rectifier

Abstract

To remove foreign bodies around a straightening body.SOLUTION: In a straightening device, an actuator 16 is operated to rotate a deflector 14. Additionally, a front injector 28 and a rear injector 30 are operated to inject hot water to the surroundings of the deflector 14. Whereby, foreign bodies around the deflector 14 can be removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fairing device for suppressing an air flow to the front wheels of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In the fairing device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 below, a fairing member is rotated between a storage position and a fairing position.

[0003] Here, in such a fairing device for a vehicle, it is preferable to be able to remove foreign matter around the fairing member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a fairing device capable of removing foreign matter around a fairing body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The fairing device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a fairing body that is deployed to the front side of the front wheels of the vehicle by being moved in the deployment direction to suppress an air flow to the front wheels and is stored in the vehicle body by being moved in the storage direction, and an injection mechanism that is operated to inject a fluid around the fairing body.

[0007] The fairing device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the fairing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, and includes a covering member that covers the lower side of the vehicle body, is provided with a deployment hole through which the fairing body is deployed, and injects a fluid between the fairing body and the peripheral surface of the deployment hole when the injection mechanism is operated.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a flow straightening device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, further comprising a drive mechanism for driving the straightened fluid, wherein the injection mechanism is activated to inject fluid between the straightened fluid and the drive mechanism.

[0009] The fourth aspect of the present invention is a flow straightening device in which the injection mechanism is activated when there is an abnormality in the movement of the straightened fluid in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the first aspect of the flow straightening device of the present invention, the straightened fluid is moved in the deployment direction, so that it is deployed in front of the front wheels of the vehicle, thereby suppressing the airflow to the front wheels. Also, the straightened fluid is moved in the storage direction, so that it is stored in the vehicle body.

[0011] Here, the injection mechanism is activated and sprays fluid around the conditioned fluid. This removes foreign matter from the conditioned fluid.

[0012] In a second aspect of the present invention, the rectifying device has a covering member that covers the underside of the vehicle body, and the rectifying fluid is deployed from the deployment holes of the covering member.

[0013] Here, the injection mechanism is activated and injects fluid between the fluid and the circumferential surface of the opening hole. This removes foreign matter between the fluid and the circumferential surface of the opening hole.

[0014] In a third aspect of the present invention, the rectifier device drives the rectified fluid.

[0015] Here, the injection mechanism is activated and injects fluid between the fluid saturation and the drive mechanism. This allows for the removal of foreign matter between the fluid saturation and the drive mechanism.

[0016] In the fourth aspect of the flow straightening device of the present invention, the injection mechanism is activated when there is an abnormality in the movement of the straightened fluid. Therefore, when there is an abnormality in the movement of the straightened fluid, fluid can be injected around the straightened fluid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the front of a vehicle in an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the outside in the width direction of the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a vehicle, viewed from the front and outside in the vehicle width direction, showing a rectifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Figure 1 shows a side view of the front of a vehicle 12 in an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction (right side of the vehicle), and Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the airflow rectifier 10 according to this embodiment, viewed from the front of the vehicle and from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle is indicated by the arrow FR, the outside in the vehicle width direction is indicated by the arrow OUT, and the top is indicated by the arrow UP.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the airflow rectifier 10 according to this embodiment is installed inside the front end of the vehicle body 12A and is positioned in front of the front wheels 12B of the vehicle 12. The lower surface (bottom surface) of the vehicle body 12A is covered by a plate-shaped under cover 12C (see Figure 2) which serves as a covering member, and a rectangular opening 12D is formed through the under cover 12C on the underside of the airflow rectifier 10.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rectifying device 10 is provided with a resin-made, substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped deflector 14 as a rectifying body. The inside of the deflector 14 is open to the upper side and the rear side of the vehicle. A cylindrical rotating shaft 14A is integrally provided at the front end of the deflector 14 on the vehicle side. The deflector 14 is rotatable (movable) about the rotating shaft 14A in the deployment direction A and the storage direction B (see FIG. 1). The deflector 14 is arranged at the storage position (the broken line position in FIG. 1, the position in FIG. 2). The deflector 14 is stored in the vehicle body 12A (the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C) and does not protrude below the vehicle body 12A (below the under cover 12C). The deflector 14 can be rotated in the deployment direction A and arranged at the deployment position (the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 1). Thereby, the deflector 14 protrudes below the vehicle body 12A from the deployment hole 12D. Further, the deflector 14 is rotated from the deployment position in the storage direction B and arranged (returned) to the storage position.

[0021] An actuator 16 as a drive mechanism is mechanically connected to the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the rotating shaft 14A of the deflector 14. The actuator 16 is fixed above the under cover 12C (inside the vehicle body 12A) and supports the deflector 14. The ECU of the actuator 16 is electrically connected to the control device 18 of the vehicle 12. The actuator 16 is operated under the control of the control device 18 to rotate (drive) the deflector 14.

[0022] The actuator 16 is provided with a rotation detection device 22 (a movement detection device). The rotation detection device 22 detects the rotation (rotation position, rotation speed, etc.) of the deflector 14 and is electrically connected to the control device 18.

[0023] On the upper surface of the under cover 12C, a front injection device 28 as an injection mechanism is fixed near the front side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction inner end of the deployment hole 12D. The front injection device 28 is electrically connected to the control device 18. The front injection device 28 is actuated under the control of the control device 18 to inject warm water (heated water) as a fluid between the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the deflector 14 and the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the deployment hole 12D (including the sliding contact surface between the rotation shaft 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16).

[0024] On the upper surface of the under cover 12C, a rear injection device 30 as an injection mechanism is fixed near the rear side of the vehicle in the center of the deployment hole 12D in the vehicle width direction. The rear injection device 30 is electrically connected to the control device 18. The rear injection device 30 is actuated under the control of the control device 18 to inject warm water into the central part in the vehicle width direction between the rear end of the deflector 14 in the vehicle rear side and the vehicle rear side surface of the deployment hole 12D.

[0025] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0026] In the rectifying device 10 with the above configuration, the deflector 14 is arranged at the storage position and is stored in the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C.

[0027] When the vehicle 12 travels at high speed, under the control of the control device 18, the actuator 16 is actuated to rotate the deflector 14 in the deployment direction A, so that the deflector 14 is arranged at the deployment position and protrudes downward from the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C. For this reason, the deflector 14 is arranged on the front side of the vehicle of the front wheel 12B below the vehicle body 12A, and suppresses the running wind (air flow) of the vehicle 12 to the front wheel 12B (flows the running wind to the lower side of the front wheel 12B), thereby suppressing the increase in air pressure on the front side of the vehicle of the front wheel 12B, and suppressing the air resistance and lift of the vehicle 12.

[0028] Subsequently, when the vehicle 12 is traveling at a low speed, the actuator 16 is activated by the control device 18 to rotate the deflector 14 in the storage direction B, thereby positioning the deflector 14 in the storage position and storing it in the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C.

[0029] Incidentally, the deflector 14 is positioned near the front wheel 12B of the vehicle 12. Therefore, when the vehicle 12 is in motion, there is a possibility that foreign matter such as mud and sand may get trapped between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C (around the deflector 14, including the sliding contact surface between the deflector 14's rotation axis 14A and the actuator 16). Moreover, when the vehicle 12 is traveling in cold regions, there is a possibility that the space between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C (including the sliding contact surface between the deflector 14's rotation axis 14A and the actuator 16) may freeze.

[0030] Here, if the control device 18 operates the actuator 16 but the deflector 14 does not rotate in the deployment direction A (the rotation detection device 22 does not detect the deflector 14 rotating in the deployment direction A), the control device 18 operates the front injection device 28 and rear injection device 30 on the under cover 12C to inject hot water between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C (including the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16). As a result, foreign matter between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D (including the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16) can be removed, and the deflector 14 can rotate in the deployment direction A by the operation of the actuator 16. Furthermore, even if the area between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D (including the area between the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16) freezes, the freezing can be melted, and the deflector 14 can rotate in the deployment direction A by the operation of the actuator 16.

[0031] Furthermore, even if the control device 18 operates the actuator 16, if the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the deployment direction A (the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the deployment direction A detected by the rotation detection device 22) is lower than the set speed, the control device 18 will operate the front injection device 28 and the rear injection device 30 to inject hot water between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D of the under cover 12C (including the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16). As a result, foreign matter between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D (including the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16) can be removed, and the deflector 14 can rotate appropriately in the deployment direction A by operating the actuator 16. Furthermore, even if the area between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the deployment hole 12D (including the area between the sliding contact surface between the rotation axis 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16) freezes, the freezing can be melted, and the deflector 14 can rotate appropriately in the deployment direction A by the operation of the actuator 16.

[0032] Furthermore, as described above, even if foreign matter (including frozen material) is trapped between the deflector 14 and the circumferential surface of the unfolding hole 12D (including the sliding contact surface between the rotating shaft 14A of the deflector 14 and the actuator 16), the pre-injection device 28 and the post-injection device 30 can remove the foreign matter. As a result, the rotational resistance of the deflector 14 can be reduced, and the reduction in the lifespan of the actuator 16 (e.g., motor) that rotates the deflector 14 can be suppressed. Moreover, the deterioration of the physical properties of the deflector 14 due to freezing can be suppressed, and damage to the deflector 14 can be suppressed.

[0033] In this embodiment, the pre-injection device 28 and the post-injection device 30 inject hot water. However, the pre-injection device 28 and the post-injection device 30 may inject a heated or unheated fluid (liquid (especially water) or gas (especially air)).

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the control device 18 operates the actuator 16, the pre-injector 28 and rear-injector 30 are activated if the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the deployment direction A (the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the deployment direction A detected by the rotation detection device 22) is lower than the set speed (including cases where the deflector 14 does not rotate in the deployment direction A). However, even if the control device 18 operates the actuator 16, the pre-injector 28 and rear-injector 30 may be activated if the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the storage direction B (the rotational speed of the deflector 14 in the storage direction B detected by the rotation detection device 22) is lower than the set speed (including cases where the deflector 14 does not rotate in the storage direction B). In addition, the pre-injector 28 and rear-injector 30 may be activated when the ignition of the vehicle 12 is turned ON. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10...Rectifier, 12...Vehicle, 12A...Vehicle body, 12B...Front wheels, 12C...Under cover (covering member), 12D...Deployment hole, 14...Deflector (fluid rectifier), 16...Actuator (drive mechanism), 28...Front injection device (injection mechanism), 30...Rear injection device (injection mechanism)

Claims

1. When moved in the deployment direction, it deploys in front of the vehicle's front wheels to suppress airflow to the front wheels, and when moved in the storage direction, it is stored in the vehicle body, and An injection mechanism that is activated to inject fluid around the aforementioned fluid, A covering member that covers the lower side of the vehicle body and is provided with a deployment hole through which the rectifying fluid is deployed, A flow straightening device comprising the injection mechanism which is activated to inject fluid between the straightened fluid and the circumferential surface of the opening hole.

2. A fluid that is moved in the deployment direction to deploy in front of the front wheels of the vehicle to suppress airflow to the front wheels, and is moved in the storage direction to be stored in the vehicle body, An injection mechanism that is activated to inject fluid around the aforementioned fluid, A drive mechanism for driving the aforementioned fluid, A flow straightening device comprising the injection mechanism which is activated to inject fluid between the straightened fluid and the drive mechanism.

3. A fluid that is moved in the deployment direction to deploy in front of the front wheels of the vehicle to suppress airflow to the front wheels, and is moved in the storage direction to be stored in the vehicle body, An injection mechanism that is activated to inject fluid around the aforementioned fluid, A flow straightening device comprising the injection mechanism which is activated when there is an abnormality in the movement of the straightened fluid.

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