Motor vehicle with a body shell and an air guide device

Abstract

Motor vehicle (2) with a body outer skin (3) and with an air guide device, wherein an air guide element (1) is arranged on the body outer skin (3) of the motor vehicle (2), wherein a film hinge (4) enabling the air guide element (1) to pivot relative to the body outer skin (3) is arranged in the body outer skin (3), and wherein the body outer skin (3) is convexly curved in the area of ​​the film hinge (4), characterized in that the film hinge (4) is formed from two bending lines (7) and has a width that varies along its length due to different distances between the bending lines (7), and that the film hinge (4) is wider in edge areas (5) than in a central section (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a body outer skin and with an air guide device for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a body outer skin with an air guide device for a motor vehicle.

[0002] To improve the aerodynamics of vehicles, air deflectors or air guide devices can be used. The aim is to increase downforce or efficiency, depending on the driving situation. For example, active air deflectors, such as active spoilers, can be used, where actuators allow the spoiler to be angled.

[0003] The air guide elements or air guide devices are arranged on the outer body of the vehicle. To allow adjustment of the air guide element or air guide device, in particular a spoiler, a gap is disadvantageously required between the air guide element itself, such as a spoiler blade, and the rest of the vehicle body, such as a trunk lid.

[0004] Air guide devices of this type are known from DE 10 2015 118 072 A1 and DE 10 2013 110 363 A1, whereby a gap remains when the air guide device is closed against the vehicle body. Such gaps further affect the aerodynamics and the appearance. The airflow is altered by the remaining gaps, and the appearance is negatively affected.

[0005] US Patent 11 230 330 B2 describes a method for constructing a rear spoiler without a seam. The vehicle body is curved, particularly in the area of ​​the rear spoiler, specifically as a convex surface. A disadvantage of this rear spoiler design is that it can only be implemented on simple, longitudinally convex surfaces.

[0006] Another movable air guide element in the outer body skin of a motor vehicle is described in DE 10 2013 112 507 A1.

[0007] German patent DE 102017 114 863 A1 describes a sealing element for a rear diffuser, designed in the form of a film hinge. Similar content is also described in US patents 11 541 949 B2 and 11 072 370 B2.

[0008] If an air guide device or air guide element, in particular a spoiler, is to be flexibly designed for different areas of the vehicle body, an arrangement is required such that the spoiler can also be arranged on surfaces that are curved multiple times, in particular twice.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a body outer skin and an air guide device that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, a body outer skin with an air guide device is to be provided that is seamlessly arranged on the vehicle body and can be arranged on doubly convex surfaces.

[0010] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims. A body outer skin with an air guide device is also described.

[0011] At the core of the motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising a body outer skin and an air guide device, a film hinge is arranged in the body outer skin, the film hinge enabling an air guide element to pivot relative to the body outer skin. The film hinge allows for a seamless arrangement, thereby significantly improving the appearance. A continuous body outer skin can thus be provided, which transitions smoothly from a body part to the air guide element, in particular without a joint at a leading edge of the air guide element, such as, in particular, a leading edge of a spoiler blade.

[0012] The air guidance device is designed for a motor vehicle, with an air guide element arranged on the vehicle's outer body panel. Such an air guidance device can be used on both flat surfaces and single or double cambered surfaces. Therefore, the air guide element can be positioned at any desired location on the vehicle's outer body panel.

[0013] Preferably, the outer body skin in the area of ​​the film hinge can be convexly curved. In particular, the outer body skin in the area of ​​the film hinge can form a doubly convex surface. This allows, for example, a spoiler to be seamlessly attached over any convex surface. The film hinge is specifically fixed to a body part, such as a trunk lid, and to the air guide element.

[0014] The air guide element can be designed, in particular, as a spoiler. Preferably, the air guide element is designed as a rear spoiler. Other embodiments are also conceivable.

[0015] In particular, the film hinge is designed to be convexly curved and to have a width that varies along its length. This allows the shape of the film hinge to follow the shape of the vehicle's outer skin. When the element is closed or in place, the air guide is therefore virtually invisible, as it blends seamlessly into the surrounding outer skin of the vehicle.

[0016] In particular, it can be provided that the film hinge is wider at the edges than in the middle section. Such an embodiment ensures, in particular, that the air guide element can be pivoted easily from a doubly convex surface.

[0017] The film hinge is designed with two bending lines. Specifically, it consists of two adjacent bending lines that can be adapted to the shape of the vehicle's outer skin. This allows the air guide element to be formed on surfaces with varying curvature, as the bending lines can be adjusted to the curved surface of the outer skin, enabling the air guide element to pivot at any desired angle relative to the surrounding body panels. The variable width along the length of the film hinge is achieved by varying the distance between the bending lines.

[0018] According to a highly advantageous further development of the idea, the bending lines can be designed to be concave relative to each other. Preferably, the bending lines lie almost parallel to each other, although they run differently from one another in certain sections. This is made possible by the concave shape of the bending lines. In particular, the bending lines are arranged such that they lie closer together in a central section than in the respective edge regions.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the bending lines can be formed in the outer body skin. This allows for a seamless transition from a body panel to the air guide element.

[0020] Another advantageous design can therefore provide that the outer body panel is elastically deformable. This allows the bend lines in the outer body panel to be formed particularly effectively. Furthermore, it is possible to elastically deform the outer body panel between the two bend lines, which further optimizes the film hinge.

[0021] A body shell with an air guide device for a motor vehicle is further described. The same features and advantages apply to the body shell as described for the motor vehicle.

[0022] The air guide device according to the invention, or the motor vehicle, advantageously allows for the deformation of doubly curved surfaces. A joint on the front side of the air guide element, particularly on the leading edge of a spoiler blade, is therefore unnecessary. This also improves aerodynamics. Furthermore, the resulting continuous and closed surface has a positive effect on the appearance. A further advantage is the reduction in the number of individual components, which can lower costs.

[0023] Further advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, as well as of the body shell with an air guide device, also result from the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 an embodiment of the air guidance device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view along line AA in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view along line BB in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a sectional view along line AA in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a section view according to line BB in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 an air guide element on a motor vehicle; and Fig. 7. An air guide element on a motor vehicle in another view.

[0024] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the air guide device on a motor vehicle 2. The air guide device comprises an air guide element 1, which in this embodiment is designed as a rear spoiler. A film hinge 4 connects the air guide element 1 to a surrounding body part, in particular a trunk lid. The air guide element 1 is therefore advantageously formed integrally with a body outer skin 3, so that the air guide element 1 transitions seamlessly into the adjacent body part in the hinge area.

[0025] In this embodiment, the film hinge 4 is formed by two bending lines 7 that run concavely to each other. This means that the bending lines 7 are arranged closer together in a central section 6 than in the outer regions 5. In other words, the film hinge 4 preferably has a width that increases outwards from the center of the vehicle. This allows the film hinge 4 to adapt to a curvature of the outer body skin 3, thereby preventing damage to the outer body skin 3 when the air guide element 1 moves.

[0026] A cross-sectional view through the air guide device is shown in Fig. 2. The same components are identified by the same reference numerals, so further details are unnecessary. The air guide element 1 is formed in a body part 9 below a rear window 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the air guide element 3 is shown retracted, so that it lies in the same plane as the body part 9.

[0027] The sectional view in Fig. 2 shows a section along the plane AA from Fig. 1. In comparison with the sectional view from Fig. Figure 3 shows that the film hinge 4 has a different width. The cross-sectional view from Fig. Figure 3 shows a section along the plane BB. Fig. 1. It can be seen that in this edge area 5 the bending lines 7 are further apart from each other than in the middle section 6, as shown in Fig. 2 shown.

[0028] The Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows an air guide element 1 in an extended or pivoted state. The air guide element 1 is shown pivoted relative to the body panel 9. The film hinge 4 is shown in a deformed state. Due to the differently shaped bending lines 7, the film hinge 4 can be adapted to the curved surface of the outer body skin 3 as desired.

[0029] In particular, the film hinge 4 can be formed on a convexly curved body outer skin 3 such that a first surface section, which is designed in particular as an air guide element 1, is adjustable upwards relative to a second surface section, which forms a body part, as shown in Fig. 6 shown.

[0030] In Fig.Figure 7 shows another view of a motor vehicle 2, in which a rear spoiler is formed on the motor vehicle 2. In this view, the two curved bend lines 7 are also visible, which are closer together in a central section 6 than in the two outer regions 5.

[0031] Overall, the proposed air guide device can therefore improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle 2. Furthermore, the air guide element 1 blends visually into the outer body skin 3 of the vehicle 2.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (2) with a body outer skin (3) and with an air guide device, wherein an air guide element (1) is arranged on the body outer skin (3) of the motor vehicle (2), wherein a film hinge (4) enabling the air guide element (1) to pivot relative to the body outer skin (3) is arranged in the body outer skin (3), and wherein the body outer skin (3) is convexly curved in the area of ​​the film hinge (4), characterized by , that the film hinge (4) is formed from two bending lines (7) and has a width that varies along its length due to different distances between the bending lines (7), and that the film hinge (4) is wider in edge areas (5) than in a middle section (6). [2] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the bending lines (7) are concave to each other. [3] Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the bending lines (7) are formed in the body outer skin (3). [4] Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the outer body skin (3) is elastically deformable. [5] Body outer skin (3) with an air guide device for a motor vehicle (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4.

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