Motor vehicle and method for controlling the operation of an adjustable air guide element of a motor vehicle

Abstract

motor vehicle, a motor vehicle body (12) which forms the motor vehicle outer skin with one side facing the outside environment, an adjustable air guide element (20) which is arranged on the vehicle body (12), wherein the air guide element (20) is adjustable at least between an extended position and a retracted position via an adjustment device (22) which can be controlled by means of a control unit (24), and wherein the air guide element (20) is arranged in the retracted position flush with the side of the vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment or on a side of the vehicle body (12) facing away from the outside environment and in the extended position protrudes from the side of the vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment, characterized by the fact that the control unit (24) has a car wash module (25) and the control unit (24) is connected to a sensor device (30) for detecting a component (54) of a car wash (50), wherein the car wash module (25) is designed such that when a component (54) of a car wash (50) is detected by the sensor device (30) and the air guide element (20) is found to be in the extended position, the air guide element (20) is automatically moved into the retracted position by the adjustment device (22) or a request to adjust the air guide element (20) into the retracted position is issued via an output unit (32) arranged in a passenger compartment (11), wherein the sensor device (30) is a monitoring element for monitoring the vehicle's surroundings in the form of a camera.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle body which forms the outer skin of the motor vehicle with a side facing the outside environment, an adjustable air guide element which is arranged on the motor vehicle body, wherein the air guide element is adjustable at least between an extended position and a retracted position by means of an adjustment device which can be controlled by a control unit, and wherein the air guide element is arranged in the retracted position flush with the side of the motor vehicle body facing the outside environment or on a side of the motor vehicle body facing away from the outside environment and in the extended position protrudes from the side of the motor vehicle body facing the outside environment.

[0002] Such a design of a motor vehicle is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2020 103 140 A1. The motor vehicle comprises a vehicle body, which forms an outer skin of the vehicle with one side facing the outside environment. Furthermore, the motor vehicle comprises at least one air guide element for reducing fuel consumption by reducing flow losses, particularly in the medium to upper speed range of the vehicle. The air guide element is adjustable and can be adjusted by an adjustment device at least between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the air guide element is arranged flush with the vehicle body or behind the vehicle body, i.e., on a side of the vehicle body facing away from the outside environment and towards a passenger compartment.In its extended position, the air guide element protrudes above the vehicle body.

[0003] The exterior cleaning of a vehicle body can be done either by hand or by an automated car wash. In an automated car wash, several components, especially the washing brushes, move along and thus relative to the vehicle body, which forms the outer skin. In addition to this translational movement, the washing brushes also rotate around their longitudinal axis.

[0004] A problem with cleaning a vehicle using a car wash is that the air guide element, which protrudes from the vehicle body when extended and is relatively delicate compared to, for example, a side mirror, could be damaged by the moving components of the car wash, especially the washing brushes. This could result in the air guide element itself being bent or torn off, or the washing brush could exert such stress on the air guide element that the adjustment mechanism is damaged or jammed.

[0005] From DE 10 2012 217 157 A1 a vehicle control system is known which is designed to detect an impending washing process of a vehicle by a car wash and, based on this, to automatically adjust at least one adjustable vehicle component, such as a mirror, into a retracted position.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a motor vehicle with an adjustable air guide element, whereby damage to the adjustable air guide element during external cleaning can be reliably prevented.

[0007] The problem is solved by a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0008] By having a car wash module and being connected to a sensor device for detecting a component of a car wash, the car wash module is designed such that, upon detection of a component of a car wash by the sensor device and detection of the air guide element in the extended position, the air guide element is automatically moved into the retracted position by the adjustment device, or a request to adjust the air guide element into the retracted position is issued via an output unit located in the passenger compartment, it is possible to prevent the air guide element from being damaged by a component of the car wash during an exterior cleaning of the vehicle.This can be achieved, firstly, by automatically adjusting the air guide element to the retracted position, thus eliminating the need for any driver intervention. This reliably prevents damage. Secondly, damage can be prevented by prompting the driver, via an output unit already installed in the passenger compartment that provides various information about the vehicle, to manually adjust the air guide element from its extended to its retracted position by activating a control element linked to the control unit. This also prevents damage to the air guide element.

[0009] The adjustable air guide element is positioned laterally at the rear and can be extended and retracted in the direction of travel. This rearward positioning of the air guide element along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, particularly behind the rear end, offers the crucial advantage of reducing air turbulence downstream of the rear, thus minimizing flow losses. Air turbulence, also known as air vortices, that form at the rear of the vehicle generally increases its drag. This, in turn, leads to increased fuel consumption. Therefore, reducing air turbulence results in reduced fuel consumption, provided that other conditions, such as gradient, speed, etc., remain the same.

[0010] The adjustable air guide element, at least in its retracted position, is located in a pocket open to the rear in the direction of travel, and in its extended position, it protrudes at least partially beyond the rear of the vehicle. This pocket-like arrangement of the air guide element reliably reduces the risk of damage, even when retracted.

[0011] Preferably, the sensor device is a rain sensor or a monitoring element for vehicle environment monitoring. This allows a component already installed on the vehicle to be used for detecting a car wash, eliminating the need for an additional sensor. Alternatively, the sensor device is a separate optical sensor or touch sensor.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the optical or touch sensor is arranged in the direction of movement of the component of the car wash system upstream of the air guide element. This allows a washing process by a car wash system to be reliably detected before the component reaches the area of ​​the air guide element. This reliably prevents damage to the air guide element.

[0013] Preferably, a washing brush is a component of the car wash system. The washing brush is a relatively large and easily detectable element. This allows the washing process and the car wash system to be reliably detected.

[0014] Furthermore, the problem is solved by a method for controlling the operation of an adjustable air guide element of a motor vehicle, wherein the air guide element is arranged flush with a side of a motor vehicle body facing the outside environment or on a side of the motor vehicle body facing away from the outside environment in the retracted position and protrudes from the side of the motor vehicle body facing the outside environment in the extended position, wherein the adjustable air guide element is arranged laterally in the rear area, wherein the air guide element is retractable in the direction of travel, and wherein the air guide element is arranged behind the rear end surface when extended, and wherein the adjustable air guide element is arranged in a pocket open to the rear in the direction of travel, at least in the retracted position and projects at least partially beyond the rear area in the extended position.First, the position of the air guide element is determined, and based on this, it is established whether the air guide element is in the extended position. Additionally, a sensor device detects a component of a car wash system. Based on the sensor signal and the determination of the extended position, the air guide element is automatically moved into the retracted position, or a prompt to move the air guide element to the retracted position is issued via a display unit located in the passenger compartment.

[0015] The advantages of the procedure are described in the preceding paragraphs.

[0016] This provides a motor vehicle with an adjustable air guide element, reliably preventing damage to the adjustable air guide element during external cleaning.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The figure schematically depicts a motor vehicle in a car wash.

[0018] The figure schematically shows a motor vehicle 10 located in a car wash 50. The car wash 50 has a washing brush arrangement 52, which typically comprises at least one horizontally oriented washing brush rotating about a horizontal axis and at least two vertically oriented washing brushes 54, each rotating about a vertical axis. The two vertically oriented washing brushes 54 are arranged horizontally spaced apart from each other such that each brush 54 cleans one side of the motor vehicle 10. In addition to the direction of rotation, all washing brushes also move longitudinally and / or transversely along the vehicle. This translational movement allows the washing brushes to follow the contour of the motor vehicle's outer skin. To follow the outer contour of the motor vehicle 10, the car wash 50 includes several optical sensors.The figure shows only a single washing brush 54 rotating around a vertical axis.

[0019] The motor vehicle 10 comprises a motor vehicle body 12, which forms the outer skin of the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 comprises an air guide element 20 for influencing the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle, which is arranged laterally in the rear area 16 of the motor vehicle 10. The air guide element 20 is adjustable by means of an adjustment device 22, in particular an electromechanical adjustment device, which is controlled by a control unit 24. The adjustable air guide element 20 can be adjusted at least between a retracted position, shown in the figure by dashed lines, and an extended position, shown in the figure by solid lines. Additionally, the adjustable air guide element 20 could be adjustable to one or more intermediate positions.

[0020] The air guide element 20 is a plate-like, relatively delicate component which, in its extended position, serves to extend the rear section of the motor vehicle 10. In its extended position, the air guide element 20 protrudes from the side of the motor vehicle body 12 facing the outside environment and forming the outer skin.

[0021] Under normal use, the air guide element 20 experiences a predefined and predictable load from the airflow around the vehicle 10 and the air guide element 20. However, when the vehicle 10 is being cleaned externally in a car wash 50 and the air guide element 20 is in the extended position, there is a risk that the relatively delicate air guide element 20 will experience unusual stress from the washing brush 54 and be damaged as a result.

[0022] To prevent this, the car wash 50 is detected by a sensor 30 of the vehicle 10 before the washing process begins, and based on this, the extended air guide element 20 is adjusted to the retracted position. The sensor 30 is connected to the control unit 24, which includes a car wash module 25, via a signal. The control unit 24 detects both the position of the air guide element 20 and the signal from the sensor 30. Based on this, the control unit 24 automatically activates the adjustment device 22, thereby automatically retracting the air guide element 20 before the washing process in the car wash 50. Alternatively, the control unit 24 could be connected to an output unit 32, such as a display, located in a passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. The output unit 32 would then send a prompt to the driver to retract the air guide element 20.The driver can press a button which, via the control unit 24, serves to actuate the adjusting device 22, whereby by pressing the button the air guide element 20 is moved into the retracted position.

[0023] The sensor device 30 can be a separate sensor 34, in particular an optical sensor or a touch sensor, arranged on a side panel of the motor vehicle 10 and positioned in front of the air guide element 20 in the direction of movement of the washing brush 54. Alternatively, the sensor device 30 can be a rain sensor 36 arranged on a windshield 13 or a camera for monitoring the external environment.

[0024] Other constructive embodiments besides those described are also possible, which fall within the scope of protection of the main claim.

Claims

[1] motor vehicle, with a motor vehicle body (12) which forms the motor vehicle outer skin with one side facing the outside environment, an adjustable air guide element (20) which is arranged on the vehicle body (12), wherein the air guide element (20) is adjustable at least between an extended position and a retracted position via an adjustment device (22) which can be controlled by means of a control unit (24), and wherein the air guide element (20) is arranged in the retracted position flush with the side of the vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment or on a side of the vehicle body (12) facing away from the outside environment and in the extended position protrudes from the side of the vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment, characterized by , that the control unit (24) has a car wash module (25) and the control unit (24) is connected to a sensor device (30) for detecting a component (54) of a car wash (50), wherein the car wash module (25) is designed such that when a component (54) of a car wash (50) is detected by the sensor device (30) and the air guide element (20) is found to be in the extended position, the air guide element (20) is automatically moved into the retracted position by the adjustment device (22) or a request to adjust the air guide element (20) into the retracted position is issued via an output unit (32) arranged in a passenger compartment (11), wherein the sensor device (30) is a monitoring element for monitoring the vehicle's surroundings in the form of a camera. [2] Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the component (54) of the washing system (50) is a washing brush. [3] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the adjustable air guide element (20) is arranged laterally in the rear area, wherein the air guide element (20) can be extended and retracted in the direction of travel. [4] Motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by , that the adjustable air guide element (20) is arranged at least in the retracted position in a pocket (21) open to the rear in the direction of travel and in the extended position projects at least partially beyond the rear area (16). [5] Method for controlling the operation of an adjustable air guide element (20) of a motor vehicle (10), wherein the air guide element (20) is arranged in the retracted position flush with a side of a motor vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment or on a side of the motor vehicle body (12) facing away from the outside environment and in the extended position protrudes from the side of the motor vehicle body (12) facing the outside environment, characterized by, that the position of the air guide element (20) is determined and based on this it is determined whether the air guide element (20) is arranged in the extended position, a component (54) of a washing system (50) is detected via a sensor device (30), and based on the sensor signal of the sensor device (30) and the determination of the extended position the air guide element (20) is automatically moved into the retracted position or a request to adjust the air guide element (20) into the retracted position is issued via an output unit (32) arranged in the passenger compartment.

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