Aerodynamics equipment for vehicle

Abstract

This aerodynamics equipment for a vehicle comprises a pair of side fins that protrude rearward of the vehicle and extend in the vertical direction along the upper rear end on the sides of a vehicle body. The side fins are formed such that the outer-side surface of each side fin displaces inward in the vehicle width direction the further the side fin reaches toward the rear of the vehicle. Each side fin is provided with a slit section extending in the vertical direction and causing the vehicle width-direction outer side and inner side of the side fin to communicate.

Description

Vehicle aerodynamic device

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerodynamic device for a vehicle.

[0002] Various aerodynamic devices for vehicles have been proposed for reducing air resistance acting on a vehicle body while the vehicle is traveling. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an aerodynamic device provided at the corner between the side and rear portions of the rear of the vehicle body, which includes an intake port provided in the side portion, an exhaust port provided in the rear portion, and a cross-flow fan that draws in air through the intake port and discharges it through the exhaust port. Another aerodynamic device provides a pair of side fins that extend vertically along the upper rear end of the side of the vehicle body and protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, thereby rectifying the airflow with the side fins.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-214214

[0004] In the latter aerodynamic device, it is conceivable that by increasing the longitudinal dimension of the side fins, the airflow rectification effect can be enhanced and air resistance can be more effectively reduced. However, due to constraints on design and vehicle specifications, there is a limit to how large the longitudinal dimension of the side fins can be, and some kind of improvement is required. The present invention was devised in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an aerodynamic device for a vehicle that is advantageous in reducing air resistance while the vehicle is traveling, without requiring the side fins to have a large longitudinal dimension.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention is an aerodynamic device for a vehicle having a pair of side fins that extend in the vertical direction along the upper rear end of the side of the vehicle body and protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, wherein the outer surfaces of the side fins are formed so as to displace inward in the vehicle width direction as they reach the rear of the vehicle, and the side fins are provided with slit portions that extend in the vertical direction and connect the outer and inner sides of the side fins in the vehicle width direction.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the vehicle is traveling, airflow is ejected from the inner side of the side fin in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction through the slits, thereby suppressing airflow that is drawn inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end of the side of the vehicle body when the vehicle is traveling, which is advantageous in reducing air resistance. Furthermore, because the outer surfaces of the side fins are formed to displace inward in the vehicle width direction as they approach the rear of the vehicle, when the vehicle is traveling, airflow advection along the side of the vehicle body toward the rear of the vehicle does not interfere with the slits and is suppressed from entering the slits, which is advantageous in ensuring airflow ejection from the slits and reducing air resistance. Therefore, this is advantageous in reducing air resistance without requiring a large longitudinal dimension of the side fins.

[0007] 6 is a perspective view of an aerodynamic device according to a first embodiment, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1, and (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 1. 7 is a perspective view of an aerodynamic device according to a second embodiment, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. 8 is a perspective view of an aerodynamic device according to a third embodiment, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. 9 is a perspective view of an aerodynamic device according to a fourth embodiment, as seen from the rear of the vehicle. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 1.

[0008] (First Embodiment) An aerodynamic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the following drawings, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the symbol UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the symbol IN indicates the inward side in the vehicle width direction, and the symbol OUT indicates the outward side in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 1 , the upper rear portion of the vehicle includes rear portions of vehicle body side surfaces 10 on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the rear portion of a roof panel 12, and a rear window 14. A rear spoiler 16 is provided on the roof panel 12 above the rear window 14, and a pair of side fins 18A are provided on each end of the rear spoiler 16 in the vehicle width direction. The pair of side fins 18A constitute an aerodynamic device for the vehicle. Specifically, the rear spoiler 16 extends in the vehicle width direction along the rear end of the roof panel 12, which forms the upper surface of the vehicle body, and protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0009] The side fins 18A of the first embodiment extend vertically along the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 and protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, with the upper ends of the side fins 18A connected to the ends of the rear spoiler 16. As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the side fins 18A have outer surfaces 1802 facing outward in the vehicle width direction and inner surfaces 1804 facing inward in the vehicle width direction. The side fins 18A also have a leading edge 1806 located at the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 and a trailing edge 1808 spaced apart from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10. The side fins 18A are formed so as to be displaced inward in the vehicle width direction as they extend toward the rear of the vehicle. Specifically, the outer surfaces 1802 of the side fins 18A are formed so as to be displaced inward in the vehicle width direction as they extend toward the rear of the vehicle. Note that in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the symbol L indicates an imaginary line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0010] The side fin 18A is provided with a slit portion 20 that extends in the vertical direction and connects the outer and inner sides of the side fin 18A in the vehicle width direction. The slit portion 20 is provided between the leading edge 1806 and the trailing edge 1808. The slit portion 20 extends in a generally linear manner with its upper end positioned further forward of the vehicle than its lower end. The upper end of the slit portion 20 is located below the upper end of the side fin 18A, and the lower end of the slit portion 20 is located above the lower end of the side fin 18A. The portion of the side fin 18A located above the slit portion 20 is formed as a single upper fin portion 22 as shown in FIG. 2A, and the portion of the side fin 18A located below the slit portion 20 is formed as a single lower fin portion 24 as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0011] 2B , at the portion of the side fin 18A where the slit portion 20 is located, the side fin 18A includes a front fin portion 26 located in front of the slit portion 20 and a rear fin portion 28 located behind the slit portion 20. The rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28, and the slit portion 20 is provided between the rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 and the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28. The rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 and the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28 overlap in the vehicle width direction.

[0012] According to the first embodiment, a pair of side fins 18A extending in the vertical direction along the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 and projecting toward the rear of the vehicle are provided with slits 20 extending in the vertical direction and communicating the outer and inner sides of the side fins 18A in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling, airflow is ejected from the inner side of the side fins 18A in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction through the slits 20, thereby suppressing the airflow that is drawn in from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle is traveling, thereby reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and being advantageous in reducing air resistance. Furthermore, because the outer surfaces 1802 of the side fins 18A are formed so as to be displaced inward in the vehicle width direction as they approach the rear of the vehicle, when the vehicle is moving, the airflow advecting toward the rear of the vehicle along the vehicle body side surface 10 does not interfere with the slits 20, and the airflow is prevented from entering the slits 20, which is advantageous for ensuring the airflow ejected from the slits 20 and reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear of the vehicle body and air resistance. Therefore, this is advantageous for reducing air resistance without requiring the side fins 18A to have a large longitudinal dimension.

[0013] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the slit portion 20 extends vertically between the leading edge 1806 and the trailing edge 1808 of the side fin 18A, the rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 of the side fin 18A is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28, and the slit portion 20 is provided between the rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 and the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28. Therefore, airflow is ejected diagonally forward from the slit portion 20, which is more advantageous in suppressing airflow that is sucked inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 while the vehicle is traveling, and is more advantageous in reducing negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and reducing air resistance.

[0014] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rear end 2602 of the front fin portion 26 and the front end 2802 of the rear fin portion 28 overlap in the vehicle width direction, which is advantageous in more reliably ejecting airflow diagonally forward from the slit portion 20. This is therefore even more advantageous in suppressing airflow that is drawn inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 while the vehicle is traveling, and is even more advantageous in reducing negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and reducing air resistance.

[0015] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the rear spoiler 16 extends in the vehicle width direction along the rear end of the upper surface of the vehicle body and protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle, and the upper ends of the pair of side fins 18A are connected to both ends of the rear spoiler 16. Therefore, the rectifying effect of the rear spoiler 16 reduces the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body, which is advantageous in reducing air resistance. In addition, because air is ejected from the space surrounded by the rear spoiler 16 and the pair of side fins 18A through the slits 20, this is even more advantageous in suppressing the airflow that is drawn inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end 1002 of the side surface 10 of the vehicle body while the vehicle is traveling, which is even more advantageous in reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and reducing air resistance.

[0016] Second Embodiment In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as those in the first embodiment, and their descriptions will be omitted or simplified. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 , in the side fin 18B of the second embodiment, the extension direction of the slit portion 20 differs from that of the first embodiment, but the other components are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the slit portion 20 extends substantially linearly in the vertical direction. Therefore, not only can the same effects as those of the first embodiment be achieved, but when the vehicle is viewed from the side while the vehicle is running, the direction of the band-shaped airflow ejected from the slit portion 20 is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the airflow flowing along the vehicle side surface 10 to the side of the vehicle. This allows the airflow to be uniformly controlled in the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is more advantageous in suppressing the airflow that is drawn inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle side surface 10, and is more advantageous in reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle and reducing air resistance.

[0017] Third Embodiment As shown in FIG. 4 , in a side fin 18C of the third embodiment, the extending direction of the slit portion 20 differs from that of the first embodiment, as in the second embodiment, but the remaining features are the same as those of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the slit portion 20 extends substantially linearly and substantially parallel to the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10. This not only provides the same effects as the first embodiment, but also is advantageous in ensuring a longer overall length of the slit portion 20. This ensures a larger amount of airflow ejected from the slit portion 20 during vehicle travel, which is more advantageous in suppressing airflow that is drawn inward in the vehicle width direction from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10, thereby reducing negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and air resistance.

[0018] 5, a side fin 18D according to a fourth embodiment is a modified example of the third embodiment, and includes a slit 20 extending substantially linearly and substantially parallel to the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10, the slit 20 being provided adjacent to the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10. Therefore, the slit 20 can be positioned further forward of the side fin 18D than in the third embodiment. At the more forward position of the side fin 18D, the circulating airflow that develops in the space surrounded by the rear spoiler 16 and the pair of side fins 18D while the vehicle is traveling strongly interferes, resulting in a region with higher pressure than the region behind the side fin 18D. Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling, the pressure difference between the outside of the side fins 18D and the inside of the side fins 18D increases, which is advantageous for allowing more air to be ejected through the slit portion 20 from the space surrounded by the rear spoiler 16 and the pair of side fins 18D, thereby reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and providing further advantage in reducing air resistance.

[0019] Fifth Embodiment As shown in FIG. 6 , a side fin 18E according to the fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the slit portion 20 is not formed between the leading edge 1806 and the trailing edge 1808, but is instead formed between the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 and the side fin 18E. Specifically, a forward-opening notch 1810 is formed in a vertically intermediate portion of the leading edge 1806 of the side fin 18E, closer to the bottom. The side fin 18E has a notch upper end 1811 that extends substantially linearly in the front-to-rear direction and forms the upper end of the notch 1810, and a notch rear end 1812 that extends substantially linearly in the vertical direction and forms the rear end of the notch 1810. The notch rear end 1812 and the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 form the slit portion 20 that extends vertically. 7, the notch rear end 1812 of the side fin 18E that forms the slit portion 20 is located inward in the vehicle width direction from an extension line X that extends rearward from the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the side fin 18E includes an upper fin portion 22 located above the slit portion 20, a rear fin portion 28 located behind the slit portion 20, and a lower fin portion 24 located below the slit portion 20.

[0020] In the fifth embodiment, the slit portion 20 is formed by the cutout rear end 1812 of the side fin 18E and the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10, and the cutout rear end 1812 is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the extension line X obtained by extending the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10 rearward. Therefore, by providing the slit portion 20 adjacent to the upper rear end 1002 of the vehicle body side surface 10, the slit portion 20 can be positioned at the forward-most position of the side fin 18E. At the position further forward of the side fin 18E, the circulating air flow that develops in the space surrounded by the rear spoiler 16 and the pair of side fins 18E while the vehicle is traveling strongly interferes, resulting in a region with higher pressure than the region behind the side fin 18E. Therefore, when the vehicle is moving, the pressure difference between the outside of the side fins 18E and the inside of the vehicle increases, which is advantageous for allowing more air to be ejected through the slit portion 20 from the space surrounded by the rear spoiler 16 and the pair of side fins 18E, thereby reducing the negative pressure applied to the rear surface of the vehicle body and providing even greater advantages in reducing air resistance.

[0021] Although the embodiment has been described with respect to a case where the number of slit portions 20 provided in the side fin is one, it is also possible to provide a plurality of slit portions 20. In this case, the plurality of slit portions 20 may be provided at intervals in the front-to-rear direction, or the plurality of slit portions 20 may be provided at intervals in the up-to-down direction, or the plurality of slit portions 20 may be provided in a staggered pattern, and the arrangement of the plurality of slit portions 20 is arbitrary.

[0022] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0023] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2023-53157) filed on March 29, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0024] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle body side 1002 Upper rear end 12 Roof panel 14 Rear window 16 Rear spoiler 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E Side fin 1802 Outer surface 1804 Inner surface 1806 Front edge 1808 Rear edge 1810 Cutout 1811 Upper end for cutout 1812 Rear end for cutout 20 Slit portion 22 Upper fin portion 24 Lower fin portion 26 Front fin portion 2602 Rear end 28 Rear fin portion 2802 Front end L Imaginary line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle X Extension line

Claims

1. An aerodynamic device for a vehicle having a pair of side fins extending in a vertical direction along an upper rear end of a side surface of a vehicle body and protruding rearward of the vehicle, the side fin is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the rear end of the upper portion of the side surface of the vehicle body, The outer surfaces of the side fins are formed so as to be displaced inward in the vehicle width direction as they approach the rear of the vehicle, The side fins are provided with slits extending in the vertical direction, communicating the outer and inner sides of the side fins in the vehicle width direction, and through which airflow is ejected from the inner side of the side fins in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side of the side fins in the vehicle width direction.

1. An aerodynamic device for a vehicle.

2. The side fin has a leading edge located at the upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface and a trailing edge spaced apart from the upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface, The slit portion extends in the up-down direction between the leading edge and the trailing edge, The side fins include a front fin portion located in front of the slit portion and a rear fin portion located behind the slit portion, a rear end of the front fin portion is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than a front end of the rear fin portion, and the slit portion is provided between the rear end of the front fin portion and the front end of the rear fin portion.

2. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The rear end of the front fin portion and the front end of the rear fin portion overlap in the vehicle width direction.

3. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 2.

4. The slit portion extends in the vertical direction.

2. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

5. The slit portion extends substantially parallel to the upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface.

2. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

6. The slit portion is provided adjacent to the upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface.

6. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 5.

7. The side fin has a leading edge located at an upper rear end of the side surface of the vehicle body, A notch that is open forward is provided in a vertically intermediate portion of a front edge of the side fin, the slit portion is formed by a rear end of the cutout of the side fin, which extends in the vertical direction and forms the rear end of the cutout, and an upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface, The rear end of the notch is located inward in the vehicle width direction from an extension line obtained by extending rearward from the upper rear end of the vehicle body side surface.

2. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 1.

8. a rear spoiler extending in the vehicle width direction along the rear end of the upper surface of the vehicle body and protruding toward the rear of the vehicle; The upper ends of the pair of side fins are connected to both ends of the rear spoiler, respectively.

8. The aerodynamic device for a vehicle according to claim 1.