DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING THE DOWNFORCE GENERATED BY A VEHICLE

• US 20150232138A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mclaren Automotive Limited (Mclaren Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Mclaren Automotive Limited (Mclaren Group Limited)
• Inventors: Parry-Williams, Dan, Slight, Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/16 by increasing air resistance, e.g. flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 5/00 Vehicle modifications to facilitate cooling of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/0453 about the pitch axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/0457 about the roll axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/05 Cooling
• 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: F15D 1/10 around bodies of solid material
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18

Abstract

A vehicle comprising a flap that is attached to the vehicle in such a way as to permit movement of the flap from a first position to a second position, wherein the flap is configured to alter the downforce generated by the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion by affecting the airflow underneath the vehicle, the effect of the flap on the airflow being dependent upon the second position of the flap.

Claims

1. An automobile comprising:

a spoiler provided on the underside of the automobile, the spoiler being deployable from a first position in which, when the automobile is in motion, the spoiler extends minimally into the flow of air beneath the automobile up to a second position in which, when the automobile is in motion, the spoiler extends maximally into the flow of air beneath the automobile so as to reduce the downforce generated by the automobile; and

a control unit adapted to receive one or more inputs that indicate the dynamic state of the automobile and select a position of the spoiler in dependence on the said dynamic state so as to control the downforce generated by the automobile, the control unit being configured so that if the inputs indicate that the automobile is undergoing braking the position of the spoiler is selected so as to counter the tendency of the automobile to dive due to braking.

2. An automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoiler is positioned in a position between the first and second positions.

3. An automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoiler is positioned in front of the front wheels of the automobile.

4. An automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inputs include one or more of suspension load, automobile speed, lateral g-force, steering position, brake pedal force, brake pedal position, forward acceleration of the automobile, or the position of one or more active aerodynamic devices of the automobile.

54. An automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spoiler is a first spoiler, the automobile comprises:

a second spoiler provided on the underside of the automobile, the first and second spoilers being positioned symmetrically about the centreline of the automobile, wherein each spoiler is deployable from a respective first position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends minimally into the flow of air beneath the automobile, up to a respective second position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends maximally into the flow of air beneath the automobile so as to reduce the downforce generated by the automobile; and

wherein the control unit is adapted to select positions of the first and second spoilers between their respective first and second positions, the positions of the first and second spoilers being chosen in dependence on the said dynamic state so as to control the downforce generated by the automobile, the control unit being configured so that if the inputs indicate that the automobile is undergoing braking the positions of the first and second spoilers are selected so as to counter the tendency of the automobile to dive due to braking.

5. An automobile comprising:

a first and a second spoiler provided on the underside of the automobile, the first and second spoilers being positioned symmetrically about the centreline of the automobile, wherein each spoiler is deployable from a respective first position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends minimally into the flow of air beneath the automobile, up to a respective second position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends maximally into the flow of air beneath the automobile so as to reduce the downforce generated by the automobile; and

a control unit adapted to receive one or more inputs that indicate the dynamic state of the automobile and select positions of the first and second spoilers between their respective first and second positions, the positions of the first and second spoilers being chosen in dependence on the said dynamic state so as to control the downforce generated by the automobile, wherein if the inputs indicate that the automobile is cornering, the positions of the first and second spoilers are selected so as to counter roll of the automobile.

6. An automobile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to select the positions of the first and second spoilers such that the spoiler on the outside of the corner is extended to a greater degree than the spoiler on the inside of the corner.

7. An automobile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit selects the first position for the spoiler on the inside of the corner.

8. An automobile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second spoilers are positioned in front of the front wheels of the automobile.

9. An automobile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inputs include one or more of suspension load, automobile speed, lateral g-force, steering position, brake pedal force, brake pedal position, forward acceleration of the automobile, or the position of one or more active aerodynamic devices of the automobile.

10. An automobile as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the inputs indicate that the automobile is undergoing braking, the positions of the first and second spoilers are selected so as to counter the tendency of the automobile to dive due to braking.

11. An automobile as claimed in claim 10, wherein the positions of the first and second spoilers selected between their respective first and second positions in dependence on the one or more inputs.

12-53. -53. (canceled)

55. An automobile comprising:

a first and a second spoiler provided on the underside of the automobile, the first and second spoilers being positioned symmetrically about the centreline of the automobile, wherein each spoiler is deployable from a respective first position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends minimally into the flow of air beneath the automobile, up to a respective second position in which, when the automobile is in motion, each spoiler extends maximally into the flow of air beneath the automobile so as to reduce the downforce generated by the automobile; and

a control unit adapted to receive one or more inputs that indicate the dynamic state of the automobile and select positions of the first and second spoilers between their respective first and second positions, the positions of the first and second spoilers being chosen in dependence on the said dynamic state so as to control the downforce generated by the automobile, the control unit being configured so that if the inputs indicate that the automobile is undergoing braking the positions of the first and second spoilers are selected so as to counter the tendency of the automobile to dive due to braking.

56. An automobile as claimed in claim 55, wherein the first and second spoilers are positioned in front of the front wheels of the automobile.

57. An automobile as claimed in claim 55, wherein the inputs include one or more of suspension load, automobile speed, lateral g-force, steering position, brake pedal force, brake pedal position, forward acceleration of the automobile, or the position of one or more active aerodynamic devices of the automobile.

58. An automobile as claimed in claim 55, wherein the positions of the first and second spoilers selected between their respective first and second positions in dependence on the one or more inputs.