sealing device with a seal configured to provide sealing between the sealing device and a sealing surface of the spoiler body during an extension movement of the spoiler body from a retracted position into an extended position. The spoiler body is movably mounted on the spoiler receptacle between the retracted position in which the spoiler body is received at least partially in the spoiler receptacle and the extended position in which the spoiler body is extended at least partially out of the spoiler receptacle.

Claims

1. A spoiler system for a vehicle, comprising:

a spoiler body having a spoiler surface for influencing an air flow around the vehicle; and

a spoiler receptacle having a sealing device with a seal configured to provide sealing between the sealing device and a sealing surface of the spoiler body during an extension movement of the spoiler body from a retracted position into an extended position,

wherein the spoiler body is movably mounted on the spoiler receptacle between the retracted position in which the spoiler body is received at least partially in the spoiler receptacle and the extended position in which the spoiler body is extended at least partially out of the spoiler receptacle,

wherein the seal has a sealing lip for sealingly contacting the sealing surface of the spoiler body during the extension movement

wherein the spoiler body has, adjoining the sealing surface, a sliding surface for the sealing lip to slide along during the extension movement.

2. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing device includes a carrier part which is fixed to a vehicle body and which has a water guide configured to discharge water.

3. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal is connected in a form-fitting manner to a carrier part of the sealing device.

4. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal has a hollow-chamber profile at least in certain portions.

5. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing surface has a stop for the sealing lip.

7. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoiler body is designed as a rear spoiler of the vehicle.

9. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein when the spoiler body is in the retracted position, the spoiler surface adjoins a surface of a vehicle body,

wherein when the spoiler body is in the extended position there is a gap between the spoiler body and the surface of the vehicle body,

wherein a sealing effect provided by the seal inhibits air flow that enters the gap from further penetrating into the spoiler receptacle.

10. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the sealing surface of the spoiler body is at a front side of the spoiler body that faces the sealing device, the sealing surface extending lengthwise along the front side and extending widthwise into the sealing receptacle,

wherein the sealing device comprises:

a carrier part that is fixed to the vehicle body in the spoiler receptacle, the carrier part facing the spoiler body, and

a sealing extension that extends outwards from the carrier part towards the sealing surface and extends lengthwise to correspond to the lengthwise extension of the sealing surface, and

wherein the sealing lip is at a sealing surface-facing end of the sealing extension, the sealing lip contacting the sealing surface to provide the sealing effect.

11. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 10,

wherein the sealing lip is configured to contact a sliding surface of the sealing surface to provide the sealing,

wherein the sealing lip is configured to slidably move along the sliding surface when the spoiler moves from the retracted position to the extended position.

12. The spoiler system as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the sealing extension has a curved shape and extends from the carrier part toward an external opening of the spoiler receptacle,

wherein the sliding surface has a curved shape and extends from the spoiler body in a direction toward the front side of the spoiler body and a bottom part of the spoiler receptacle,

wherein the curved shape of each of the sealing extension and the sliding surface are complementarily configured such that the sealing lip stays in contact with the sliding surface when the spoiler moves.

6. A spoiler system for a vehicle, comprising:

a spoiler body having a spoiler surface for influencing an air flow around the vehicle; and

a spoiler receptacle having a sealing device with a seal configured to provide sealing between the sealing device and a sealing surface of the spoiler body during an extension movement of the spoiler body from a retracted position into an extended position,

wherein the spoiler body is movably mounted on the spoiler receptacle between the retracted position in which the spoiler body is received at least partially in the spoiler receptacle and the extended position in which the spoiler body is extended at least partially out of the spoiler receptacle, and

wherein the seal comprises a sealing wall and the sealing surface has a complementary sealing wall, wherein the sealing wall and the complementary sealing wall overlap one another in a planar manner at a distance apart in the course of the extension movement to form a labyrinth to provide the sealing.

8. A method for moving a spoiler body of a spoiler system, via an extension movement from a retracted position into an extended position, the method comprising:

beginning the extension movement from the retracted position,

sealing a spoiler receptacle with respect to the spoiler body with a seal of a sealing device against a sealing surface of the spoiler body during the extension movement, and

ending the extension movement on reaching the extended position,

wherein the seal has a sealing lip for sealingly contacting the sealing surface of the spoiler body during the extension movement

wherein the spoiler body has, adjoining the sealing surface, a sliding surface for the sealing lip to slide along during the extension movement.