Aerodynamic flap provided with aerodynamic disruptors

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerodynamic device (1) designed to increase the grip of the vehicle during its movement, the device (1) having a flap (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) between an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), the lower face (4) being designed to be mounted facing the vehicle and at a distance therefrom, the upper (3) and lower (4) faces being shaped to generate an aerodynamic thrust force resulting from the flow of air flow over the upper (3) and lower (4) faces during the movement of the vehicle equipped with the device (1), the lower face (4) having a plurality of bosses (8) dimensioned to disturb a flow of air over the lower face (4) and distributed with a uniform surface distribution covering a flow surface (9) of the lower face (4), the flow surface (9) being designed to be subjected to an air flow when the vehicle is in motion.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Aerodynamic flap provided with aerodynamic disruptors

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2211048 5 filed on October 25, 2022, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The technical field relates to aerodynamic devices designed to increase the grip of a moving motor vehicle, as well as vehicles equipped with such aerodynamic devices.

[0002] Car manufacturers are particularly careful to offer their 10 customers want comfortable vehicles for their passengers. One of the essential comfort criteria is obviously the management of noise generated by the vehicle's movement. A major source of background noise comes from aerodynamic noise generated by airflow around the vehicle while it is moving. However, acoustic characteristics are among those that 15 most influence the customer's judgment on their perception of the quality of the vehicle they are testing. It is therefore important for car manufacturers to improve the acoustic characteristics of their vehicles as much as possible.

[0003] In this context, many vehicles are equipped with a spoiler. In a way 20 Generally, a spoiler is a transverse blade that is arranged at the rear of the vehicle to increase the pressure on the rear axle of the vehicle, due to the flow of air over the spoiler. There are two main families of spoilers, spoilers that are fixed to the vehicle and spoilers that are mounted mobile on the vehicle. [0ŒS4] While spoilers are effective in improving the road holding of the vehicles they equip, they are particularly prone to aerodynamic noise.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide an aerodynamic device capable of increasing the grip of the 30 vehicle while limiting or avoiding aerodynamic noise usually generated by spoilers.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to an aerodynamic device designed to equip a motor vehicle and to increase the grip of the vehicle when it is moving, the device having a flap extending along an axis longitudinal between an upper face and a lower face, the lower face being designed to be mounted opposite and at a distance from the vehicle, the upper and lower faces being shaped to generate an aerodynamic thrust force resulting from the flow of air over the upper and lower faces 5 lower when moving the vehicle equipped with the device, the lower face having a plurality of bosses sized to disturb an air flow on the lower face and distributed according to a uniform surface distribution covering a flow surface of the lower face, the flow surface being designed to be subjected to an air flow when the vehicle is in 10 movement.

[0007] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one aerodynamic device according to the invention mounted on the vehicle so that the lower face is at a distance from and facing the vehicle, the longitudinal axis of the flap corresponding to a transverse axis of the vehicle, and so as to allow 15 the airflow on the upper and lower faces to generate a thrust force when the vehicle is moving.

[0008] Thus, the aerodynamic device, thanks to its flap delimited by the upper and lower faces, is able to generate a thrust force, directed towards the ground, to increase the pressure on the vehicle, thus increasing its 20 grip on the road when moving. Experience has shown that the bosses are effective in disrupting the airflow on the underside of the flap and thus reducing the aerodynamic noise usually encountered on conventional spoilers. The uniform surface distribution makes it possible to optimize the disturbance generated by the bosses, significantly reducing or 25 canceling aerodynamic noise. Thus, the aerodynamic device makes it possible to obtain a vehicle according to the invention having reduced aerodynamic noise in comparison with a vehicle equipped with a conventional spoiler.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the uniform distribution comprises at least three alignments of at least three bosses along an alignment axis 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shutter.

[0010] Advantageously, each alignment has an equidistant distribution of the alignment bosses.

[0011] According to one possibility, the distribution is chosen so that the flow surface is free from alignment of at least three bosses in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shutter.

[0012] According to one embodiment, at least the flow surface of the face 5 lower part has, in addition to the bosses, graining.

[0013] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description which follows, given solely as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

[0014] [Fig. 1] Figure 1, represents a perspective and bottom view of a 10 aerodynamic device according to the invention.

[0015] An aerodynamic device 1 according to the invention is designed to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention and to increase the grip of the vehicle when it is moving. For this purpose, the device 1 has a flap 2 extending along a longitudinal axis A between an upper face 3 and a lower face 4. 15 The upper 3 and lower 4 faces are shaped to generate an aerodynamic thrust force resulting from the flow of air on the upper 3 and lower 4 faces when the vehicle equipped with the device 1 moves. Thanks to the aerodynamic thrust force generated by the device 1, the vehicle according to the invention undergoes a thrust force oriented towards the ground so that its 20 grip is increased when moving. In order to produce this thrust force towards the ground, the lower face 4 is designed to be mounted opposite and at a distance from the vehicle while the upper face 3 is designed to be oriented upwards once mounted on the vehicle.

[0016] Once the device 1 is mounted on the vehicle, the upper 3 and lower 4 faces are mounted on the vehicle so that the lower face 4 is at a distance from and facing the vehicle, the longitudinal axis A of the flap 2 corresponding to a transverse axis of the vehicle, and so as to allow the flow of air on the upper 3 and lower 4 faces to generate the thrust force when the vehicle is moving. For example, the device 1 is designed so that, when mounted 30 on the vehicle, the lower face 4 is mounted opposite a rear trunk panel of the vehicle.

[0017] The shutter 2 further comprises, as illustrated in figure 1, two feet 5, for example projecting from the lower face 4. The feet 5 allow the mounting of the device 1 on the vehicle. The feet 5 are each terminated by a mounting interface 6 allowing the device 1 to be fixed to the vehicle according to the invention.

[0018] In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the shutter 2 has curved longitudinal ends 7 each formed by an extension along the 5 feet 5 of the upper face 3, up to the end of each foot 5.

[0019] Alternatively, the flap 2 is mounted movably on the vehicle according to the invention, for example between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the retracted position and when the vehicle is moving there is, for example, an air flow on the upper face 3 only, while in the deployed position an air flow occurs on the upper face 3 and the lower face 4 when the vehicle according to the invention is moving.

[0020] The lower face 4 has a plurality of bosses 8 forming aerodynamic disruptors. Each boss 8 is sized to disrupt an air flow on the lower face 4. Each boss 8 15 has, for example, a hemispherical and / or truncated ovoid shape. Advantageously, the bosses 8 are identical. Each boss 8 projects from the lower face 4 and is integral with the latter. For example, the bosses 8 are obtained by molding. The aerodynamic device 1 comprises at least 50 bosses 8, preferably more than 60 bosses 8. In example 20 illustrated in the figure, the lower face 4 comprises 69 bosses 8.

[0021] The bosses 8 present on the lower face 4 are distributed according to a uniform surface distribution covering a flow surface 9 of the lower face 4, the flow surface 9 being designed to be subjected to an air flow when the vehicle equipped with the device 1 is in motion. By uniform surface distribution is meant a uniform distribution along at least two orthogonal directions of the surface considered. The flow surface 9 extends, as illustrated in FIG. 1, between the feet 5 and over the majority of the width of the flap 2.

[0022] For example, the flow surface 9 covers at least 60% of the lower face 4, preferably at least 80% of the lower face 4.

[0023] As illustrated in Figure 1, the uniform distribution comprises at least three alignments 10 of at least three bosses 8 along an alignment axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the flap 2. Advantageously, each alignment 10 has an equidistant distribution of the bosses 8 of the alignment 10. By alignment 10, it is understood that the bosses 8 of the alignment 10 are arranged so as to have all their centers arranged in the same way relative to the alignment axis. In particular in an alignment 10 or a distribution close to the alignment, comparable to an alignment 10, the bosses 8 5 are visually perceived as aligned.

[0024] In order to improve the efficiency of the bosses 8, the distribution is chosen so that the flow surface 9 is free of boss 8 alignment in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flap 2. In other words, there is no axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the flap 2 along which at least three bosses 8 are aligned. Thus, each stream of air flowing over the flow surface 9 encounters at least one boss 8 and is disturbed thereby.

[0025] In practice, the bosses 8 are each part of an alignment 10 and all of the bosses 8 of an alignment 10 are offset longitudinally relative to the bosses 8 of the other alignments 10.

[0036] Advantageously, the flow surface 9 of the lower face 4 has, in addition to the bosses 8, a graining, not illustrated in the figure. The graining is for example obtained by a coating of the lower face 4 such as a grained skin. While the bosses 8 are of a dimension visible to the naked eye, of the order of a few millimeters to a few centimeters, the graining is invisible. 20 or difficult to see with the naked eye. The graining dimensions are in the order of a millimeter or less than a millimeter. The graining presents, for example, random asperities.

[0027] Thus, the aerodynamic device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the aerodynamic noise encountered with conventional spoilers. The uniform surface distribution of the bosses 8 on the flow surface 9 proves to be particularly effective. The vehicle according to the invention is therefore quieter than a vehicle equipped with a conventional spoiler thanks to the device 1 according to the invention.

[0028] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the aerodynamic device 30 described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Aerodynamic device (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle and to increase the grip of the vehicle when it is moving, the device (1) having a flap (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) between an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), the lower face (4) being designed to be mounted opposite and at a distance from the vehicle, the upper (3) and lower (4) faces being shaped to generate an aerodynamic thrust force resulting from the air flow on the upper (3) and lower (4) faces when the vehicle equipped with the device (1) is moving, the lower face (4) having a plurality of bosses (8) sized to disturb an air flow on the lower face (4) and distributed according to a uniform surface distribution covering a flow surface (9) of the lower face (4), the flow surface (9) being designed to be subjected to an air flow when the vehicle is moving.

2. Aerodynamic device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the uniform distribution comprises at least three alignments (10) of at least three bosses (8) along an alignment axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of the flap (2).

3. Aerodynamic device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each alignment (10) has an equidistant distribution of the bosses (8) of the alignment (10).

4. Aerodynamic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distribution is chosen so that the flow surface (9) is free from alignment of at least three bosses (8) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the flap (2).

5. Aerodynamic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the flow surface (9) of the lower face (4) has, in addition to the bosses (8), graining.

6. Motor vehicle comprising at least one aerodynamic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 mounted on the vehicle so that the lower face (4) is at a distance from and facing the vehicle, the longitudinal axis (A) of the flap (2) corresponding to a transverse axis of the vehicle, and so as to allow the flow of air on the upper (3) and lower (4) faces to generate a thrust force when the vehicle is moving.

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