VEHICLE AERODYNAMIC APPARATUS

• US 20170240222A1
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: GAYLARD, Adrian, THOMPSON, Christopher, TURNER, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 10,227,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/04 Door pillars ; windshield pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/005 Front spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/008 Side 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: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A vehicle having one or more guide vanes each disposed at each of a respective front and/or rear quarter of the vehicle for guiding the airflow in the vicinity of an adjacent wheel of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising one or more guide vanes each disposed at each of a respective front and/or rear quarter of the vehicle for guiding the airflow in the vicinity of an adjacent wheel of the vehicle wherein each guide vane is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each guide vane is displaced laterally and/or undergoes rotation when it moves from said retracted position to said deployed position.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein each guide vane comprises a first outer guide surface that defines an outer surface of the vehicle when the guide vane is in said retracted position.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein each guide vane is fixedly mounted to an inner support panel defining a second outer guide surface, the second outer guide surface defining an outer surface of the vehicle when the guide vane is in said deployed position.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the offset between each guide vane and the associated inner support panel is substantially constant in a longitudinal direction extending towards the rear of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein each guide vane and the inner panel to which it is mounted form a channel which converges in a longitudinal direction extending towards the rear of the vehicle.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein each guide vane and the inner panel to which it is mounted form a channel which diverges in a longitudinal direction extending towards the rear of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of wheels, wherein each guide vane extends vertically and at least a portion of each guide vane is disposed in line with a wheel of the vehicle.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein there is at least a partial overlap in a vertical direction between each guide vane and the associated wheel of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more guide vanes comprises one or more front guide vanes each disposed at a front quarter of the vehicle for guiding airflow along a side of the vehicle.

22. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 comprising a control unit configured to move said one or more guide vanes from said retracted position to said deployed position when said vehicle is moving.

27. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a front profiling member adjacent each of said one or more guide vanes disposed at the front quarter of the vehicle, wherein said front profiling member is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position.

28. A vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein each front profiling member pivots in relation to the vehicle when moving from its retracted position to said deployed position.

29. A vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein moving said front profiling member to said deployed position directs the incident airflow over an adjacent one of said guide vanes disposed at a front quarter of the vehicle.

30. A vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein each of the one or more guide vanes defines in part the first outer guide surface so as to define a substantially continuous exterior surface when the front profiling member and the guide vane are both in their retracted position wherein the guide vane is located rearwards of the front profiling member.

31. A vehicle as claimed claim 27, wherein the front profiling member and the guide vane at a same front quarter of the vehicle are movable independently of each other.

32. A vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein said inner support panel and said front profiling member align with each other when they are both in their respective deployed positions and/or retracted positions.

8-9. -9. (canceled)

12-17. -17. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23. A bumper for a vehicle comprising one or more guide vanes for guiding the airflow in the vicinity of an adjacent wheel of the vehicle wherein each guide vane is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position.

24. A bumper as claimed in claim 23 comprising one or more front profiling member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position wherein moving said one or more front profiling member to said deployed position directs the incident airflow over an adjacent one of said front guide vanes.

25-26. -26. (canceled)

33. A vehicle comprising one or more guide vanes each disposed at each of a respective front and/or rear quarter of the vehicle for guiding the airflow in the vicinity of an adjacent wheel of the vehicle wherein each guide vane is movable from a retracted position to a deployed position, wherein each of the one or more guide vanes comprises a first outer guide surface that defines an outer surface of the vehicle when the guide vane is in said retracted position, wherein each of the one or more guide vanes is fixedly mounted to an inner support panel defining a second outer guide surface, the second outer guide surface defining an outer surface of the vehicle when the guide vane is in said deployed position, and wherein each of the one or more guide vanes is arranged to at least partially overlap, in a vertical direction, a wheel arch of the vehicle.