Air guide device of a motor vehicle body with a flexible air guide element

Abstract

Air guide device (3) of a motor vehicle body (2) with a flexible air guide element (26), wherein the air guide element (26) has a frame (4) in the interior (24) of which a flexible working element (7) is arranged, characterized in that the flexible working element (7) is designed to change its geometry under the influence of a tensile force (F), wherein at least one tensile element (16) is arranged on the working element (7) on which the tensile force (F) can act by means of a kinematics (18) of the air guide device (3).

Description

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

[0002] Air guide devices comprising air guide elements for motor vehicle bodies are known. These air guide elements are, in particular, so-called rear wings or rear spoilers, which are movably mounted on the motor vehicle body so that they can assume different positions relative to the motor vehicle body between a first end position and a second end position. With the aid of the rear wing, the downforce of the motor vehicle, which has the motor vehicle body, can be varied during operation.

[0003] The air guide element can be rigid or flexible. The advantage of a flexible air guide element is increased variability in adapting its outer contour across an operating range to generate the necessary downforce. In other words, the geometry of the air guide element, designed to direct the airflow, can be modified many times.

[0004] From the published documents DE 10 2018 130 327 A1 and DE 11 2006 002 539 T5 as well as from the patent specification DE 11 2006 002 692 B4, a body element with a flexible air guide element is known, wherein an outer contour of the air guide element can be changed by means of an adjusting device which has a rotatable cam.

[0005] Similarly, the patent application WO 2002 / 051688 A2 describes an air guide element of an air guide device designed in the rear area of ​​a motor vehicle body, which is flexible and whose outer contour can be varied by means of a rotatable adjusting element, in particular in the form of a cam.

[0006] From patent application US 2011 / 0224846 A1, an air guide device in the form of a wing is known, wherein a flexible element is housed in a frame. Actuators are attached to the working element below it and are controlled by a computer, allowing pressure to be exerted on the working element.

[0007] Disclosure US 2018 / 0141595 A1 describes an air guide device for a motor vehicle which has a flexible element.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved air guidance device for a motor vehicle body with a flexible air guidance element.

[0009] The problem is solved according to the invention by means of an air guide device for a motor vehicle body with a flexible air guide element having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

[0010] An air guide device for a motor vehicle body according to the invention, comprising a flexible air guide element, wherein the air guide element has a frame in the interior of which a flexible working element is arranged, is designed, according to the invention, to change its geometry under the influence of a tensile force, wherein at least one tensile element is arranged on the working element, on which the tensile force can act by means of a kinematic mechanism of the air guide device. The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the greatest possible variation in the geometry of the working element can be achieved.

[0011] In one embodiment of the air guide device according to the invention, the frame has four frame elements that form the interior, wherein at least two of the frame elements are modifiable. In particular, the frame elements that extend along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body are modifiable. The advantage lies in the fact that the geometry of the frame elements can be adapted to a desired geometry of the active element in order to achieve optimized downforce.

[0012] To effectively change the geometry of the air guide element, the active element is designed with a textile-like structure. This means that, due to the textile-like nature of the active element, maximum variability in the geometry of the air guide element is possible.

[0013] To stabilize the active element, or in other words, to stabilize a desired geometry of the active element, at least one support element extending along a transverse body axis is operatively connected to the active element. Since the support element extends along the transverse body axis, it provides form stability or geometric stability along this axis, thus achieving the desired downforce generated by the air guide element.

[0014] If the tension element is designed in a tab-like manner, it is possible to easily arrange a support element in the tension element to stabilize the working element.

[0015] It is advantageous if the frame is designed to be at least partially liftable or lowerable with the help of a guide link.

[0016] If the active element can cover a cavity formed between the active element and a subfloor of the air guide element, then, for example, a kinematics arranged in the cavity and / or its control can be protected from contamination.

[0017] A preferred tension of the active element can be achieved in any position of the active element and under any force acting upon it, provided that the active element has a first element edge extending along the transverse axis of the vehicle body and a second element edge extending away from the first element edge, which also extends along the transverse axis of the vehicle body, wherein one of the two element edges is rigidly connected to the frame and the other of the two element edges is rigidly received in a clamping element that is independent of the frame. This means that one element edge is rigidly clamped along the transverse axis of the vehicle body, while the element edge facing away from it is movable with the aid of the clamping element. The clamping element is particularly preferably designed to be rotatable about its axis of rotation.In this way, any excess material of the tensioning element that arises at a specific position of the air guide element along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body can be easily rolled up. This allows the desired tension of the tensioning element to be achieved, particularly along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. Preferably, the tensioning element is spring-loaded.

[0018] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention. Identical or functionally equivalent elements are assigned identical reference numerals. The figures show: Fig. 1 in a longitudinal section along a longitudinal axis of the body, a rear area of ​​a motor vehicle body with an air guide device according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 in a perspective view a section of the air guide device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 in a top view a rear area of ​​the motor vehicle body with the air guide device according to the invention. Fig. 1, Fig. 4 in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis of the body, the rear area of ​​the motor vehicle body with the air guide device according to the invention in a second embodiment in a first position, Fig. 5 in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis of the body, the rear area of ​​the motor vehicle body with the air guide device according to the second embodiment in a second position, and Fig. 6 in a top view a rear area of ​​the motor vehicle body with the air guide device according to the invention. Fig. 4.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section along a longitudinal body axis X of a rear section 1 of a motor vehicle body 2 with an air guide device 3 according to the invention in a first embodiment. For improved clarity, a Cartesian coordinate system is introduced, which identifies the longitudinal body axis X, a transverse body axis Y of the motor vehicle body 2 and a vertical body axis Z of the motor vehicle body 2.

[0020] The air guide device 3 is designed in the form of a rear spoiler located in the rear area 1. It comprises a frame 4, which has a first frame element 5 extending along the transverse axis Y of the body and a second frame element 6 opposite the first frame element 5. An elastic, or in other words, flexible, working element 7 of the air guide device 3 is arranged between the first frame element 5 and the second frame element 6. This means that the term elastic or flexible refers to a working element whose geometry can be changed.

[0021] The first frame element 5, which faces a rear window 8 mounted in a rear frame 31 of the vehicle body 2, is designed to firmly receive the elastic working element 7. In other words, the working element 7 is immovably connected to the first frame element 5. For example, its first element edge 9, which faces the first frame element 5, is inserted into a receiving slot 10 of the first frame element 5 and firmly connected to the first frame element 5, for example, by means of a material and / or form-fit connection.

[0022] Its second element edge 11, which is formed facing away from the first element edge 9, extends through the second frame element 6, the second frame element 6 having a receiving opening 12 through which the working element 7 with its second element edge 11 can be guided.

[0023] The second element edge 11 is received in an opposing body component 13 of the vehicle body 2. There it can be firmly connected to the body component 13, which may, for example, be designed to receive a light strip 32, or it can be, as in Fig. Figure 1 shows a rotatable clamping element 14, which is rigidly connected to the first frame element 5 and the body component 13. The clamping element 14 is designed to rotate about its axis 30, so that the working element 7 can be wound up or unwound around the clamping element 14. Thus, the working element 7 is clamped between the first frame element 5 and the body component 13, deflected via the second frame element 6.

[0024] Thus, the working element 7 of the first embodiment has the first element edge 9, which extends along the transverse axis Y of the body, firmly connected to the frame 4, and the second element edge 11, which is formed away from the first element edge 9 and also extends along the transverse axis Y of the body, firmly received in the clamping element 14, which is formed independently of the frame 4.

[0025] Between the first frame element 5 and the second frame element 6, the working element 7 has tension elements 16 facing a subfloor 25 of the air guide device 3, which are designed in the form of pull tabs. Or, in other words, the tension element 16 is designed as a tab. The tension element 16, designed in the form of a pull tab, offers the advantage that a rigid support element 17 can be easily incorporated into it to stabilize the geometry of the working element 7.

[0026] As in Fig. Figure 2 illustrates that the support elements 17 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle body and extending along the transverse axis Y of the vehicle body. In other words, the support elements 17, which can also be called links, are arranged parallel to the grid.

[0027] The tension elements 16, which are designed to receive the support elements 17, are connected by a kinematic mechanism 18 by means of which tension can be exerted on them to create a desired effective surface 19 of the functional element 7. In other words, a tensile force F can act on the tension elements 16. Thus, the flexible functional element 7, and likewise its effective surface 19, its geometry is designed to be modifiable under the influence of the tensile force, wherein at least one tension element 16 is formed on the functional element 7, on which the tensile force F can act by means of the kinematic mechanism 18.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the air guide device 3 bisected along a section plane Y0 spanning along the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Z of the body, and is mirror-symmetrical to the section plane Y0. The first frame element 5 and the second frame element 6 are connected to each other at their respective first element ends 21 by means of a third frame element 20 of the frame 4. Furthermore, they are, as in Fig. Figure 3 illustrates this, showing the rear section 1 in a top view. The second element end 22, which faces away from the first element end 21, is connected to each other at the frame 4 by means of a fourth frame element 23. The flexible working element 7 of the air guide device 3 is located within the frame 4, i.e., in an interior space 24 of the frame 4.

[0029] The third frame element 20 and the fourth frame element 23 are thus designed to extend along the body axis X.

[0030] It should be mentioned at this point that the frame 4, the working element 7 and the underbody 25 having a subsurface 15 form an air guide element 26 of the air guide device 3, or in other words, the rear spoiler.

[0031] The active element 7 is, as in Fig. 2 shown, starting from a central axis M lying in the section plane Y0 in the direction of the third frame element 20, or the fourth frame element 23, curved downwards.

[0032] The first frame element 5 is fixedly arranged in the vehicle body 2, and thus rigidly connected to it. The second frame element 6 is movably mounted, and, as with rear spoilers known from the prior art, can be raised or lowered along the vehicle's vertical axis Z. This is achieved by means of a guide link 27 that receives the second frame element 6, wherein the second frame element 6 is connected to the guide link 27 by means of a force-fit and / or positive locking, in particular by means of a screw connection. This means that the guide link 27 can pivot about a rotational axis not shown in detail, and thus moves the second frame element 6 by means of the fixed connection. Thus, the frame 4 is designed to be at least partially raised or lowered by means of the guide link 27.

[0033] The elastic working element 7, which is textile-like and in particular made of a textile material, can form numerous different geometries of the working surface 19 with the aid of the tension elements 16. In order for the third frame element 20 and the fourth frame element 23 to adapt to the respective set geometry of the working surface 19, thus preventing a gap from forming between the frame 4 and the working element 7, the third frame element 20 and the fourth frame element 23 are designed to be variable and are, for example, made of an elastic material, or they are designed in the form of a chain with chain links that can move relative to each other.

[0034] The different geometries of the effective surface 19 can be further varied by the fact that the support elements 17 are not formed in one piece extending from the third frame element 20 to the fourth frame element 23, but are divided into support element parts 28, with each support element part 28 preferably being assigned a tension element 16.

[0035] The second frame element 6 is fixed, but, as already explained, movable and adapted to a desired frame shape of the frame 4. The working element 7, which is stretched inside the frame 4, can adapt to the rigid second frame element 6, particularly since it is guided through the receiving opening 12 and is preferably spring-loaded at its second element edge 11.

[0036] In an embodiment not shown in detail, the second frame element 6 does not have a receiving opening 12, but rather the working element 7 is guided over the second frame element 6. Or in other words, the Fig. The convex curvature of the second frame element 6 shown in figure 3 can be spanned.

[0037] Regardless of whether the second frame element 6 has a receiving opening 12, or whether the working element 7 is guided over the second frame element 6, an advantage of receiving the second element edge 11 in the clamping element 14, which is independent of the frame 4, is that a cavity 29 formed between the subfloor 25 and the working element 7, in which, for example, the tension elements 16 and the kinematics 18 are arranged, is not visible from the outside. It is thus covered. Or, in other words, the working element 7 can cover the cavity 29.

[0038] In the Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. Figure 6 illustrates the air guide device 3 according to the invention in a second embodiment. The air guide device 3 of the second embodiment differs from the air guide device 3 of the first embodiment in that the first element edge 9 is rollable and the second element edge 11 is fixedly connected to the second frame element 6.

[0039] For this purpose, the second frame element 6 has the receiving slot 10. Thus, the working element 7 of the second embodiment has the first element edge 9, extending along the transverse axis Y of the body, firmly received in the clamping element 14, which is designed independently of the frame 4, and the second element edge 11, which is designed facing away from the first element edge 9 and also extends along the transverse axis Y of the body, firmly connected to the frame 4.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the air guide element 26 in a first position. A second position of the air guide element 26, which differs from the first position by the adjustment of the second frame element 6 and different tensile forces on the working element 7, a so-called "performance" position, is shown in Fig. 5 illustrated.

[0041] The preferably spring-loaded, in particular torsionally spring-loaded, clamping element 14, which is rotatable about its element axis 30, is fixedly connected to the first element edge 9. The clamping element 14 is mounted in the first frame element 5 so as to be rotatable about its element axis 30. Since the second element edge 11 is fixedly connected to the second frame element 6, the cavity 29 is either visible or can be closed with a cover element (not shown in detail).

[0042] The frame 4 can be designed to form a joint, or it can be received in a rear cover (not shown in detail) formed between side parts 33 of the vehicle body 2, a rear part 34 of the vehicle body 2 and the rear frame 31. Reference symbol list 1 Rear area 2 Motor vehicle body 3 Air guide device 4 frames 5 First frame element 6 Second frame element 7 Active element 8 Rear window 9 First element edge 10 recording slots 11 Second element edge 12 Intake opening 13 Body component 14 clamping element 15 Subsurface 16 Pull element 17 Support element 18 Kinematics 19 Effective area 20 Third framework element 21 First element end 22 Second element end 23 Fourth frame element 24 Interior 25 Underbody 26 Air guide element 27 guide handles 28 Support element part 29 Cavity 30 Element axis 31 Rear frame 32 light strips 33 Side panel 34 Rear section F tractive force M Central axis X Body longitudinal axis Y body transverse axis Y0 cutting plane Z Body vertical axis

Claims

[1] Air guide device (3) of a motor vehicle body (2) with a flexible air guide element (26), wherein the air guide element (26) has a frame (4) in the interior (24) of which a flexible working element (7) is arranged, characterized by , that the flexible working element (7) is designed to change its geometry under the influence of a tensile force (F), wherein at least one tensile element (16) is arranged on the working element (7), on which the tensile force (F) can act by means of a kinematics (18) of the air guide device (3). [2] Air guide device (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the frame (4) has four frame elements (5, 6, 20, 23) which form the interior (24), wherein at least two of the frame elements (5, 6, 20, 23) are modifiable. [3] Air guide device (3) according to claim 2, characterized by, that the frame elements (20, 23), which extend along a longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle body (2), are designed to be modifiable. [4] Air guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the active element (7) is textile-like in form. [5] Air guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that to stabilize the active element (7) at least one support element (17) extending along a transverse body axis (Y) is in active connection with the active element (7). [6] Air guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tension element (16) is designed in a tab-like manner. [7] Air guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the frame (4) is designed to be at least partially liftable or lowerable by means of a guide link (27). [8] Air guide device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the active element (7) can cover a cavity (29) formed between the active element (7) and a subfloor (25) of the air guide element (26). [9] Air guide device(3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the working element (7) has a first element edge (9) extending along the transverse axis (Y) of the body and a second element edge (11) extending away from the first element edge (9), which also extends along the transverse axis (Y) of the body, wherein one of the two element edges (9; 11) is fixedly connected to the frame (4) and the other of the two element edges (11; 9) is fixedly received in a clamping element (14) which is independent of the frame (4). [10] Air guide device (3) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the clamping element (14) is designed to be spring-loaded.

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