Actuating device for an air guide element of a motor vehicle bumper

Abstract

Actuating device for an air guide element (16) of a bumper of a motor vehicle, with an adjusting mechanism (20) actuated by an adjusting drive (18, 50), by means of which the air guide element (16) can be moved from a retracted position, in which it is at least substantially integrated into a bumper cover (16), to a position extended relative to the bumper cover (16), wherein the adjusting mechanism (20) has at least one four-bar linkage (26, 28), the respective linkage levers (30, 32) of which are mounted at least indirectly on bearing points (34) of the air guide element (16) and on bearing points (38) of the motor vehicle, and wherein the four-bar linkage (26, 28) can be actuated by a drive shaft (24), characterized in that the four-bar linkage (26, 28) is designed such that, when the air guide element (16) is moved, it performs a pivoting-sliding movement.and that the translation of the rotary motion of the drive axis (24) to the four-bar linkage (26, 28) is effected by means of a drive pin (40) arranged concentrically to the drive axis (24), which engages with a slot-like drive guide (46) which extends within one of the linkage levers (32) of the four-bar linkage (26, 28) in its longitudinal dimension.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an actuating device for an air guide element of a bumper of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] To improve the aerodynamics of a motor vehicle, particularly with regard to the energy consumption of the vehicle's drive system, it has been known for some time to incorporate air guide elements in the front corner area of ​​a bumper to specifically improve the airflow around the front of the vehicle and the front wheel arches. For this purpose, the respective air guide elements are moved by means of an actuator from a retracted position, in which the air guide element is essentially integrated into the bumper cover, to a position extended relative to the bumper cover. This creates a flow channel between the inside of the air guide element and the outside of the rest of the bumper cover. Through this channel, the air flowing through it – as well as the air flowing around the outside of the air guide element – ​​can be specifically linearized and guided around the front wheel arches.

[0003] To relocate the respective air guide element, the actuating device usually includes an adjustment mechanism that can be actuated by an adjustment drive, which - as explained in DE 10 2009 034 518 A1 - accomplishes a linear positioning movement or - as shown in DE 10 2011 012 119 A1 - a pivoting movement of the air guide element.

[0004] The generic WO 2015 / 191 727 A1 specifies an actuating device for an air guide element of a motor vehicle bumper.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create an actuating device by means of which the air guide element can be moved into its extended position and held in this position in a particularly reliable manner.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by an actuating device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] To create an actuating device of the type mentioned above, by means of which the air guide element can be moved into the extended position and held there in an improved manner, the actuating mechanism of the air guide element, according to the invention, comprises at least one four-bar linkage, the respective linkage levers of which are mounted, at least indirectly, on bearing points of the air guide element and on bearing points of the motor vehicle. The use of such a four-bar linkage not only allows for a simple and reliable, easily reproducible movement of the four-bar linkage into the extended position and from there into the retracted position, so that, for example, the air guide element is optimally integrated into the bumper cover in the retracted position, but also ensures that the air guide element is held particularly stable and retains its shape in the extended position.This allows for the creation of particularly stable airflows on the outside of the air guide element or through the air channel created between the outer surface of the bumper cover and the inner surface of the air guide element, thus achieving the desired linearization of the airflow to improve the drag coefficient. The at least one four-bar linkage ensures, in particular, that the airflows remain as consistent as possible even at high approach speeds or high driving speeds.

[0008] According to the invention, the four-joint mechanism is designed to function at least similarly to a known pivot-sliding door fitting, particularly for bus doors. That is, when the air guide element is displaced, it performs a pivot-sliding movement, in particular a superimposed one.

[0009] Furthermore, it is provided that the translation of the rotary motion of the drive axle to the four-bar linkage is carried out by means of a drive pin arranged concentrically to the drive axle, which engages with a slot-like drive guide that extends within one of the linkage levers of the four-bar linkage in its longitudinal dimension.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous to provide a four-bar linkage with associated linkage levers on both the upper and lower sides of the air guide element. This allows the advantages described above to be optimally exploited.

[0011] A further advantage of the adjusting device according to the invention arises when both four-joints of the associated air guide element can be actuated by a common drive axis. This allows for a particularly simple adjusting mechanism that simultaneously allows the air guide element to be moved synchronously.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the air guide elements on both sides of the vehicle can be actuated by means of a common adjustment drive. This results in an overall adjustment device that is particularly simple and space-saving.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, it has also proven advantageous if a steering lever of the respective four-bar linkage has a drive guide which interacts with a drive pin or similar sliding elements. This allows a particularly simple transmission of the drive axis of the adjusting drive to the respective steering lever.

[0014] Finally, it has proven advantageous if the control levers of the respective four-bar linkage are locked in an over-center position when the air guide element is extended. This ensures that the air guide element is locked in a particularly secure and positionally accurate manner when extended.

[0015] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a partial and perspective interior view of a bumper cover of a motor vehicle bumper with an air guide element arranged in the front corner area, which is shown here at least substantially in a retracted position in which it is at least substantially integrated into the bumper cover; Fig. 2. Another partial and perspective interior view of the bumper cover according to Fig. 1, wherein the air guide element can be moved from the retracted position by means of an adjustment mechanism actuated by an adjustment drive according to Fig. 1 is moved into a position extended outwards relative to the bumper cover, and wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a four-bar linkage with associated linkage levers on the upper and lower sides of the air guide element, which are mounted at least indirectly on bearing points of the air guide element and on bearing points of the final vehicle; Fig. 3a,b respective partial and enlarged perspective views of a drive pin or a sliding block of a drive axle of the adjusting drive, which are displaceable along a drive guide of the associated handlebar lever; and in Fig. 4 a perspective view of a common adjustment drive for respective air guide elements on both sides of the vehicle.

[0016] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a partial, perspective interior view of a bumper cover 10 of a passenger car in the front left corner area, viewed in the direction of forward travel. In particular, an inner edge 12 is visible, which defines the outer boundary of the front left wheel arch. Also visible is a recess 11 in the bumper cover 10 for a light unit.

[0017] An air guide element 16 is integrated into the bumper cover 10 on the respective side of the vehicle, which is arranged in the immediate vicinity in front of the corresponding inner edge 12 of the wheel arch of the laterally assigned front wheel. The air guide element 16 is designed as part of the bumper cover 10 and is positioned between a [missing information] in a manner described in more detail below. Fig. 1 in the retracted position shown, in which the air guide element 16 is essentially flush with the surface of the bumper cover, and in a Fig. The air guide element 16 is movable in the extended position shown in Figure 2, in which it is adjusted towards the outside of the vehicle. In the retracted position, the air guide element 16 therefore closes a corresponding, here approximately rectangular, recess 14 within the bumper cover 10, to which the air guide element 16 is essentially identical in shape. In the retracted position, the air guide element 16 therefore closes at least substantially the recess 14 within the bumper cover 10.

[0018] To move the air guide element 16 between the two positions, an actuating device is provided with an adjustment drive 18, which actuates an adjustment mechanism 20. In this case, the adjustment drive 18 is, in particular, an electric motor or the like, which, via a gearbox 22, can operate a drive axle 24. The drive axle 24 runs essentially in the vertical direction of the vehicle and actuates two four-bar linkages 26, 28, which are arranged above and below the air guide element 16, in a manner described in more detail below. Theoretically, a different number of four-bar linkages, in particular just one, would also be conceivable.

[0019] Each of these four-bar linkages 26, 28 comprises a rear, arcuate control arm 30 (viewed in the forward direction of travel) and a front, approximately straight control arm 32. Both control arms 30, 32 each include an outer bearing point 34, at which the respective control arms 30, 32 are pivotably connected to a bearing element 36, which in turn is attached to the inside of the air guide element 16. Thus, each control arm 30, 32 of the corresponding four-bar linkage 26, 28 is pivotably connected to the air guide element 16, at least indirectly, at the corresponding outer bearing point 34. Furthermore, each handlebar lever 30,32 also includes an inner bearing point 38, via which the respective handlebar lever 30,32 is pivotably mounted on a corresponding bearing point of the motor vehicle or the bumper in a manner not shown below.

[0020] The two four-bar linkages 26, 28 therefore enable an approximately parallelogram-like displacement of the air guide element 16 between the retracted and extended positions, whereby the specific form of movement is essentially influenced by the design of the linkage levers 30, 32 and their mounting on the side of the air guide element 16 and on the side of the bumper.

[0021] The translation of the rotary motion of the drive axle 24 to the two four-bar linkages 24, 26 takes place - as is evident from Fig. As can be seen in a partial and enlarged perspective view in Figure 3a, the drive is connected by means of a drive pin 40, which is arranged concentrically to the drive axle 24. For this purpose, the drive axle 24 has two disks 42, 44 spaced apart from each other, between which the drive pin 40 runs. The drive pin 40 engages with a slot-like drive guide 46, which extends longitudinally within the respective front steering lever 32 of the corresponding four-bar linkage 26, 28. Accordingly, the respective front steering lever 32 of the corresponding four-bar linkage 26, 28 runs between the two disks 42, 44 of the drive axle 24.

[0022] The upper four-bar linkage 26 operates essentially identically, with the only difference being the single disc 42 from which the drive pin 40 projects upwards. Consequently, since the disc 42 is located at the upper end of the drive axle 24, no further disc 44 is provided. Therefore, in this case as well, the drive pin 40 engages in the corresponding drive guide 46 of the front handlebar lever 32.

[0023] In summary, the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 thus makes it clear that a rotation of the drive axis 24 causes a displacement of the air guide element 16 during the retracted and extended positions, whereby the respective drive pin 40 of the drive axis 24 moves within the associated drive guide 46 when it moves concentrically to the drive axis 24.

[0024] The two control levers 30, 32 of the identically constructed four-bar linkages 26 and 28 are designed and mounted relative to the air guide element 16 and the bumper, respectively, such that they are locked in an over-center position when the air guide element 16 is extended. This ensures that the air guide element 16 is held securely in the extended position, remaining firmly in place even at high airflow velocities without significant vibration or fluttering. The respective four-bar linkages 26, 28 also guarantee a highly reproducible displacement movement, so that the air guide element 16 is always flush with the surface of the bumper cover 10 in the retracted position and always maintains the same distance from the outer edge of the bumper cover 10 in the extended position.In this process, a flow channel, essentially rectangular in cross-section, is formed between the inner side of the air guide element 16 and the outer side of the bumper cover 10. This channel allows the airflow around the front of the vehicle to be linearized particularly well and directed around the corresponding front wheel arch located behind it. Furthermore, the air flowing over the outer side of the projecting air guide element 16 can also be linearized and directed around the corresponding wheel arch.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3b shows an alternative to the one in a cropped and enlarged perspective view. Fig. 3a shows the connection between the drive pin 40 and the associated drive guide 46 of the corresponding front handlebar lever 32. In the present embodiment, instead of the drive pin, a sliding block 48 surrounding the outer edge of the drive pin is provided, which can be displaced along the drive guide 46.

[0026] In contrast to the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows Fig. 4 an adjusting drive 50 which, by means of respective flexible drive shafts 52, causes a corresponding rotation of the drive axle 24 assigned to each side of the vehicle of the air guide element 16 provided on the corresponding side of the bumper or bumper cover 10. Thus, in the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 and Fig.Whereas in other embodiments a separate adjustment drive 18 is provided for each side of the vehicle or each air guide element 10, in this embodiment a single adjustment drive 50 serves to actuate both air guide elements 16 on each side of the vehicle via the corresponding drive shaft 52. This results in a particularly simple synchronization of the air guide elements 16 on both sides of the vehicle.

Claims

[1] An adjusting device for an air guide element (16) of a bumper of a motor vehicle, comprising an adjusting mechanism (20) which can be actuated by an adjusting drive (18, 50) and by means of which the air guide element (16) can be displaced from a retracted position, in which it is at least substantially integrated into a bumper covering (16), into a position extended relative to the bumper covering (16), wherein the adjusting mechanism (20) has at least one four-bar linkage (26, 28), the respective linkage levers (30, 32) of which are mounted, on the one hand, at least indirectly, at bearing points (34) of the air guide element (16) and, on the other hand, at bearing points (38) of the motor vehicle, and wherein the four-bar linkage (26, 28) can be actuated by a drive axle (24), characterized bythat the four-bar linkage (26, 28) is designed such that when the air guide element (16) is displaced, it executes a pivoting-sliding movement, and that the transmission of the rotary movement of the drive axle (24) to the four-bar linkage (26, 28) takes place by means of a drive pin (40) arranged concentrically to the drive axle (24), which is in engagement with a slot-like drive guide (46) which extends within one of the link levers (32) of the four-bar linkage (26, 28) in its longitudinal extent. [2] Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized by that a respective four-bar linkage (26, 28) with associated control levers (30, 32) is provided on the upper and lower sides of the air guiding element (16). [3] Adjusting device according to claim 2, characterized by that both four-bar linkages (26, 28) of the associated air guide element (16) can be actuated by a common drive axle (24). [4] Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the air guiding elements (16) on both sides of the vehicle can be actuated by means of a common adjustment drive (50). [5] Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a link lever (32) of the respective four-bar linkage (26, 28) has a drive guide (46) which cooperates with a drive pin (40). [6] Adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the link levers (30, 32) of the respective four-bar linkage (26, 28) are locked in an over-center position in the extended position of the air guide element (16).

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