Airflow control device in front of the windshield of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling the airflow in front of the windshield (10) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a deflector panel (110) adapted to be movably mounted by pivoting on said vehicle along a transverse axis between, a retracted position in which it is housed flush in a first opening (31) provided in the front panel (30) of said vehicle, and a raised position where it protrudes above the upper face of this panel; said device also comprising an actuating flap (120), pivotally fixed to said deflector panel, and extending below the latter at the level of the front facade (40) of said vehicle, said device being configured so that the rotational moment exerted by the airflow striking said actuating flap is sufficient to cause said deflector panel to pivot in the raised position when the forward speed of said vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold speed.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling airflow in front of the windshield of a motor vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the problem of airflow around motor vehicles. It relates in particular to a device for controlling the airflow in front of the windshield of such a motor vehicle. Previous technique

[0002] When a motor vehicle is travelling at high speed and in cold weather, the airflow hitting the windshield causes a cold wall phenomenon resulting in a significant drop in temperature in the upper front area of ​​the passenger compartment located near this windshield.

[0003] This localized temperature differential tends to cause a feeling of thermal discomfort for the front passengers of the vehicle.

[0004] Although motor vehicles are equipped with an air treatment system within the passenger compartment, generally designated by the acronym HVAC (for Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning), which includes heating means to deliver hot air inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle in order to warm the passenger compartment, the increase in the setpoint temperature leads to a significant overconsumption of energy by the vehicle (in fuel and / or electricity depending on the type of propulsion), resulting in a notable decrease in the vehicle's range.

[0005] Some motor vehicles are also equipped with an auxiliary close comfort system operating independently in addition to or as a replacement for the HVAC system and comprising a plurality of heated close comfort elements integrated into various parts of the vehicle such as, for example, the steering wheel, seat backs or door panels.

[0006] Activating these nearby comfort elements can thus limit this feeling of thermal discomfort while limiting overconsumption.

[0007] However, due to their relatively high cost, these auxiliary comfort systems are only found on certain high-end vehicle models. Furthermore, although their energy consumption is lower than that of the HVAC system, it is still significant enough to have a considerable impact on the vehicle's range.

[0008] Such an alteration of autonomy proves particularly problematic concerning electric propulsion vehicles for which obtaining the desired levels of comfort inside the passenger compartment must be balanced against maximizing their autonomy.

[0009] In order to limit the airflow striking the front windshield, it is also known, notably from US patent 9,399,493 Bl, that there are devices for controlling the airflow in front of a motor vehicle comprising: - a deflector panel capable of being mounted movably and pivotally on said vehicle along a transverse axis of the latter between a retracted position in which it is flush-mounted in an opening in the front hood of said vehicle, and a raised position where it protrudes above the upper face of this front hood; and - actuation means coupled to this deflector panel and capable of causing the latter to move between its retracted and deployed positions.

[0010] The presence of such an airflow control device makes it possible to limit the airflow hitting the windshield of the vehicle so as to reduce the cold wall phenomenon in the upper front area of ​​the passenger compartment located near this windshield.

[0011] However, their relatively high production cost limits their implementation to certain high-end vehicle models. Furthermore, this type of device presents reliability problems over time. Description of the invention

[0012] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0013] For this purpose, it proposes a device for controlling the airflow in front of the windscreen of a motor vehicle, comprising a deflector panel suitable for being mounted movable and pivotally on said vehicle along a transverse axis of the latter between, a retracted position in which it is housed flush in a first opening made in the front panel or in the front hood of said vehicle, and a raised position where it protrudes above the upper face of this panel or hood;characterized in that it also comprises an actuator flap, pivotally fixed to said deflector panel, and extending below the latter at the level of the front facade of said vehicle, said device being configured so that the rotational moment exerted by the airflow striking said actuator flap during the driving phases of said vehicle is sufficient to cause said deflector panel to pivot into the raised position when the forward speed of said vehicle reaches a predetermined threshold speed.

[0014] The addition of such a pivoting actuator flap to the deflector panel thus eliminates the need for a motorized control mechanism to drive the passing this deflector panel into the raised position limits the cost of the device while significantly improving its reliability.

[0015] According to preferred features of said airflow control device according to the invention: - said actuator flap is suitable for being mounted movable between, a substantially vertical closed position which it takes when said deflector panel occupies its retracted position and in which it is housed flush in a second opening provided in said facade, and an open position which it takes when said deflector panel occupies its retracted position and where it extends behind said second opening; - its center of gravity is positioned in such a way that its weight forces said deflector panel towards its retracted position; - said device also includes elastic return means which pull said deflector panel towards its retracted position; - said device includes a first stop provided to be provided under said front panel or under said front hood and against which the lower face of said deflector panel rests when it occupies its retracted position; - said device includes a second stop provided to be made behind the front face of said vehicle and against which the rear face of said actuator flap rests when said deflector panel is in its raised position; - said predetermined threshold speed is between 90 and 110 km / h; - said device comprises a locking element controlled by a motorized mechanism and movable between a default position retaining said deflector panel in its retracted position and a release position allowing the pivoting of said deflector panel, an outside temperature sensor, and a control unit for said motorized mechanism configured to command the movement of said locking element to the release position when the outside temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold temperature; and / or - said threshold temperature is between 10 and 20°C.

[0016] The invention finally relates in a second aspect to a motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one such device for controlling the airflow in front of the windshield. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.1] represents a three-quarter front perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with a device according to the invention for controlling the airflow in front of the windscreen, the deflector panel of which is in its retracted position; - [Fig.2] is a simplified vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle from [Fig.1], also showing the deflector panel in its retracted position; and - [Fig.3] represents a view similar to [Fig.2] but showing the deflector panel in the deployed position. Description of the implementation methods

[0018] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a motor vehicle 1 equipped with a device 100 according to the invention for controlling the airflow in front of the windscreen 10 of this vehicle 1.

[0019] A direct orthogonal frame XYZ is defined with respect to this vehicle 1, comprising three axes perpendicular in pairs, namely: - an X-axis, defining a longitudinal, horizontal direction, parallel to the ground and coinciding with the general direction of movement of the vehicle - a Y-axis, defining a transverse, horizontal direction, also parallel to the ground, which, together with the X-axis, defines a horizontal XY plane, and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground as well as to the horizontal XY plane.

[0020] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the frame defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" shall refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0021] Furthermore, and by convention, the terms "lower," "upper," "front," and "rear" shall be understood in relation to the overall orientation of the vehicle. The terms "lower" and "low" shall indicate a closer proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms "upper" or "high." The term "front" shall indicate a positioning oriented towards the front of the vehicle in the horizontal direction, and the term "rear" shall indicate a positioning oriented towards the rear of the vehicle in the same horizontal direction.

[0022] Finally, the use of the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially vertical" will indicate that a deviation of approximately 10° to 25° from a strictly vertical orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0023] With reference to [Fig.1], the motor vehicle 1 includes a front hood 20 intended to cover the engine compartment of this vehicle and whose rear portion is conventionally mounted articulated to pivot vis-à-vis the front body structure not visible of this vehicle 1.

[0024] In front of and in continuity with this front hood 20, the motor vehicle 1 also includes a front panel 30 extending to its front facade 40 comprising a front bumper 41 and a grille 42 fixedly mounted in a reception window provided in the upper central part of this front bumper 41.

[0025] The motor vehicle 1 is further equipped with a device 100 according to the invention for controlling the airflow in front of the windscreen 10, comprising a deflector panel 110 mounted movable and pivotable by its front edge and along a transverse axis T between: - a retracted position, illustrated by figures 1 and 2, in which it is housed flush in a first opening 31 made in the front breastplate 30, and - a raised position, illustrated by [Fig.3], in which it protrudes above the upper face of this front breastplate 30.

[0026] In this raised position, this deflector panel 110 is thus able to deflect some of the air molecules circulating above and near this front panel 30 so as to reduce the airflow hitting the windshield 10 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0027] This reduction in the airflow impacting the windshield 10 thus makes it possible, in particular, to significantly decrease the heat exchange by forced thermal convection between the outside air molecules and this windshield 10, thereby limiting the cold surface effect. It also reduces the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle caused by the airflow striking the windshield 10, as well as limiting the projection of insects and / or gravel onto the windshield.

[0028] As illustrated by [Fig.1], the deflector panel 110 is advantageously in the form of a flat wall of substantially rectangular shape having a substantially constant cross-section over its length.

[0029] Its length, oriented along the transverse direction of the vehicle 1, is advantageously greater than or equal to half the width of the windscreen 10 along this same transverse direction, and preferably greater than or equal to three-quarters of the width of this windscreen 10.

[0030] Its width is advantageously greater than or equal to five centimetres and preferably between five and ten centimetres.

[0031] In order to ensure optimal efficiency, the deflector panel 110 is advantageously configured to form, in its raised position, an angle of inclination between 50 and 70° with the horizontal.

[0032] According to the invention, the device 100 also includes an actuator flap 120, pivotally fixed to the deflector panel 110, and extending below the latter at the level of the front facade 40 of the vehicle 1.

[0033] This actuator flap 120 is mounted movably between: - a substantially vertical closed position, illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, which it takes when the deflector panel 110 is in its retracted position and in which it is flush-mounted in a second opening 43 provided in the front bumper 41 or in the grille 42 of the front fascia 40, and - an open position, illustrated by [Fig.3], which it takes when the deflector panel 110 occupies its raised position and where it extends behind this second opening 43.

[0034] As illustrated by [Fig. 1], the actuator flap 120 also advantageously takes the form of a flat wall of substantially rectangular shape having a substantially constant cross-section over its length.

[0035] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, this actuator flap 120 can consist of several walls spaced transversely apart from each other, and for example of two flat walls arranged symmetrically on either side of the average vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle 1 (such an arrangement allowing for example the manufacturer's logo to be positioned between these two walls so that it always remains visible even when the actuator flap 120 comes to occupy its open position).

[0036] This actuator flap 120 is advantageously made in one piece with the deflector panel 110, for example in metal or in a plastic or composite material. Advantageously, this deflector panel 110 and this actuator flap 120 are molded from a thermoplastic polymer resin, optionally reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers.

[0037] In order to prevent the deflector panel 110 from being able to fold down beyond its retracted position, the device 100 advantageously includes a first stop 130 provided under the front panel 30 and against which the lower face of this deflector panel 110 rests when it occupies its retracted position.

[0038] Furthermore, and in order to prevent the deflector panel 110 from being able to deploy upwards beyond its raised position, this device 100 preferably includes a second stop 140 provided behind the front face 40 of the vehicle 1 and against which the rear face of the actuator flap 120 rests when this deflector panel 110 occupies its raised position.

[0039] The center of gravity of this device 100 is further advantageously positioned so that its weight naturally forces this deflector panel 110 towards its retracted position.

[0040] If this is not the case and / or in order to ensure better stability of this deflector panel 110 in the retracted position at low speed, the device 100 may further include elastic return means not shown and which stress this deflector panel 110 towards this retracted position.

[0041] The device 100 is further configured so that the rotational moment exerted by the airflow striking the actuator flap 120 during the driving phases of the vehicle 1 is sufficient to cause, against the opposite rotational moment exerted by the airflow striking the deflector panel 110, the weight and / or the elastic restoring means, the pivoting of the deflector panel 110 into the raised position (and that of this actuator flap 120 into the open position) when the forward speed of this vehicle 1 reaches a predetermined threshold speed.

[0042] To achieve this, and regardless of the positions occupied by the deflector panel 110 and the actuator flap 120, it will be noted in support of Figures 2 and 3 that the projected surface Sv of this actuator flap 120 in a vertical transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of advance of the vehicle 1 will be defined so as to always be much greater than that SPD of this deflector panel 110, so that the resulting rotational moment exerted by the airflow tends to rotate the latter towards its raised position against the weight of this device 1 and / or the elastic restoring means.

[0043] This threshold speed will advantageously be between 90 and 110 km / h so that the positioning of the 110 deflector panel in the raised position only occurs during the movement of vehicle 1 on a fast road or motorway when the cold wall phenomenon is most pronounced and where the loss of a portion of the field of vision located just in front of vehicle 1 proves to be without impact (the driver's eyes being then focused on the more distant environment in front of this vehicle 1).

[0044] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the device according to the invention 100 may further comprise: - a locking device controlled by a motorized mechanism and movable between a default position retaining the deflector panel 110 in its retracted position and a release position allowing the pivoting of this deflector panel 110, - an outside temperature sensor, and - a control unit for said motorized mechanism configured to control the passage of said locking member into the release position when the outside temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold temperature, advantageously between 10 and 20°C.

[0045] According to another embodiment not shown, the first opening housing the deflector panel 110 in its retracted position can be provided in the hood before 20 of vehicle 1, preferably at the level of its front portion in order to limit the loss of the field of vision for the driver in front of this vehicle 1 when this deflector panel 110 comes to occupy its raised position in which it protrudes above the upper face of this front hood 20.

[0046] In such a case, it will be understood that the first stop 130 will then be provided under the front hood 20 of the vehicle 1.

[0047] Many other variants are conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all variants of execution within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Airflow control device (100) in front of the windscreen (10) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a deflector panel (110) capable of being movably pivoted on said vehicle (1) about a transverse axis (T) of the latter between, a retracted position in which it is housed flush in a first opening (31) provided in the front panel (30) or in the front hood (20) of said vehicle (1), and a raised position where it protrudes above the upper face of this panel (30) or this hood (20);characterized in that it also comprises an actuator flap (120), pivotally fixed to said deflector panel (110), and extending below the latter at the level of the front facade (40) of said vehicle (1), said device (100) being configured so that the rotational moment exerted by the airflow striking said actuator flap (120) during the driving phases of said vehicle (1) is sufficient to cause said deflector panel (110) to pivot into the raised position when the forward speed of said vehicle (1) reaches a predetermined threshold speed.;

2. Airflow control device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuator flap (120) is able to be mounted movable between, a substantially vertical closed position which it takes when said deflector panel (110) is in its retracted position and in which it is flush-mounted in a second opening (43) provided in said front panel (40), and an open position which it takes when said deflector panel (110) is in its retracted position and in which it extends behind said second opening (43).

3. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that its center of gravity is positioned such that its weight forces said deflector panel (110) towards its retracted position.

4. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it also comprises elastic return means for stressing said deflector panel (110) towards its retracted position.

5. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a first stop (130) provided to be provided under said front panel (30) or under said front hood (20) and against which the lower face of said deflector panel (110) rests when it occupies its retracted position.

6. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a second stop (140) provided to be made behind the front face (40) of said vehicle (1) and against which the rear face of said actuator flap (120) rests when said deflector panel (110) is in its raised position.

7. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said predetermined threshold speed is between 90 and 110 km / h.

8. Airflow control device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises: - a locking member controlled by a motorized mechanism and movable between a default position of retaining said deflector panel (110) in its retracted position and a release position allowing the pivoting of said deflector panel (110), - an outside temperature sensor, and - a control unit of said motorized mechanism configured to control the passage of said locking member into the release position when the outside temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold temperature.

9. Airflow control device (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that said threshold temperature is between 10 and 20°C.

10. Motor vehicle (1) characterized in that it comprises at least one airflow control device (100) in front of the windscreen (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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