vehicle
The vehicle design uses a rotor and stator system to manage airflow from rotating wheels, reducing air resistance by directing airflow under the vehicle body, thus maintaining design flexibility and compliance with regulations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUBARU CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
Smart Images
Figure 2026112936000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application mainly discloses vehicles.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses forming the entire outer surface of a wheel member in a screw shape.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, during driving, a blowing flow may be generated from a wheel that rotates while being exposed on the side surface of the vehicle body. This blowing flow disturbs the flow of the airflow that flows from the front to the rear along the side surface of the vehicle body. The disturbance of the airflow increases the air resistance of the vehicle body. As a method for suppressing such a blowing flow from the wheel, for example, it is conceivable to make the entire outer surface of the wheel member flat. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses forming the entire outer surface of the wheel member in a screw shape. However, restricting the entire outer surface of the wheel member to a flat surface or the like will extremely limit the design of the wheel member and the vehicle body. Also, measures such as lowering or reducing the wheelhouse of the vehicle body will limit the design of the vehicle body and may not meet the regulations of each country in some cases. Further, a measure of providing an air curtain function to a fender member or the like around the wheelhouse to generate an air curtain between the wheelhouse and the outside of the wheelhouse to suppress the blowing flow from the wheel is also conceivable, but it has not been adopted for actual vehicles.
[0005] Thus, vehicles are required to reduce air resistance by suppressing airflow from the wheels without imposing restrictions on the design of wheel components or the vehicle body. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] A vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rotatable wheel member provided in a wheel house provided in an opening on the side of the vehicle body, a rotor member provided in the internal space of the rim portion of the wheel member and rotatable together with the wheel member, and a stator member having a closing plate portion that closes the internal space, wherein the rotor member has a plurality of rotor blade members arranged along the rim surface of the rim portion, and when the wheel member rotates forward, air from the center side of the wheel member is sent to the side of the rim surface, and the stator member has a cylindrical portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the closing plate portion and is interposed between the plurality of rotor blade members and the rim surface, and an exhaust nozzle portion that forms an opening in the closing plate portion and extends from the opening toward the rear of the vehicle body on the inner surface of the closing plate portion in the vehicle width direction. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the stator member of the vehicle has a closing plate portion that is provided in a wheel house which opens to the side of the vehicle body and closes the internal space of the rim portion of the wheel member. As a result, the airflow from the wheel member, which is exposed to the side of the vehicle body and blows out toward the side of the vehicle body, can be suppressed. A rotor member, rotatable with the wheel member, is provided in the internal space of the rim portion of the wheel member. The rotor member has multiple rotor blade members arranged along the rim surface of the wheel member's rim portion, and rotates together with the wheel member to send air from the center side of the wheel member towards the rim surface. A cylindrical portion of the stator member is interposed between the multiple rotor blade members and the rim surface. The cylindrical portion protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the closure plate portion of the stator member, forming a surface connected to the closure plate portion. An opening for an exhaust nozzle portion is also formed in the closure plate portion. As a result, the airflow sent from the center side of the wheel member to the rim surface side by the multiple rotor blade members of the rotor member flows along the surface of the stator member and can be exhausted under the vehicle body through the exhaust nozzle portion opening in the closure plate portion. Moreover, the exhaust nozzle portion is provided so as to extend from the opening toward the rear of the vehicle body on the inner surface of the closure plate portion in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the air in the internal space of the wheel component can be exhausted to the underside of the vehicle through the exhaust nozzle. The airflow under the vehicle is expected to be strengthened by the backward airflow from the exhaust nozzle, making it less likely to be swirled up towards the rear of the vehicle after quickly passing under it. In addition, by suppressing the blown-out airflow from the wheel component, the airflow flowing from front to back along the side of the vehicle is less disturbed by the blown-out airflow and is expected to flow smoothly along the side of the vehicle. Through these combined effects, the air resistance of the vehicle can be reduced. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rotor member is provided separately from the wheel member. As a result, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle body by suppressing the blown-out airflow from the wheel member and the like, without imposing any restrictions on the design of the wheel member or the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a left-side view schematically illustrating the airflow around a moving vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a schematic bottom view illustrating the airflow beneath the vehicle body shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3]This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the peripheral structure of the left front tire and wheel member provided in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the surrounding structure of the left front tire and wheel component. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a schematic left side view of the stator member. [Figure 6] Figure 3 is a schematic left side view of the rotor component. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a schematic top view of the rotor component. [Figure 8] This is a left side view schematically illustrating the airflow of the vehicle body in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 8 is a schematic bottom view illustrating the airflow beneath the vehicle body. [Figure 10] This is a schematic top view of a rotor member according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, after describing the overview, an example of the airflow of the vehicle body, a structure to suppress blowout from the wheel member, the structure of the stator member, the structure of the rotor member, and the effects will be explained. The following description of embodiments and drawings are examples of the invention disclosed in this application and do not limit the invention disclosed in this application.
[0010] (Overview) When a vehicle is in motion, some of the airflow beneath the vehicle body may escape outwards through the wheel components, which are exposed in the wheel wells on the sides of the vehicle. This increases the overall air resistance of the vehicle. To address this issue, in one embodiment of the present invention, a rotor member rotatable with the wheel member and a stator member having a closing plate portion that closes the internal space are provided in the internal space of the wheel member. The rotor member has a plurality of rotor blade members. The plurality of rotor blade members are arranged in a plurality along the rim surface of the rim portion of the wheel member, and as the wheel member rotates forward, air from the center side of the wheel member is sent towards the rim surface. The stator member has a cylindrical portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the closing plate portion and is interposed between the plurality of rotor blade members and the rim surface, and an exhaust nozzle portion that forms an opening in the closing plate portion. The exhaust nozzle portion extends from the opening toward the rear of the vehicle body on the inner surface of the closing plate portion in the vehicle width direction. As a result, in one embodiment of the present invention, the outflow of air through the internal space of the wheel member is suppressed, and the air in the internal space of the wheel member can be directed under the vehicle body. Consequently, in a vehicle employing one embodiment of the present invention, it is expected that the air resistance of the vehicle body can be reduced. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the outflow from the wheel can be suppressed without restricting the shape of the wheel member itself, thereby reducing the air resistance of the vehicle body.
[0011] (An example of airflow around a vehicle) Figure 1 is a schematic left side view illustrating the airflow around the body 2 of a moving vehicle 1. Figure 2 is a schematic bottom view illustrating the airflow beneath the body 2 of the vehicle in Figure 1. As shown by the dashed lines in Figures 1 and 2, when vehicle 1 is in motion, an airflow is generated around the vehicle body 2, moving from front to rear. This airflow becomes the air resistance of vehicle body 2. After hitting the front of vehicle body 2, the air splits into upper, lower, left, and right directions, flowing along the top, bottom, and left and right sides of vehicle body 2, and merging at the rear of vehicle body 2. Figures 1 and 2 show the top flow above vehicle body 2, the bottom flow below vehicle body 2, and the side flow along the sides of vehicle body 2. The air resistance of vehicle body 2 can be reduced by ensuring that the air flows smoothly along the surface of vehicle body 2 and does not separate from the surface of vehicle body 2. Manufacturers have devised the shape of vehicle body 2 to improve fuel efficiency or electric energy efficiency. Hereinafter, up / down, left / right, front / back are used based on FIG. 1. Inside / outside are used based on the center in the vehicle width direction. The direction away from the center in the vehicle width direction is the outward direction, and the direction approaching the center in the vehicle width direction is the inward direction.
[0012] However, there is a limit to reducing the air resistance of the vehicle body 2. For example, the vehicle 1 is traveling as a plurality of sets of tires 5 and wheel members 6 rotate forward. In order to suppress the up-and-down movement of the vehicle body 2 during traveling, the vehicle 1 uses a suspension 10 between the lower shaft members such as the tires 5 and the wheel members 6 and the vehicle body 2, so a space for movement is required under the vehicle body 2 and in the wheel house 4. In addition, there are regulations such as the minimum ground clearance for the vehicle body 2. Therefore, the downward airflow under the vehicle body 2 shown in FIG. 2 cannot be eliminated. The vehicle body 2 is provided with a plurality of wheel houses 4. The plurality of wheel houses 4 are arranged in the front-back direction on each of the left and right side portions in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2. Each wheel house 4 opens to the side surface of the vehicle body 2. In addition, in recent vehicles 1, the lower surface of the vehicle body 2 has been flattened. On the lower surface of the vehicle body 2 in FIG. 2, a front under cover 7, a rear under cover 9, and a battery pack 8 between them are provided. When the lower surface of the vehicle body 2 is flattened, the speed of the downward airflow under the vehicle body 2 increases. Then, a part of the downward airflow flows outward in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2 from the wheel member 6 and the wheel house 4 that are exposed and rotate on the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2, generating a blow-out flow on the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2. This blow-out flow disturbs the flow of the side flow that flows from the front to the rear along the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2. The side flow of the vehicle 1 becomes difficult to flow along the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2. The disturbance of the airflow increases the air resistance of the vehicle body 2.
[0013] As a method of suppressing the blow-out flow from such a wheel member 6, for example, it is conceivable to flatten the entire outer surface of the wheel member 6. However, restricting the entire outer surface of the wheel member 6 to a flat surface or the like will extremely restrict the designs of the wheel member 6 and the vehicle body 2. In addition, measures such as lowering or reducing the size of the wheelhouse 4 of the vehicle body 2 will also limit the design of the vehicle body 2. In addition, this measure may also fail to meet the regulations of each country. In addition, a measure can be considered in which an air curtain function is provided in a fender member or the like around the wheelhouse 4 to generate an air curtain between the wheelhouse 4 and the outside of the wheelhouse 4 to suppress the blowing flow from the wheel member 6, but it has not been adopted for actual vehicles. As described above, it is required for the vehicle 1 to suppress the blowing flow from the wheel member 6 without restricting the design of the wheel member 6 or the vehicle body 2, and to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle body 2.
[0014] (An example of a structure for suppressing the blowing from the wheel member) FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the peripheral structure of the left front tire 5 and the wheel member 6 provided in the vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the peripheral structure of the left front tire 5 and the wheel member 6 in FIG. 3. The tire 5 and the wheel member 6 constitute a wheel. Note that the peripheral structure of the right front tire 5 and the wheel member 6 of the vehicle 1 is obtained by reversing the left and right in FIGS. 3 and 4. In addition, the peripheral structures of the left rear tire 5 and the wheel member 6 of the vehicle 1 and the peripheral structures of the right rear tire 5 and the wheel member 6 may basically be the same as those in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0015] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle 1 has a knuckle arm 11, which is a pivot member for pivotally supporting the wheel, consisting of a tire 5 and a wheel member 6. The knuckle arm 11 is supported by the vehicle body 2 by being attached to a lower arm 12, which is pivotably mounted to the structural members of the vehicle body 2, and to a suspension 10, which is also mounted to the structural members of the vehicle body 2. The suspension 10 is pivotably mounted to the upper part of the knuckle arm 11. The lower arm 12 is pivotably mounted to the lower part of the knuckle arm 11. The entire knuckle arm 11 is supported by the vehicle body 2 so as to be able to move up and down. The knuckle arm 11 is also connected to a steering rod (not shown), and its orientation relative to the vehicle body 2 changes as the steering rod moves in the vehicle width direction. This changes the orientation of the tire 5 and wheel member 6 relative to the vehicle 1, and thus changes the direction of travel of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, the knuckle arms 11 of the rear tires 5 and wheel members 6, which do not require steering, are not connected to steering rods. Also, the knuckle arms 11 of the rear tires 5 and wheel members 6, which do not require steering, may be attached to the lower arm 12 and the upper arm. In this case, the suspension 10 is attached to the upper arm.
[0016] A hole is formed in the knuckle arm 11 into which a hub member 13 is rotatably inserted. This hole is formed along the vehicle width direction. A drive shaft 14 is connected to the end of the hub member 13 that protrudes inward from the knuckle arm 11 via a universal joint 17. A hub plate 15 is provided on the end of the hub member 13 that protrudes outward from the knuckle arm 11. Multiple wheel screws 39 are erected on the hub plate 15. A brake disc 16 is positioned in the portion of the hub member 13 between the hub plate 15 and the knuckle arm 11, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3. The brake disc 16 is fixed to the hub member 13.
[0017] The wheel member 6 has a substantially cylindrical rim portion 24, a hub portion 21 concentric with the rim portion 24, and a plurality of spoke portions 22 connecting the rim portion 24 and the hub portion 21. The rim portion 24 has a plurality of screw holes into which a plurality of wheel screws 39 can be inserted. The hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6 is attached to the vehicle body 2 by multiple sets of wheel screws 39 and wheel member nuts (not shown) while superimposed on the hub plate 15. The wheel member 6 is rotatable together with the hub member 13 around the axis center in the hub portion 21. In the wheel member 6 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the multiple spoke portions 22 are formed in a columnar shape extending in the radial direction. The multiple spoke portions 22 constitute the outer design surface of the wheel member 6. Note that the multiple spoke portions 22 may have shapes other than columnar shapes extending in the radial direction. The multiple spoke portions 22 can be any shape that matches the design of the vehicle body 2. A tire 5 is attached to the outer circumference of the roughly cylindrical rim portion 24. The wheel member 6 and the tire 5 constitute the wheel.
[0018] With this structure, the wheel member 6 and tire 5 are installed inside the wheel well 4, which is provided on the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2. Inside the wheel well 4, the wheel member 6 and tire 5 are rotatably installed and exposed to the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2 of the vehicle 1. The brake disc 16, hub member 13, and other components are arranged in the internal space inside the roughly cylindrical rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. In this embodiment, a rotor member 30 and a stator member 40 are provided in the internal space of the wheel member 6.
[0019] (An example of stator component structure) Figure 5 is a schematic left side view of the stator member 40 shown in Figure 3. The stator member 40 has a closing plate portion 41, a cylindrical portion 42, and an exhaust nozzle portion 43. The stator member 40 is installed in the internal space of the wheel member 6 and closes the internal space of the wheel member 6 from the inside. Such a stator member 40 can allow the air in the internal space of the wheel member 6 to flow under the vehicle body 2 through the exhaust nozzle portion 43.
[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the closing plate portion 41 is a disc-shaped plate material that is slightly smaller than the substantially cylindrical rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. The closing plate portion 41 has a hub hole 45, a lower arm hole 47, a knuckle arm hole 46, and a plurality of fixing holes 48. The hub hole 45 is located in the center of the closing plate portion 41. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the closing plate portion 41 is fixed to the knuckle arm 11 by fixing screws in the plurality of fixing holes 48, with the knuckle arm 11 passing through the knuckle arm hole 46, the lower arm 12 passing through the lower arm hole 47, and the hub member 13 passing through the hub hole 45. When fixed to the knuckle arm 11, the hub hole 45, the lower arm hole 47, the knuckle arm hole 46, and the plurality of fixing holes 48 are substantially closed.
[0021] The cylindrical portion 42 is provided along the outer circumference of the closing plate portion 41, which is a disc-shaped plate material. The cylindrical portion 42 protrudes outward from the closing plate portion 41 in the vehicle width direction. As the closing plate portion 41 is fixed to the knuckle arm 11, the cylindrical portion 42 is located in the internal space inside the substantially cylindrical rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. The cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is positioned in the internal space such that there is a small gap 50 between it and the rim surface 25 of the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6.
[0022] A stator member 40 with this structure closes the internal space of the wheel member 6 from the inside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2. This separates the internal space of the wheel member 6 from the space below the vehicle body 2, which is inside the wheel member 6, preventing airflow from passing through. Airflow from the inside in the vehicle width direction of the wheel member 6 toward the internal space of the wheel member 6 becomes less likely to occur.
[0023] The exhaust nozzle section 43 is provided on the inner surface in the vehicle width direction of the closing plate section 41 of the stator member 40. The exhaust nozzle section 43 forms an opening 44 in the closing plate section 41. The exhaust nozzle section 43 extends rearward from the opening 44 formed in the closing plate section 41. As a result, the internal space of the wheel member 6 and the space under the vehicle body 2 are in communication through the exhaust nozzle section 43. When the vehicle 1 is in motion, the downdraft under the vehicle body 2 flows from front to back. The air pressure at the outlet of the exhaust nozzle section 43, which extends rearward, is lowered by the downdraft flowing under the vehicle body 2 from front to back. As a result, the exhaust nozzle section 43 can function to direct the air from the internal space of the wheel member 6 to under the vehicle body 2.
[0024] The opening 44 of the exhaust nozzle portion 43 formed in the closure plate portion 41 is located in a rear-downward direction relative to the hub hole 45. When the opening 44 of the exhaust nozzle portion 43 is below the hub hole 45, it becomes difficult for structural members of the vehicle body 2 to be present behind the exhaust nozzle portion 43. The airflow exhausted from the exhaust nozzle portion 43 to the bottom of the vehicle body 2 flows smoothly along the underside of the vehicle body 2 towards the rear. It is believed that such an exhaust environment can be achieved if the opening 44 of the closure plate portion 41 formed by the exhaust nozzle portion 43 is located below the axis of the wheel member 6. Furthermore, in a vehicle 1 traveling forward, air tends to accumulate more easily at the rear of the wheel member 6 than at the front. By positioning the opening 44 of the exhaust nozzle 43 behind the axis of the wheel member 6, it can be expected that the air pressure near the opening 44 of the closure plate 41 by the exhaust nozzle 43 will increase. When the air pressure difference between the air pressure near the opening 44 of the closure plate 41 and the air pressure below the vehicle body 2 increases, the exhaust nozzle 43 can efficiently direct the air from the internal space of the wheel member 6 to below the vehicle body 2.
[0025] (An example of rotor component structure) Figure 6 is a schematic left side view of the rotor member 30 shown in Figure 3. Figure 7 is a schematic top view of the rotor member 30 shown in Figure 6. The rotor member 30 has a center portion 31, an annular portion 33, a plurality of connecting portions 32, and a plurality of rotor blade members 34. The rotor member 30 is installed in the internal space of the wheel member 6 so as to fit inside the stator member 40. The rotor member 30 rotates together with the wheel member 6 and generates an airflow directed in the radial direction by the plurality of rotor blade members 34.
[0026] The center portion 31 is a disc portion of the rotor member 30 that is superimposed on the inside of the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6 and fastened together with the hub plate 15 of the vehicle body 2. The center portion 31 is provided with a hub hole 35 and a plurality of fixing holes 36. The hub hole 35 is opened in the center portion 31 concentrically. The plurality of fixing holes 36 are opened around the hub hole 35 so that a plurality of wheel screws 39 can be inserted.
[0027] The annular portion 33 is an annular plate material with a smaller outer diameter than the disc-shaped closing plate portion 41. The connecting portion 32 has a columnar shape. Multiple connecting portions 32 connect the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33. The annular portion 33 is provided around the center portion 31 so as to be coaxial with the center portion 31. The center portion 31, the annular portion 33, and the multiple connecting portions 32 may be formed integrally by press-forming a single sheet of material.
[0028] Multiple rotor blade members 34 are arranged in an annular direction on the inner surface of the annular portion 33 in the vehicle width direction. Each rotor blade member 34 is a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. Each rotor blade member 34 is cantilevered to the annular portion 33 at one edge of its substantially rectangular plate shape. Each rotor blade member 34 extends along the tangential direction of a predetermined circle of rotation, from a position where it is in contact with the annular portion 33 when rotating together with the annular portion 33, at its respective attachment point to the annular portion 33. The rotor blade member 34 may have a blade shape, for example, with a flat cross-section. The multiple rotor blade members 34 are located in the internal space of the wheel member 6 when the center portion 31 of the rotor member 30 is superimposed between the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6 and the hub plate 15 of the vehicle body 2 and fastened together with the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6. The multiple rotor blade members 34 are arranged in the internal space of the wheel member 6 along the rim surface 25 of the substantially cylindrical rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. The cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is interposed between the multiple rotor blade members 34 and the rim surface 25 of the wheel member 6. The cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is spaced a small distance from both the multiple rotor blade members 34 and the rim surface 25 of the wheel member 6. Furthermore, when the center portion 31 of the rotor member 30 is superimposed on the hub portion 21 and fastened together with the hub plate 15 of the vehicle body 2, the annular portion 33 is in contact with the inner surface 23 facing the internal space of the wheel member 6 all around. The annular portion 33 is in contact with the wheel member 6 all around at the inner surface 23 of the connection portion between the substantially cylindrical rim portion 24 and the plurality of spoke portions 22 of the wheel member 6. The inner surface 23 faces the internal space of the wheel member 6. As a result, the space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40, which is hatched in Figure 4, is separated from the space outside the wheel member 6. The plurality of rotor blade members 34 can push the air from the center side of the internal space of the wheel member 6 toward the rim surface 25 side as the wheel member 6 rotates forward, thereby increasing the air pressure in the space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40.
[0029] In this manner, the rotor member 30 is fastened together with the hub plate 15 of the vehicle body 2, with its center portion 31 overlapping the inside of the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6. The rotor member 30 is rotatable together with the wheel member 6. Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40, which is fixed to the knuckle arm 11 of the vehicle body 2, is provided in a non-rotating state between the plurality of rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30 and the rim surface 25 of the wheel member 6. Inside the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40, which does not rotate with the wheel member 6, the plurality of rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30 rotate, while outside the cylindrical portion 42, the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6 rotates. The air pressure in the gap 50 between the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 and the plurality of rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30 can be increased by the airflow that the plurality of rotor blade members 34 send out in the radial direction. The air pressure in the gap 50 between the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 and the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6 can be expected to increase. When the air pressure in the gap 50 between the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 and the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6 increases, it becomes difficult for air to flow through the gap 50.
[0030] (effect) Figure 8 is a schematic left side view illustrating the airflow around the vehicle body 2 of vehicle 1 in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a schematic bottom view illustrating the airflow below the vehicle body 2 in Figure 8. Note that in Figure 8, the multiple spoke portions 22 and rotor member 30 that constitute the design of the wheel member 6 are not shown. The design of the vehicle body 2 and wheel member 6 in this embodiment differs from that in Figure 8.
[0031] In Figure 8, the vehicle body 2 of vehicle 1 moves forward by rotating its four wheel members 6 (front, rear, left, and right) and tires 5. In this case, an airflow is generated around the vehicle body 2, from front to rear. After hitting the front of the vehicle body 2, the air escapes in the up, down, left, and right directions, flowing along the top, bottom, and left and right sides of the vehicle body 2, and converging at the rear of the vehicle body 2.
[0032] In this embodiment, a rotor member 30 and a stator member 40 are provided inside each of the multiple wheel members 6, which are provided at four locations on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle body 2. The stator member 40 has a closing plate portion 41 that closes the internal space of the wheel members 6, which are rotatably mounted and exposed on the side surface 3 of the vehicle body 2, from the inside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 2. As a result, the airflow from below the vehicle body 2 can be suppressed, which would otherwise be blown out from the side surface of the vehicle body 2 through the wheel members 6 that are exposed on the side surface of the vehicle body 2.
[0033] Furthermore, the rotor member 30 has multiple rotor blade members 34 arranged along the rim surface 25 of the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. As shown in Figure 6, the multiple rotor blade members 34 push the air on the front side in each direction of rotation radially as the wheel member 6 rotates forward. The multiple rotor blade members 34 send the air from the central side of the internal space of the wheel member 6 toward the rim surface 25 of the wheel member 6. Also, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is interposed between the multiple rotor blade members 34 and the rim surface 25. The cylindrical portion 42 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the closing plate portion 41 of the stator member 40 and forms a surface connected to the closing plate portion 41. The cylindrical portion 42 is provided protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the closing plate portion 41 of the stator member 40 and does not rotate together with the wheel member 6. As a result, the air pressure in the portion of the wheel member 6 outside the rotational trajectory of the multiple rotor blade members 34 may be higher than in the rest of the internal space. Consequently, the generation of airflow through the portion of the wheel member 6 outside the rotational trajectory of the multiple rotor blade members 34 can be suppressed. The closure plate portion 41 and cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 do not rotate together with the wheel member 6, and therefore require a gap 50 to prevent contact between them and the wheel member 6 and the rotor member 30, but the generation of airflow through this gap 50 can be suppressed. The gap 50 for preventing contact is shown with hatching in Figure 4.
[0034] Furthermore, as the rotation of the rotor member 30 increases, the high-pressure air mass generated by the multiple rotor blade members 34 leaks out through the gap 50 between the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 and the multiple rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30, along the surface of the stator member 40. Since the internal space of the wheel member 6 is surrounded by the surface of the stator member 40, the high-pressure air mass generated by the multiple rotor blade members 34 can be expected to flow along the surface of the stator member 40 and leak out toward the center of the internal space of the wheel member 6. When such leakage occurs, the air pressure inside the internal space of the wheel member 6 can be expected to increase overall. As the overall air pressure inside the wheel member 6 increases, and the pressure difference between the area near the opening 44 formed by the exhaust nozzle portion 43 in the closing plate portion 41 and the area below the vehicle body 2 increases, the airflow rate exhausted from the internal space of the wheel member 6 through the exhaust nozzle portion 43 also increases. In addition, the underside of the vehicle body 2 in this embodiment is flattened by the placement of undercovers 7, 9 and a large-capacity battery pack 8, and the airflow velocity below the vehicle body 2 is higher than in vehicle 1, where the underside of the vehicle body 2 is not covered by these flat objects. As a result, the air pressure below the vehicle body 2 decreases. In this case, the pressure difference becomes even larger. The air inside the wheel member 6 can be expected to be efficiently exhausted to the area below the vehicle body 2 through the exhaust nozzle portion 43 by the rotation of the rotor member 30.
[0035] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, the four wheel members 6 on the front, rear, left, and right sides are provided with exhaust nozzle portions 43 that protrude rearward from beneath the vehicle body 2. Also, as shown in Figure 8, openings 44 are provided by the exhaust nozzle portions 43 inside the four wheel members 6 located on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle body 2. The air inside the wheel member 6 flows through the exhaust nozzle portions 43 to beneath the vehicle body 2. As a result, the wheel member 6 can draw in air from the outside of the wheel member 6. The airflow from the wheel house 4 outside the wheel member 6 is more likely to become a flow in that is drawn into the internal space of the wheel member 6, as shown by the dashed arrows in Figures 8 and 9. The airflow from the wheel house 4 is less likely to become a blowout that is blown outwards in the width direction from the side 3 of the vehicle body 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, rearward airflow is added from four exhaust nozzles 43 located at the front, rear, left, and right of the vehicle body 2. The airflow under the vehicle body 2 is more likely to become a rearward airflow in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 2. As a result, the downdraft under the vehicle body 2 becomes an airflow that passes quickly under the vehicle body 2, and the rearward flow becomes stronger. Consequently, at the rear of the vehicle body 2 after it has passed under the vehicle body 2, the downdraft is less likely to be swirled up towards the rear surface of the vehicle body 2. The overall air resistance of the vehicle can be reduced.
[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the various airflow improvements described above can suppress the outflow from the wheel member 6 and wheel house 4 to the outside of the vehicle body 2. As a result, the side airflow flowing from front to back along the side 3 of the vehicle body 2 is less disturbed by the outflow from the wheel member 6 and wheel house 4, and can flow smoothly along the side 3 of the vehicle body 2 from the front to the rear, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. By making the side airflow flowing from front to back along the side 3 of the vehicle body 2 less disturbed, the overall air resistance of the vehicle is reduced.
[0037] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the rotor member 30 is provided separately from the wheel member 6. As a result, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle body 2 by suppressing the airflow from the wheel member 6 without imposing any restrictions on the design of the wheel member 6 or the vehicle body 2.
[0038] In this embodiment, the rotor member 30 has a center portion 31 that can be fastened to the vehicle body 2 by overlapping it with the inside of the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6, an annular portion 33 provided in an annular shape around the center portion 31, and a columnar connecting portion 32 that connects the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33. The plurality of rotor blade members 34 are supported so as to extend along the vehicle width direction, arranged in an annular direction relative to the annular portion 33. As a result, the plurality of rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30 are arranged along the rim surface 25 of the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6. Furthermore, the plurality of rotor blade members 34 rotate together with the wheel member 6 as the wheel member 6 rotates forward, and can send air from the center side of the internal space of the wheel member 6 toward the rim surface 25. Airflow through the gap 50 between the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 and the rim portion 24 of the wheel member 6, which is hatched in Figure 4, becomes less likely to occur. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rotor member 30 has a center portion 31 that can be superimposed on the inside of the hub portion 21 of the wheel member 6 and fastened together with the vehicle body 2. As a result, this embodiment can suppress the blow-out flow from the wheel member 6 without affecting the design of the wheel member 6 itself.
[0039] In this embodiment, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 is in contact with the inner surface 23 of the wheel member 6 around its entire circumference, as shown in Figure 4. As a result, the space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is separated from the space outside the wheel member 6. The space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 is filled with air supplied by the multiple rotor blade members 34 that rotate together with the wheel member 6, and the air around the cylindrical portion 42 is less likely to flow out through the gap 50 between the annular portion 33 and the inner surface 23 of the wheel member 6. The air around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 does not become an outflow from the wheel member 6.
[0040] In this embodiment, the rotor blade member 34 of the rotor member 30 extends along the tangential direction of the circle of rotation when it rotates together with the annular portion 33. This minimizes the air resistance acting on the rotor blade member 34 when it rotates. Even when the rotor member 30 rotates together with the wheel member 6, the rotation of the rotor member 30 does not significantly increase the load on the rotation of the wheel member 6. The wheel member 6 can rotate under substantially the same rotational load as when this embodiment is not applied. In contrast, if, for example, the entire outer surface of the wheel member 6 were formed into a screw shape, the screw would function to rotate the entire air in the internal space of the wheel member 6. The rotational load from the screw would be greater than in the case of this embodiment.
[0041] In this embodiment, the opening 44 of the exhaust nozzle portion 43 formed in the closing plate portion 41 of the stator member 40 is located below the center of the wheel member 6. As a result, the exhaust nozzle portion 43 can exhaust the air in the internal space of the wheel member 6 backward under the vehicle body 2 at a height where airflow from front to rear is generated under the vehicle body 2. The airflow exhausted from the exhaust nozzle portion 43 follows the flow of airflow from front to rear under the vehicle body 2, mixing with it without disturbing the airflow from front to rear under the vehicle body 2 and increasing the airflow from front to rear under the vehicle body 2. The airflow under the vehicle body 2 becomes stronger and less likely to be swirled up after passing under the vehicle body 2.
[0042] (modified version) The embodiments described above are examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications or changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0043] In the embodiment described above, the multiple rotor blade members 34 of the rotor member 30 have a substantially rectangular shape and are cantilevered to the annular portion 33. Figure 10 is a schematic top view of a rotor member 30 according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. The rotor member 30 in Figure 10 has a center portion 31, an outer ring portion 61, a plurality of connecting portions 32, a plurality of rotor blade members 34, and an inner ring portion 62. The outer ring portion 61 is connected concentrically to the center portion 31 by a plurality of connecting portions 32, similar to Figure 6. The inner annular portion 62 is formed in the same annular shape as the outer annular portion 61. The multiple rotor blade members 34 are connected to the inner annular portion 62 and the outer annular portion 61. By being connected to the inner annular portion 62 and the outer annular portion 61, the multiple rotor blade members 34 become less prone to deformation even when large resistance is applied during rotation. Furthermore, the rotor blade member 34 in Figure 10 has a parallelogram-shaped plate.
[0044] In the embodiment described above, the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 are connected by a plurality of columnar connecting portions 32. In addition, for example, the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 may be formed by pressing a single sheet of material into a circular shape. In this case, a number of holes may be made in the circular sheet of material, excluding the central and peripheral portions. In this case, the portion with the number of holes functions as a plurality of connecting portions 32 that connect the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33. However, the connecting portion 32 that connects the center portion 31 and the annular portion 33 may be made of multiple columnar connecting portions 32 as in this embodiment. This improves the intake of air from the outside of the wheel member 6 into the internal space of the wheel member 6. The amount of air reduced by exhaust is easily supplied to the internal space of the wheel member 6. The air pressure inside the internal space of the wheel member 6 is less likely to decrease due to insufficient air supply.
[0045] In the embodiment described above, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 is in contact with the inner surface 23 of the wheel member 6 around its entire circumference when the wheel member 6 is stopped and not rotating, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In addition, for example, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 may be separated from the inner surface 23 of the wheel member 6 by a small gap around its entire circumference when stationary. Even in this case, when the wheel member 6 rotates and the force of air resistance acts on the multiple rotor blade members 34, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 may bend to close the small gap and come into contact with the inner surface 23 of the wheel member 6 around its entire circumference.
[0046] In the embodiment described above, the connecting portion 32 of the rotor member 30 is columnar. The connecting portion 32 of the rotor member 30 may have any shape other than columnar, as long as it connects the annular portion 33 and the center portion 31 of the rotor member 30. In addition, multiple connecting portions 32 may be provided at an oblique angle to the rotation plane of the multiple connecting portions 32, and may be shaped to send air from the outside of the rotor member 30 into the inside of the rotor member 30.
[0047] In the embodiment described above, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 is in circumferential contact with the wheel member 6 at the inner surface 23 of the connection portion between the substantially cylindrical rim portion 24 and the plurality of spoke portions 22 of the wheel member 6. As a result, the space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40, which is hatched in Figure 4, and the space outside the wheel member 6 are separated in such a way that airflow is less likely to occur between them. In addition, for example, the annular portion 33 of the rotor member 30 may be in full circumferential contact with the rim surface 25, which is part of the inner surface 23 of the wheel member. Even in this case, the annular portion 33 can be in full circumferential contact with the inner surface of the wheel member 6 that faces the internal space. The annular portion 33 can separate the space around the cylindrical portion 42 of the stator member 40 from the space outside the wheel member 6 in such a way that airflow is less likely to occur between them.
[0048] In the embodiment described above, the rotor blade member 34 has a flat plate shape and is positioned to follow the tangential direction of the circle of rotation when it rotates together with the annular portion 33. The size, cross-sectional shape, and number of rotor blade members 34 may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle 1, etc. Furthermore, the rotor blade members 34 may be positioned at an angle offset from the tangential direction of the circle of rotation when rotating together with the annular portion 33. This allows for adjustment of the airflow rate delivered radially by multiple rotor blade members 34. Furthermore, the number of rotor blade members 34 may be arranged on the annular portion 33 not in a number that covers one full rotation along the rim surface 25 of the wheel member 6, but in a number that covers multiple rotations. The shape or angle of the rotor blade members 34 with respect to the tangential direction may differ at each rotation.
[0049] In the embodiment described above, one exhaust nozzle portion 43 is formed on each closing plate portion 41 of the stator member 40. In addition, for example, a single closure plate portion 41 may be provided with multiple exhaust nozzle portions 43. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0050] 1...Vehicle, 2...Body, 3...Side, 4...Wheelhouse, 5...Tire, 6...Wheel component, 7...Front under cover, 8...Battery pack, 9...Rear under cover, 10...Suspension, 11...Knuckle arm, 12...Lower arm, 13...Hub component, 14...Drive shaft, 15...Hub plate, 16...Brake disc, 17...Universal joint, 21...Hub section, 22...Spoke section, 23...Inner surface 24...Rim section, 25...Rim surface, 30...Rotor member, 31...Center section, 32...Connecting section, 33...Ring section, 34...Rotor blade member, 35...Hub hole, 36...Fixing hole, 39...Wheel screw, 40...Stator member, 41...Closing plate section, 42...Cylindrical section, 43...Exhaust nozzle section, 44...Opening, 45...Hub hole, 46...Knuckle arm hole, 47...Lower arm hole, 48...Fixing hole, 50...Gap, 61...Outer ring section, 62...Inner ring section
Claims
1. A rotatable wheel member is provided in a wheel well that is provided in an opening on the side of the vehicle body, A rotor member provided in the internal space of the rim portion of the wheel member and rotatable in conjunction with the wheel member, A stator member having a closing plate portion that seals the internal space, It has, The rotor member is The rim portion has multiple rotating blade members arranged along the rim surface, which, when the wheel member rotates forward, send air from the center side of the wheel member toward the rim surface side, The stator member is, A cylindrical portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the closing plate portion and is interposed between the plurality of rotor blade members and the rim surface, The closing plate portion has an opening, and the closing plate portion has an exhaust nozzle portion that extends from the opening toward the rear of the vehicle body on the inner surface of the closing plate portion in the vehicle width direction, vehicle.
2. The rotor member is A center portion is attached to the vehicle body by overlapping it with the inside of the hub portion of the wheel member, An annular portion is provided in a ring shape around the center portion, It has a plurality of connecting parts that connect the center part and the annular part, Multiple rotor blade members are supported in an annular direction relative to the annular portion. A vehicle according to claim 1.
3. The annular portion is in contact with the inner surface of the wheel member facing the internal space around its entire circumference. The vehicle according to claim 2.
4. The rotor blade member extends along the tangential direction of the circle of rotation when it rotates together with the annular portion. A vehicle according to claim 2 or 3.
5. The opening formed in the closing plate portion by the exhaust nozzle portion is located below the center of the wheel member. A vehicle according to claim 4.