Battery-powered electric vehicle with air guidance system

Abstract

Battery-powered electric vehicle (100) with at least one air guide device (10, 10') arranged on a smooth underbody (102) of the electric vehicle (100) in the direction of travel (x) in front of a wheel (104, 106), in particular in front of a front wheel (104, 106), and comprising a plate-shaped base section (12) and an air guide section (14) raised relative to the base section (12), extending from a first end (32) to a second end (34) and increasing in height relative to the base section (12) towards the second end (34), wherein the air guide device (10) comprises an air guide element (16) which projects from the base section (12) on the same side (15) as the air guide section (14) and extends away from the base section (12) along a vertical direction (36), wherein the air guide element (16) connects to the air guide section at its second end (34). (14) borders,and wherein the air guide element (16) has a recess (40) in a region (38) adjacent to the air guide section (14) for suppressing low-frequency aeroacoustic excitation, where the height of the air guide element (16) is reduced and wherein the recess (40) is directly adjacent to the air guide section (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air guidance device for arrangement on the underbody of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle with such an air guidance device.

[0002] DE 10 2009 040 678 A1 discloses an air guide device for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel spoiler with an air guide edge, wherein the air guide edge is odd-shaped at least in one longitudinal region. This reduces the mass flow of air entering the wheel housing and the air resistance when the air exits the wheel housing. Aeroacoustic aspects are not addressed.

[0003] WO 2012 / 084251 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with an air guide device for cooling the brake system, wherein an adjustable closing element in the form of a closing plate is associated with a cooling air duct. The closing plate can be moved into several operating positions in which the cooling air duct is at least partially closed or in which the closing plate projects beyond the base plate and thus forms a wheel spoiler. Cooling function and wheel spoiler function are combined in one component. Aeroacoustic aspects, however, play no role here either.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an improved air guidance device in comparison.

[0005] This problem is solved by an air guidance device having the features of claim 1.

[0006] The air guide device is designed for installation on the underbody of a vehicle, particularly a partially or fully electric vehicle. The air guide device comprises a plate-shaped base section and an air guide section that is raised relative to the base section. The air guide section has a first end and a second end, extending from the first end to the second end and increasing in height relative to the base section towards the second end. The air guide device also includes an air guide element that projects from the base section on the same side as the air guide section (the underside when the air guide device is installed on the vehicle) and extends vertically away from the base section.The air guide element adjoins the air guide section at its second end, wherein the air guide element has a recess in an area adjacent to the air guide section in which the height of the air guide element, i.e. the protrusion of the air guide element relative to the base section, is reduced.

[0007] In other words, the air guidance device has an inclined shape (air guidance section) and an adjacent, substantially vertical surface (air guidance element) with a recess (area of ​​reduced height) adjacent to the inclined shape.

[0008] Interference effects from flow separation caused by an underbody spoiler, combined with other local flow conditions in the underbody area of ​​vehicles with smooth underbodies (e.g., battery-powered electric vehicles), can generate low-frequency aeroacoustic excitation. This low-frequency excitation can be transmitted into the passenger compartment and lead to a detrimental sense of comfort for the driver or passengers. The proposed air guide system prevents interference effects in the underbody area and suppresses the resulting low-frequency excitation. This has a positive effect on the acoustics and aeroacoustics in the passenger compartment, leading to increased comfort. Thus, the air guide system effectively creates an underbody spoiler for optimizing the aeroacoustics in the passenger compartment.

[0009] The air guide device is, in particular, an underbody spoiler or wheel spoiler. The base section can form an underbody section; that is, in its installed position, the base section of the air guide device can form a section of the vehicle's underbody or floor panel. The air guide section is, in particular, a wheel spoiler element that can direct air around a wheel.

[0010] The recess or the outer contour of the recess in the air guide element can be directly adjacent to the air guide section or spaced apart from it. For example, a rib, perhaps for stabilization purposes, can be arranged between the air guide section and the recess.

[0011] The base section can have several, for example, three, side edges which together define an outer contour of the base section. The air guide section is located, in particular, within the outer contour of the base section. The air guide element can be formed on a side edge of the base section, especially on a side edge facing a wheel or wheel arch of the vehicle when installed. The second end of the air guide section can be located on this side edge. The air guide element can be a planar element (a flat body with a defined thickness).

[0012] The remaining, in particular two, side edges may each have connecting sections or insertion sections for coupling with other underbody sections. These side edges may each have one or more fastening openings, e.g., for screws or clips.

[0013] When installed on the vehicle, the air guide section and the air guide element (on the underside of the air guide device) extend towards the surface, e.g., a roadway. At its first end, the air guide section can originate from the base section, i.e., begin to protrude from the plane of the base section. The air guide section increases in height relative to the base section from its first end to its second end. At its second end, the air guide section can have a defined height or protrusion relative to the base section.

[0014] Preferably, the recess in the air guide element can be directly adjacent to the air guide section. This eliminates the need for an intermediate section, such as a web, between the air guide section and the air guide element. This contributes to a simpler design of the air guide device.

[0015] Preferably, the vertical direction of the air guide element can extend substantially perpendicular to the base section. This design helps to achieve target aerodynamic values. Specifically, for a substantially perpendicular arrangement, the vertical direction of the air guide element and the base section can form an angle of 85° to 95°, preferably 90°.

[0016] Preferably, the height of the air guide element at the recess can be reduced by essentially half. This largely prevents low-frequency acoustic phenomena, while the remaining portion of the air guide element at the recess remains sufficiently stable. Specifically, the height of the air guide element at the recess can be reduced by 40% to 60%. The (further) section of the air guide element that borders the recess at the end opposite the air guide section is not reduced in height (100% of the air guide element's height). In other words, the air guide element at the recess can have essentially half the height (40% to 60%) compared to the further section of the air guide element.

[0017] Preferably, the recess can extend approximately half the length of the air guide element. This provides a sufficiently large passage in the air guide element to prevent low-frequency acoustic phenomena. Specifically, the air guide element can extend along a direction of extension from the air guide section at its base (side edge), with the recess of the air guide element and the section of the air guide element adjacent to the recess at the end furthest from the air guide section having substantially the same length along this direction of extension. Specifically, the lengths can differ from each other by less than 20% relative to the total length of the air guide element.

[0018] Preferably, the (further) section of the air guide element, which adjoins the recess at the end of the recess furthest from the air guide section, and the air guide section at the second end can have an identical or nearly identical height relative to the base section. This facilitates the achievement of aerodynamic target values. "Nearly identical" means that deviations in the height of the further section and the air guide section at the second end of ± 10% are included. For example, the air guide element can have a height between 90% and 110% of the height of the air guide section at the second end. If the air guide section at the second end and / or the air guide element do not have a constant height, the preceding specifications apply to an average height of these two components.

[0019] Preferably, the base section, air guide section, and / or the air guide element can be formed in one piece, particularly by means of a single material design. This contributes to simple manufacturing and a comparatively stable design of the air guide device.

[0020] The aforementioned problem is also solved by a vehicle with the features of the dependent claim. Regarding the advantages, reference is made to the relevant explanations concerning the air guidance system.

[0021] The vehicle has at least one air guide device with one or more of the aspects described above. For example, the vehicle may have two air guide devices. The at least one air guide device is located on the underbody of the vehicle in front of a wheel (corresponding to the air guide device) in the direction of travel, in particular in front of a front wheel of the vehicle. In its installed position, the air guide section and the air guide element project downwards in the direction of gravity, i.e., towards the ground.

[0022] The measures described above in connection with the air guidance system and / or those explained below can be used to further develop the vehicle.

[0023] Further advantageous features will become apparent from the following description and the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 schematically a vehicle with air guidance system in a bottom view; Fig. 2 schematically a standalone air guidance device.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic underside view of a vehicle 100. In this example, the vehicle 100 has a smooth underbody 102, which almost completely covers its underside. The vehicle 100 has two front wheels 104, 106 and two rear wheels 108, 110. The front wheels 104, 106 can be steerable.

[0025] In this example, vehicle 100 has two air guide devices 10, 10', each arranged on the underbody 102 of vehicle 100 in the area in front of a front wheel 104, 106. The air guide devices 10, 10' are mirror images of each other. In other words, air guide device 10 is a "left part" and air guide device 10' is a "right part".

[0026] The air guide devices 10, 10' are inserted into the underbody 102 of the vehicle 100 such that the base section 12 forms a section of the underbody 102 (underbody section). The air guide section 14 and the air guide element 16 project downwards in the direction of gravity g, i.e., towards the ground, when installed.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the air guide device 10 (left part) in isolation, with the air guide device 10 rotated by 180° for easier illustration (air guide section and air guide element now point "upwards").

[0028] The air guidance device 10 is designed to be mounted on the underbody 102 of a vehicle 100. The air guidance device 10 has a base section 12, an air guidance section 14 and an air guidance element 16.

[0029] The base section 12 is plate-shaped and has a first side 15 (facing the substrate in the installed position or underside) and a second side 17 (facing the vehicle 100 in the installed position or top side).

[0030] In this example, the base section 12 has three side edges 18, 20, 22, which together define an outer contour of the base section 12. Side edge 18 faces a wheel, specifically the front wheel 106, when installed. Side edge 20 points towards the center of the vehicle, and side edge 22 points forward in the direction of travel (x-direction) of the vehicle 100. Insertion sections 24, 26 and fastening passages 28, 30 are formed on side edges 20 and 22 (each designated with a reference numeral only once).

[0031] The air guide section 14 is raised relative to the base section 12 and extends from a first end 32 to a second end 34. In this example, the first end 32 of the air guide section 14 is located in a central region of the base section 12. The second end 34 is located at the side edge 18. At the first end 32, the air guide section 14 extends from the base section 12, i.e., it begins to protrude from the plane of the base section 12. The height of the air guide section 14 increases relative to the base section 12 from the first end 32 to the second end 34. The air guide section 14 forms a wheel spoiler element that can direct air around a wheel, specifically the front wheel 106.

[0032] The air guide element 16 projects from the base section 12 on the same side 15 of the air guide device 10 as the air guide section 14. In this example, the air guide element 16 is located at the side edge 18. The air guide element 16 extends along a vertical direction 36 away from the base section 12.

[0033] The air guide element 16 abuts the air guide section 14 at its second end 34. In an area 38 adjacent to the air guide section 14, the air guide element 16 has a recess 40. The recess 40 has an outer contour 42 (in Fig. (2 shown with dashed lines). At the recess 40, the height of the air guide element 16 is reduced relative to the base section 12 (height along the vertical direction 36). In the example, the recess 40 is directly adjacent to the air guide section 14.

[0034] The air guide element 16, or rather the vertical direction 36 of the air guide element 16, extends essentially perpendicular to the base section 12. Specifically, the vertical direction 36 can form an angle of 85° to 95° with the base section 12, or rather the plane of the base section 12. In this example, the vertical direction 36 forms an angle of 90° with the base section 12.

[0035] The height of the air guide element 16 is essentially reduced by half at the recess 40. Specifically, the height of the air guide element 16 at the recess 40 can be reduced by 40% to 60% compared to the further section 44, which adjoins the recess 40 at the end facing away from the air guide section 14 and whose height is not reduced (height of 100%), as explained above.

[0036] The recess 40 can extend approximately half the length of the air guide element 16. Specifically, the air guide element 16 can extend along a direction of extension away from the air guide section 14 at the base section 12 (side edge 18), wherein the recess 40 of the air guide element 16 and the further section 44 of the air guide element, which adjoins the recess 40 at the end of the recess 40 facing away from the air guide section 16, each have substantially the same length along this direction of extension. Specifically, the lengths of the recess 40 and the further section 44 can differ from each other by less than 20% relative to the total length of the air guide element 16.

[0037] In this example, the further section 44 of the air guide element 16 and the air guide section 14 at the second end 34 have an identical or nearly identical height relative to the base section 12. Specifically, deviations in the height of the further section 44 and the air guide section 16 at the second end 34 of ± 10% are included, as explained above.

[0038] In the example, the base section 12, the air guide section 14 and the air guide element 16 are formed in one piece, in a material-uniform design.

[0039] In summary, the proposed air guidance device 10 or the novel design of such an underbody spoiler can completely avoid interference effects in the underbody area and suppress the resulting low-frequency excitation.

[0040] The recess 40 formed in the air guide element 16 helps to prevent low-frequency acoustic phenomena. The remaining part of the air guide element 16 (further section 44 and the remaining part of the air guide element below the recess 40) contributes to achieving target aerodynamic values. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102009040678 A1

[0002] WO 2012 / 084251 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Air guidance device (10) for arrangement on the underbody (102) of a vehicle (100), comprising a plate-shaped base section (12) and an air guidance section (14) raised relative to the base section (12), extending from a first end (32) to a second end (34) and increasing in height relative to the base section (12) towards the second end (34), characterized by , that the air guidance device (10) has an air guidance element (16) which projects from the base section (12) on the same side (15) as the air guidance section (14) and extends away from the base section (12) along a vertical direction (36), wherein the air guidance element (16) adjoins the air guidance section (14) at its second end (34), wherein the air guidance element (16) has a recess (40) in a region (38) adjoining the air guidance section (14) where the height of the air guidance element (16) is reduced. [2] Air guidance device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the recess (40) is directly adjacent to the air duct section (14). [3] Air guidance device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the vertical direction (36) of the air guide element (16) extends essentially perpendicular to the base section (12). [4] Air guidance device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the height of the air guide element (16) at the recess (40) is essentially reduced by half. [5] Air guidance device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , the recess (4) extends approximately half the length of the air guide element (16). [6] Air guidance device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the section (44) of the air guide element (16), which borders the recess (40) at the end of the recess (40) facing away from the air guide section (14), and the air guide section (14) at the second end (34) have an identical or nearly identical height relative to the base section (12). [7] Air guidance device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the base section (12), the air guide section (14) and / or the air guide element (16) are formed in one piece. [8] Vehicle (100) with at least one air guide device (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air guide device (10, 10') is arranged on the underbody (102) of the vehicle (100) in a direction of travel (x) in front of a wheel (104, 106), in particular in front of a front wheel (104, 106).

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