VEHICLE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD TO REDUCE BUFFETING AND GENERATE DOWNFORCE

• US 20190092144A1
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Andrew Thomas, Titus, Matthew Arthur, Weston, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/20 Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 ; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/008 Side spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/12 by influencing the boundary layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

An exemplary vehicle flow influencing assembly includes, among other things, a downforce generator extending laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward a side window. The downforce generator is configured to influence flow to reduce buffeting. A vehicle flow influencing method includes, among other things, lowering a side window to provide an opening to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and influencing flow over the opening using a downforce generator that extends laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward the side window. The influencing reducing buffeting.

Claims

1. A vehicle flow influencing assembly, comprising:

a downforce generator extending laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward a side window, the downforce generator configured to influence flow to reduce buffeting.

2. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, wherein the downforce generator includes an airfoil.

3. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, wherein the downforce generator includes a dive plane.

4. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, wherein the area is a window sail.

5. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, wherein the area is vertically above a beltline of the vehicle and the side window is a front side window.

6. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, wherein the downforce generator is laterally between a side mirror and a side window opening of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gurney flap and a base of the downforce generator, the gurney flap extending vertically from the base.

8. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 7, wherein gurney flap is at a lateral side of the base.

9. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 7, wherein the gurney flap is at a rear of the base relative to an orientation of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 7, wherein the gurney flap comprises both a side gurney flap at a lateral side of the base, and a rear gurney flap at a rear of the base relative to an orientation of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle flow influencing assembly of claim 10, wherein the base is canted twenty degrees or less relative to a horizontal axis such that a rear end of the base is vertically higher than a front end of the base.

12. A vehicle flow influencing method, comprising:

lowering a side window to provide an opening to a passenger compartment of a vehicle; and

influencing flow over the opening using a downforce generator that extends laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward the side window, the influencing to reduce buffeting.

13. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 12, wherein the downforce generator includes an airfoil.

14. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 12, wherein the downforce generator includes a dive plane.

15. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 12, further comprising generating downforce with the downforce generator when the side window is lowered and when the side window is raised to close the opening.

16. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 12, wherein the downforce generator is laterally between a side mirror and a side window opening of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 12, wherein the influencing comprises influencing the flow with a gurney flap of the downforce generator, the gurney flap extending vertically upward from a base of the downforce generator.

18. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 17, wherein gurney flap is at a lateral side of the base.

19. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 17, wherein the gurney flap is at a rear of the base relative to an orientation of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle flow influencing method of claim 17, wherein the base is canted twenty degrees or less relative to a horizontal axis such that a rear end of the base is vertically higher than a front end of the base.