Rear Spoiler with Spring-Loaded Retractable Air Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rear spoilers on commercial vehicles, while improving aerodynamics, often hinder access to the vehicle's rear due to protruding air guiding surfaces, making it difficult to back up to ramps or loading stations without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
An automatically adjustable rear spoiler device with an articulated rod mechanism that retracts or folds when the vehicle contacts a ramp or loading station, allowing easy access and maintaining aerodynamic benefits without obstructing the access opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rear spoilers with air guiding surfaces are used to improve aerodynamics, then fuel consumption is reduced, but access to the rear of the vehicle is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding surfaces are designed to be movable between an extended position for aerodynamic optimization and a retracted position for access. The dynamic adjustment allows the spoiler to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining aerodynamic benefits and enabling easy rear access for loading/unloading operations
2Loss of energy
If air guiding elements are extended to improve aerodynamics, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the access opening is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding elements are designed with movable connections that allow them to be positioned in an extended configuration during driving for optimal aerodynamics, and retracted or folded back during loading/unloading operations to maintain clear access to the rear opening, thus resolving the spatial conflict between aerodynamic performance and access requirements
3Loss of energy
If manual adjustment of rear spoiler is required, then aerodynamic positioning is achieved, but driver intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The rear spoiler system is equipped with sensors that automatically detect when the vehicle is positioned for loading or unloading operations and autonomously adjust the air guiding surfaces to the appropriate configuration without requiring driver intervention, thereby achieving both aerodynamic optimization and operational convenience through automated control
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rear spoiler device (10) for a vehicle (1), in particular a utility vehicle or a trailer, the rear spoiler device (10) having at least one adjustable air guiding element (12) for the purpose of aerodynamically guiding air and extending the contour of the lateral region of the rear (5) of the vehicle (1). According to the invention, the guide element (12) is adjustable between a travel position, in which it extends rearwards in a lateral region of the rear (5) for the purpose of aerodynamically guiding air and extending the contour, and a stowed position, and the air guiding element (12) is spring pre-loaded into the extended travel position and is adjusted into the stowed position by pressing the guide element (12) from the rear side counter against the spring pre-load.