Car with wheel fairing

Abstract

The automobile (1) comprises a body (4) having two front wheels (2), two rear wheels (3), two front wheel houses (5) for accommodating the corresponding front wheels (2) therein, and two rear wheel houses (6) for accommodating the corresponding rear wheels (3) therein, and two cover panels (7, 8) arranged in the area of ​​the corresponding wheel houses (5, 6) to close the wheel houses (5, 6). Each cover panel (7, 8) is attached to the body (4) so ​​as to be movable between a retracted position in which the cover panel (7, 8) is completely flush with the body (4) and an extended position in which the cover panel (7, 8) is at least partially separated from the body (4). Two actuator devices (9) are provided, each coupled to the corresponding cover panel (7, 8) and configured to move the cover panel (7, 8) between the retracted and extended positions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102019000023112, filed December 5, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Technical field]

[0002] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a wheel fairing. [Background technology]

[0003] At high speeds (i.e. when driving on a highway), the largest part of the energy absorbed by a car comes from the need to overcome aerodynamic resistance, and as a consequence, in order to reduce consumption (of fuel or power) and therefore increase autonomy (given the same amount of fuel or power stored at the time the car was started), it is necessary to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the car.

[0004] To reduce the aerodynamic resistance of a motor vehicle, it is useful to close the wheel wells (as in, for example, US Pat. No. 2,128,686) so that the rotation of the wheels does not impede the airflow that brushes against the sides of the body. However, while closing the rear wheel wells with respective removable cover panels (so that the tires can be changed) does not lead to negative consequences, closing the front wheel wells with respective removable cover panels (so that the tires can be changed) does, since it requires a significant reduction in the width of the front axle (i.e. the distance between the outsides of the front wheels). In other words, the front wheels need to be able to pivot to allow steering of the motor vehicle (they usually have a size that protrudes from the outer shape of the motor vehicle when steering), and therefore need to be adequately spaced from the respective cover panels to ensure the space required for the pivoting of the front wheels (and thus result in a reduced width of the front axle), which has a significant negative effect on the dynamic performance of the motor vehicle and reduces the space available for the front trunk.

[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2019210657, 2013096781, and 2012013113 disclose automobiles having front wheel house fairings with respective cover panels that can move to splay outward when steering of the front wheels is required. Summary of the Invention

[0006] SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle with a front wheel fairing which reduces aerodynamic resistance while at the same time having no adverse effect on dynamic performance and on the space available in the front trunk.

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle equipped with a front wheel fairing according to the accompanying claims.

[0008] The appended claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention and form an integral part of this specification. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments of the invention. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view of a motor vehicle equipped with a front wheel fairing according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the automobile of FIG. 1 with the front wheels steered slightly to the left. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the front wheels steered hard left; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 with the wheel well cover in place. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 without the wheelhouse cover. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pneumatic actuator used by the vehicle of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In FIG. 1, the number 1 indicates as a whole a motor vehicle.

[0011] The motor vehicle 1 comprises a frame supporting two front wheels 2 (driven wheels) and two rear wheels 3 (driven wheels), although according to alternative embodiments the front wheels 2 may also be driven wheels (in addition to the rear wheels 3) or only the front wheels 2 may be driven wheels (instead of the rear wheels 3). The frame is covered by a bodywork 4 defining a passenger compartment arranged between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3, the passenger compartment being provided with two or more seats, each designed to receive a respective passenger. The front wheels 2 are steering wheels and are mounted to pivot about respective vertical pivot axes in order to vary the respective steering angle (and thus make it possible to change the direction of the motor vehicle 1), as shown for example in FIG. 2 (for small steering angles) and in FIG. 3 (for large steering angles). The rear wheels 3 are not steering wheels, i.e. they always have a zero steering angle.

[0012] At the front position there is an internal combustion engine which produces torque which is transmitted by a driveline to the rear wheels 3 (the driven wheels).

[0013] According to FIG. 6, in the region of the two front wheels 2, the vehicle body 4 has two front wheel houses 5, each housing a respective front wheel 2 therein, and similarly, in the region of the two rear wheels 3, the vehicle body 4 has two rear wheel houses 6, each housing a respective rear wheel 3 therein.

[0014] According to FIG. 5, two rear cover panels 7 (only one of them is shown in FIG. 5) are provided which are mounted flush with the vehicle body 4 in the area of ​​the rear wheel house 6 in order to close (cover) the rear wheel house 6. In other words, each rear cover panel 7 is flush with the vehicle body 4 so as to close (cover, flatten) the outside of the respective rear wheel house 6. Naturally, each rear cover panel 7 is (easily) removable in order to allow access to the corresponding rear wheel 3 when a tire change or maintenance is required. According to a preferred embodiment, the two rear cover panels 7 are rigid, i.e. not deformable (for example made of aluminum, plastic material or composite material) and are fixed to the vehicle body 4 in such a way that they cannot move relative to the vehicle body 4 in use.

[0015] According to Fig. 5, two front cover panels 8 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 5) are provided which are mounted normally flush with the bodywork 4 in the area of ​​the front wheelhouse 5 in order to close (cover, level) the latter. In other words, each front cover panel 8 is normally flush with the bodywork 4 so as to close (cover, level) the outside of the respective front wheelhouse 5. Naturally, each front cover panel 8 is (easily) removable in order to allow access to the respective front wheel 2 when a tire change or maintenance is required.

[0016] According to Figures 1, 2 and 3, each front cover panel 8 is mounted to the vehicle body 4 such that it is movable between a retracted position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) in which the front cover panel 8 is completely flush with the vehicle body 4 and an extended position (shown in Figure 3) in which the front cover panel 8 is at least partially spaced from the vehicle body 4. Two actuator devices 9 are provided, each connected to a respective front cover panel 8, for moving the front cover panel 8 between the retracted position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) and the extended position (shown in Figure 3).

[0017] In other words, the front cover panel 8 moves outward (from a retracted position to an extended position) to allow steering of the front wheels 2 .

[0018] According to figures 1, 2 and 3, a control unit 10 is provided which is configured to detect the steering angle of the front wheels 2 and to move the front cover panel 8 between a retracted position and an extended position depending on the steering angle of the front wheels 2. In particular, the control unit 10 is configured to move the front cover panel 8 from the retracted position to the extended position when the steering angle of the front wheels 2 exceeds a first threshold value and to move the front cover panel 8 from the extended position to the retracted position when the steering angle of the front wheels 2 is less than the first threshold value, the control unit 10 of course applying a given degree of hysteresis (also in time) to the first threshold value in order to avoid actuations that are too close to each other.

[0019] The first threshold is preferably small but not equal to zero (for example, 2-5°), i.e. the first threshold is greater than 0°. Indeed, according to FIG. 2, the front wheels 2 can take small steering angles (i.e. steering angles smaller than the first threshold) without hitting the front cover panel 8. Thus, when the automobile 1 is traveling at a relatively high speed, the trajectory followed by the automobile 1 can be gradually changed (by steering the front wheels 2 at a small steering angle) without having to move the front cover panel 8 from the contracted position to the extended position; indeed, when the automobile 1 is traveling at a relatively high speed, the driver usually only turns the steering wheel to give a small steering angle in order not to destabilize the automobile 1.

[0020] When the vehicle 1 is traveling at a low speed (or even when stopped), the driver may turn the steering wheel to provide a large steering angle (typically during a parking maneuver), which always requires the front cover panel 8 to move from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0021] According to one possible embodiment, the control unit 10 is configured to keep the front cover panel 8 in the extended position for a predefined time (e.g. 30-300 seconds) after the steering angle of the front wheels 2 exceeds a first threshold, as long as the longitudinal speed does not exceed a second threshold (e.g. 90-110 km / h). In other words, when the steering angle 2 exceeds the first threshold, the control unit 10 moves the front cover panel 8 to the extended position and keeps it in the extended position until the predefined time (e.g. 30-300 seconds) has elapsed or as long as the longitudinal speed does not exceed a second threshold.

[0022] According to a preferred (but not limited to) embodiment, the control unit 10 is configured to move both front cover panels 8 from the contracted position to the extended position whenever the steering angle of the front wheels 2 (as shown in Figure 3) exceeds a first threshold value; indeed, the front wheel 2 located on the inside of the curve (the left front wheel 2 in Figure 3) tends to protrude out of the front wheel house 5 at the front, whereas the front wheel 2 located on the outside of the curve (the right front wheel 2 in Figure 3) tends to protrude out of the front wheel house 5 at the rear.

[0023] According to a preferred (but not limited to) embodiment, each front cover panel 8 has a front portion that is permanently connected to the vehicle body 4 (i.e. hinged to the vehicle body 4) and a rear portion that is movable relative to the vehicle body 4, and each actuator device 9 is coupled to the rear portion of the corresponding front cover panel 8 and designed to move the rear portion away from or towards the vehicle body 4.

[0024] According to a preferred (but not exclusive) embodiment, each front cover panel 8 is made of a deformable material, in particular each front cover panel 8 is made of a textile material. According to an alternative embodiment, the two front cover panels 8 are rigid, i.e. not deformable (for example made of aluminium, a plastic material or a composite material).

[0025] According to a preferred (but not limited) embodiment, each actuator device 9 normally extends to place the front cover panel 8 in an extended position in the absence of power. In this way, in the event of failure of an actuator device 9, the corresponding front cover panel 8 will automatically be placed in the extended position, which is the "safest" position (as it allows the maximum steering angle of the front wheels 2).

[0026] According to a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment, each actuator device 9 is a pneumatic actuator device. In particular, according to Fig. 6, each actuator device 9 comprises a deformable body 11 that expands and increases in size when exposed to atmospheric pressure and contracts and decreases in size when exposed to a vacuum, and further comprises a vacuum source 12 designed to generate a vacuum and a pneumatic selector 13 connected to the deformable body 11 by a duct 14, designed to alternately connect the deformable body 11 to the vacuum source 12 or to atmospheric pressure.

[0027] According to a preferred (but not limited to) embodiment, each deformable body 11 comprises a spongy material 15 and a sealed bag 16 that contains the spongy material 15 inside, and when the sealed bag 16 is at atmospheric pressure, the spongy material 15 has a maximum size (shown in FIG. 6), while when the sealed bag 16 is under vacuum, the spongy material 15 is compressed to a minimum size (not shown) by being pushed by the air pressure at atmospheric pressure acting on the outer wall of the sealed bag 16.

[0028] According to a preferred (but not limited to) embodiment, the two actuator devices 9 share a pneumatic selector 13 and a vacuum source 12, i.e. there is a single pneumatic selector 13 and a single vacuum source 12 that is common to both actuator devices 9 (so that both actuator devices 9 always operate together in the same way).

[0029] In the embodiment shown in the attached figures, only the front wheels 2 are steerable wheels, and therefore the two rear wheels 3 are not, with the consequence that the two rear cover panels 7 closing the rear wheelhouses 6 are fixed (i.e. not movable), whereas the two front cover panels 8 closing the front wheelhouses 5 are movable between retracted and extended positions. According to an alternative embodiment not shown here, the rear wheels 3 are also steerable wheels (in addition to the front wheels 2), in which case the two rear cover panels 7 closing the rear wheelhouses 6 may also be fixed (i.e. non-movable) if the maximum steering angle of the rear wheels 3 is small, or may be movable (like the front cover panels 8) between retracted and extended positions.

[0030] The embodiments described herein can for this reason be combined with one another without going beyond the scope of protection of the invention.

[0031] The vehicle 1 described above has many advantages.

[0032] Firstly, the vehicle 1 described above features fairing of the front wheels 2 (the front wheels 2 are therefore covered by the front cover panels 8) to increase aerodynamic efficiency (ie reduce drag coefficient).

[0033] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle 1 has a standard front axle width (i.e. the distance between the outside of the front wheels 2) that is not affected by the presence of the front cover panel 8 covering the front wheels 2; this result is obtained thanks to the fact that the front cover panel 8 is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, i.e. moving outward to allow steering of the front wheels 2.

[0034] The front cover panel 8 (especially if made from fabric or the like) and the actuator arrangement 9 (especially if a vacuum is used to create the movement) together have a very low weight.

[0035] Finally, the above-described vehicle 1 can be easily and economically manufactured due to the relatively low cost of the front cover panel 8 (especially if made from fabric or the like) and the actuator device 9 (especially if a vacuum is used to create movement). [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1. Automobiles 2 Front wheels 3 Rear wheel 4. Body 5 Front wheel house 6 Rear wheel house 7 Rear cover panel 8 Front Cover Panel 9 Actuator device 10. Control Unit 11 Transformable body 12 Vacuum source 13 Air Pressure Selector 14 Duct 15 Spongy material 16 Sealed Bags

Claims

1. Two front wheels (2); Two rear wheels (3); A vehicle body (4) having two front wheel houses (5) each housing a corresponding front wheel (2) therein, and two rear wheel houses (6) each housing a corresponding rear wheel (3) therein; at least two cover panels (7, 8), each arranged in the area of ​​a corresponding wheel well (5, 6) for closing said wheel well (5, 6) and attached to said body (4) so ​​as to be movable between a contracted position in which said cover panels (7, 8) are completely flush with said body (4) and an extended position in which said cover panels (7, 8) are at least partially removed from said body (4); two actuator devices (9) each coupled to a corresponding cover panel (7, 8) for moving said cover panels (7, 8) between said contracted position and said extended position; A vehicle (1) comprising: Each actuator device (9) is a pneumatic device, a deformable body (11) that expands to a larger size when exposed to atmospheric pressure and contracts to a smaller size when exposed to a vacuum; a vacuum source (12) designed to generate a vacuum; a pneumatic selector (13) designed to alternately connect said deformable body (11) to said vacuum source (12) or to atmospheric pressure; A motor vehicle (1), comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit (10) configured to detect a steering angle of the corresponding wheels (2, 3) and to move the cover panels (7, 8) between the contracted position and the extended position depending on the steering angle of the corresponding wheels (2, 3).

3. 3. The vehicle (1) of claim 2, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to move the cover panel (7, 8) from the retracted position to the extended position when the steering angle of the corresponding wheel (2, 3) exceeds a first threshold value, and to move the cover panel (7, 8) from the extended position to the retracted position when the steering angle (2, 3) is less than the first threshold value.

4. 4. The vehicle (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first threshold value is greater than 0°.

5. 5. The vehicle (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit (10) is configured to keep the cover panels (7, 8) in the extended position for a given time after the steering angle of the corresponding wheel (2, 3) exceeds the first threshold value, unless the longitudinal speed exceeds a second threshold value.

6. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cover panel (7, 8) has a front part permanently connected to the body (4).

7. 7. The motor vehicle (1) according to claim 6, wherein each actuator device (9) is designed to be coupled to a rear portion of the corresponding cover panel (7, 8) and to move said rear portion away from the vehicle body (4) or towards the vehicle body (4).

8. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cover panel (7, 8) is made of a deformable material.

9. 9. The vehicle (1) according to claim 8, wherein each cover panel (7, 8) is made of a textile material.

10. A vehicle (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each actuator device (9) is normally extended so as to position the corresponding cover panel (7, 8) in the extended position when not powered.

11. Each deformable body (11) comprises: A spongy material (15); A sealed bag (16) containing the spongy material (15) therein; A motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

12. 12. The vehicle (1) according to claim 11, wherein the spongy material (15) has a maximum size when the sealed bag (16) is at atmospheric pressure, whereas when the sealed bag (16) is under vacuum, the spongy material (15) is compressed to a minimum size by being pushed by the atmospheric air pressure acting on the outer wall of the sealed bag (16).

13. 13. The vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein there is one pneumatic selector (13) and one vacuum source (12) common to both actuator devices (9), and thus the two actuator devices (9) share the pneumatic selector (13) and the vacuum source (12) such that both actuator devices (9) always operate together in the same way.

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