Downforce-enhancement of an automobile-type diffuser using two devices

• US 9,957,000 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Obinna Hyacinth Ehirim
• Original Assignee: Obinna Hyacinth Ehirim
• Inventors: Ehirim, Obinna Hyacinth
• Primary Examiner(s): Romain, Pinel E
• Application Number:
  US15/442,649
• Time in Patent Office: 430 Days
• Field of Search: 2961801
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear 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: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An automobile diffuser is the upwardly-ramped surface at the rear of the vehicle'"'"'s underbody. Aerodynamic downforce and drag are generated as airflow travels underneath and along the ramped surface of the diffuser. However, with a moderate drag penalty, the downforce-producing effect of the diffuser can be further enhanced by an arrangement of aerodynamic devices along the ramp surface and within the diverging flow channel of the vehicle'"'"'s diffuser.

Claims

1. A vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce;

consisting of a single flow channel or a subdivided flow channel located at a rear of an automobile, the said diffuser including;

A convex-shaped bump attached on a diffuser ramp surface across a span of the diffuser flow channel and at a location close to an exit of the diffuser flow channel.

An inverted wing with a pressure surface as atop surface and a suction surface as the bottom surface positioned laterally across a span of the diffuser flow channel and underneath the convex-shaped bump with a chord length of the wing parallel to the length of the bump.

2. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness of the convex-shaped bump is about 5 mm to 6 mm so as to enhance airflow velocity along the surface of the bump while maintaining a low aerodynamic drag.

3. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in claim 1, wherein the length of the convex surface convex-shaped bump is about 15% to 25% of the diffuser length.

4. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in claim 1, wherein a maximum thickness of the inverted wing is about 10 mm to 15 mm.

5. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as in claim 1, wherein an angle of attack of the inverted wing is equal to the diffuser ramp surface angle so as to prevent an occurrence of airflow separation from the wing pressure surface.

6. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in claim 1, wherein the inverted wing chord length is about 15% to 25% of the diffuser length.

7. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in claim 1, wherein a gap between the convex-shaped bump surface and the pressure surface of the inverted wing is about 9 mm to 15 mm.

8. The vehicle underbody diffuser to enhance aerodynamic downforce as defined in of claim 1, wherein the length of the convex-shaped bump surface is about 5 mm to 7 mm longer than the chord length of the inverted wing.