Flow guide element for a vehicle

Abstract

Flow guide element (1, 10) for a flow guide device for improving the road grip of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with profile surfaces that are exposed to the airflow, are substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and are spaced apart from one another and merge into each other at their ends, characterized in that a pressure-resistant foam core (2, 12) having substantially the outer contour of the profile surfaces and provided with at least one cavity (4, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3) is enclosed by at least one laminate layer (3, 11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flow guide element for a flow guide device for improving the road grip of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with profile surfaces exposed to the airflow, spaced apart from each other essentially transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and merging into each other at their ends.

[0002] Flow guide devices with flow guide elements that have profile surfaces extending transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle - also called spoilers or wings - are known in various forms from the prior art.

[0003] DE 89 13 296 U1 discloses a spoiler for the rear of a motor vehicle, comprising a shell made of foamed polyurethane foam of uniform thickness, which is supported by a reinforcing insert. This reinforcing insert is designed as a hollow chamber profile and is said to be manufactured from an aluminum alloy using an extrusion process.

[0004] In DE 37 33 271 A1, the construction of, for example, a spoiler for a motor vehicle is disclosed, in which half-shells made of pressed aluminum or aluminum alloy sheet with a thin wall thickness are bonded to a honeycomb core, e.g., made of corrugated cardboard or aluminum foil.

[0005] DE 10 2008 035 918 A1 shows and describes a composite component for a motor vehicle, which can be used, for example, as a front or rear spoiler, and which is constructed in a special process from a color-giving layer, a carrier layer for the color-giving layer, a bonding layer and a supporting structural layer consisting of two cover layers which are connected to each other at a distance via spacers.

[0006] DE 31 32 369 A1 discloses an air guidance device for a motor vehicle with a hatchback, which has a wing and a spoiler of a wing-spoiler combination, wherein the wing is arranged offset forwards and upwards relative to the spoiler attached at the rear.

[0007] The object of the invention is to create a flow guide element for a flow guide device that is characterized by low weight with maximum stability and maximum design freedom, by a particularly simple and cost-effective construction and simple manufacturing.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by enclosing a pressure-resistant foam core, which essentially has the outer contour of the profile surfaces of the flow guide element and is provided with at least one cavity, with a laminate layer.

[0009] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pressure-resistant foam core can be made in one or more parts. Several parts of the foam core can be easily joined together, including the cavity(ies). The joining of the several foam core parts is preferably achieved by a permanent connection, preferably by bonding.

[0010] The foam core, or parts thereof, can advantageously be provided with contours to achieve pressure stability of the flow guide element. Preferably, the foam core walls and the contours on the foam core that enhance pressure stability are of essentially the same thickness when viewed in the cross-section of the flow guide element.

[0011] The foam core, or parts thereof, can be made of plastic, e.g., injection-molded, cast, or milled; preferably, PVC, polystyrene, polyurethane, polymethacrylimide, styreneacrylonitrile, or similar plastics can be used, with or without fillers such as carbon fibers, aramid, or glass in the form of fibers, spheres, hollow spheres, or similar. Milling the core from wood, preferably balsa wood, is also conceivable.

[0012] The laminate layer forming the profile surfaces of the flow guide element also consists of a plastic or, for example, a synthetic resin, and simultaneously provides the colored and aerodynamically optimized coating of the flow guide element. The laminate layer can be single-layered or multi-layered, and is preferably applied to the profile surfaces of the foam core by injection molding or casting. Particularly in cases of very high stress on the flow guide element, the laminate layer(s) can be designed as a fiber-reinforced plastic layer(s). The fiber reinforcement in the laminate layer(s) can preferably be a woven fiber fabric or mat, but can also simply consist of unidirectionally oriented fibers.

[0013] The flow guide element according to the invention is preferably suitable for use as a front or rear spoiler on motor vehicles due to its low weight, high stability and maximum design freedom.

[0014] The advantages, features, and details of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the schematic representations in the drawing. The described features and combinations of features, as well as those shown in the figures of the drawing and described with reference to the drawing, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or even individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0015] It shows: Fig. 1 a side view or a section of a flow guide element according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a side view or a section of an alternative embodiment of a guide element according to the invention.

[0016] The flow guide element 1 for a flow guide device to improve road grip in a motor vehicle consists of a foam core 2 made of plastic, which forms and stabilizes its shape, and a laminate layer 3 applied circumferentially to this foam core 2. The foam core 2 has walls of essentially the same thickness throughout. The wall thickness is selected to achieve the highest possible pressure stability with regard to operational requirements. The foam core 2 encloses a cavity 4 extending over the entire width of the flow guide element 1.

[0017] On its outer surfaces, which form the outer contour of the profile surfaces for the flow guide element 1, the foam core 2 is completely enclosed by a laminate layer 3 made of a plastic. At the end faces 5 and 6 of the flow guide element 1, the laminate layer 3, which is sprayed or cast onto the outer surfaces of the foam core 2, is seamlessly integrated. This laminate layer 3 also serves as the colored layer for the flow guide element 1; its surface is designed for optimal aerodynamic performance. For particularly high stress applications, the laminate layer can consist of several layers and, for example, can also be made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0018] A wide variety of plastics are suitable, such as PVC, polystyrene, polyurethane, polymethacrylimide, styreneacrylonitrile, etc., which can be used without fillers or with fillers to reinforce laminate layer 3, such as carbon, aramid, or glass, in the form of fibers (unidirectional, woven, or mat), spheres, hollow spheres, etc. Milling the core from wood, preferably balsa wood, is also conceivable.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a flow guide element 10 according to the invention. The laminate layer 11, in terms of structure, arrangement, and application, essentially corresponds to what was described above with regard to the laminate layer 3 in the embodiment according to Figure 2. Fig. 1 is described.

[0020] In contrast, the foam core 12 consists in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig.2 consisting of a foam core part 12.1 and a foam core part 12.2. Corresponding features 13.1 and 13.2 and 14.1 and 14.2 respectively are formed on the foam core parts 12.1 and 12.2 respectively.

[0021] The foam core parts 12.1 and 12.2 are joined together to form the foam core 12 and permanently connected at the joints 15, e.g., by bonding. The corresponding molded sections 13.1, 13.2, 14.1 and 14.2 increase the stability of the flow guide element 10.

[0022] The walls of the foam core sections 12.1 and 12.2 and the molded sections 13.1, 13.2, 14.1 and 14.2 are essentially continuous across the entire flow guide element 10 with the same wall thickness. To save weight, the foam core 12 encloses the cavities 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3.

[0023] It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the design of a flow-guiding element according to the invention allows for a wide range of design and material variations. For example, the profile surfaces can be freely shaped, and with regard to simple manufacturing and maximum stability, the possibility of arranging one or more cavities with appropriately stabilizing structuring in the interior of the foam core also allows for a wide range of design options. Reference symbol list 1 Flow guide element 2 foam core 3 laminate layers 4 cavities 5, 6 End faces of the flow guide element 10 Flow guide element 11 laminate layers 12 foam cores 12.1 Foam core part 12.2 Foam core part 13.1 Shaping 13.2 Shaping 14.1 Shaping 14.2 Shaping 15 joints 16.1 Cavity 16.2 Cavity 16.3 Cavity

Claims

[1] Flow guide element (1, 10) for a flow guide device for improving the road grip of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with profile surfaces that are exposed to the airflow, are substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and are spaced apart from each other and merge into each other at their ends, characterized by , that a pressure-resistant foam core (2, 12) having essentially the outer contour of the profile surfaces and provided with at least one cavity (4, 16.1, 16.2, 16.3) is enclosed by at least one laminate layer (3, 11). [2] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the foam core (2, 12, 12.1, 12.2) is made in one or more parts. [3] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the foam core (12) is joined together from at least two parts (12.1, 12.2) enclosing the cavity(s) (16.1, 16.2, 16.3). [4] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the several parts (12.1, 12.2) of the foam core are inseparably connected, preferably glued. [5] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the foam core (2; 12) has contours (13.1, 13.2, 14.1, 14.2) that provide pressure stability. [6] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the walls of the foam core (2; 12) and stabilizing molded parts (13.1, 13.2, 14.1, 14.2) are of essentially the same thickness when viewed in cross-section of the flow guide element (1, 10). [7] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the foam core is made of a plastic. [8] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the laminate layer (3, 11) forming the flow-conducting profile surfaces consists of a plastic or a synthetic resin. [9] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 8, characterized by , that one or more laminate layers are applied to the profile surfaces of the foam core (2, 12). [10] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the laminate layer(s) (3, 11) are applied by injection or pouring. [11] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 8, characterized by , that the laminate layer(s) (3, 11) is / are designed as a fiber-reinforced plastic layer(s). [12] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the fiber reinforcement of the laminate layer(s) (3, 11) is designed as unidirectional fibers, as fiber fabric and / or as fiber mat. [13] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat it can be used on a rear spoiler of a motor vehicle. [14] Flow guide element (1, 10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it can be used for a front spoiler of a motor vehicle.

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