Spoiler device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11040744-B2
Application number	US-201916580241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2019
Priority date	Sep 26, 2018
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A spoiler device includes a link mechanism and a spoiler member. In the link mechanism, a drive link, an intermediate link, a driven link, and a fixed link are annularly connected. The drive link is driven by an actuator, thereby causing the link mechanism to operate as a four-joint link. The spoiler member is fixed to the intermediate link or the driven link. Any one of the drive link, the intermediate link, and the driven link is configured so as to include, two division links whose one end portions are connected by a connection portion. The two division links are rotatable around the connection portion, and are pressed in rotational directions by a pressing member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A movable spoiler device provided at a front portion of a vehicle body, the spoiler device comprising:
a link mechanism in which a drive link, an intermediate link, a driven link, and a fixed link are annularly connected, and that operates as a four-joint link by drive of the drive link by an actuator; and
a spoiler member that is fixed to the intermediate link or the driven link, and that can be spread out and accommodated relative to the vehicle body by operation of the link mechanism, wherein
any one of the drive link, the intermediate link, and the driven link is configured so as to include two division links whose one end portions are connected by a connection portion, and
the two division links are rotatable around the connection portion, and are pressed in rotational directions by a pressing member.

2. The spoiler device according to claim 1 , wherein
the link mechanism is configured in such a way that, when the spoiler member is accommodated, an interior angle of a connection portion made by the drive link and the intermediate link becomes smaller than 180 degrees, and when the spoiler member is spread out, an interior angle of a connection portion made by the drive link and the intermediate link becomes larger than 180 degrees, and the connection portion contacts against a stationary member, and the two division links are included in the intermediate link or the driven link.

3. The spoiler device according to claim 2 , wherein
the spoiler member is fixed to the driven link, and
the two division links are included in the intermediate link.

4. The spoiler device according to claim 1 , wherein
the two division links are included in one link closer to the drive link than a different link to which the spoiler member is fixed, in which the one link and the different link are among the drive link, the intermediate link, and the driven link.

5. The spoiler device according to claim 2 , wherein
the two division links are included in one link closer to the drive link than a different link to which the spoiler member is fixed, in which the one link and the different link are among the drive link, the intermediate link, and the driven link.

6. The spoiler device according to claim 3 , wherein
the two division links are included in one link closer to the drive link than a different link to which the spoiler member is fixed, in which the one link and the different link are among the drive link, the intermediate link, and the driven link.

7. The spoiler device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

8. The spoiler device according to claim 2 , further comprising a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

9. The spoiler device according to claim 3 , further comprising a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

10. The spoiler device according to claim 4 , further comprising a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

11. The spoiler device according to claim 5 , further comprising a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

12. The spoiler device according to claim 6 , further comprising a support member that is on each side of the link mechanism in a vehicle width direction and that supports the spoiler member so as to be rotatable relative to the vehicle body, wherein
a rotational shaft of the support member is provided coaxially with a rotational shaft of the driven link that rotates relative to the fixed link.

Assignees

• Aisin Seiki

Inventors

• Shiga Tokuhiro
• Shibutani Yukihide
• Mizuno Hideki

Classifications

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• B60Y2400/411

  Bowden cables or linkages · CPC title

• B62D35/02

  Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title

• B62D37/02

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title