DOWNFORCE GENERATION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170096180A1
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dominguez, David, Fahland, Jason D., Auden, Joshua R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• 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: 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 vehicle includes an engine generating exhaust gas flow and a vehicle body having a first body end facing oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion and an opposite second body end. A vehicle underbody section spans a distance between the first and second body ends. A diffuser disposed at the second body end controls an underbody airflow portion past the second body end. An exhaust duct discharges the exhaust gas via a duct outlet arranged between the underbody section and the diffuser. A first diffuser aperture aligns with the duct outlet for discharging the exhaust gas from the outlet to the ambient. A second diffuser aperture pulls at least a fraction of the underbody airflow over the duct outlet and through the first aperture. The first and second apertures accelerate the pulled underbody airflow to increase a downforce on the vehicle body at the second body end.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine generating a flow of exhaust gas as a product of combustion;

a vehicle body having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow, a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end, and a vehicle underbody section configured to span a distance between the first and second vehicle body ends;

a diffuser having a diffuser body disposed at the second vehicle body end and configured to control an underbody portion of the airflow past the second vehicle body end; and

an exhaust duct extending along the underbody section, having a duct inlet configured to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the engine, and a duct outlet arranged between the vehicle underbody section and the diffuser and configured to discharge the flow of exhaust gas to the ambient;

wherein the diffuser body defines;

a first aperture configured to align with the duct outlet and facilitate the discharge of the flow of exhaust gas from the duct outlet to the ambient at the second vehicle body end; and

a second aperture configured to pull at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow over the duct outlet and through the first aperture out to the ambient, to thereby accelerate the at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow and increase a downforce on the vehicle body at the second body end.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the diffuser includes a fin arranged longitudinally relative to the vehicle body and configured to direct the underbody portion of the airflow to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first aperture is arranged aft of the duct outlet, between the duct outlet and the second vehicle body end.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second aperture is arranged between the first aperture and the first vehicle body end.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the diffuser body covers at least a portion of the duct outlet.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the diffuser body is attached to the vehicle body via a fastener.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first aperture has an oval shape.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second aperture has a rectangular shape.

9. A diffuser for a vehicle having:

an internal combustion engine generating a flow of exhaust gas as a product of combustion;

a vehicle body having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow, a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end, and a vehicle underbody section configured to span a distance between the first and second vehicle body ends; and

an exhaust duct extending along the underbody section, having a duct inlet configured to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the engine, and a duct outlet arranged proximate the second vehicle body end and configured to discharge the flow of exhaust gas to the ambient;

the diffuser comprising a diffuser body disposed at the second vehicle body end and configured to control an underbody portion of the airflow past the second vehicle body end;

wherein the diffuser body defines;

a first aperture configured to align with the duct outlet and facilitate the discharge of the flow of exhaust gas from the duct outlet to the ambient at the second vehicle body end; and

a second aperture configured to pull at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow over the duct outlet and through the first aperture out to the ambient, to thereby accelerate the at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow and increase a downforce on the vehicle body at the second body end.

10. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the diffuser includes a fin arranged longitudinally relative to the vehicle body and configured to direct the underbody portion of the airflow to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

11. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the first aperture is arranged aft of the duct outlet, between the duct outlet and the second vehicle body end.

12. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the second aperture is arranged between the first aperture and the first vehicle body end.

13. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the diffuser body covers at least a portion of the duct outlet.

14. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the diffuser body is attached to the vehicle body via a fastener.

15. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the first aperture has an oval shape.

16. The diffuser of claim 9, wherein the second aperture has a rectangular shape.

17. A vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine generating a flow of exhaust gas as a product of combustion;

a vehicle body having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow, a second vehicle body end opposite of the first vehicle body end, and a vehicle underbody section configured to span a distance between the first and second vehicle body ends;

a diffuser having a diffuser body disposed at the second vehicle body end and configured to control an underbody portion of the airflow past the second vehicle body end; and

an exhaust duct extending along the underbody section, having a duct inlet configured to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the engine, and a duct outlet arranged between the vehicle underbody section and the diffuser and configured to discharge the flow of exhaust gas to the ambient;

wherein the diffuser body defines;

a first aperture arranged aft of the duct outlet, between the duct outlet and the second body end, and configured to align with the duct outlet and facilitate the discharge of the flow of exhaust gas from the duct outlet to the ambient at the second vehicle body end; and

a second aperture arranged between the first aperture and the first vehicle body end and configured to pull at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow over the duct outlet and through the first aperture out to the ambient, to thereby accelerate the at least a fraction of the underbody portion of the airflow and increase a downforce on the vehicle body at the second body end.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of fins arranged longitudinally relative to the vehicle body and configured to direct the underbody portion of the airflow to the ambient at the second vehicle body end.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the diffuser body covers at least a portion of the duct outlet.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first aperture has an oval shape and the second aperture has a rectangular shape.