Active underbody panel systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11230332-B2
Application number	US-202017022484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2020
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

An active underbody panel system having a frame arrangement mounted under the vehicle and at least one deployable panel moveable between stowed and deployed positions to improve aerodynamics under the vehicle. A deployment/retraction mechanism is provided having a pair of linkage assemblies and driven by an actuator, which allows the deployable panel(s) to be moved automatically downward into the air flow as needed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An active underbody panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a support frame mounted to an underside of the vehicle;
at least one deployment/retraction mechanism operably coupled to the support frame;
at least one deployable panel operably connected to the support frame; and
at least one actuator operably coupled to the deployment/retraction mechanism, said actuator automatically moves the support frame under predetermined conditions to move the at least one deployable panel between a stowed position and a deployed position.

2. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deployable panel comprises a first panel and a second panel that selectively move relative to each other between the stowed position and the deployed position.

3. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 2 , wherein the support frame includes a first panel frame structure connected to the first panel and a second panel frame structure connected to the second panel.

4. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 3 , wherein the support frame further includes a first framing structure connected to the first panel frame structure and a second framing structure connected to the second panel frame structure, wherein the first and second framing structures are mounted to the underbody of the vehicle.

5. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deployment/retraction mechanism includes at least two linkage assemblies operably coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the actuator drives rotation of the drive shaft to move the at least two linkage assemblies causing the at least one deployable panel to move between the stowed and deployed positions.

6. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least two linkage assemblies each comprises a first link connected to a second panel frame structure of the frame support, a second link coupled to the drive shaft and to a first panel frame structure of the frame support, and a third link connected to the first link and connected to the drive shaft, for rotation between the stowed and deployed positions.

7. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a clutched actuator to prevent damage to the actuator or deployment/retraction mechanism.

8. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 7 , wherein the actuator senses current spike upon impact with the object causing circuit override for declutching so that the at least one deployable panel moves freely out of the way.

9. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined conditions are selected from the group consisting of vehicle speed, wind direction, yaw and combinations thereof.

10. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle speed for deployment of the assembly to the deployed position is reaching a vehicle speed in the range of 30-40 miles per hour.

11. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined condition for retraction to the retracted position is dropping below a speed in the range of 30-40 miles per hour or sensing impact with an object.

12. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at assembly is mounted in a fore-aft location adjacent an axle of the vehicle.

13. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one deployable panel includes a first panel lowered from a substantially horizontal plane to a predetermined angle when in the deployed position and a second panel lowered substantially horizontal plane to a predetermined angle when in the deployed position.

14. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one vent aperture formed through the at least one deployable panel for increased air flow through an engine compartment.

15. An active underbody panel assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a support frame mounted to an underside of the vehicle and including at least two rotatable portions;
at least two linkage assemblies operably coupled to the support frame;
a first panel connected to the support frame;
a second panel connected to the support frame;
at least one actuator connected to the at least two linkage assemblies to selectively move the first and second panels between stowed position and deployed positions.

16. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support frame further comprises:
a first framing structure operably connected to a first panel frame structure, wherein the first panel is operably coupled to the first panel frame structure; and,
a second framing structure operably connected to a second panel frame structure, wherein the second panel is operably coupled to the second panel frame structure;
wherein the first and second panels move relative to one another when the actuator rotates an drive shaft.

17. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first framing structure and second framing structure are directly mounted to the underside of the vehicle.

18. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 16 , further comprising at least one vent aperture formed through the second panel for increased air flow through an engine compartment.

19. The active underbody panel assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second panels are semi-rigid.

20. An active underbody panel assembly mounted underneath a vehicle body, comprising:
a first framing structure operably connected to a first panel frame structure,
a first panel for aerodynamics connected to the first panel frame structure, said first panel selectively deploys into an air flow and retracts out of the air flow;
a second framing structure operably connected to a second panel frame structure;
a second panel for aerodynamics connected to the second panel frame structure, said second panel selectively deploys into an air flow and retracts out of the air flow, wherein said first panel is in a high pressure side of airflow acting on the active underbody panel assembly, and wherein the second plane is in low pressure side of airflow underneath the vehicle;
at least two linkage assemblies operably coupled to the first framing structure and second frame structure;
an actuator connected to a drive shaft, said drive shaft connected to the at least two linkage assemblies, wherein the actuator deploys the first and second panels under predetermined conditions and retracts the first and second panels under predetermined conditions, wherein the predetermined conditions are selected from the group consisting of vehicle low speed, vehicle high speed, forces/loads, current spikes, wind direction, yaw and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Mandl Michael
• Matthews Martin R
• Cobb Thomas E

Classifications

• B62D35/02 Primary

  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

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• B62D37/02

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title