Aerodynamic structures for vehicles

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle aerodynamic structure that improves the aerodynamic characteristics on the side of the wheel arch. [Solution] The aerodynamic structure 20 for the vehicle modifies the airflow 22 generated when the vehicle 10 is in motion around the wheel arch 21. The aerodynamic structure 20 for the vehicle includes an aerodynamic appendage 23 that affects the airflow 22, which will be described later, flowing around the wheel arch 21. The aerodynamic appendage 23 is located inside the wheel arch 21 and is disposed on a wall-like member 24 that forms the wheel house 25.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle aerodynamic structure disposed on a vehicle body of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In order to improve aerodynamic characteristics during vehicle travel, a portion for rectifying traveling wind is formed on the surface of a vehicle body. As an example, measures for rectifying traveling wind are taken on the side surface of a wheel arch of a vehicle. As such measures, for example, a protrusion is formed on the vehicle body on the front side of the wheel arch. As another measure, a mechanism for forming an air curtain is provided in the vicinity of the wheel arch.

[0003] Conventional inventions related to aerodynamic characteristics are described, for example, in Patent Document 1 and the like.

[0004] In the vehicle aerodynamic structure described in Patent Document 1, a vortex generator that affects the flow of air flowing under the vehicle floor is disposed below the vehicle floor of the vehicle, on the inner side relative to the inner side surface of the tire 12, and behind the front end of the tire or the flap. Thereby, the air flow in the region on the inner side of the tire is rectified, and air resistance is reduced, so that effects such as improvement of fuel efficiency are achieved.

[0005] The rectifying device described in Patent Document 2 is a sheet-like member that is made of a material charged with negative static electricity, and is thinly provided and affixed to the surface in contact with the air flow so that the thickness does not cause air resistance as much as possible. Further, the rectifying device is formed in a sheet shape that is longer in the flow direction of the air flow than in the width direction of the air flow so as to be affixed long along the flow direction of the air flow, is made of a material charged with negative static electricity, and is provided with a material that differs in the ease of static electricity charging from the surface in contact with the air flow.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-185788 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-108111 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, the inventions described in the aforementioned patent documents had room for improvement in terms of improving the aerodynamic characteristics near the side surface of the wheel arch.

[0008] Specifically, simply creating protrusions on the vehicle body near the wheel arches may not contribute to improving aerodynamic performance in that area. Furthermore, simply creating protrusions on the vehicle body could actually worsen aerodynamic performance. In addition, equipping the vehicle with a mechanism to form an air curtain may complicate the vehicle's structure and increase manufacturing costs.

[0009] Furthermore, the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not take into account the complex shape of the vehicle body on the outer side of the wheel arch and its vicinity. Therefore, it is not easy to improve the aerodynamic characteristics on the outer side of the wheel arch and its vicinity using the inventions described in these documents.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of these problems, and the object of this invention is to provide a vehicle aerodynamic structure that improves the aerodynamic characteristics on the side surface of the wheel arch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to this embodiment of the present invention is an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle that modifies the flow of airflow generated when a vehicle is in motion in and around the wheel arch, and is characterized in that it comprises an aerodynamic appendage that affects the airflow flowing around the wheel arch, and the aerodynamic appendage is disposed on the inside of the wheel arch in a wall-like member that forms the wheel house. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to this embodiment of the aerodynamic structure for vehicles, by arranging the aerodynamic appendage on the inside of the wheel arch and on a wall-like member forming the wheel house, minute vortices are generated near the wheel arch, thereby suppressing blowouts from the wheel arch, straightening the airflow along the side of the vehicle body, and bringing the high-speed airflow generated during driving closer to the side of the vehicle body. Thus, the aerodynamic characteristics during vehicle operation can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1A] This is a perspective view showing the front of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] This is a perspective view showing the front of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an upper cross-sectional view showing the front left side of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] This is a side view showing the front of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] This is a side view showing the front of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an upper cross-sectional view showing the front left side of a vehicle equipped with an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, as well as the airflow while driving and the airflow being blown out. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, the aerodynamic structure 20 for a vehicle and the vehicle 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In the following description, directions of front, rear, up, down, left, and right are used, and the left and right refer to the left and right when the vehicle 10 is viewed from the rear. Further, in the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same members in principle, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.

[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the front portion of the vehicle 10 provided with the vehicle aerodynamic structure 20, viewed from the rear. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the front portion of the vehicle 10 provided with the vehicle aerodynamic structure 20, viewed from the front.

[0016] With reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the vehicle 10 is, for example, an engine-powered vehicle, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or the like. Since the vehicle 10 has the vehicle aerodynamic structure 20 described later, the aerodynamic effect in the vicinity of the wheel arch 21 described later is enhanced, thereby reducing energy consumption during vehicle traveling.

[0017] A wheel house 25 is formed in the vehicle body 11 of the vehicle 10. The wheel house 25 is a recessed portion formed in the vehicle body 11 and having a size capable of accommodating the upper half of the tire 12. The wheel houses 25 are formed at the front left portion, front right portion, rear left portion, and rear right portion of the vehicle body 11. Here, the wheel house 25 formed at the front left portion of the vehicle body 11 is shown.

[0018] The wheel arch 21 is a portion made of a synthetic resin plate that borders the wheel house 25. The wheel arch 21 covers the steel plate constituting the vehicle body 11 from the left side which is the outer side in the width direction, along the outer edge of the wheel house 25.

[0019] The vehicle aerodynamic structure 20 is a member that modifies the flow of traveling wind 22 generated when the vehicle 10 is traveling, at and around the wheel arch 21. The vehicle aerodynamic structure 20 includes an aerodynamic attachment 23. The aerodynamic attachment 23 is a portion that affects the traveling wind 22, which will be described later, flowing at and around the wheel arch 21. The aerodynamic attachment 23 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 2 and the like.

[0020] With reference to Figure 1A, the aerodynamic attachment 23 is disposed on a wall-shaped member 24 that forms the wheel house 25, on the inner side of the wheel arch 21. The aerodynamic attachment 23 has a function of suppressing the blowout of air from the inside of the wheel arch 21, that is, from the wheel house 25, toward the inner side in the width direction when the vehicle 10 is traveling. Such a function will be described later with reference to Figure 3A. The aerodynamic attachment 23 is also referred to as a vortex generator.

[0021] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the vehicle aerodynamic structure 20. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A cutting plane line in Figure 1A. The A-A cutting plane is a cross section including the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

[0022] The wall-shaped member 24 is, as an example, an inner fender 241, and is formed inside the wheel house 25. The inner fender 241 is a curved plate-shaped member disposed along the circumferential direction of the tire 12. When the inner fender 241 is viewed from the left, the inner fender 241 has a substantially semicircular shape. The inner fender 241 has an inner fender front portion 242 and an inner fender rear portion 243. The inner fender front portion 242 is the front portion of the inner fender 241, and the inner fender rear portion 243 is the rear portion of the inner fender 241.

[0023] As mentioned above, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is mounted on the wall-like member 24. Specifically, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is mounted on the left end, which is the outer end in the vehicle width direction, of the front inner fender portion 242, which is the wall-like member 24. Furthermore, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is mounted so as not to protrude outward in the width direction from the side of the vehicle body 11. In other words, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is mounted inward in the width direction from the wheel arch 21. Further details of the aerodynamic appendage 23 will be described later with reference to Figure 3A, etc.

[0024] Here, the portion of the inner fender front 242 where the aerodynamic appendage 23 is installed is sometimes referred to as the bumper flange portion. Furthermore, the aerodynamic appendage 23 may be installed on the flange portion that is continuously joined to the inner fender 241 with respect to the wheel arch 21.

[0025] Figure 3A is a side view showing the front of a vehicle 10 equipped with aerodynamic structures 20. Here, the aerodynamic appendages 23 have a roughly triangular cross-sectional shape. In other words, the aerodynamic appendages 23 are triangular prisms with height along the left-right direction, which is the vehicle width direction. The cross-section of the aerodynamic appendages 23 is roughly triangular, including a vertex that projects toward the center of the tire 12. Multiple aerodynamic appendages 23 are formed at roughly equal intervals from the lower end to the upper end of the front inner fender 242. In other words, the aerodynamic appendages 23 are provided only on the front inner fender 242 and not on the rear inner fender 243. By positioning the aerodynamic appendage 23 only on the front part 242 of the inner fender, when the vehicle 10 is in motion, the aerodynamic appendage 23 generates minute vortices from the widthwise end of the front part 242 of the inner fender, thereby pushing the air blown out from the wheel house 25 inward in the widthwise direction. On the other hand, by not positioning the aerodynamic appendage 23 on the rear part 243 of the inner fender, when the vehicle 10 is in motion, no vortices are generated near the rear part 243 of the inner fender, thereby suppressing turbulence in the airflow near the wheel arch 21.

[0026] Figure 3B is a side view showing the front of a vehicle 10 equipped with aerodynamic structures 20. Here, the aerodynamic appendage 23 has a roughly semicircular cross-sectional shape. In other words, the aerodynamic appendage 23 has a shape that is roughly half the length of a cylinder with height along the left-right direction, which is the width direction of the vehicle. Except for the cross-sectional shape of the aerodynamic appendage 23, it is the same as shown in Figure 3A. Even with this shape, the airflow blown out from the wheel wells 25 can be straightened and the aerodynamic effect enhanced when the vehicle 10 is in motion.

[0027] Figure 4 is an upper cross-sectional view showing the front left side of a vehicle 10 equipped with a vehicle aerodynamic structure 20. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the AA cross-section line in Figure 1A. Here, the airflow 22 generated when the vehicle 10 is in motion is shown in a light color. Furthermore, the airflow 26 blown out to the side from the wheel well 25 when the vehicle 10 is in motion is shown in a dark color. In addition, here, the airflow 22 and airflow 26 are shown wider than they actually are in order to clearly illustrate the effect.

[0028] As the vehicle 10 moves, a running airflow 22 is generated along the side of the vehicle body 11. In the aerodynamic structure 20 for the vehicle of this embodiment, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is positioned at the front end inside the wheelhouse 25. Furthermore, the aerodynamic appendage 23 is positioned at the left end, which is the widthwise end, of the front part 242 of the inner fender. Therefore, when the vehicle 10 is moving, the aerodynamic appendage 23 generates minute vortices from the front end and widthwise end of the wheelhouse 25.

[0029] This allows the high-speed airflow 22 generated when the vehicle 10 is in motion to be brought closer to the left side of the vehicle body 11. On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 is in motion, air is blown out from the wheel arches 21 and wheel housings 25, generating an outflow airflow 26. In this embodiment, the airflow 22 pushes the outflow airflow 26 toward the side of the vehicle body 11. Therefore, the outflow airflow 26 is prevented from spreading outwards to the left in the width direction, which straightens the airflow near the wheel arches 21 and improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle 10 when it is in motion.

[0030] The technical concepts that can be understood from the above-mentioned embodiment, along with their effects, are described below.

[0031] The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to this embodiment of the present invention is an aerodynamic structure for a vehicle that modifies the flow of airflow generated when a vehicle is in motion around the wheel arch, and comprises an aerodynamic appendage that affects the airflow around the wheel arch, characterized in that the aerodynamic appendage is disposed on the inside of the wheel arch and on a wall-like member that forms the wheel house. According to the aerodynamic structure for a vehicle of the present invention, by arranging the aerodynamic appendage on the inside of the wheel arch and on a wall-like member that forms the wheel house, minute vortices are generated from the wheel arch, thereby suppressing blowouts from the wheel arch, straightening the airflow along the side of the vehicle body, and bringing the high-speed airflow generated during driving closer to the side of the vehicle body. Therefore, the aerodynamic characteristics during vehicle driving can be improved.

[0032] Furthermore, the aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to this embodiment of the present invention further comprises an inner fender arranged inside the wheel house along the circumferential direction of the tire, wherein the aerodynamic appendage is arranged at the widthwise end of the inner fender. According to the aerodynamic structure for a vehicle of the present invention, by arranging the aerodynamic appendage at the widthwise end of the inner fender, minute vortices are generated from the end side of the wheel arch, and the effect of improving the aerodynamic characteristics during vehicle operation can be significantly enhanced.

[0033] Furthermore, in the aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to this embodiment of the present invention, the inner fender has an inner fender front portion and an inner fender rear portion, and the aerodynamic appendage is disposed on the inner fender front portion. According to the aerodynamic structure for a vehicle of the present invention, by arranging the aerodynamic appendage on the inner fender front portion, minute vortices are generated from the front end side of the wheel arch, and the effect of improving the aerodynamic characteristics during vehicle operation can be significantly enhanced.

[0034] Furthermore, in the aerodynamic structure for vehicles according to this embodiment of the present invention, the aerodynamic appendage is characterized by having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. According to the aerodynamic structure for vehicles of the present invention, the effect of generating minute vortices can be significantly enhanced by the aerodynamic appendage having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.

[0035] Furthermore, in the aerodynamic structure for vehicles according to this embodiment of the present invention, the aerodynamic appendage is characterized by having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape. According to the aerodynamic structure for vehicles of the present invention, by having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape for the aerodynamic appendage, the effect of generating minute vortices can be significantly enhanced.

[0036] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 10 vehicles 11 Car body 12 tires 20 Aerodynamic structures for vehicles 21 Wheel arch 22 Driving wind 23 Aerodynamic Additions 24 Wall-like member 241 Inner Fender 242 Front inner fender 243 Rear inner fender 25 Wheelhouse 26 Outflow

Claims

1. This is a vehicle aerodynamic structure that modifies the airflow generated during vehicle operation in and around the wheel arch. The vehicle is equipped with an aerodynamic add-on that affects the airflow around the wheel arch and the surrounding area. A vehicle aerodynamic structure characterized in that the aerodynamic appendage is disposed on the inside of the wheel arch and on a wall-like member forming the wheel house.

2. The wheel well further comprises an inner fender arranged along the circumferential direction of the tire, The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the aerodynamic appendage is disposed at the widthwise end of the inner fender.

3. The inner fender has an inner fender front section and an inner fender rear section, The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the aerodynamic add-on is disposed in front of the inner fender.

4. The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the aerodynamic appendage has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.

5. The aerodynamic structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the aerodynamic appendage has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape.

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