Air guide device and vehicle having such an air guide device

Abstract

The invention relates to an air guide device (28) for the floor area of ​​a motor vehicle, comprising at least one air guide element (30) which is designed as a wheel spoiler arranged in front of an associated wheel of the motor vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and can be displaced by means of a displacement mechanism (38) from an extended air guide position to an at least partially retracted position, in which the air guide element (30) deflects an air flow that contacts the air guide element (30) in the floor area in the forward direction (12) of the motor vehicle with a flow guide surface (32) arranged in the front area of ​​the air guide element (30) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the air guide element (30) which is designed as an inclined surface at least in a partial area can be displaced by means of the displacement mechanism (38) in a superimposed displacement movement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle rearwardly and in the vertical direction of the vehicle upwardly, and when the air guide element (30) is subjected to a force component (F) caused by an obstacle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle H ). The air guide device is characterized in that the displacement mechanism (38) is assigned to a displacement unit including a spring element (50), by means of which the air guide element (30) can be moved from the retracted position to the flow guiding position and / or can abut against a stop (74) in the flow guiding position, and the actuator (70) of the displacement unit is connected to the air guide element (30) via a traction mechanism (72).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an air guiding device in the area of ​​the floor of a vehicle and to a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] From DE 10 2010 053 463 A1, this air guide device is known, in which, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in front of each wheel, a matching air guide in the form of a wheel spoiler is provided, which can be displaced to a protective position that is at least partially retracted by means of a displacement mechanism from a stretched-out flow-guiding position (the air guide or wheel spoiler here deflects the airflow that contacts the air guide in the forward direction of the automobile in the floor area with a flow-guiding surface arranged in the front area of ​​the air guide along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle). The wheel spoiler can be displaced to a position that is at least partially retracted from the flow-guiding position along the guide mechanism oriented vertically in the vehicle. The wheel spoiler arranged in its flow-guiding position should prevent air from impacting the tire of each wheel in front during the driving of the automobile, which causes an increase in the undesirable air resistance of the automobile. In order to protect the wheel spoiler from injury, for example, when driving in the field, they can actively move back to a protective position that is further away from its lane. A disadvantage of the known air-guiding devices is that when overcoming obstacles unexpectedly located on the roadway, the wheel spoilers arranged at the air-guiding locations can be damaged or even broken off in the event of a crash.

[0003] From DE 20 2018 107 288 U1, an air guide device is known, which is arranged in the front end of the car on the floor of a car and includes an air guide, which is rotatably mounted around an axis by a hinge assembly placed on its rear edge. In fact, the flat air guide that covers the entire front structure of the car from below can be rotated around an axis between a lowered activation position (it flips over to the lane under its front edge) and an inverted static position. Here, the air guide is preloaded to its activation position by means of a spiral spring, so that when crossing an obstacle, the air guide flips back and can therefore avoid it. In order to move the air guide back to its static position, a motorized steel rope hoist is provided. Facts have shown that it is not always possible to achieve the air guide flipping back to its static position when colliding with an obstacle and damage may occur.

[0004] US 2019 / 0152543 A1 discloses a similar air guide device for the floor area of ​​a vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an air guide device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which damage to the respective air guide element due to off-road driving or overcoming obstacles can be avoided in a more reliable manner and at the same time can be designed to be functionally safe in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by an air guide device having the features described below and a motor vehicle having such an air guide device. Advantageous embodiments with suitable inventive developments are the subject of the following description.

[0007] The air guide device according to the present invention comprises an air guide, which can be displaced backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle by means of a displacement mechanism with a superimposed displacement movement. Its guide surface is designed as an inclined surface preferably inclined from the front upper side to the rear lower side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least in a local area. The air guide is displaced or can be displaced to a retracted position by means of a displacement mechanism when there is a force component caused by an obstacle acting on the air guide along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Because of the design of the displacement mechanism and / or the shape of the air guide, the force component acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle due to the force applied by the impact obstacle causes the air guide to be displaced to a position that is at least partially retracted, so as to avoid its damage. Therefore, the core of the present invention is that the air guide is automatically or forcibly controlled to be displaced to a retracted position due to the force component acting backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle caused by the impact obstacle and occurring due to the forward direction of the automobile. Thus, damage to the air guide and also to the floor component adjacent to the air guide or other components in the floor area of ​​the automobile is effectively avoided.

[0008] The air guide element of the present invention of the air guide device is a wheel spoiler, which is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle before the associated wheels, especially the front wheels, of the vehicle. With such a wheel spoiler, particularly favorable aerodynamic effects can be obtained in the floor area in order to, for example, save energy for driving the vehicle.

[0009] Since the air guide is preferably designed at least in a partial area as a slope or an inclined surface or an inclined plane that slopes from the front upper to the rear lower in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, it is automatically displaced to the at least partially retracted position very advantageously and reliably when it hits an obstacle. Specifically, the force acting rearwardly on the air guide in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is thereby converted or decomposed into a force acting on the air guide, in particular in the vertical direction of the vehicle, which moves the air guide to the retracted position.

[0010] Due to the provision of the bevel, the air guide element or the air guide surface also cannot get caught with the respective obstacle, thereby avoiding damage to the air guide element, such as cracking. On the contrary, the correspondingly inclined bevel is preferably designed relatively smoothly and is also selected, for example, in terms of material thickness and / or material properties, so that no damage to the air guide element occurs when an obstacle hits the guide surface.

[0011] Because a displacement mechanism is provided to displace the air guide backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle with a superimposed displacement movement, the force component caused by the obstacle acting backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is also particularly advantageously converted into a displacement movement upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle in a manner parallel to the displacement movement backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. That is, this displacement movement of the air guide in the vertical direction of the vehicle is required to increase the ground clearance of the vehicle in the floor area to avoid damage to the respective air guide. Specifically, the force acting backward on the air guide in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is converted into a movement of the air guide in the vertical direction of the vehicle toward a retracted position by a suitable displacement mechanism design. This can be achieved, for example and in particular, by the design of a suitable multi-joint rod motion mechanism; but alternatively, a sliding rod guide mechanism or the like can also be considered.

[0012] It has been found to be particularly advantageous to design the displacement mechanism as a multi-joint lever kinematic mechanism, in particular a four-joint lever kinematic mechanism. With such a multi-joint lever kinematic mechanism, it is very advantageous to cause the air guide element to be displaced into the retracted position due to the force component caused by the obstacle acting on the air guide element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This results in a very stable support of the air guide element when an obstacle is hit, and a very advantageous and reliable displacement movement towards the retracted position.

[0013] The invention further provides that the displacement mechanism is equipped with a displacement unit, by means of which the air guide can be moved from the retracted position to the flow-guiding position. In other words, the displacement of the respective air guide is preferably carried out by means of the displacement unit, since this results in a very reliable displacement. However, as an alternative, it is also conceivable that the displacement movement of the air guide from the retracted position to the flow-guiding position is caused, for example, only by the dynamic pressure occurring in the area of ​​the air guide. With the aid of the displacement unit, the respective air guide can also be adjusted, for example, in a speed-dependent manner.

[0014] The invention further provides that the displacement unit comprises a spring element, by means of which the air guide element can be moved from the retracted position into the flow-guiding position and / or the air guide element can be held against a stop in the flow-guiding position. This allows the air guide element to be moved or held in the flow-guiding position very reliably. In addition, in this case, in a simple manner, in the event of a force component caused by an obstacle acting on the air guide element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the air guide element can be displaced into the retracted position against the force of the spring element.

[0015] Here, the particularly advantageous remote operation of the respective air guide can be realized by a traction mechanism. Such a traction mechanism can be operated very simply and is also extremely safe to operate. In this case, for example, a Boden cable is particularly suitable.

[0016] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a plurality of air guide elements, in particular a respective wheel spoiler on each vehicle side, can be moved from a retracted position into an air guide position by means of a displacement unit. This results in a particularly advantageous structural simplification of the air guide device, since a plurality of air guide elements can be actuated using a common displacement unit.

[0017] Finally, it is advantageous that the corresponding air guides together with the associated displacement mechanism are installed and accommodated in a housing. Thus, the air guide device can be manufactured as a substantially preassembled structural unit. In addition, the respective air guides are particularly advantageously at least partially installed in the associated housing in the retracted position.

[0018] Further advantages and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown individually in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or alone without exceeding the scope of the invention, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 A partial front view and a partial side view of a vehicle floor region are respectively shown with an air guide device with an air guide element arranged in front of an associated front wheel, the air guide element being in an extended air guide position as shown in the upper illustration and being displaced into an at least partially retracted position by means of a displacement mechanism in the two lower illustrations, wherein the air guide element is displaced into the retracted position by means of the displacement mechanism under an obstacle-causing force component which is generated by a foreign object when the vehicle is moving forward and acts on the air guide element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

[0021] Figure 2 Show root Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of an air guide device along a section plane extending in the vertical direction or the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the air guide is held in its guide position influencing the aerodynamics of the vehicle by a displacement mechanism;

[0022] Figure 3 Similar to Figure 2 10 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an air guide device, wherein the air guide is displaced to a retracted position by a displacement mechanism due to a force component caused by an obstacle acting on it;

[0023] Figure 4a and 4b Respective bottom perspective views of the air guide device are shown when the air guide is in the flow guiding position or at least partially retracted position;

[0024] Figure 5A perspective view of the air guide device according to the invention in the area of ​​the base plate, wherein in particular the integration of the air guide element into the adjacent trim element and the displacement unit of the displacement mechanism can be seen;

[0025] Figure 6 Similar to Figure 5 Another perspective view of the air guide device in the bottom plate area is shown, but the housing is shown in section, in which the displacement mechanism accommodating the air guide in the flow-guiding position is installed;

[0026] Figure 7 A partial perspective cross-sectional view of the air guide arrangement is shown with the air guide in a retracted position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 The area of ​​the passenger car floor near the front 10 is shown in a partial front view or side view. Here, the right front wheel 14 can be seen with respect to the forward direction indicated by the arrow 12, which can also be seen according to Figure 1 The front wheels 14 are housed in wheel housings which are lined on the outer circumference or on the inner side with wheel housing linings 16. The wheel housing linings 16 extend downwards to a horizontal plane indicated by a dashed line 18 and parallel to the currently flat ground, which is also referred to as the boundary surface - ground clearance.

[0028] On the front side of the wheel arch lining 16, the respective lining parts 20, 22 of the wheel arch or the front of the vehicle 10 can be seen, which are usually also assigned to the front module of the passenger car like the shown part of the wheel arch lining 16. In addition, the lining part 24 of the floor lining 26 is shown on the bottom side, which is also assigned to the front module in this exemplary embodiment. In order to use the air guide device 28 described below in connection with the vehicle, the vehicle does not necessarily have to have a front module.

[0029] Can be Figure 1 In particular, the air guide element 30 of the air guide device 28 provided in the floor area can be seen, which is arranged here as a so-called wheel spoiler in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of the corresponding front wheel 14. Figure 1 As can be seen from the upper front view, the air guide element 30 arranged in the extended air guide position overlaps at least partially laterally with the corresponding front wheel 14 when viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle. In this case, in particular, by means of the guide surface 32 provided in the front area of ​​the air guide element 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (arrow 12), the air guide element 30 is arranged in the extended air guide position. Figure 1The airflow that contacts the air guide element 30 in the floor area in the forward direction of the vehicle can be deflected so that the airflow caused by driving does not hit the front wheels 14 in the front in this area, thereby achieving better oncoming flow of the corresponding front wheels 14, so as to improve the vehicle aerodynamics in the floor area as a whole and thus save energy in particular when the vehicle is driven.

[0030] If you can also Figure 1 As can be seen from the two upper views of the wheel spoiler or air guide 30 and in particular its guide surface 32 protrudes downward from the remaining floor lining 26. The wheel spoiler or air guide 30 should prevent the air from hitting the tires belonging to each other in the front when the vehicle is driving and thus increase the vehicle flow resistance. In the guide position, the airflow coming from the front therefore hits the guide surface 32 of the air guide 30 in particular, is deflected accordingly, flows along the respective air guide 30 and is purposefully guided by the specific shape of the wheel spoiler or air guide 30, so that the front wheel 14 located behind it better faces the air or the air is at least partially deflected to the side laterally, which is the case, for example, in the inner edge area of ​​the front wheel 14. Thus, the aerodynamic performance in the floor area is improved by the advantages described.

[0031] However, when the vehicle is traveling in the forward direction, a driving situation may occur in which the respective air guide element 30 hits a Figure 1 34 or other types of obstacles shown in the upper right view of FIG. This situation occurs especially when driving off-road or overcoming obstacles in urban areas, for example when overcoming curbstones or other obstacles unexpectedly located on the roadway.

[0032] If you can Figure 1 As can be seen in the upper right view of the figure, the extended air guide element 30 arranged in its air guide position hits the obstacle 34, resulting in a force F caused by the obstacle, which, in particular, as a function of the driving speed in the forward direction, includes a force component F acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle opposite to the forward direction. H and the vertical force component F acting upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle V .

[0033] In such a horizontal force component F acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, in particular in the opposite direction to the forward direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, H In this case, significant damage or even complete destruction of the respective air guide element 30 could previously occur. For this reason, the air guide element 30 can now be displaced upward in the vehicle vertical direction from the air guide position shown in the two upper figures, where the respective air guide element is designed as a wheel spoiler effective, in particular, for the front wheels 14 with respect to the oncoming flow, to the position shown in the upper figure. Figure 1In the present case, this is achieved on the one hand by means of a displacement mechanism which will be described in more detail below. In this case, the respective air guide element 30 is displaced upwards in the present embodiment up to above the plane indicated by the line 18 or the so-called ground clearance interface, so that the respective air guide element 30 is at least not arranged deeper than the remaining components of the floor lining 26 in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0034] in accordance with Figure 2 and Figure 3 The specific design of the air guide device will now be explained in conjunction with respective partial sectional views along a sectional plane extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle or in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0035] Overview Figure 2 and Figure 3 It can be seen first that the air guide 30 is Figure 2 In the basis Figure 1 The two upper views of its diversion position, and Figure 3 In the basis Figure 1 of the two lower views thereof in an at least partially retracted position.

[0036] The air guide 30 is essentially made of plastic as a wedge-shaped hollow body, wherein the hollow body is closed on the upper side by a cover 36. The air guide 30 is supported and arranged on a lower open housing 40 with the intervention of a displacement mechanism 38, the air guide 30 in the flow-guiding position being arranged outside the housing, and the air guide 30 in the retracted position being arranged at least partially inside the housing.

[0037] The displacement mechanism 38 is designed here as a multi-jointed lever kinematic mechanism in the form of a four-jointed lever kinematic mechanism with two guide rods 42, 44, which are supported at corresponding bearing locations 46, 48 on the housing 40. At their two ends opposite the bearing locations 46, 48, the two guide rods 42, 44 are articulatedly connected in the region of respective bearing locations 52, 54 to a support rod 50, wherein the support rod 50 has a front end 56, by means of which the support rod is connected to the air guide 30 or more precisely the cover 36.

[0038] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The overview shows that the guide rods 42, 44 and the support rod 50 together with the support locations 46, 48 and 52, 54 form a four-joint bar kinematic mechanism, whereby the air guide 30 can be moved from one position to another according to the Figure 2 The diversion position is shifted to Figure 3In this case, a superimposed displacement movement occurs in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the rear and in the vertical direction of the vehicle to the top, which can be seen in particular in conjunction with the relative position of the air guide element 30 relative to the housing 40. The displacement movement of the air guide element 30 takes place here about a theoretical center of rotation D, which is located at Figure 2 , and are derived from an imaginary extension of the two guide rods 42 , 44 , which extend through the respective bearing point 46 , 48 or 52 , 54 .

[0039] It is important that the bearing locations 46, 48 and Figure 2 and Figure 3 As in the illustrated embodiment, the bearing points 52, 54 of the guide arms 42, 44 are arranged at least in the vehicle vertical direction (z direction in the vehicle coordinate system) above the air guide element 30 and thus its air guide surface 32. When the air guide surface 32 is subjected to forces caused by an impact, the bearing points are definitely not located in the force action direction of the impact force, so that the impact force causes the air guide element 30 to rotate backwards and simultaneously upwards against the forward direction of the vehicle due to the force distribution on the inclined surface of the air guide element 30.

[0040] If you can also Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen in the figure, the support rod 42 is supported on the housing 40 via a spring element 58. In this case, the spring element 58 has respective joints 60, 62 on both sides, by which the spring element 58 is connected to the guide rod 42 or the housing 40. The spring element 58 causes the air guide 30 to move and be displaced to the flow-guiding position due to the spring force under the intervention of the displacement mechanism 38 or the four-joint rod movement mechanism, or to hold the air guide 30 in the flow-guiding position against the stop 74. The spring force of the spring element 58 is determined in this case so that it exerts a force on the air guide 30 or the flow-guiding surface 32 when it meets the corresponding air flow, to be precise even at higher driving speeds.

[0041] However, the spring element 58 or its force is designed in turn to prevent the air guide element 30 from hitting a foreign body or an obstacle 34, in particular because of the obstacle-induced force component F acting on the air guide element 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or in the horizontal direction. H Move to an avoidance position or according to Figure 3 The spring element 58, which is designed as a tension spring or the like, is thus in a retracted position due to the force component F caused by the obstacle. H When moving back to the diversion position from the retracted position, the spring member 58 is partially unloaded on the contrary.

[0042] Especially from Figure 1As can be seen from the upper right view of FIG. 3 , the guide surface 32 of the air guide 30 is designed as an inclined surface inclined from the front upper to the rear lower in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least in the upper partial area. This has the following advantages, namely, when Figure 1 When the air guide 30 shown in the upper right of the figure hits a foreign body or an obstacle 34, the air guide is displaced or pushed back in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle backward and at the same time in the vertical direction of the vehicle with a desired displacement movement. Therefore, on the one hand, the inclined design of the displacement mechanism 38 causes a force component F acting backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the air guide 30 H Alternatively or additionally, the inclined surface can also be used to convert a force component F acting in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the rear on the air guide element 30 into a corresponding force for lifting the air guide element 30. H The corresponding force is converted into a corresponding force to lift the air guide 30. The displacement mechanism 38 and the inclined design of the ramp are therefore used to convert the force component F acting backward on the air guide 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. H The two measures are converted into corresponding forces to raise the air guide 30. Both measures work together very advantageously here. However, for example, both measures are also conceivable and extremely effective separately. Therefore, it is also conceivable within the scope of the present invention that the air guide is designed without such an inclined surface when the displacement mechanism allows and causes a corresponding displacement movement of the air guide backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle. On the contrary, it is also conceivable that when the air guide 30 has the inclined surface in the area of ​​the guide surface 32, the air guide 30 is basically guided upward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by sliding, because thereby the force component F acting on the air guide 30 backward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is also H The air guide surface 32 is thus designed as the air guide element 30, so that it is also conceivable to provide a sliding rod guide mechanism or a swivel bearing about a fixed rotation center for the air guide element 30 instead of a four-joint lever kinematic mechanism, because the obliquely extending air guide surface 32 is used to convert the force component F caused by the obstacle acting on the guide element 30 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. H Due to the inclined orientation from the front upper to the rear lower, a displacement movement of the air guide element in the vertical direction of the vehicle (with the aid of the force F V In other words, even when an inclined guide surface 32 is provided, the air guide element 30 can be moved along a linear or curved guide extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, precisely because of the obstacle-caused forces generated by the guide surface 32 acting on the air guide element 30 in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0043] exist Figure 4a and 4b In each of the perspective views from below, the air guide device can be seen in the region of one of the two air guide elements 30 arranged laterally in front of the associated front wheel 14. Figure 4a The air guide is shown in its flow-guiding position, ie, protruding downwards. Figure 4b In the present case, the air guide element 30 is at least partially or even at least substantially completely accommodated in the housing 40 in the retracted position. In this case, it can be seen in particular from 4a that the air guide element 30, the trim element 24 adjoining the air guide element 30 from the front, and the further floor trim element 64 are adapted to the shape of the air guide element 30 in the air-guiding position. Therefore, only a narrow gap 66 or a seam is formed between the trim element 24 or 64 and the air guide element 30.

[0044] Figure 5 The trim parts 20, 22, 24 of the front module of a passenger car and the trim part 64 of the floor lining 26 with the air guide integrated therein are shown in a perspective sectional view from the vehicle interior. The wheel arch lining 16 can also be seen.

[0045] Figure 6 Similar to Figure 5 The diagrammatic representation of the air guide device 28 in the region of the respective trim parts 20-24 and 64 is shown. Figure 5 , in Figure 6 In particular, the housing 40 is shown in section, so that the displacement mechanism 38 can be seen.

[0046] Here, an overview Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen, the displacement mechanism is connected to a displacement unit, which includes an actuator 70. The actuator 70 is connected to the four-joint bar kinematic mechanism, more precisely the guide rod 42, via a traction mechanism 72 in the form of a Bowden cable. In addition, in this embodiment, the actuator 70 is also connected to the air guide 30 on the other side of the vehicle. In other words, the two air guides 30 in front of the associated front wheel 14 are operated by means of a common actuator 70.

[0047] By means of the actuator 70, the air guide 30 can be pulled from the diversion position to the retracted position against the spring force of the respective spring member 58. On the contrary, the spring force of the respective spring member 58 is used for the extension of the air guide 30, so the traction mechanism 72 only needs to be released by the actuator 70. Therefore, the speed-dependent regulation of the respective positions of the air guide 30 can be achieved by means of the actuator 70. In particular, it is conceivable in this case that the respective air guide or wheel spoiler 30 is placed in the diversion position in an extended state at a speed higher than 60 km / h, and is retracted at a speed lower than 60 km / h, because only slight aerodynamic effects occur below this speed. This also means that during most of the driving periods occurring in the city and in the wild (at this time, the desired effects brought by the respective air guide are not present or occur only to a slight extent due to the relatively low driving speed), the respective air guide is placed in its retracted protective position or unused position and is therefore not damaged by obstacles located on the ground. Preferably, the air guide element is extended only from a defined driving speed, preferably automatically by means of a corresponding control, at which point at least a sufficient aerodynamic effect is achieved.

[0048] at last, Figure 7 The air guide 30 is shown again in a perspective cross-sectional view installed in the housing 40 in the retracted position. By means of the housing 40, the structural space of the air guide is completely encapsulated by means of the housing 40. In addition, the housing 40 can be designed as a prefabricated structural unit together with the displacement mechanism 38 and the respective air guide or wheel spoiler 30, which can then be installed in the front module area or in other ways in the floor area. The housing 40 is preferably designed in such a way that the engine compartment is shielded from dirt / water / snow intrusion and the active wheel spoiler does not affect the exhaust air supply of the cooling system. By means of the housing 40 (enclosure), adverse changes in external noise are eliminated when using the active wheel spoiler.

[0049] Available from Figure 2 It can be seen in FIG that the support rod 50 and the cover 36 are constructed in one piece and are connected to the air guide 30 via a clip 76. If a damaging contact with foreign bodies should occur, the clip 76 can be designed as a sacrificial part.

[0050] In summary, it is very advantageous that in the air guide device of the present invention, in the case of "misuse", that is, when a foreign body accidentally hits the extended wheel spoiler / air guide 30, it is activated by means of the multi-joint rod motion mechanism (not self-locking) described in the combined figure, and the spring force of the spring member 58 is overcome without damage and retracted. For this purpose, it is necessary to have a force or impulse acting on the air guide 30 in the z direction, that is, vertically upward in the vehicle, that is, leaving the lane. This is carried out by the air guide 30, which is also called a flow aid, and it mainly has an aerodynamic function. The secondary function is to decompose the force acting on the air guide 30 by means of the guide surface 32 extending from the rear bottom to the front top and thus arranged in the shape of an inclined plane when viewed in the forward direction of the car. Because the foreign body hits the guide surface 32 extending obliquely to the front top and thus at a specified angle relative to the lane, a force component in the z direction, that is, a force component that leaves the lane vertically upward is generated by the inclined surface of the flow aid, which can retract the wheel spoiler / air guide 30 and its displacement mechanism.

[0051] Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous in the embodiment of the air guide device according to the figures that the active air guide 30 leaves no holes in the floor area in the retracted state, which is achieved by means of the aforementioned preferably pot-shaped housing 40. It also has other functions, namely:

[0052] - attaching the active wheel spoiler to a suitable structure within the front structure of the vehicle,

[0053] - Accommodates the entire displacement mechanism, including fixed bearing locations for the rods / connecting rods of the multi-joint mechanism,

[0054] - shielding the openings present in the floor panel from the rest of the engine compartment or powertrain compartment in the front or rear of the motor vehicle, which is particularly useful for reducing external noise and for reasons of dirt,

[0055] Due to the corresponding shaping, the housing 40 can partially also use the previous geometries of the bumper, the lower reinforcement (only in the front part of the vehicle) and the wheel housing.

[0056] The housing 40 or the air guide device 28 is preferably designed so that it can be installed as a modular unit, i.e. installed as a whole on the vehicle. Of course, the housing can also be replaced quickly and easily. According to one refinement, it is provided that the air guide device 28, which is arranged on both sides at the height of the vehicle axle and is actuated by means of a common actuator 70, is pre-installed together with the actuator as an already functional installation unit and can be installed together on the vehicle. This saves time and effort in joining / connecting operations during installation in the vehicle.

[0057] In the embodiment as shown in the figure of the drive device for moving the air guide 30, it is particularly advantageous that a common actuator 70 is provided for two air guides 30 arranged at the height of the front wheel or the rear wheel. For this reason, the actuator 70 is effectively driven to the air guide 30 by at least one Bowden cable. Since the drive is designed to pull the respective active wheel spoiler / air guide 30 to the retracted position against the spring force by the actuator 70 and the wheel spoiler / air guide 30 is not or need not be subjected to the force of the drive device in its extended position, when hitting an obstacle, the respective air guide can be simply moved back or moved to the retracted position, wherein the Bowden cable does not block the displacement and preferably only forms a loop. Therefore, the separation of the drive device from the air guide in its extended position is not necessary and is not provided in the case of such a drive device, so it is particularly cheap.

[0058] Finally, it should be pointed out again that in a particularly preferred embodiment of the air guide device 28, the respective air guide element 30 is displaced into the extended position substantially without external forces but by its weight. The spring element 58 serves substantially to support the moving mass and counter-support the dynamic pressure during travel. Thus, vibrations of the air guide element 30 are avoided.

Claims

1. An air guide device (28) for a floor area of ​​a motor vehicle, the air guide device comprising at least one air guide element (30), the air guide element being designed as a wheel spoiler arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of an associated wheel of the motor vehicle and being displaceable by means of a displacement mechanism (38) from an extended air guide position to an at least partially retracted position, in which the air guide element (30) deflects an air flow that contacts the air guide element (30) in the floor area in the forward direction (12) of the motor vehicle with a air guide surface (32) arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the front area of ​​the air guide element (30), in, The air guide (30) which is designed as an inclined surface at least in a partial area can be displaced rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle by means of the displacement mechanism (38) in a superimposed displacement motion, and when the air guide (30) is subjected to a force component (F) caused by an obstacle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle H ) can be pushed back towards the retracted position, It is characterized in that The displacement mechanism (38) is assigned to a displacement unit comprising a spring element (50), by means of which the air guide element (30) can be moved from a retracted position to a flow-guiding position and / or can be held in the flow-guiding position against a stop (74), the actuator (70) of the displacement unit being connected to the air guide element (30) via a traction mechanism (72), The air guide is supported and arranged on the lower open housing under the intervention of the displacement mechanism, the spring element is a tension spring element, and the spring element has respective joints on both sides, through which the spring element is connected to the guide rod or housing of the displacement mechanism, and the air guide can be moved from the retracted position to the flow-guiding position by unloading the tension spring element with the help of the tension spring element, and / or can be kept in the flow-guiding position by the tension spring element in a manner of abutting against a stop, under the force component (F H ) acts on the air guide by clamping the tension spring member to push the air guide member back toward the retracted position.

2. The air guide device (28) according to claim 1, characterized in that The displacement mechanism (38) is designed as a multi-joint rod motion mechanism.

3. The air guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: By means of the displacement unit, a plurality of air guides (30) can be moved from a retracted position to an air guiding position.

4. The air guide device according to claim 3, characterized in that By means of the displacement unit, the respective wheel spoiler on each side of the vehicle can be moved from a retracted position into a flow-deflecting position.

5. The air guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The corresponding air guide element (30) together with the associated displacement mechanism (38) is accommodated in a supporting manner in a housing (40).

6. A motor vehicle having an air guiding device (28) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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