VEHICLE WITH AT LEAST ONE FLOW INFLUENCING ELEMENT WITH A SPOILER EDGE AND METHOD FOR INFLUENCING AN AERODYNAMIC DRAG OF A VEHICLE

• US 20110198885A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: ILSE, Borris, KRUSE, Nicolas, BAUER, Ulrich, BACH, Bertrand, JACOB, Boris
• Application Number:
  US13/029,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20110198885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/180.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/008 Side spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A vehicle includes, but is not limited to at least one flow influencing element with a spoiler edge arranged in a lateral rear region of the vehicle. The flow influencing element has a first position, in which the spoiler edge is substantially concealed by a body element and a second position, in which the spoiler edge is substantially exposed.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a lateral rear region;

a flow influencing element with a spoiler edge arranged in the lateral rear region; and

a body element,

wherein the flow influencing element has a first position in which the body element substantially conceals the spoiler edge and a second position in which the spoiler edge is substantially exposed.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flow influencing element is configured to pivot between the first position and the second position.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flow influencing element is configured to shift between the first position and the second position.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flow influencing element in the first position is arranged in a slit in an outer skin of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the flow influencing element is configured to move between the first position and the second position in a direction substantially parallel to the outer skin.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lateral rear region comprises a right lateral rear region, a left lateral rear region comprising the flow influencing element and the right lateral rear region comprising a second flow influencing element.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the flow influencing element is configured to move between the first position and the second position as a function of a speed of the vehicle.

8. A method for influencing an aerodynamic drag of a vehicle, comprising:

determining a parameter of the vehicle; and

moving a flow influencing element with a spoiler edge arranged in a lateral rear region of the vehicle as a function of the parameter between a first position in which the spoiler edge is substantially concealed by a body element and a second position in which the spoiler edge is substantially exposed.

9. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the parameter is a speed of the vehicle, and

wherein the moving the flow influencing element comprises moving the flow influencing element into the second position when the speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 8,

wherein the parameter is a speed of the vehicle, and

wherein the moving the flow influencing element comprises moving the flow influencing element into the second position when the speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value at least for a predetermined period.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the parameter is a position of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the parameter is an acceleration of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the moving the flow influencing element comprises pivoting the flow influencing element between the first position and the second position.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the moving the flow influencing element comprises shifting the flow influencing element between the first position and the second position.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the moving the flow influencing element comprises moving the flow influencing element in a direction substantially parallel to an outer skin of the vehicle.