Undercover structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794825-B2
Application number	US-202117383902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2021
Priority date	Jul 28, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

In an undercover structure according to the present invention, a first cover part that is a lowermost part of an undercover has a first rear end positioned ahead of a front wheel axle. This generates a strong negative pressure in a region ahead of the front wheel axle. Accordingly, a flow rate of air flowing to a wheelhouse decreases (a flow rate of airflow between a road and a vehicle generated along a bottom surface of the first cover part of the undercover increases). This causes an attraction force that attracts the vehicle to a road surface to act on a vehicle body of the vehicle, thereby making traveling stability more excellent.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An undercover structure comprising an undercover provided on a vehicle body of a vehicle to cover a lower part of the vehicle body, wherein
the undercover has a lowermost part positioned ahead of a front wheel axle,
the undercover includes a first cover part disposed at a front side of the lower part of the vehicle body of the vehicle and a second cover part which is disposed at a rear side of the first cover part and extends rearward,
the first cover part has side air guide parts respectively provided as right and left end parts of the first cover part of the undercover, the side air guide parts being disposed ahead of front ends of front wheelhouses and extending to a vicinity of a corresponding end of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction,
the first cover part of the undercover has a first front end provided on the vehicle body and is positioned higher than a first rear end of the first cover part,
the first cover part extends for a length nearly equal to a vehicle width of the vehicle, and
the side air guide parts each have a side-view shape following or approximating a spline curve.

2. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the second cover part of the undercover has a second rear end provided on the vehicle body.

3. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
at least the first cover part of the undercover has a side-view shape following or approximating a spline curve.

4. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the undercover has the lowermost part positioned near a front end of the wheelhouses.

5. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cover part is formed as a unitary structure in which the side air guide parts are provided integrally.

6. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first cover part of the undercover has the first front end supported in contact with a vicinity of a front lower end of a front bumper.

7. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the undercover is supported movable in an up-down direction relative to the vehicle body of the vehicle.

8. The undercover structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the undercover is movably supported by an actuator.

9. The undercover structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the side air guide parts are provided separately from the first cover part of the undercover.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ambo Kei
• Ando Kenichi
• Nakamura Yuki
• Suwa Yoji
• Syafiq Mohd

Classifications

• B62D35/02 Primary

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

• B62D25/2072

  Floor protection, e.g. from corrosion or scratching (floor mats B60N3/04, armour F41H7/042, insulation B60R13/08, streamlining B62D35/02) · CPC title

• B62D37/02 Primary

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• Y02T10/88

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