Air guiding system for a vehicle

• US 7,387,331 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Original Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Inventors: Schulzki, Markus, Froeschle, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chenevert; Paul A
• Application Number:
  US11/727,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 105/1.3, 180/903, 244/213, 296/26.01, 296/26.12, 296/26.13, 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/180.3, 296/180.4, 296/180.5
• US Class Current: 296/180.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/02 by aerodynamic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/903 Airstream reactive vehicle or vehicle structure

Abstract

An air guiding system for a vehicle, particularly for a passenger car, is arranged in a rear area of the vehicle and has at least one central main air guiding element that can be displaced between a moved-in inoperative position into a moved-out operative position. Lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are displaceable together with the at least one central main air guiding element. The lateral auxiliary air guiding elements can be displaced while enlarging the transverse dimension and while simultaneously enlarging the longitudinal dimension of the main air guiding element or the air guiding system from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out operative position.

Claims

1. A vehicle air guiding system arranged in a vehicle rear area, comprising at least one central main air guiding element displaceable between a moved-in inoperative position and a moved-out operative position, and lateral auxiliary air guiding elements displaceable together with the at least one central main air guiding element, wherein the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are arranged to be displaced while enlarging a transverse dimension and simultaneously enlarging a longitudinal dimension of the at least one central main air guiding element or of the air guiding system from an also moved-in inoperative position into an also moved-out inoperative position.

2. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 1, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be changed or displaced by an operating device, respectively, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and simultaneously, relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, diagonally toward the rear from the inoperative position into the operative position.

3. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 2, wherein each operating device comprises at least two operating elements having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

4. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 2, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be swiveled upward by an erecting device respectively coupled with the displacement of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements diagonally toward the rear.

5. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 4, wherein each operating device comprises at least two operating elements having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

6. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 4, wherein each erecting device comprises at least one erecting element having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

7. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 6, wherein the respective erecting devices are mutually connected by a crossbar operatively applied to joint positions between the erecting elements and the respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements.

8. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one central main air guiding element is operatively coupled to the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements by way such that, simultaneously with displacement of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements, the at least one central main air guiding element is arranged to be swiveled upward during the change or displacement from the inoperative position into the operative position.

9. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 8, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be changed or displaced by an operating device, respectively, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and simultaneously, relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, diagonally toward the rear from the inoperative position into the operative position.

10. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 9, wherein each operating device comprises at least two operating elements having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

11. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 8, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be swiveled upward by an erecting device respectively coupled with the displacement of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements diagonally toward the rear.

12. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 11, wherein each erecting device comprises at least one erecting element having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

13. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 12, wherein the respective erecting devices are mutually connected by a crossbar operatively applied to joint positions between the erecting elements and the respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements.

14. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one central main air guiding element is coupled by way of a respective coupling element with the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements and by a further coupling element with the crossbar operatively connecting the erecting elements.

15. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 1, wherein in the inoperative position, the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements are arranged to be displaced into a position below the at least one central main air guiding element so as not to be visible.

16. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 1, wherein in forward sections, the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements have an indentation adapted to a rear edge contour of the at least one central main air guiding element, and in the operative position, rearward sections of the at least one central main air guiding element are arranged to engage in the indentation, with the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements thereby enlarging the at least one central main air guiding element flush with a surface of the at least one central main air guiding element.

17. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 16, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be changed or displaced by an operating device, respectively, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and simultaneously, relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, diagonally toward the rear from the inoperative position into the operative position.

18. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 17, wherein each operating device comprises at least two operating elements having one side articulatingly connected with a respective one of the auxiliary air guiding elements and another side articulatingly connected with a vehicle body part.

19. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 1, wherein a gap occurs between a vehicle body part and a forward end of the at least one central main air guiding element during the displacement of the at least one central main air guiding element from the inoperative position into the operative position, and a closing element is arranged close to the gap.

20. The vehicle air guiding system according to claim 19, wherein each of the lateral auxiliary air guiding elements is arranged to be changed or displaced by an operating device, respectively, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and simultaneously, relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, diagonally toward the rear from the inoperative position into the operative position.