Air guide device for the rear of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Air guide device (2) for the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has at least one first lighting device (1a) and at least one second lighting device (1b) in the rear area, wherein the at least one first lighting device (1a) and the at least one second lighting device (1b) are each assigned to one side of the vehicle and have a distance (b1) from each other in the direction of the vehicle width, wherein the air guide device (2) is movably designed between a rest position in which the air guide device (2) lies substantially within the vehicle contour and an operating position in which the air guide device (2) projects beyond the vehicle contour, wherein the air guide device (2) in its rest position at least partially covers the area between the at least one first lighting device (1a) and the at least one second lighting device (1b), characterized in thatthat the maximum width (b2) of the air guide device (2) is greater than the distance (b1) between the at least one first lighting device (1a) and the at least one second lighting device (1b), wherein the air guide device (2) covers the lighting devices (1a, 1b) when the air guide device (2) is in its rest position, wherein the lateral and lower edges (53, 54 and 55, 56 respectively) of the air guide device (2), which are arranged in the area of ​​the lighting devices (1a, 1b), are formed following the outline of the lighting devices (1a, 1b).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air guide device for the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has at least one first lighting device and at least one second lighting device in its rear area, wherein the at least one first lighting device and the at least one second lighting device are each assigned to one side of the vehicle and are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the vehicle width, wherein the air guide device is movably designed between a rest position in which the air guide device lies substantially within the vehicle contour and an operating position in which the air guide device projects beyond the vehicle contour, wherein in its rest position the air guide device at least partially covers the area between the at least one first lighting device and the at least one second lighting device.

[0002] Such an air guidance arrangement is generally known from the German patent application DE 101 55 376 A1, however, the maximum width is limited to the width of the area between the lighting devices.From DE 10 2004 030 571 B4, an air guide device for a motor vehicle, comprising a spoiler, is known, wherein the spoiler is adjustable by means of an adjustment device between a rest state in which it lies essentially within the vehicle contour and an operating state in which it projects beyond the vehicle contour, wherein the spoiler has a spoiler surface which, at least in the operating state of the spoiler, is exposed to the airflow during the journey of the motor vehicle and is therefore aerodynamically effective, wherein the spoiler has a spoiler body and spoiler extensions arranged at both lateral ends of the spoiler body, the position of which relative to the spoiler body changes during the adjustment from the rest state to the operating state in the sense of increasing the aerodynamically effective spoiler surface in order to increase the aerodynamic effect.A significant disadvantage of the air guidance device described in DE 10 2004 030 571 B4 is that it is very complex and mechanically complicated in terms of its design and assembly.

[0003] Furthermore, an air guidance device is known from the German patent specification, which is designed as a hollow body integrated into a body panel and, in the extended state, forms a flush seal with the body panel. In the retracted state, the hollow body collapses to provide air guidance. The hollow body can also cover lighting elements and be transparent in the area where they are located. This air guidance device is also very complex in its construction and exhibits only low air conductivity. Similarly complex is the air guidance device known from the German patent application, which is designed as an inflatable shell and runs above a body panel with lighting devices.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an air guidance device that has the greatest possible aerodynamic effect and at the same time is mechanically simple, robust and durable.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

[0006] An air guide device of the type mentioned above is characterized according to the invention in that the maximum width of the air guide device is greater than the distance between the at least one first lighting device and the at least second lighting device, wherein the air guide device covers the lighting devices when it is in its rest position, and wherein the lateral and lower edges of the air guide device, which are arranged in the area of ​​the lighting devices, are formed following the outline of the lighting devices. In this way, the air guide device can be designed with a very large width without the need for mechanically complex, additional extendable surfaces. The effective area of ​​a mechanically extremely robust, rear-mounted air guide device is thus increased according to the invention.Lift and drag reduction is improved by increasing the aerodynamic effect. The air guide device can also be positioned particularly far back on the vehicle, which further enhances the aerodynamic effect.

[0007] Advantageously, the air guide device may have a tear-off edge that extends at least over the maximum width of the air guide device.

[0008] It is advantageous if at least the areas of the air guidance device that cover the lighting devices are designed to be light-permeable.

[0009] It may be advantageous for the air guide device to be opaque to light in the area between the lighting devices.

[0010] Advantageously, the light transmission can be adjusted, at least in the areas of the air guide covering the lighting devices, by applying an electrical voltage.

[0011] It may be advantageous for the air guide device to be permanently opaque to light in the area between the lighting devices.

[0012] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained below by way of example with reference to the drawings. The drawings show, schematically, Fig. 1. A rear view of a motor vehicle, Fig. 2 a rear view of a motor vehicle and Fig. 3 an air guide device.

[0013] Fig. Figure 1 shows the rear section of a motor vehicle. A rear window 4 and an air guide 2 are provided in the rear section. In the example shown, the air guide 2 extends almost across the entire width of the rear section and, when retracted (i.e., in a rest position), lies essentially within the vehicle contour. In its rest position, the air guide 2 is at least nearly flush with the vehicle contour. In the example shown, the rear section of the motor vehicle has a first lighting device 1a, which is assigned to the driver's side. A second lighting device 1b, which is assigned to the passenger side, is also provided. The two lighting devices 1a and 1b are spaced a distance b1 along the width of the vehicle.The area 5, which is essentially bounded laterally by the two lighting devices 1a, 1b, is covered by the air guide 2 when the air guide 2 is in its rest position. Above the lighting devices 1a, 1b and above the area 5 extending between the two lighting devices 1a, 1b, the air guide 2 is wider than the distance b1 between the two lighting devices 1a, 1b. In this area, the air guide 2 has its maximum width b2, which is greater than the distance b1 between the at least one lighting device 1a and the at least one second lighting device 1b. The air guide 2 has lateral edges 51, 52, 53, 54, lower edges 55, 56, 57, and an upper edge 59. In the example shown, the lighting devices 1a, 1b are recessed in the area of ​​the air guide device 2.The corresponding recesses of the air guide device 2 are designed such that – at least in the rest position of the air guide device 2 – the edges 53, 54, 55, 56 in the area of ​​the lighting devices 1a, 1b essentially follow the outline of the respective lighting device 1a or 1b. The lateral and lower edges 53, 54 and 55, 56 of the air guide device 2 in the area of ​​the lighting devices 1a, 1b correspond to the corresponding section of the respective lighting device 1a, 1b. The lower edges 55, 56, 57 of the air guide device can preferably form an aerodynamically effective separation edge across the width of the air guide device 2. Preferably, this separation edge can also be effective in the rest position.

[0014] Fig. Figure 2 shows an example of an air guide device 2 according to the invention arranged in the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle. In the example shown, a rear window 4 is also provided in the rear area. The in Fig. The air guide 2 shown in Figure 2 covers the lighting devices 1a, 1b when the air guide 2 is in its rest position. In its rest position, the air guide 2 also covers the area between the lighting devices 1a, 1b. The lower edge 58 of the air guide 2 is preferably designed as a continuous lower trailing edge. This trailing edge can preferably also be aerodynamically effective when the air guide 2 is in its rest position. The areas of the air guide 2 indicated by the dashed lines in the example shown, which cover the lighting devices 1a, 1b, are, according to one embodiment of the invention, light-transmitting, i.e., transparent or translucent, preferably transparent. Areas extending beyond the immediate area of ​​the lighting devices 1a, 1b (in Fig. 2 indicated by different shading of the air guide device 2 or in Fig. 3 (referred to as edge areas 3) must be designed to be translucent. The remaining areas of the air guide device 2, in particular essentially area 5 (see Fig. 1) between the two lighting devices 1a, 1b, can also be arranged according to the one in Fig. In the embodiment shown in 2, the light is opaque.

[0015] The air guide device 2 can be removed from the one in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The air guide device 2 can be moved from its resting position shown in Figure 2 to an operating position not shown in detail in the drawings. This movement is indicated by arrow f. A corresponding reverse movement is also provided. In the operating position not shown in detail in the drawings, the air guide device 2 can develop its full aerodynamic effect.

[0016] Fig. Figure 3 shows an air guide device 2, which is like the one in Fig. The air guide device 2 shown in Figure 2 can be arranged in the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle, wherein the lateral edge regions 3 of the air guide device 2 at least cover the lighting devices 1a, 1b. According to one embodiment of the invention, the edge regions 3 are light-transmitting, preferably transparent. The central region 5 (see Figure 2) Fig. 1) is also in the Fig. The 3 examples shown are designed to be opaque to light.

[0017] Alternatively to the above, based on the Fig. 2 and Fig. In the embodiments of the invention described in Figure 3, the areas covering at least the lighting devices 1a, 1b, in particular the edge areas 3 (see Figure 3), can be Fig. 3) also be designed such that the light transmittance of the air guide device 2 can be adjusted by applying an electrical voltage, at least in those areas of the air guide device 2 covering the lighting devices 1a, 1b, wherein area 5 (see Fig. 1) The air guide 2, which is located in its rest position between the lighting devices 1a, 1b, is preferably permanently opaque to, for example, conceal any mechanical and / or electrical devices located behind it. To adjust the light transmission of the areas of the air guide 2 covering the lighting devices 1a, 1b, electrodes (not shown in detail) may preferably be provided in the corresponding areas. Preferably, the edge regions 3 of the air guide 2 are switchable between electrochromatic transparency and opacity.

Claims

[1] Air guiding device (2) for the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has at least one first lighting device (1a) and at least one second lighting device (1b) in the rear area, wherein the at least one first lighting device (1a) and the at least one second lighting device (1b) are each assigned to a vehicle side and are spaced apart (b1) in the vehicle width direction, wherein the air guiding device (2) is designed to be movable between a rest position in which the air guiding device (2) lies substantially within the vehicle contour and an operating position in which the air guiding device (2) projects beyond the vehicle contour, wherein the air guiding device (2) in its rest position at least partially covers the area between the at least one first lighting device (1a) and the at least one second lighting device (1b), characterized byin that the maximum width (b2) of the air guiding device (2) is greater than the distance (b1) of the at least one first lighting device (1a) to the at least one second lighting device (1b), wherein the air guiding device (2) covers the lighting devices (1a, 1b) when the air guiding device (2) is in its rest position, wherein the lateral and lower edges (53, 54 and 55, 56, respectively) of the air guiding device (2), which are arranged in the region of the lighting devices (1a, 1b), are designed to follow the outline of the lighting devices (1a, 1b). [2] Air guiding device (2) according to claim 1 with a tear-off edge which extends at least over the maximum width (b2) of the air guiding device (2). [3] Air guiding device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least the areas of the air guiding device (2) which cover the lighting devices (1a, 1b) are designed to be light-permeable. [4] Air guiding device (2) according to claim 3, wherein the air guiding device (2) is designed to be light-impermeable in the region between the lighting devices (1a, 1b). [5] Air guiding device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light transmittance can be adjusted at least in the areas of the air guiding device (2) covering the lighting devices (1a, 1b) by applying an electrical voltage. [6] Air guiding device (2) according to claim 6, wherein the air guiding device (2) is permanently opaque to light in the area between the lighting devices (1a, 1b).

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