Aerodynamic rim blade assembly and using method

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of automobiles, and relates to an aerodynamic rim blade assembly and a using method thereof. The air pipeline is communicated with the compressed air supply unit; the blade movement mechanism is arranged on the rim blade and comprises an air cylinder and a blade which is in transmission connection with a piston rod of the air cylinder; wherein the air pipeline extends to the wheel end and is communicated with a working cavity of the air cylinder, an electromagnetic valve controlled by an electronic control unit of the whole vehicle is arranged on the air pipeline, and compressed air can be selectively guided into or discharged out of the working cavity of the air cylinder by controlling opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve. The driving device is used for driving the blades to move between the opening position and the closing position. A mature compressed air supply unit of the whole vehicle is directly shared, the development and manufacturing cost of the system is greatly reduced, meanwhile, the layout of the whole vehicle is simplified, and popularization and application of the assembly are more economic and feasible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive technology and relates to an aerodynamic wheel rim blade assembly and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] In the automotive industry, particularly in vehicle aerodynamics optimization, wheel rim design has always been a crucial element. Reducing drag is a key objective in improving fuel economy and the range of electric vehicles. Currently, a well-established approach involves installing attachments on the wheel rims, typically made of plastic or metal, often referred to in the industry as "blades." These blades not only enhance the aesthetics of the wheels but also guide airflow to reduce turbulence, thereby lowering the overall drag coefficient of the vehicle. This technology is widely used in passenger and commercial vehicles, becoming a common design that balances aesthetics and functionality, and its application is continuously expanding, especially driven by the trend towards energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0003] However, this fixed-blade design has a significant limitation. The ventilation windows on the wheel rim are originally designed for cooling the braking system. During braking, friction generates a large amount of heat, which needs to be cooled by airflow to ensure stable braking performance. If these windows are completely covered by blades in pursuit of extreme drag reduction, airflow will be obstructed, potentially causing the brakes to overheat and affecting driving safety. Therefore, current technology can only compromise on the blade arrangement, leaving some openings to accommodate heat dissipation needs. This is essentially a compromise, meaning the drag reduction effect cannot be maximized, and the improvement of aerodynamic performance has reached a bottleneck.

[0004] To address this issue, several improved technologies have emerged in recent years, attempting to better balance wind resistance and heat dissipation through dynamic control of blade opening and closing. These solutions are mainly divided into two types: active and passive. Active control technology typically integrates a micro-generator unit at the wheel end, for example, using the wheel's rotation to drive a micro-generator to generate electricity, which powers a small motor that drives the blades to adjust their opening and closing. In this way, the blades can be closed to reduce wind resistance during high-speed cruising, while opening them to promote heat dissipation during low speeds or braking. Passive control technology is simpler; it uses the centrifugal force generated by the wheel's rotation to automatically push the blades open. The higher the vehicle speed, the larger the blades open; as the speed decreases, the blades gradually close. These methods aim to dynamically adjust the blade position according to driving conditions to optimize aerodynamics and heat dissipation.

[0005] However, these dynamic blade technologies still face numerous challenges in practical application. First, the high degree of system integration, involving numerous moving parts such as power generation units, motors, and connecting rods, results in a complex structure that is difficult to install and debug, increasing the risk of failure. Second, the wheel rim is constantly exposed to dust, rain, and bumpy environments, making the complex mechanical mechanisms susceptible to wear or water ingress. Durability and dust and water resistance (typically measured by IP ratings, such as Ingress Protection) are difficult to guarantee, leading to high maintenance costs. Furthermore, these additional components significantly increase the weight of each unit, negatively impacting the wheel's dynamic balance (i.e., uniform mass distribution during rotation to avoid vibration), potentially causing driving vibrations or abnormal tire wear. Finally, the high manufacturing cost also limits its large-scale application. In summary, while existing solutions offer functional breakthroughs, issues of complexity, reliability, lightweighting, and cost remain prominent, necessitating a simpler and more reliable alternative. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an aerodynamic rim blade assembly and its usage method, so as to solve the technical problems of complex structure, difficult installation and debugging, and high maintenance cost in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention employs the following technical solution: In a first aspect, this application discloses an aerodynamic rim blade assembly, comprising: Compressed air supply unit integrated into the vehicle; An air pipeline connected to the compressed air supply unit; The blade motion mechanism is provided on the rim blades, and the blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder and a blade that is throttledly connected to the piston rod of the cylinder; The air pipe extends to the wheel end and communicates with the working chamber of the cylinder. The air pipe is equipped with a solenoid valve controlled by the vehicle's electronic control unit. By controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, compressed air can be selectively introduced into or discharged from the working chamber of the cylinder to drive the blade to move between the open and closed positions.

[0008] Preferably, the compressed air supply unit includes: an air supply unit, which is connected to the blade movement mechanism via an air pipeline, and an air storage tank is connected to the air supply unit via an air pipeline.

[0009] Preferably, the air supply unit is an air pump.

[0010] Preferably, the air pipeline includes a first air pipeline, a second air pipeline, and a three-way air pipeline; the first air pipeline and the three-way air pipeline connect the compressed air supply unit and the cylinder, and the second air pipeline is located inside the compressed air supply unit for connecting internal components of the compressed air supply unit.

[0011] Preferably, the first air pipeline and the three-way air pipeline are connected through an air input interface. One end of the first air pipeline is connected to the compressed air supply unit, and the other end is connected to the air input interface. The air input interface is located on the three-way air pipeline, and the three-way air pipeline is connected to the cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, the rim blade is further provided with a rim, and the rim and the blade are coaxially spaced apart.

[0013] Preferably, the blade motion mechanism includes a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of blades, wherein the number of cylinders and blades is the same, and each blade is connected to the working chamber of a cylinder.

[0014] Preferably, the blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder and several blades, with one cylinder connected to several blades via a linkage mechanism.

[0015] Secondly, this application discloses a method of using the aerodynamic rim blade assembly described in any one of the above claims, comprising: Based on the vehicle's operating status, the vehicle's electronic control unit generates blade control commands; The solenoid valve opens or closes according to the blade control command, and the compressed air supply unit draws compressed gas from the atmosphere and introduces or discharges the compressed air into the cylinder through the air pipeline. Under the action of air pressure, the cylinder drives the vanes to open or close through the piston rod, and the compressed air integrated into the compressed air supply unit of the whole vehicle is introduced or discharged into the working chamber of the cylinder through the air pipeline. Compressed air entering the working chamber of the cylinder drives the piston rod of the cylinder to move linearly, or drives the piston rod to move in the opposite direction by expelling the gas in the working chamber, thereby causing the blades to switch between the open and closed positions.

[0016] Preferably, the operating state includes at least a vehicle speed signal and a braking system status signal, and the vehicle electronic control unit is configured to: control the blades to switch to the closed position to reduce wind resistance when the vehicle speed is higher than a first preset threshold and there is no emergency braking requirement; and control the blades to switch to the open position to enhance brake heat dissipation when the vehicle speed is lower than a second preset threshold or when a braking system working signal is detected.

[0017] Thirdly, this application discloses an automobile equipped with the aerodynamic rim blade assembly described in any one of the above claims.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1) This application directly shares the mature compressed air supply unit of the whole vehicle, eliminating the need to design a micro generator, motor and complex transmission mechanism separately for the wheel end, which greatly reduces the development and manufacturing cost of the system, and simplifies the overall vehicle layout, making the promotion and application of this assembly more economically feasible.

[0019] 2) The core of the entire actuation system consists only of controlled solenoid valves, pipelines, and cylinder mechanisms. This structure is extremely simple and compact, significantly reducing the number of moving parts and fundamentally lowering the failure rate caused by complex mechanical movements. The cylinder mechanism itself has excellent sealing properties, giving the entire blade movement mechanism good dustproof and waterproof capabilities, enabling it to withstand the harsh working environment of the wheel and significantly improving durability.

[0020] 3) The solenoid valves are directly controlled by the vehicle's electronic control unit, eliminating the need for additional control or communication modules at the wheel ends. This results in rapid response and direct integration of the control logic into existing vehicle control systems, ensuring stability and reliability. Furthermore, by eliminating the heavy generator unit and redundant mechanisms, the added weight at the wheel ends is effectively controlled, contributing to maintaining wheel dynamic balance and ensuring a smooth ride. Finally, through intelligent ECU control of the blade opening and closing, the blades can be closed during high-speed cruising to optimize aerodynamics and reduce wind resistance, while opening during braking or low-speed operation to enhance braking heat dissipation. This achieves a highly efficient and dynamic balance between reducing wind resistance and ensuring heat dissipation, thereby comprehensively improving vehicle energy efficiency and safety. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a layout and functional logic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the rim blade assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a rear view of the rim blade assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Wherein: 1-Rim blade; 11-Blade; 12-Rim; 2-First air line; 21-Second air line; 3-Air supply unit; 31-Solenoid valve FL; 32-Solenoid valve FR; 33-Solenoid valve RL; 34-Solenoid valve RR; 35-Solenoid valve C; 4-Air tank; 5-Three-way air line; 6-Cylinder; 7-Air input interface. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0025] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0026] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "horizontal," or "inner" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0028] Furthermore, the use of the term "horizontal" does not imply that the component must be absolutely horizontal, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0029] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings: See Figures 1-3 This application discloses an aerodynamic rim blade assembly, comprising: Compressed air supply unit integrated into the vehicle; An air pipeline connected to the compressed air supply unit; The blade motion mechanism is provided on the rim blade 1, and the blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder 6 and a blade 11 that is drivenly connected to the piston rod of the cylinder 6; The air pipe extends to the wheel end and communicates with the working chamber of the cylinder 6. A solenoid valve controlled by the vehicle's electronic control unit is installed on the air pipe. By controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, compressed air can be selectively introduced into or discharged from the working chamber of the cylinder 6 to drive the blade 11 to move between the open and closed positions. This invention can utilize the vehicle's air source (such as a pneumatic spring), reducing development costs. It also features a compact and simple structure with relatively few moving parts, significantly increasing durability and reliability. Furthermore, it does not require an additional control and communication module and can be controlled directly from the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0031] In some embodiments, the air line extends to the wheel end and, through a connecting adapter, achieves a switch from stationary to dynamic operation, thereby communicating with the working chamber of the cylinder 6. The connecting adapter is installed near the wheel end, with one end (stationary end) rigidly connected to a fixed air line extending from the vehicle chassis via a quick connector or flange; the other end (rotating end) is connected in the same manner to a rotating air line leading to the cylinder inside the wheel rim. When the wheel rotates, the rotating end of the pipe and the adapter housing rotate accordingly, while the stationary end of the pipe and the inner core of the adapter remain stationary, but compressed air can continuously flow from the vehicle side to the wheel rim side through the sealed cavity where the two meet.

[0032] In some embodiments, the compressed air supply unit includes an air supply unit 3, which is connected to the blade movement mechanism via an air pipeline, and an air storage tank 4 is connected to the air supply unit 3 via the same air pipeline. This optimizes and redundant the power supply. The presence of the air storage tank ensures that even if the air supply unit is temporarily not in operation, the system still has sufficient air pressure to complete several blade opening and closing actions, improving the system's reliability and response speed. Secondly, it helps reduce energy consumption and noise because the air supply unit does not need to start every time the blade moves; it can concentrate on efficiently completing the inflation work during vehicle operation intervals or when the air storage tank is at low pressure, avoiding frequent start-stop cycles, saving energy and reducing operating noise. Finally, this enhances the system's control flexibility and durability. The ECU can intelligently select the air source according to real-time needs, smoothing out air pressure fluctuations, reducing wear on the air supply unit, and extending the overall service life of the entire air supply system.

[0033] In some embodiments, the air supply unit 3 is an air pump.

[0034] In some embodiments, the air piping includes a first air piping 2, a second air piping 21, and a three-way air piping 5; the first air piping 2 and the three-way air piping 5 connect the compressed air supply unit and the cylinder 6, and the second air piping 21 is located inside the compressed air supply unit for connecting internal components. By modularizing and functionally dividing the compressed air delivery path, a clear, efficient, and reliable gas power transmission network is constructed, greatly improving the system's reliability and maintainability. The piping functions are clearly defined and the segments are clearly distinguished, allowing for rapid location of leaks or blockages, thus optimizing the layout and space utilization.

[0035] In some embodiments, the first air pipe 2 and the three-way air pipe 5 are connected via an air input interface 7. One end of the first air pipe 2 is connected to the compressed air supply unit, and the other end is connected to the air input interface 7. The air input interface 7 is located on the three-way air pipe 5, which is connected to the cylinder 6. This modular connection design achieves reliable decoupling and efficient connection of power transmission. The air input interface, as a standardized connection point, clearly distinguishes between the vehicle-side delivery and wheel-end distribution subsystems, reducing the overall complexity of the piping design and making the air circuit connection at the rotation point standardized and reliable. It also further optimizes the utilization and maintenance convenience of the wheel-end space.

[0036] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 The rim blade 1 is also provided with a rim 12, which is coaxially spaced from the blade.

[0037] In some embodiments, see Figure 3The blade motion mechanism includes several cylinders 6 and several blades 11, with the same number of cylinders 6 and blades 11. Each blade 11 is connected to the working chamber of one cylinder 6. Employing an independent drive mode of one blade per cylinder, it achieves extremely high control flexibility and functionality. The system can control all blades to open and close synchronously, or, based on real-time needs (such as heat dissipation requirements at a specific angle or balancing wind resistance in a specific direction), allow some blades to open while others close, achieving more precise and intelligent adjustment of airflow over the rim surface. This significantly improves the system's reliability and maintainability. A failure in a single cylinder-blade unit (such as seal failure) will not affect other units, and the system can still partially operate, providing better redundancy. Maintenance only requires disassembling and replacing the faulty unit, eliminating the need for extensive repairs and reducing maintenance costs.

[0038] In some embodiments, the blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder 6 and several blades 11, with one cylinder connected to several blades 11 via a linkage mechanism. This significantly reduces the complexity and cost of the system. Since only one cylinder and a centralized control system (one solenoid valve) are needed, the number of pneumatic components is greatly reduced, simplifying the arrangement of the wheel-end air passages, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and potential failure points. Secondly, it ensures the absolute synchronization and consistency of blade movement.

[0039] This application also discloses a method of using an aerodynamic rim blade assembly, including: Based on the vehicle's operating status, the vehicle's electronic control unit generates blade control commands; The solenoid valve opens or closes according to the blade control command, and the compressed air supply unit draws compressed gas from the atmosphere and introduces or discharges the compressed air into or out of the cylinder 6 through the air pipeline. Under the action of air pressure, the cylinder 6 drives the vane 11 to open or close through the piston rod, and the compressed air integrated into the compressed air supply unit of the whole vehicle is introduced or discharged into the working chamber of the cylinder 6 through the air pipeline. The compressed air entering the working chamber of cylinder 6 drives the piston rod of cylinder 6 to move linearly, or causes the piston rod to move in the opposite direction by discharging the gas in the working chamber, thereby driving the vane 11 to switch between the open and closed positions.

[0040] In some embodiments, the operating state includes at least a vehicle speed signal and a braking system status signal. The vehicle electronic control unit is configured to: control the blades to switch to the closed position to reduce wind resistance when the vehicle speed is higher than a first preset threshold and there is no emergency braking requirement; and control the blades to switch to the open position to enhance brake heat dissipation when the vehicle speed is lower than a second preset threshold or a braking system working signal is detected.

[0041] This application also discloses an automobile equipped with the aerodynamic rim blade assembly described in any of the above claims.

[0042] In some embodiments, an aerodynamic rim blade assembly can switch between two functional scenarios—reducing overall vehicle drag and increasing brake cooling and ventilation—by actively controlling the opening and closing of blades integrated on the rim. To achieve this, the present invention provides an aerodynamic rim blade assembly powered by compressed air integrated into the vehicle, which is delivered to the wheel end via pipelines. The blades are mounted on a cylinder-type motion mechanism on the rim, and valves on the pipelines are controllable by the vehicle's ECU. The opening and closing of the valves allows compressed air to flow through the pipelines, and the cylinders, under the action of high-pressure gas, actively open and close the blades.

[0043] The blade assembly includes: air supply unit (which may include an air tank), active valve (such as a solenoid valve), air pipeline, sealed bearing, wheel end air pipeline, blade movement mechanism (cylinder), blade, etc.

[0044] The specific implementation principle is as follows: 1. Gas is drawn from the atmosphere through the air supply unit 3 installed in the vehicle. Under the control of the vehicle's central processing unit, the solenoid valve 31, solenoid valve 32, solenoid valve 33, or solenoid valve 34 is opened, and air is supplied to the wheel rim blade assembly through the air pipeline 2. 2. Alternatively, the solenoid valve 35 can be opened to replenish the air tank 4 through the air pipeline 21. When the air tank 4 is full of air, it can supply air to the blade assembly of the four wheels in place of the air supply unit 3 when the air supply unit 3 is not working. 3. High-pressure air enters the three-way air pipe 5 from the wheel end input interface 7, which drives the cylinder 6 to perform work and open or close the blades.

[0045] The above steps enable active control of the opening and closing of the blades.

[0046] In some embodiments, Figure 3 The central cylinder star arrangement scheme can also be modified to achieve another scheme by combining a single cylinder scheme with a linkage mechanical device.

[0047] In some embodiments, if the vehicle has integrated air springs, etc., and there is an available air source, the air source can be used to simplify the design of the present invention and expand the function of the active blades. In some embodiments, when the wheel already has the function of automatic inflation and deflation of four wheels, it is only necessary to add a two-way valve and a rim blade 3 to the wheel end to realize the function of active pneumatic blades while inflation and deflation are achieved. The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly, characterized in that, include: Compressed air supply unit integrated into the vehicle; An air pipeline connected to the compressed air supply unit; The blade motion mechanism is provided on the rim blade (1), and the blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder (6) and a blade (11) that is connected to the piston rod of the cylinder (6) in a transmission. The air pipe extends to the wheel end and communicates with the working chamber of the cylinder (6). The air pipe is equipped with a solenoid valve controlled by the vehicle electronic control unit. By controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve, compressed air can be selectively introduced into or discharged from the working chamber of the cylinder (6) to drive the blade (11) to move between the open position and the closed position.

2. The aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressed air supply unit includes: an air supply unit (3), which is connected to the blade movement mechanism through an air pipeline, and the air supply unit (3) is connected to an air storage tank (4) through an air pipeline.

3. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The gas supply unit (3) is an air pump.

4. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air pipeline includes a first air pipeline (2), a second air pipeline (21), and a three-way air pipeline (5); the first air pipeline (2) and the three-way air pipeline (5) connect the compressed air supply unit and the cylinder (6), and the second air pipeline (21) is located inside the compressed air supply unit for connecting the internal components of the compressed air supply unit.

5. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first air pipe (2) and the three-way air pipe (5) are connected through the air input interface (7). One end of the first air pipe (2) is connected to the compressed air supply unit, and the other end is connected to the air input interface (7). The air input interface (7) is set on the three-way air pipe (5), and the three-way air pipe (5) is connected to the cylinder (6).

6. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rim blade (1) is also provided with a rim (12), and the rim (12) and the blade are arranged coaxially and spaced apart.

7. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade motion mechanism includes several cylinders (6) and several blades (11). The number of cylinders (6) and blades (11) is the same, and each blade (11) is connected to the working chamber of a cylinder (6).

8. An aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blade motion mechanism includes a cylinder (6) and several blades (11), with one cylinder connected to several blades (11) through a linkage mechanical device.

9. A method of using the aerodynamic rim blade assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, include: Based on the vehicle's operating status, the vehicle's electronic control unit generates blade control commands; The solenoid valve opens or closes according to the blade control command, and the compressed air supply unit draws the compressed gas obtained from the atmosphere and introduces or discharges the compressed air into the cylinder (6) through the air pipeline. Under the action of air pressure, the cylinder (6) drives the blade (11) to open or close through the piston rod, and the compressed air integrated into the compressed air supply unit of the whole vehicle is introduced or discharged into the working chamber of the cylinder (6) through the air pipeline. The compressed air entering the working chamber of the cylinder (6) drives the piston rod of the cylinder (6) to move linearly, or drives the piston rod to move in the opposite direction by discharging the gas in the working chamber, thereby causing the blade (11) to switch between the open and closed positions.

10. A car, characterized in that, The aerodynamic rim blade assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 is provided.

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