Device for snow removal in the area of ​​a vehicle's wheel suspension

Abstract

A device 100 for preventing snow accumulation in the snow accumulation area of ​​a vehicle comprises at least one underbody panel 102 located beneath the snow accumulation area of ​​the vehicle and having an opening 104; and a flap 106 pivotally attached to the underbody panel 102 to keep the opening 104 closed. The opening 104 of the flap 106 causes snow accumulated above the at least one underbody panel 102 to fall downwards through the opening 104. The flap 106 is biased towards the closed position by a torsion spring 110, and when the weight of the snow accumulated above the flap 106 exceeds a predefined limit, the spring 110 allows the flap 106 to move into the open position and the accumulated snow to fall down.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the technical field of motor vehicles. In particular, it relates to a device that clears snow from the area of ​​the wheel suspension of a vehicle in order to prevent excessive snow accumulation. BACKGROUND

[0002] The background information contains details that may be useful for understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that the information contained herein is prior art or relevant to the present disclosure, or that any publication expressly or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] In low winter temperatures, snow tends to accumulate on underbody panels, such as under the wheel suspension or axle of the vehicle. This snow accumulation can impede the movement of the components of the corresponding system; in particular, the couplings of the wheel suspension system may no longer move freely. Furthermore, sensors mounted in this area may malfunction and transmit unreliable data.

[0004] Conventionally, various measures are taken to solve the aforementioned problem, such as snowplow mechanisms, arrangements of heating coils, and additional fixings for cladding, but these have their own disadvantages and limitations, such as lack of space, high energy requirements for the heating coils, etc.

[0005] Patent document JP2023061812A discloses a structure for the lower part of a vehicle body that can dissipate a load caused by snow or the like and prevent damage to underbody paneling when snow or the like penetrates the paneling. The paneling comprises a front panel section extending from a position in front of a trailing arm to a position where a front portion of the trailing arm is covered, and a rear panel section extending continuously rearward from the center of the front panel section toward the width of the vehicle.The underbody panel is attached to a vehicle body by a first fastening section, which is located in front of the rear end section and on an outer side in the direction of the vehicle width of the longitudinal control arm, and a second fastening section, which is located behind the first fastening section and on an inner side in the direction of the vehicle width of the longitudinal control arm.

[0006] While the aforementioned patent provides for an underbody lining for the structure of a lower part that can dissipate the load caused by snow in order to prevent damage to the underbody lining, it is possible to find a better solution to the above-mentioned problem with a smaller number of components.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a simple and cost-effective solution that prevents snow from accumulating in containers so that they can move freely in winter and the sensors of the relevant parts can function. OBJECTS OF INVENTION

[0008] A general objective of the present disclosure is to provide a device that can prevent snow accumulation in areas where vehicles accumulate snow in winter.

[0009] One purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a simple and cost-effective solution that can eliminate the problems mentioned above.

[0010] One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a device that can protect level sensors and prevent their faulty behavior due to very low temperatures caused by snow accumulation.

[0011] One objective of this disclosure is to provide a device that can be installed in areas with snow accumulation without requiring any modifications to the relevant systems. SUMMARY

[0012] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of motor vehicles. In particular, it relates to a device that removes snow from the areas where snow accumulates on a vehicle in order to prevent over-accumulation. Specifically, the snow removal is automatic, utilizing the principle of gravity to dispose of the snow before it accumulates excessively.

[0013] In one aspect, the proposed device for preventing snow accumulation in the snow accumulation area of ​​a vehicle may include at least one underbody panel located beneath the snow accumulation area. This underbody panel comprises an opening and a flap pivotally attached to the panel to keep the opening closed. Opening the flap allows snow that has accumulated above the underbody panel to fall through the opening.

[0014] In one aspect, the flap is attached to at least one underbody panel via a hinge pin.

[0015] In one aspect, the flap is pre-tensioned towards the closed position by a torsion spring.

[0016] The torsion spring is a coil spring arranged around the hinge pin.

[0017] In one aspect, the spring is configured so that if the weight of the accumulated snow exceeds a predefined limit, the spring moves the flap into the open position and moves the flap back into the closed position once the accumulated snow has fallen off.

[0018] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawing figures, in which the same numbers represent the same components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings serve to further understand the present disclosure and are an integral part of this description. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary top view of the proposed device for a vehicle according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2A shows an exemplary upper panel of the underbody panel of the proposed device. Fig. 1 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 2B shows an exemplary top view of a flap with hinge pin and torsion spring of the proposed device. Fig. 1 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary view illustrating the fastening of the flap to the underbody panel by the hinge pin and the spring according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] A detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in the accompanying drawings follows. The embodiments are described in sufficient detail to clearly convey the disclosure. However, the necessary level of detail is not intended to limit foreseeable variations of embodiments; on the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims.

[0021] The embodiments described herein relate to an underbody panel arrangement (also referred to herein as a device) for use in a suspension area of ​​a vehicle's wheel suspension, which prevents excessive snow accumulation in the suspension area. It is understood that, while the embodiments have been described with reference to the wheel suspension area of ​​vehicles, the disclosed concept can be implemented in any other area of ​​the vehicle to overcome the problem of excessive snow accumulation without any limitations whatsoever.

[0022] In one embodiment, the disclosed device for preventing snow accumulation in the area of ​​a vehicle's wheel suspension comprises at least one underbody panel located beneath the vehicle's wheel suspension and having an opening, and a flap pivotally attached to the underbody panel to keep the opening closed. Opening the flap causes snow accumulations above the at least one underbody panel to fall through the opening. The flap is biased toward the closed position by a torsion spring, and when the weight of the snow accumulated above the flap exceeds a predefined limit, the spring allows the flap to move automatically to the open position without manual intervention. Once the accumulated snow has fallen, the bias force moves the flap back to the closed position.

[0023] In one embodiment, the flap is pivotally attached to the underbody panel via a hinge pin and is pre-tensioned into the closed position by a torsion spring, which may be a coil spring arranged around the hinge pin.

[0024] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 3, where exemplary views of the proposed device 100 are disclosed, showing various aspects of the device 100. Vehicles operated in cold regions may face the problem of inconsistent movement of the suspension links due to snow accumulation. Therefore, the device 100 is proposed to prevent excessive snow accumulation in the area of ​​a vehicle's suspension.

[0025] In one embodiment, the device 100 can comprise at least one underbody panel 102 and at least one flap 106 connected to the underbody panel 102. It is understood that, although the exemplary figures and embodiments with the underbody panel 102 having a single flap 106 have been described, it is possible to have more than one flap 106 on each of the at least one underbody panel 102, and all such variations are well within the scope of this disclosure without any limitations whatsoever.

[0026] In one embodiment, one or more underbody panels 102 can be installed under one or more wheel suspensions of the vehicle, e.g., one for each wheel, or under one or more axles or any other system of the vehicle where the problem of snow accumulation may occur. The underbody panel 102 is provided with an opening 104, as shown in Fig. 2A is shown, which is arranged so that the opening 104 provides a passage for the accumulated snow, through which it falls downwards due to gravity in order to remove the accumulated snow.

[0027] In one embodiment as described in the Fig. 2A and Fig. As shown in Figure 2B, the opening 104 and the flap 106 can have a rectangular shape, although other shapes are entirely within the scope of the present disclosure. The flap 106 can be assembled along one side of the flap 106 for pivoting motion, as shown in Figure 2B. Fig. Figure 1 shows that the flap 106 is attached to the at least one underbody panel 102, serving as a pivot point to keep the opening 104 closed. The flap 106 is pivotally attached to the at least one underbody panel via a hinge pin 108, and the flap 106 is biased towards the closed position by a torsion spring 110, as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2B shown.

[0028] In one embodiment, the torsion spring 110 can be a helical spring arranged around the hinge pin 108, as in Fig. 3 shown.

[0029] In one embodiment, while driving on a snow-covered road, snow can be kicked up from the road surface by the wheels and accumulate on the inside of the underbody panel 102. The spring-actuated flap 106 opens downwards when the weight of the snow accumulated on the flap 106 exceeds a predefined limit, causing the flap 106 to open and the accumulated snow to slide downwards. The torsional spring constant of the torsion spring 110 can be selected appropriately to meet the requirement of the predefined snow line at which the flap 106 is to open.

[0030] In one embodiment, the opening 104 for the flap 106 generally has a rectangular shape. However, any other shape, for example one corresponding to the profile of the relevant underbody panel 102, is entirely possible. The flap 106 can be pivotally attached to the underbody panel 102 to cover the opening 104 as required, either longitudinally or laterally.

[0031] In one embodiment, the flap 106 can have two rounded sections, such as 112-1 and 112-2 (here collectively referred to as rounded sections 112), along the hinged section to hold the hinge pin 108 between them, as shown in Fig. 2B shown. The flap 106 can be made from a plate, although the use of other corrosion-resistant materials, such as plastics, in which the rounded sections 112 can be integrally formed, is entirely within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 illustrates the assembly of the torsion spring 110 over the hinge pin 108.

[0033] In one embodiment, the integrated arrangement for opening and closing the flap 106 above the underbody panel 102 may comprise a guide 302 for holding one leg of the torsion spring 110, a pair of end structures, such as the end structures 304-1, 304-2 (hereinafter collectively referred to as end structures 304), to hold the hinge pin 108 at two ends of the hinge pin 108, and a pair of circularly cut sections, such as 306-1, 306-2 (hereinafter circularly referred to as sections 306), to locate the ends of the hinge pin 108.

[0034] In one embodiment, the torsion spring 110 is configured such that the flap 106 moves into the open position when the weight of the accumulated snow exceeds a predefined limit.

[0035] In one embodiment, the flap 106 in the underbody panel 102 is in a closed state due to the preload force of the torsion spring 110 in normal weather without snow on the road.

[0036] Thus, the present disclosure provides an improved, simple, and cost-effective underbody panel 102 with a flap 106 to prevent snow accumulation in the vehicle's wheel suspension during winter driving on snowy roads. The arrangement 100 is assembled with a minimum of inexpensive parts, thereby saving costs.

[0037] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention can be developed without deviating from the fundamental scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, variants, or examples, provided that they are intended to enable a person with ordinary technical knowledge to manufacture and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to such a person. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The present disclosure provides a device that can prevent snow accumulation in the area of ​​the wheel suspension of vehicles during the winter and ensure the free movement of the wheel suspension.

[0039] The present disclosure offers a simple and cost-effective solution that can eliminate the problems mentioned above.

[0040] The present disclosure provides a device that can ensure that the level sensors do not malfunction due to very low temperatures caused by snow accumulation.

[0041] The present disclosure provides a device that can be installed in the area of ​​the wheel suspension without altering the system. 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] JP 2023061812A

[0005]

Claims

[1] Device (100) for preventing snow accumulation in the snow accumulation area of ​​a vehicle, the device (100) comprising: at least one underbody panel (102) located below the area of ​​snow accumulation on the vehicle, wherein the at least one underbody panel (102) has an opening (104); and a flap (106) which is pivotably attached to the at least one underbody panel (102) to keep the opening (104) closed; wherein the opening (104) of the flap (106) causes snow that has accumulated above the at least one underbody panel (102) to fall downwards through the opening (104). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the flap (106) is pivotably attached to the at least one underbody panel (102) via a hinge pin (108). [3] Device according to claim 2, wherein the flap (106) is biased into the closed position by a torsion spring (110). [4] System according to claim 3, wherein the torsion spring (110) is a helical spring arranged around the hinge pin (108). [5] System according to claim 1, wherein the torsion spring (110) is configured such that when the weight of the accumulated snow exceeds a predefined limit, the torsion spring (110) allows the flap (106) to move into the open position.

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