Motor vehicle with front-end diffuser

• US 10,450,011 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Harter, Sebastian, Roll, Mathias, Soso, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US15/890,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20180244325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 2961801-1803, 2961805
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/005 Front spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• 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: F16D 65/847 with open cooling system, e.g. cooled by air
• 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 motor vehicle (1) has a front-end diffuser (7) that is open toward a ground surface, and has a device arranged in the region of the diffuser (7) and for varying the downforce of the motor vehicle in the region of a front axle of the motor vehicle. The device has an air conduit (12) with an inlet (13) in the region of a front-end positive pressure area of the motor vehicle and has an outlet (14) in the region of the diffuser (7), and has means (16) for opening and closing the air conduit (12). The device enables the downforce of the motor vehicle in the region of the front axle can be varied.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a forward structure paneling;

a wheel arch shell adjacent the forward structure paneling;

a flow duct having an inlet in the forward structure paneling at a region of a front-end positive pressure area of the motor vehicle and the flow duct having an outlet in proximity to the wheel arch shell;

an air conduit having a front end that is open in the flow duct and a rear end at the wheel arch shell;

a front-end diffuser that is open toward a ground surface, the front-end diffuser having opposed left and right guide walls and having an upper guide wall extending between the left and right guide walls, the upper guide wall having openings that communicate with the rear end of the air conduit; and

a valve arranged in the air conduit and being operative for opening and closing the air conduit and thereby varying a downforce of the motor vehicle in a region of a front axle of the motor vehicle.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front-end diffuser is at a rear end of the wheel arch shell.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the flow duct is arranged in a region of the conduit for conducting air to a front wheel and/or to a brake device for a front wheel.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the diffuser is integrated into the wheel arch shell.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the air conduit is arranged in the region of a first third of the diffuser.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the outlet of the air conduit has multiple outlet slots.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein the multiple outlet slots are arranged one behind the other in a transverse direction of the vehicle.

8. The motor vehicle of claim 7, wherein the outlet of the air conduit is formed such that, when the air conduit is open, air enters the diffuser over the entire width of the latter.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the valve for opening and closing the air conduit is mechanically acting.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the valve for opening and closing comprises a rotary shut-off valve.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the valve for opening and closing is manually actuable in the region of the wheel arch shell.