Air duct system and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air guidance device (1) for controlling a downforce in a motor vehicle (2), comprising an air inlet channel (3). The essential element of the invention is that - that at a fork (5) in the direction of flow (4) behind the air inlet duct (3) a first air duct (6) pointing upwards in the installed state and a second air duct (7) pointing downwards in the installed state are arranged, - that at the fork (5) an upper air guide element (8), a middle air guide element (9) and a lower air guide element (10) are provided one above the other, which in a first position close off the downward-pointing second air channel (7) and direct air (11) into the upward-pointing first air channel (6) and which in a second position close off the upward-pointing first air channel (6) and direct the air (11) into the downward-pointing second air channel (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an air guidance device with an air inlet channel for controlling downforce in a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with such a front-mounted air guidance device.

[0002] From DE 10 2008 020 399 A1, an air guidance device for controlling downforce in a motor vehicle with an air intake duct is known, wherein a first air duct pointing upwards in the installation state and a second air duct pointing downwards in the installation state are arranged at a fork in the flow direction behind the air intake duct.

[0003] From DE 10 2008 024 942 A1, an air guidance device with a front air inlet is known, through which airflow can enter a motor vehicle and, for example, flow through a downstream cooling device. In the direction of travel, behind the air inlet and, in particular, in front of a cooling device, at least one bottom-side opening is provided through which airflow can be discharged downwards. Furthermore, a control device is provided, which is designed to control or regulate the airflow through the at least one bottom-side opening in order to influence a pitching moment of the motor vehicle.

[0004] From EP 3 508 401 A2, a motor vehicle with a front section is known in which a first air duct extending longitudinally along the vehicle and a second air duct extending vertically along the vehicle are arranged. An adjustable closure element is arranged in the second air duct, which is intended to improve downforce.

[0005] Especially in sports cars, it is a great advantage to be able to adjust the necessary downforce on the front axle depending on the driving situation in order to maintain the vehicle balance of the overall vehicle in the ideal driving dynamics range for both a high downforce configuration and a low downforce configuration.

[0006] A disadvantage of the motor vehicles known from the prior art is that, for example, to influence a downforce and thereby influence a so-called pitching moment, they can only change the airflow between two air channels.

[0007] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for an air guidance device of the generic type, by means of which the driving dynamics of a motor vehicle can be further improved in particular.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention is based on the general concept of improving the driving dynamics and, in particular, the road grip of a motor vehicle by means of a specially configured air guidance system with a total of three air guide elements arranged one above the other at an air duct junction (fork), in that at least one of these air guide elements can generate additional downforce. The air guidance system according to the invention has an air inlet duct and is designed to control downforce and thus road grip in a motor vehicle. At a fork in the flow direction behind the air inlet duct, a first air duct, pointing upwards in the installed state, and a second air duct, pointing downwards in the installed state, are arranged.At the fork, arranged one above the other are an upper air guide element, a middle air guide element, and a lower air guide element. In their first position, these elements close off the downward-facing second air channel and direct the air into the upward-facing first air channel. In their second position, they close off the upward-facing first air channel and direct the air into the downward-facing second air channel. In the first position, the air flowing in through the intake channel, for example, the airflow from a moving vehicle, is thus directed into the upward-facing first air channel, while the downward-facing second air channel is closed. This alone can generate a high downforce. However, the middle air guide element, like the lower air guide element in the first position, also generates a downward downforce and additionally directs air from the intake channel into the upward-facing first air channel.This improves road grip and thus dynamic driving behavior. According to the invention, it is further provided that the upper air guide element, in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, directs air into the upward-pointing first air channel; that the middle air guide element, in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, directs air into the upward-pointing first air channel and generates downforce; and that the lower air guide element, in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, directs air into the downward-pointing second air channel.

[0010] The central air guide element advantageously has a convex lower surface and a concave upper surface in cross-section. This creates a cross-sectional shape analogous to an inverted airfoil. Thus, the central air guide element generates downforce during airflow and also directs air into the upward-facing first air channel, thereby improving downforce and thus ground contact.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the upper air guide element rests against a wall of the bifurcation or the upward-facing first air duct in the first position, while the lower air guide element closes off the downward-facing second air duct in the first position. This offers the advantage that the first air guide element, in its first position, presents virtually no flow resistance at the bifurcation from the air inlet duct into the upward-facing first air duct, and thus does not impede the airflow within the air guidance device, or only does so marginally.In its first position, the lower air guide element closes the downward-facing second air channel, whereby preferably almost all air flowing into the air guidance device according to the invention via the inlet channel is directed via the middle air guide element and the lower air guide element into the upward-facing first air channel, thereby generating downforce. The middle air guide element, like the lower air guide element, generates additional downforce.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the air guidance device according to the invention, the upper air guide element rests against the middle air guide element and against a wall of the bifurcation in the second position and, together with the middle air guide element, closes the upwardly pointing first air channel. In the second position, the lower air guide element directs air into the downwardly pointing second air channel, so that when the air guide elements are in their second position, all air flowing into the air guidance device according to the invention via the air inlet channel is directed into the downwardly pointing second air channel, thereby directing the air under the vehicle when the air guidance device is installed in a motor vehicle.

[0013] The air inlet duct, the upward-pointing first air duct and the downward-pointing second air duct are advantageously designed as injection-molded plastic parts, in particular even as a single piece, which enables not only cost-effective but also high-quality manufacturing of the air guidance system.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the air guidance device according to the invention, an adjustment mechanism is provided that effects a simultaneous adjustment of the three air guide elements. Such an adjustment mechanism can, for example, be an actuating lever connected to the three air guide elements and connected to an electric actuator. This allows for precise, uniform adjustment of the three air guide elements without high manufacturing effort and without high costs.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the air guidance device according to the invention, the upper air guide element and the lower air guide element each have a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface. This can be a symmetrical profile or a semi-symmetrical profile.

[0016] The present invention is further based on the general concept of equipping a motor vehicle with an air guidance device described in the preceding paragraphs and arranged at the front, thereby transferring the advantages described with regard to the air guidance device according to the invention to the motor vehicle according to the invention. Specifically, these advantages lie particularly in a significantly increased downforce and thus a significantly improved road grip of the motor vehicle when the air guide element is in its first position, since in the first position not only is the downward-pointing second air channel closed and the air flowing in via the air intake channel directed exclusively into the upward-pointing first air channel, thus generating downforce, but an additional downforce can also be generated by the middle and lower air guide elements.This can result in significantly improved dynamic driving behavior.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0018] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawings.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0020] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 a frontal view of an air guidance device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a representation as in Fig. 1, however, in an oblique view, Fig. 3 a sectional view through the air guidance device according to the invention along the section plane AA, Fig. 4 different forces acting on the individual air guide elements when the air guide elements are in their first position, Fig. 5 a representation as in Fig. 4, however, in the case of air guide elements that are in their intermediate position, Fig. 6 a representation as in Fig. 4, however, with air guide elements in their second position.

[0021] According to the Fig. 1-3, an air guidance device 1 according to the invention for controlling a downforce in a motor vehicle 2 has an air inlet channel 3 and a fork 5 arranged behind it in the flow direction 4 (compare Fig. 3) from which a first air duct 6, pointing upwards in the installed state, and a second air duct 7, pointing downwards, branch off. According to the invention, three air guide elements 8, 9, 10 are arranged one above the other at the fork, namely an upper air guide element 8, a middle air guide element 9, and a lower air guide element 10 (see also the Fig. 4-6). In a first position (compare Fig. 4) The air guide elements 8, 9, 10 close off the downward-facing second air channel 7 and direct the air 11 flowing in via the air intake channel 3 into the upward-facing first air channel 6, thereby achieving a comparatively high downforce and thus high road grip of the vehicle 2. In their second position (compare Fig. 6) The air guide elements 8, 9, 10 close off the upward-pointing first air duct 6 (compare Fig. 6) and direct the air 11 into the downward-pointing second air channel 7.

[0022] The central air guide element 9 has accordingly the Fig. 3 - 6 the cross-sectional profile of an inverted airfoil with a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface, which contributes to the fact that the central air guide element 9 in its first position not only directs the air 11 into the upward-pointing first air channel 6, but also generates downforce due to the inverted airfoil profile.

[0023] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows the individual air guide elements 8, 9, 10 in their first position as well as in their second position and the intermediate position in order to illustrate the movement range of the air guide elements 8, 9, 10.

[0024] The air guide elements 8, 9, 10 are each pivotable about an associated horizontal axis, which usually runs transversely to the vehicle. These horizontal axes run according to the Fig. 3 - 6 perpendicular to the image plane.

[0025] In the first position, the upper air guide element 8 rests against a wall 12 of the fork 5 or of the upward-pointing first air channel 7, while the lower air guide element 10 closes off the downward-branching second air channel 7.

[0026] In the second position (compare Fig. 6) the upper air guide element 8 rests against the middle air guide element 9, i.e., against its upper side, as well as against the wall 12 of the fork 5 (compare Fig. 6). In contrast, the lower air guide element 10 directs the air 11 into the downward-pointing second air channel 7 in the second position.

[0027] The air guide elements 8, 9, 10 can also assume an intermediate position between the two positions, such as this one, for example, according to the Fig. Figure 5 illustrates this. In this intermediate position, the upper air guide element 8 directs air 11 into the upward-facing first air channel 6, while the middle air guide element 9 also directs air 11 into the upward-facing first air channel 6, but simultaneously generates additional downforce due to its inverted airfoil profile. In this intermediate position, the lower air guide element 10 directs the air 11 into the downward-facing second air channel 7. Thus, in this intermediate position, both the first air channel 6 and the second air channel 7 are filled with air 11, but the middle air guide element 9 also generates significant downforce due to its inverted airfoil profile, thereby improving the ground grip of the vehicle 2. Naturally, the air guide elements 8, 9, and 10 can also assume further intermediate positions.

[0028] If one considers, for example, the forces acting on the individual air guide elements 8, 9, 10 as a function of their respective positions, one can determine accordingly the Fig. 4 recognize that, in the first position of the air guide elements 8, 9, 10, the forces acting on the middle air guide element 9 are approximately twice as large as the forces acting on the lower air guide element 10, while no forces act on the upper air guide element 8, since in its first position it rests against the wall 12 of the fork 5.

[0029] In accordance with the Fig. In the intermediate position shown in section 5, almost the same forces act on all air guide elements 8, 9, 10 as in the second position, as is the case according to the Fig. Figure 6 is shown. However, due to the steering effect of the individual air guide elements 8, 9, 10, the forces acting on the air guide elements 8, 9, 10 in the second position are greater than the forces acting on the air guide elements 8, 9, 10 in the intermediate position, as can be seen in the comparison of the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is recognizable.

[0030] An adjustment mechanism 13 is used to adjust the individual air guide elements 8, 9, 10 (compare the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3) provided, by means of which the individual air guide elements 8, 9, 10 can be adjusted simultaneously. The adjustment mechanism 13 is driven, for example, by an electric drive unit 14.

[0031] All in all, with the air guidance device 1 according to the invention and the motor vehicle 2 according to the invention, a significantly improved dynamic driving behavior can be achieved, since significantly increased downforces and thus significantly improved road grip can be achieved by means of the air guidance device 1 according to the invention.

Claims

[1] Air guidance device (1) for controlling a downforce in a motor vehicle (2), comprising an air inlet channel (3), wherein - at a fork (5) in the direction of flow (4) behind the air inlet duct (3) a first air duct (6) pointing upwards in the installed state and a second air duct (7) pointing downwards in the installed state are arranged, - at the fork (5) an upper air guide element (8), a middle air guide element (9) and a lower air guide element (10) are arranged one above the other, which in a first position close the downwardly pointing second air channel (7) and direct air (11) into the upwardly pointing first air channel (6) and which in a second position close the upwardly pointing first air channel (6) and direct air (11) into the downwardly pointing second air channel (7), characterized by , - that the upper air guide element (8) directs air (11) into the upwardly pointing first air channel (6) in an intermediate position between the first and second positions, - that the central air guide element (9) directs air (11) into the upward-pointing first air channel (6) in an intermediate position between the first and second positions and generates downforce, - that the lower air guide element (10) directs air (11) into the downward-pointing second air channel (7) in an intermediate position between the first and second positions. [2] Air guidance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the central air guide element (9) has a convex underside (15) and a concave topside (16) in cross-section. [3] Air guidance device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , - that the upper air guide element (8) in the first position rests against a wall (12) of the fork (5) or of the upwardly pointing first air channel (6), - that the central air guide element (9) is designed in such a way that it generates downforce in the first position, - that the lower air guide element (10) in the first position closes off the downward-pointing second air channel (7). [4] Air guidance device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the upper air guide element (8) in the second position rests against the middle air guide element (9) and against a wall (12) of the fork (5) and together with the middle air guide element (9) closes the upwardly pointing first air channel (6), - that the lower air guide element (10) directs air (11) into the downward-pointing second air channel (7) in the second position. [5] Air guidance device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that an adjustment mechanism (13) is provided which causes a common adjustment of the three air guide elements (8, 9, 10). [6] Air guidance device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the upper air guide element (8) and the lower air guide element (10) each have a convex upper surface and a convex lower surface. [7] Air guidance device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the air inlet channel (3), the upwardly pointing first air channel (6) and the downwardly pointing second air channel (7) are designed as a particularly one-piece injection-molded plastic part. [8] Motor vehicle (2) with a front-mounted air guidance device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

Images