Front diffuser for a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. A front diffuser arranged in a front underbody covering of a motor vehicle, the front diffuser comprising flaps that are arranged between two boundary walls of an air duct in the underbody covering, an actuating drive for pivoting the flaps about a transversely oriented pivot axis located at a front end of each flap, as seen in the direction of travel, so that each of the flaps is pivotable between a lower end position in the air duct where the flap runs in a horizontal plane and an upper end position where the flap is pivoted up in the air duct and runs in an oblique plane, the actuating device for each of the flaps including a linear drive having a fixed front end mounted above an upper surface of the underbody covering forward of the respective flap and a movable rear end, a toggle lever arrangement pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the pivot axis of the flap and being above the underbody covering, the toggle lever arrangement having a first lever connected to the movable end of the linear drive and a second end connected to an actuating lever that is connected pivotally to an upper surface of the respective flap at a position forward of the pivot axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Front diffusers are provided on a front underbody covering of a vehicle, in a manner lying laterally on the inside next to the two front wheel houses. Each front diffuser has a longitudinally directed air duct integrated into the front underbody covering and has a pivotable flap. The flap is connected to an actuating device that can be actuated by a switch in the passenger compartment for shifting the device between a first position flush with the outer skin and a second upwardly pivoted position. The second, upwardly pivoted position of the front diffuser or of the flap produces an increase in downforce at the front axle.
-
Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A front diffuser arranged in a front underbody covering of a motor vehicle, the front diffuser comprising flaps that are arranged between two boundary walls of an air duct in the underbody covering, an actuating drive for pivoting the flaps about a transversely oriented pivot axis located at a front end of each flap, as seen in the direction of travel, so that each of the flaps is pivotable between a lower end position in the air duct where the flap runs in a horizontal plane and an upper end position where the flap is pivoted up in the air duct and runs in an oblique plane, the actuating device for each of the flaps including a linear drive having a fixed front end mounted above an upper surface of the underbody covering forward of the respective flap and a movable rear end, a toggle lever arrangement pivotable about an axis extending parallel to the pivot axis of the flap and being above the underbody covering, the toggle lever arrangement having a first lever connected to the movable end of the linear drive and a second end connected to an actuating lever that is connected pivotally to an upper surface of the respective flap at a position forward of the pivot axis.
- 7. A front diffuser arranged in a front underbody covering of a motor vehicle, the front diffuser comprising flaps that are arranged between two boundary walls of an air duct in the underbody covering, an actuating drive for pivoting the flaps about a transversely oriented pivot axis located at a front end of each flap, as seen in the direction of travel, so that each of the flaps is pivotable between a lower end position in the air duct where the flap runs in a horizontal plane and an upper end position where the flap is pivoted up in the air duct and runs in an oblique plane, the flaps of the front diffuser being parallel to each other in the air duct in the underbody covering adjacent to a front wheel of the vehicle, and the air duct having a front inlet opening in proximity to a front spoiler and a transversely oriented outlet opening to a wheel house of the vehicle, wherein the air duct is integrated in a front underbody covering of the vehicle, and has an outer boundary wall that runs rectilinearly in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and an inner boundary wall that runs in a curved manner, one end of the outer rectilinear boundary wall forming the outlet opening of the air duct toward the wheel house.
-
10. A motor vehicle comprising:
-
a front end; left and right front wheels; an underbody covering extending rearward from the front end and at least partly between the front wheels; left and right air ducts formed above the underbody covering and having a front inlet opening in proximity to a front spoiler of the vehicle and a transversely oriented outlet opening to a wheel house for a respective one of the front wheels; left and right flaps having front ends connected to the underbody covering at transversely oriented pivot axes and rear ends movable relative to the front ends; and an actuating drive for pivoting the flaps about the pivot axes between a lower position where the flaps are substantially flush with the underbody covering and an upper end position where the left and right flaps extend respectively into the left and right air ducts. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification