Improved front portion of a heavy vehicle

Abstract

Air guiding element (41) for a hood (4) of a commercial vehicle (1), the air guiding element (41) comprising a pair of portions (42, 43) connected together and provided with an inner side (41' ' ) along a longitudinal axis (A) and an outer side (41' ) opposite to the inner side (41' ' ), wherein, in use, the inner side (41' ) is configured to cooperate at contact with a body (3' ) of a cab (3) of the vehicle (1).

Description

[0001] " IMPROVED FRONT PORTION OF A HEAVY VEHICLE"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102025000008484 filed on April 16, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention concerns a front portion of a heavy vehicle.

[0005] The present invention finds its preferred, although not exclusive, application in commercial vehicles such as trucks. Reference will be made to this application by way of example below.

[0006] Background of the Invention

[0007] Commercial vehicles such as trucks comprises a cab configured to house both operative systems of the vehicle and driver's seat arrangement.

[0008] Driver's seat arrangement is placed, in the most common configuration also known as "cab over", above the operative systems also for sake of providing a great view field over the road.

[0009] Accordingly, cabs of commercial vehicles have a vertical extension greater with respect to passenger vehicles thereby having increased problems linked to aerodynamic drag.

[0010] Indeed, aerodynamic drag increases squarely withrespect to the speed of the vehicle. Accordingly, the problem is particularly felt in commercial vehicles that are further at high speed on highways for long distances.

[0011] It is therefore clear that reducing vehicle drag would inevitably reduce fuel consumption and therefore increase the efficiency of the vehicle. Such aim is valid both for traditional internal combustion engines and for electric-traction vehicles or hydrogen-based traction vehicles.

[0012] Therefore, the need is felt to reduce aerodynamic drag of commercial vehicle thereby increasing the efficiency of the vehicle.

[0013] An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above mentioned needs in a cost-effective and optimized manner.

[0014] Summary of the Invention

[0015] The aforementioned aim is reached by an air guiding element, a cab and a vehicle as claimed in the appended set of claims that are integral part of the present description.

[0016] Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0018] • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cab of a commercial vehicle in an opened configuration and provided with the air guide element according to the invention;

[0019] • Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a front and a rear perspective view of the air guiding element accordingto the invention; and

[0020] • Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a front and a top view of the air guiding element according to the invention.

[0021] Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 discloses a portion of a vehicle 1 such as a commercial vehicle, e.g. a truck, extending along a longitudinal axis A that coincides, in normal use, with driving direction of the vehicle 1, a transversal axis C and a vertical axis B.

[0022] In detail, vehicle 1 comprises a frame 2 and a cab 3 extending over the frame 2 along vertical axis B.

[0023] In particular, cab 3 comprises a hood 4 that is carried in a movable manner with respect to the body 3' of the cab 3 to assume a first configuration in which isolates a space 5 of cab 3 with respect to environment and a second configuration in which allows access to space 5 from the environment.

[0024] In detail, such hood 4 is linked to the body 3' of cab 3 by a movable connection (not shown) such as a hinge connection, configured to allow rotation of an upper portion of the hood 4 with respect to an axis parallel to transversal axis C.

[0025] The space 5 is therefore delimited by a perimeter 6 that matches with the shape defined by hood 4 in the first above mentioned configuration.

[0026] Space 5 may house different operative elements of the vehicle 1, in particular a portion of a traction systemthereof, and in detail a heat management portion 7 comprising heat exchangers / ventilation means configured to cool down an operative fluid of the vehicle.

[0027] In particular, heat management portion 7 is placed in a central portion of the space 5 along transversal axis C and in particular extends along vertical axis B, starting from a lower edge of perimeter 6 and - in the disclosed embodiment - does not reach the upper edge thereof.

[0028] Advantageously, the cab 3 comprise a plurality of elements configured to direction the airflow impacting, during driving, on the hood 4 in order to reduce aerodynamic drag.

[0029] In detail, the elements can be carried by the hood 4 or by the body 3' of cab 3 along perimeter 6 of the space 5 or housed within space 5. In case such elements are carried body 3' or within space 5, they are preferably, in use, in contact with the hood 4.

[0030] In particular, the elements comprise:

[0031] • Sealing elements configured to avoid air passage through the hood 4 or between the hood 4 and the body 3 via space 5; and / or

[0032] • Guiding elements configured to channel and direction air passage through the hood 4 within space 5.

[0033] In particular, cab 3 comprises an air guiding element 41 configured to guide the air passage within the hood 4 towards a specific position within space 5.

[0034] In detail, guiding element 41 is carried by the hood 4- in use within space 5 - in particular it is fixed to the hood 4 and cooperates at contact with body 3' to channel air within a portion S' ' ' of space 5, in particular towards the heat management portion 7 housed here within.

[0035] Guiding element 41 is shaped to delimit a portion S' ' ' of space 5 since an inner edge 41' ’ along longitudinal axis A cooperates at contact with the body 3' while an outer edge 41' cooperates, in use, at contact with the hood 4 thereby forcing air within portion S' ' '.

[0036] In detail, guiding element 41 comprises a pair of portions 42, 43 opposite one with respect to the other along transversal axis C..

[0037] Advantageously, each portion 42, 43 comprises an inner side that is substantially smooth and an outer side that is provided with a reinforced portion 42c, 43c comprising a pattern of ridges configured to increase mechanical resistance of the respective portion 42, 43.

[0038] In particular, in the disclosed embodiment the reinforced portion 42c, 43c is a honeycomb structure.

[0039] Preferably, each portion 42, 43 is realized as one piece. Furthermore, preferably, each portion 42, 43 realized in polymeric material, such as plastic.

[0040] In detail, first and second portions 42, 43 comprises each a straight portion 42a, 43a and an inclined portion 42b, 43b. In detail, the straight portion 42a, 43a are parallel with respect to longitudinal axis A.

[0041] In further detail, the first portion 42 comprises astraight portion 42a that extends for most of the first portion itself and has a substantial rectangular shape. The inclined portion 42b in such case is present substantially at a vertex of such rectangular shape.

[0042] Conversely, the second portion 43 comprises a straight portion 43a that extends for a minor portion of the second portion itself and has a substantial rectangular shape. The inclined portion 43b in such case is present substantially on the upper part of the second portion 43.

[0043] The guiding element 41 furthermore comprises fixation points 44 configured to allow fixation to hood. In the disclosed embodiment, such fixation points 44 are defined by holes suitable for housing fixing means such as threaded elements.

[0044] Furthermore, in the disclosed embodiment, the fixation points 44 are present in a zone close to outer edges 41.

[0045] In further detail, at least some of the fixation points 44 are placed in the inclined portions 42b, 43b while other are realized in the straight portion 42a, 43a.

[0046] In particular, such other fixation points are placed in a connection portion connecting the straight portion 42a, 43a to the inclined portion 42b 43b.

[0047] Owing to the above, the fixation points in the inclined portions 42b, 43b have a centre axis different ( inclined) with respect to the fixation points in the straight portions 42a, 43a that are substantially parallel to longitudinal axis A.The guiding element 41 may further comprises sealings (not shown) configured to be in contact with the body 3' thereby locking air passage outside portion S' ' ' of space 5.

[0048] In detail, if present, sealings are provided at inner edge 41 ’ ’

[0049] The operation of the embodiment of the invention as described above is the following.

[0050] The guiding element 41 channels air towards the heat management portion 7, thereby at the same time increasing the air passing through this latter and therefore cooling down the operative fluid and reducing air drag due to passage of air through remaining portions of space 5.

[0051] In view of the foregoing, the advantages of the air guiding element, cab and vehicle according to the invention are apparent.

[0052] Thanks to the claimed guiding element, the air passage is channeled towards the required portion S’ ’ ’ of space 5 thereby allowing at the same time maximizing air passage towards heat management portion 7 and avoiding the passage of air towards the perimeter of space 5.

[0053] In this way, drag is reduced and, moreover, efficiency of the heat management portion 7 increased. The two effects synergically acts to improve efficiency of the vehicle 1 In particular, the proposed shape is voted to allow housing of required operative systems while channeling air passage.

[0054] Furthermore, the realization in plastic material and inlow pieces, e. g. by molding, allows cost-effective production of the guiding element.

[0055] In addition, the peculiar "honeycomb" structure allows to provide a robust structure that resists to the mechanical stresses, such as temperature and vibrations, occurring in such zone of space 5.

[0056] It is clear that modifications can be made to the described air guiding element, cab and vehicle which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0057] For example, the cab of the vehicle may be different and similarly hood. Accordingly, the shape and opening / s of the portions of the vehicular element claimed may be different.

Claims

CLAIMS1. - Air guiding element ( 41 ) for a hood (4 ) of a commercial vehicle ( 1 ), said air guiding element (41 ) comprising a pair of portions (42, 43) connected together and provided with an inner side ( 41 ’ ’ ) along a longitudinal axis (A) and an outer side ( 41' ) opposite to said inner side ( 41 ’ ’ ), wherein, in use, said inner side (41' ) is configured to cooperate at contact with a body (3' ) of a cab (3) of said vehicle ( 1 ).

2. - Air guiding element according to claim 1, wherein said portions (42, 43) are separated elements spaced along a transversal axis (C) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (A).

3. - Air guiding element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said portions ( 42, 43) are each realized as one piece.

4. - Air guiding element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said portions ( 42, 43) are each realized in plastic material.

5. - Air guiding element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said portions ( 42, 43) comprise an inner side that is smooth and an outer side that comprises a reinforced portion (42c, 43c).

6. - Air guiding element according to claim 5, wherein said reinforced portion (42c, 43c) comprises a pattern of ridges.

7. - Air guiding element according to claim 5 or 6,wherein said reinforced portion ( 42c, 43c ) comprise a honeycomb structure.

8. - Air guiding element according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a sealing carried by said inner edge ( 41 ' ' ).

9. - Air guiding element according to any of the preceding claims, comprising fixation points ( 44 ) configured to fix said air guiding element ( 41 ) to said hood ( 4 )10. Cab ( 3 ) of a commercial vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a body ( 3 ' ) and a hood ( 4 ) connected to the body ( 3 ' ) by a movable connection to selectively allow or deny access to a space ( 5 ) realized in said body ( 3 ' ), said hood ( 4 ) being provided with an air guiding element ( 41 ) according to any of the preceding claims, said air guiding element ( 41 ) being configured to channel air coming through said hood ( 4 ) within a portion ( S ' ' ' ) of space ( 5 ).

11. - Cab according to claim 10, wherein said air guiding element ( 41 ) is carried by said hood ( 4 ) and cooperates at contact, in use, with said body ( 3 ' ) of said cab ( 3 ) at the inner edge ( 41 ' ' ) thereof.

12. - Vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a cab according to claims 10 or 11.

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