Wheel cabin protection device for wheel cabin of vehicle and vehicle having wheel cabin protection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel compartment protection device (2) for a wheel compartment (7) of a vehicle (1), comprising a plurality of trim elements (4), which can be adjusted between a protection position and a stowed position, and comprising an adjustment device (5) coupled to the trim elements (4) for movement therewith, the decorative element (4) is arranged around the main axis (100) in order to adjust the decorative element (4) between a protective position and a stowed position, the decorative element (4) being in the form of a concentric sheet, which is arranged around the main axis (100), and the decorative element being synchronously adjustable between the protective position and the stowed position by means of an adjusting device (5) in the form of a central shutter mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel well protection device for a wheel well of a vehicle having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a vehicle having a wheel well protection device. Background Art

[0002] Partially or completely covered wheel wells for vehicles are known, which serve to reduce the drag of the vehicle when driving. In order to ensure the steering of the front wheels in certain driving situations, adjustable covers are known, whose contour can be changed via adjustment devices in order to release additional space when the front wheels are turned.

[0003] Publication DE 10 2008 046 314 A1 discloses a wheel well arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for a passenger car, the wheel well arrangement having at least one wheel well, which forms a wheel well cutout for accommodating a wheel, wherein a guard device is provided in the region of the wheel well cutout, the contour of which guard device can be varied, or the contour of the wheel well cutout can be varied by means of which guard device. The guard device is assigned an adjustment device, by means of which the shape of the guard device can be adjusted. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to propose a wheel well protection device characterized by a simple design and an improved actuation behavior.

[0005] This object is achieved by a wheel well protection device having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 10. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention are revealed by the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

[0006] The subject of the invention is a wheel well protection device which is designed and / or adapted for use in a wheel well of a vehicle. In particular, the wheel well protection device has the function of reducing the drag of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving and protecting the respectively associated wheel when the vehicle is stationary. In particular, the wheel well is used to accommodate the wheel, wherein the wheel can be at least partially protected by the wheel well in the direction of travel and in the opposite direction and / or can be protected by the wheel well.

[0007] The wheel well protection device has covering elements which can be adjusted between a protection position and a stowed position. In the protection position, the wheel well is at least partially protected by the covering element, in particular in the transverse direction of the vehicle, while in the stowed position the covering element is stowed in the wheel well. In particular, in the protection position, more than 30%, preferably more than 50%, in particular more than 70% of the wheel well and / or the wheel in the axial direction relative to the wheel rotation axis is protected by the covering element. In particular, in the stowed position, the covering element is mostly, for example more than 90%, or completely stowed.

[0008] The wheel well protection device has an adjusting device, which is connected to the covering element to move together with the covering element in order to adjust the covering element between a protection position and a stowed position. In particular, the covering element can be adjusted relative to the wheel well or the vehicle body by the adjusting device. The adjusting device is preferably designed to convert an electrical signal into a mechanical adjustment movement for adjusting the covering element. For this purpose, the adjusting device can be connected to a control unit of the vehicle in a signal-transmitting manner. In particular, the control unit is designed to actuate the adjusting device depending on the driving situation and / or the vehicle speed and / or the steering angle.

[0009] In the context of the present invention, the covering element is designed as a concentric sheet arranged around a main axis, which can be adjusted synchronously between a guarding position and a stowed position by means of an adjusting device in the manner of a central shutter mechanism. In particular, the adjusting device is designed so that when the adjusting device is actuated, the sheet moves from the stowed position to the guarding position and from the guarding position to the stowed position simultaneously and / or at the same speed. In particular, the sheet is continuously spread out by the adjusting device so that in the guarding position, a sector covering the wheel well in the axial direction is formed by the sheet. In this regard, the sheet can slide against each other in a manner slightly inclined relative to each other and in contact with each other. The sheet can have, for example, a crescent-shaped and / or triangular and / or wing-shaped geometry. Preferably, the sheet is arranged to be distributed around the main axis in an angular range of greater than 120 degrees, preferably greater than 180 degrees, and in particular greater than 240 degrees. In a stationary vehicle state, the main axis can be defined by the wheel rotation axis of the associated wheel. In particular, the adjustment device essentially works according to the functional principle of a central shutter mechanism of a camera lens, also known as a leaf shutter.

[0010] The invention has the advantage that an automatic wheel well guard is provided based on the function of a central shutter mechanism characterized by a high reaction speed. This makes the wheel well guard particularly suitable for installation on the front axle so that the wheel well guard can be opened and closed quickly depending on the driving situation, preferably when the steering wheel is turned. In addition, by spreading out the flaps, a particularly compact wheel well guard characterized by simple actuation can be provided.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the adjusting device has an adjusting disk, which can rotate between a first relative position and a second relative position along a rotation direction around the main axis. In this regard, in the first relative position, the covering element is arranged in a protective position, and in the second relative position, the covering element is arranged in a stowed position. In particular, when the adjusting disk rotates around the main axis, a mechanical interaction occurs between the adjusting disk and the covering element, whereby the covering element is adjusted simultaneously by means of a pivoting motion and / or a sliding motion. Preferably, when the adjusting disk rotates from the first relative position to the second relative position, the covering element moves into the stowed position, and when the adjusting disk rotates from the second relative position to the first relative position, the covering element moves out into the protective position. Preferably, the adjusting disk can be infinitely adjusted between two relative positions. In this regard, the first relative position and the second relative position relative to the main axis should be understood as two different angular positions of the adjusting disk in each case. For example, the adjusting disk can rotate around the main axis between the two relative positions in an angular range of less than 40°, preferably less than 30°, and particularly less than 20°. The adjusting disk is particularly preferably designed as a circular ring segment, preferably a semicircular ring segment, arranged coaxially to the main axis. Thus, a wheel well protection device is proposed which is characterized by a particularly simple and space-saving actuation of the covering element.

[0012] In another more specific embodiment, the covering element is in each case fixed in a pivotable manner at a first connection point and is forcibly guided in each case in a guide joint formed in the adjustment disk at a second connection point. In particular, the covering element is in each case mounted at the first connection point in such a way that it can be pivoted around its own pivot axis. Preferably, the pivot axes of the covering element are axially aligned parallel to each other and / or parallel to the main axis. Alternatively or optionally in addition, the first connection points are located on a common pitch circle around the main axis and / or are evenly spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. In particular, the term "fixed in a pivotable manner" is to be understood as the covering element being connected in such a way that it can be pivoted around a corresponding pivot axis, wherein the covering element is fixed or fastened in the axial direction relative to the main axis or the corresponding pivot axis. In particular, the second connection point is located on another common pitch circle around the main axis, the diameter of the pitch circle changing when the covering element is adjusted. Preferably, each covering element is mounted in such a way that it can pivot about a respective first connection point and is coupled to the adjusting disk at a second connection point so as to move together with the adjusting disk. In this respect, the covering elements can be guided in the associated guide joint via the respective second connection point so that the covering elements pivot together, in particular simultaneously, about the respective first connection point into the stowed position or the protection position depending on the direction of rotation of the adjusting disk. Thus, a wheel well protection device is proposed which is characterized by a simple, in particular simultaneous, actuation of all covering elements.

[0013] In another improvement, the covering element can be pivoted at the respective first connection point via a pivot bolt and in each case guided at the second connection point along a curve in the respective associated guide connection via a guide bolt. In particular, the first connection point is defined in each case by the respective associated pivot bolt and / or is located on a pivot axis defined by the respective pivot bolt. In particular, the second connection point is defined in each case by the respective associated guide bolt and / or is located on an axis defined by the respective guide bolt, in particular, the axis is axially aligned parallel to the main axis and / or the pivot axis. The pivot bolt is particularly preferably fixed in the housing of the wheel well protection device in the axial direction relative to the main axis. In particular, the guide bolt is mounted in a sliding manner along a curve in the respective associated guide connection. The guide connection can be formed by a curved control groove. Thus, the adjustment disk is coupled to the covering element in such a way that a rotational movement of the adjustment disk is converted into a pivoting movement and / or a sliding movement of the covering element. For example, the pivot bolt and / or the guide bolt can each be formed by a cylindrical bolt, in particular a pin or the like.

[0014] In another embodiment, in the protecting position, the covering elements bear against each other in an axial direction relative to the main axis at least at a common center point. Preferably, the covering elements are arranged to partially overlap each other, so that in the protecting position, the protection area of ​​the wheel well is protected completely and / or in a gap-free manner and / or over the entire surface by the covering elements. In particular, each of the covering elements is arranged in a separate plane, wherein the covering elements each bear against each other in the overlapping area, for example in contact with the immediately adjacent covering element over the entire surface. It is particularly preferred that, in the protecting position, the center point of the covering element is located on the main axis. The axial contact of the covering elements ensures that the covering elements are supported particularly stably in the protecting position.

[0015] In another specific implementation, the wheel well protection device has a housing that partially surrounds the main axis, wherein the adjustment device and the covering element are accommodated in the housing. Preferably, in the stowed position, the covering element is mostly or completely accommodated in the housing. In particular, the housing protects the adjustment device, preferably the mechanical device of the adjustment device, from environmental influences such as dust, splashing water, etc. The housing can be composed of multiple parts, preferably two parts. To this end, the housing has a housing base body that accommodates the adjustment device and the covering element, and a housing cover. In particular, the housing base body is open in the axial direction relative to the main axis, wherein the housing cover covers or closes the housing base body. In particular, the covering element can be moved into or out of the housing cover and the housing base body in the radial direction relative to the main axis. In the installed state, the housing is preferably arranged axially in the axial direction relative to the main axis between a body component, such as a fender and a wheel well cover of the wheel well. Preferably, in the installed state, the housing is covered by the body component when viewed in the axial direction relative to the main axis. Thus, a wheel well protection device is proposed which is characterized by a robust design.In addition, by accommodating the covering element and the adjusting device in the housing, the wheel well protection device can be designed as a preassembled structural unit.

[0016] In another embodiment, the adjusting disk is guided in the housing along the inner circumference around the main axis between two relative positions. Preferably, the adjusting disk is arranged in the radial direction between the outer inner circumference and the inner inner circumference relative to the main axis. In this respect, the adjusting disk can run against the inner inner circumference and / or the outer inner circumference in the radial direction, preferably in a sliding manner. The inner inner circumference and the outer inner circumference extend equidistantly from each other around the main axis, at least in the area of ​​contact with the adjusting disk. Thus, a wheel well protection device is proposed, which is characterized by a particularly compact design and a simple and cost-effective embodiment.

[0017] In another improvement, the adjusting disk is supported on the inner circumference of the inside or the outer circumference of the housing via at least one or exactly one guide element. In particular, the adjusting disk is supported on the outer inner circumference or the inner inner circumference in a radial direction relative to the main axis via at least one guide element in a sliding manner. For example, the guide element can be designed as another guide bolt or a guide roller. For example, the adjusting disk can be mounted in a sliding or rolling manner along the inner circumference via at least one guide element. Therefore, an adjusting device characterized by stable guidance of the adjusting disk in the housing is proposed.

[0018] In another specific embodiment, the adjusting device has an adjusting actuator, which is operatively connected to the adjusting disk for transmitting the adjusting motion. In principle, the adjusting actuator can be designed as an adjusting actuator that is electrically and / or magnetically and / or hydraulically actuated. Preferably, the adjusting actuator is operatively connected to the adjusting disk via an effective profile formed on the adjusting disk. In particular, the effective profile is designed as a toothed portion that extends circumferentially at least in sections, wherein the adjusting actuator engages with the toothed portion via a gear. Preferably, the adjusting actuator engages with the adjusting disk via a worm gear or a toothed gear. This ensures a particularly robust and simple rotation of the adjusting disk around the main axis.

[0019] Another subject matter of the invention relates to a vehicle having a wheel well protection device as described above. The vehicle can be designed as a passenger car or as a commercial vehicle. In particular, the vehicle has in each case at least one wheel well protection device on the front axle, but preferably one wheel well protection device on each wheel. It is particularly preferred that the wheel well protection devices can be activated independently of one another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further features, advantages and effects of the present invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a front section of a vehicle with a wheel well guard in a guarding position;

[0022] Figure 2 With Figure 1 The same representation shows the front section of the vehicle with the wheel well guard in the stowed position;

[0023] Figure 3 An axial view of the wheel well guard is shown in the guard position, wherein the housing is opened;

[0024] Figure 4 With Figure 3 The same representation shows the wheel well guard in the stowed position;

[0025] Figure 5 An exploded view of the wheel well guard is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Each shows a schematic side view of a front section of a vehicle 1 having a wheel well protection device 2 in the region of a front wheel 3 as an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The wheel well protection device 2 has a plurality of covering elements 4 which can be adjusted by means of an adjustment device 5, such as Figure 1 The guard positions shown are similar to those shown in Figure 2Adjust between the stowed positions shown.

[0027] The wheel well guard 2 has a housing 6, wherein the adjustment device 5 and the covering element 4 are arranged in the housing 6 at least in the stowed position. In this respect, the covering element 4 is formed as a plurality of sheet-like pieces arranged coaxially with the main axis 100, which can be moved out of the housing 6 into the protection position and into the housing 6 into the stowed position according to the functional principle of a central shutter mechanism. Central shutter mechanisms are known from the field of camera lenses and are used to adjust the incidence of light. Such a mechanism provides the responsiveness required for an automatic wheel well guard 2 in order to allow rapid opening and closing. This makes the wheel well guard 2 particularly suitable for the front wheels 3, in order to be able to quickly adjust the covering element 4 when, for example, the steering wheel is turned.

[0028] In the shielding position, the cover elements 4 are supported relative to one another in an overlapping manner so that the wheel well 7 accommodating the wheel 3 is shielded in some areas in the axial direction relative to the main axis 100. For example, at least 50% of the wheel well 7 and / or the wheel 3 is shielded by the cover elements 4 in the shielding position. This ensures an optimized air flow and thus a reduced cd value.

[0029] When the vehicle is stationary, the main axis 100 may be defined, for example, by the axle of the wheel 3. For example, the housing 6 may be arranged between the fender and the cover of the wheel well 7 in the axial direction relative to the main axis 100.

[0030] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The wheel well guard 2 is shown in an axial view in each case relative to a main axis 100, wherein the housing 6 is opened. The adjusting device 5 has an adjusting disk 8 and an adjusting actuator 9 for driving the adjusting disk 8 about the main axis 100. For this purpose, the adjusting disk 8 has an active contour 10 in the form of teeth in sections on its outer circumference, wherein the adjusting actuator 9 engages with the active contour 10 via a worm shaft 11. The adjusting actuator 9 is designed as an electric motor, which drives the worm shaft 11 about an axis of rotation 101, wherein the axis of rotation 101 is arranged tangentially to the outer circumference of the adjusting disk 8. This enables a particularly compact arrangement of the adjusting actuator 9.

[0031] The adjusting disk 8 is designed as a semicircular ring segment, which can rotate in the housing 6 around the main axis 100 along the rotation direction between a first relative position and a second relative position. Figure 3 In the first relative position shown, the cover element 4 is arranged in the protective position, while in Figure 4 In the second relative position shown, the cover element 4 is arranged in the retracted position. The adjusting disk 8 can be rotated about the main axis 100 between the two relative positions, for example within an angular range of approximately 30°.

[0032] The covering elements 4 are pivotably fixed to the housing 6 at a first connection point 12 in each case and are forcibly guided at a second connection point 13 in a guide joint 14 arranged in each case in the adjusting disk 8. In this respect, a rotation of the adjusting disk 8 about the main axis 8 causes the covering elements 4 to be moved in or out together and synchronously, depending on the direction of rotation, by a pivoting movement and a sliding movement in the radial direction relative to the main axis 100.

[0033] The covering elements 4 are each arranged so as to overlap one another in different planes and, when the adjusting disk 8 is moved, slide against one another in the overlapping region. When viewed in particular in the shielding position, the covering elements 4 are each designed to taper in a substantially crescent shape, starting from the associated connection point 12, 13 in each case in the direction of the main axis 100. Thus, in the shielding position, the covering elements 4 can be supported axially against one another in the overlapping region relative to the main axis 100, and in the stowed position the covering elements can be accommodated completely and in a particularly space-saving manner within the housing 6. Due to the crescent-shaped design, the covering elements 4 can be arranged in the stowed position close to the contour of the inner circumference 15 of the housing 6 or of the wheel well 7, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 shown.

[0034] Figure 5 An exploded view of a wheel well protection device 2 is shown. The housing 6 is formed from two parts, wherein the housing 6 has a housing base body 17 which is open in the axial direction and a housing cover 18 which closes the housing base body 17. The adjustment device 5 is accommodated in the housing base body 17, wherein the covering element 4 can be moved in or out between the housing base body 17 and the housing cover 18 in the radial direction. The housing cover 18 is screwed to the housing base body 17, for example. The housing cover 18 can also have a plurality of connecting joints 19 on the circumference, for example fixing brackets, which are used to mount the wheel well protection device 2 on the vehicle 1. The housing cover 18 protects the adjustment device 8 from environmental influences and closes the system.

[0035] The covering element 4 is pivotably fixed to the housing base body 17 in each case at a first connection point 12 via a pivot bolt 20 and is guided in each case at a second connection point 13 in the respectively associated guide joint 14 via a guide bolt 21. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the guide joint 14 is designed as a curved guide groove, whereby when the adjustment disk 8 rotates about the main axis 100 , the guide bolt 21 is forcibly guided along a curved path in the guide joint 14 .

[0036] The adjusting disk 8 is supported in the radial direction on the inner inner circumference 15 and / or the outer inner circumference 16 of the housing base body 17, wherein the adjusting disk 8 is guided along the inner inner circumference 15 and / or the outer inner circumference 16 during the rotation between two relative positions. For this purpose, the adjusting disk 8 can be supported or mounted on the inner inner circumference 15 or the outer inner circumference 16 via one or more guide elements 22. For example, the guide element 22 can be designed as a guide bolt which is mounted in a sliding manner and / or in a rotatable manner.

[0037] For example, the adjustment actuator 9 is connected to a control unit of the vehicle 1 in a signal-transmitting manner, wherein the electric motor is actuated based on a control signal output by the control unit. In this respect, the electric motor is energized based on the control signal and drives the worm shaft 11, so that the adjustment disk 8 rotates around the main axis 100 via the effective contour 10, thereby causing the cover element 4 to be moved in or out simultaneously. For example, the control signal is generated based on the steering angle and / or the vehicle speed and / or the operating condition and / or the driving situation and / or by manual actuation.

[0038] Reference numerals list

[0039] 1 Vehicle

[0040] 2 Wheel well guards

[0041] 3 Wheels

[0042] 4 Covering elements

[0043] 5 Adjustment device

[0044] 6 Housing

[0045] 7 Wheel Well

[0046] 8 Adjustment dial

[0047] 9 Adjusting the actuator

[0048] 10 Valid contours

[0049] 11 Worm shaft

[0050] 12 First connection point

[0051] 13 Second connection point

[0052] 14 Guide connection part

[0053] 15 Inside inner circumference

[0054] 16 Outer inner circumference

[0055] 17 Shell base body

[0056] 18 Housing cover

[0057] 19 Connecting joints

[0058] 20 Pivot bolt

[0059] 21 Guide bolt

[0060] 22 Guide element

[0061] 100 Main axis

[0062] 101 Rotation axis

Claims

1. A wheel well protection device (2) for a wheel well (7) of a vehicle (1), the wheel well protection device comprising: A plurality of covering elements (4), wherein: The covering element (4) is adjustable between a protective position and a stowed position. an adjusting device (5), wherein the adjusting device (5) is coupled to the covering element (4) so ​​as to move together with the covering element in order to adjust the covering element (4) between the protecting position and the stowed position, It is characterized in that The covering element (4) is designed as a concentric sheet-like member arranged around a main axis (100), and the concentric sheet-like member can be synchronously adjusted between the protection position and the stowed position in the manner of a central shutter mechanism through the adjustment device (5).

2. The wheel well protection device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjusting device (5) has an adjusting disk (8) which can be rotated about the main axis (100) between a first relative position and a second relative position, wherein in the first relative position the covering element (4) is arranged in the protective position, and wherein in the second relative position the covering element is arranged in the retracted position.

3. The wheel well protection device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the covering elements (4) is in each case pivotably fastened at a first connection point (12) and is in each case forcibly guided at a second connection point (13) in a guide joint (14) which is in each case formed in the adjusting disk (8).

4. The wheel well protection device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The covering element (4) can be pivoted at the respective first connection point (12) via a pivot bolt (20) and is guided in each case at the second connection point (13) along a curve in the respectively associated guide joint (14) via a guide bolt (21).

5. The wheel well protection device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In the guarding position, the cover elements (4) bear against each other at least at a common center point in an axial direction relative to the main axis (100).

6. The wheel well protection device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A housing (6) partially surrounds the main axis (100), wherein the adjustment device (5) and the cover element (14) are accommodated in the housing (6) at least in the stowed position.

7. The wheel well protection device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The adjusting disk (8) is guided in the housing (6) between two relative positions about the main axis (100) along the inner circumference (15, 16) of the housing (6).

8. The wheel well protection device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The adjusting disk (8) is supported on the inner circumference (15, 16) of the housing (6) via at least one guide element (22).

9. The wheel well protection device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The adjusting device (5) has an adjusting actuator (9), wherein the adjusting actuator (9) is operatively connected to the adjusting disk (8) for transmitting the adjusting movement.

10. A vehicle (1) having a wheel well protection device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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