Active D pillar integrated into a lift gate spoiler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904955-B2
Application number	US-202017431763-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2020
Priority date	Apr 23, 2019
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

An active aerodynamic assembly that includes a lift gate having a cavity formed between two panels. An aperture of formed on the outer panel providing access to the cavity. A frame connected to the lift gate within the cavity. A spoiler slidably connected to the frame and moveable along the deployment axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. At least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and the frame that is driven by the actuator along one of the plurality of tracks on the frame. There is also a moveable D pillar contained with the cavity that moves between a stowed position within the cavity and an extended position such that a winglet of the moveable D pillar extends outside of the cavity past the outside surface of the lift gate.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An active aerodynamic assembly comprising:
a lift gate formed by connecting together an inner panel and an outer panel;
at least one cavity formed between the inner panel and the outer panel;
an aperture to the at least one cavity formed through a portion of the outer panel;
at least one D pillar arrangement including a moveable D pillar positionable within the at least one cavity and aligned with the aperture, wherein the at least one moveable D pillar is moveable between a stowed position, where the at least one moveable D pillar is located within the at least one cavity and a deployed position, where a portion of the D pillar extends through the aperture past the outer panel of the lift gate; and
an actuator positioned in the at least one cavity, wherein the actuator is connected the at least one D pillar arrangement and moves the D pillar arrangement between the stowed position and the deployed position.

2. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 1 , wherein the active spoiler arrangement further includes:
a frame connected to the inner panel of the lift gate, wherein the frame has at least one drive track formed on the frame such that the at least one drive track extends along the deployment axis; and
at least one coupler link connectable with the D pillar arrangement, wherein the at least one coupler link is driven by the actuator along the at least one drive track of the frame.

3. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a drive shaft having a threaded surface connected to the actuator, wherein the drive shaft is bi-directionally rotatable by the actuator;
the at least one coupler link includes a drive nut connected to the threaded surface of the drive shaft and moveable along the drive shaft in response to rotation of the drive shaft by the actuator.

4. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
a base portion of the at least one D pillar arrangement and a winglet portion connected to the base portion, wherein the winglet portion extends through the aperture past outer panel of the lift gate when the at least one D pillar arrangement is moved to the deployed position;
a slotted link pivotally connectable to the actuator at one end and the base portion at a second end, wherein the slotted link transfers force from the actuator to the at least one D pillar arrangement to cause the at least one D pillar arrangement to move between the stowed position and the deployed position.

5. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 4 , wherein the base portion further includes a base member slot that receives a portion of the second end of the slotted link, thereby allowing the at least one D pillar arrangement to rotate about the second end of the slotted link.

6. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 5 , wherein the base portion of the at least one D pillar arrangement includes a pivot connection and return spring connected to the inner panel for providing a force that biases the at least one D pillar arrangement toward the stowed position.

7. An active aerodynamic assembly comprising:
a lift gate formed by connecting together an inner panel and an outer panel;
at least one cavity formed between the inner panel and the outer panel;
an aperture to the at least one cavity formed through a portion of the outer panel;
an active spoiler arrangement connected to the at least one cavity and having a spoiler capable of moving between a stowed position and a deployed position along a deployment axis;
at least one D pillar arrangement including a moveable D pillar positionable within the at least one cavity and aligned with the aperture, wherein the at least one moveable D pillar is moveable between a stowed position, where the at least one moveable D pillar is located within the at least one cavity and a deployed position, where a portion of the D pillar extends through the aperture past the outer panel of the lift gate; and
an actuator positioned in the at least one cavity, wherein the actuator is connected to the active spoiler arrangement to selectively move the active spoiler arrangement between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the at least one D pillar arrangement is connected to the active spoiler arrangement and the at least one D pillar arrangement moves between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to movement of the active spoiler arrangement.

8. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 7 , wherein the active spoiler arrangement further includes:
a frame connected to the inner panel of the lift gate, wherein the frame has at least one drive track formed on the frame such that the at least one drive track extends along the deployment axis; and
at least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and at least one guide track, wherein the at least one coupler link is driven by the actuator along the at least one drive track of the frame.

9. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 8 , wherein the active spoiler arrangement further includes:
at least one guide track formed on the frame such that the at least one drive track and at least one guide track are parallel to each other and extend along the deployment axis;
at least one guide flange connected between the spoiler and the at least one guide track, wherein the at least one guide flange moves along the at least one guide flange in response to the at least guide flange being driven by the actuator; and
at least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and at least one drive track, wherein the at least one coupler link moves in the at least one guide track in response to the at least one coupler link being driven by the actuator.

10. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 9 , further comprising slants at each end of the at least one guide track and slants at each end of the at least one driven track that allows the spoiler to recess downward when in the stowed position and deployed position to make a top surface of the spoiler flush with adjacent surfaces.

11. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 8 , further comprising slants at each end of the guide track that allows the spoiler to recess downward when in the stowed position and deployed position to make a top surface of the spoiler flush with adjacent surfaces.

12. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 11 , wherein the adjacent surfaces include a roof of a vehicle and a closeout panel of the active spoiler arrangement.

13. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a drive shaft having a threaded surface connected to the actuator, wherein the drive shaft is bi-directionally rotatable by the actuator;
the at least one coupler link includes a drive nut connected to the threaded surface of the drive shaft and moveable along the drive shaft in response to rotation of the drive shaft by the actuator.

14. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 7 further comprising:
a base portion of the at least one D pillar arrangement and a winglet portion connected to the base portion, wherein the winglet portion extends through the aperture past outer panel of the lift gate when the at least one D pillar arrangement is moved to the deployed position;
a slotted link pivotally connected to the spoiler at one end and the base portion at a second end, wherein the slotted link transfers force from the spoiler to the at least one D pillar arrangement to cause the at least one D pillar arrangement to move between the stowed position and the deployed position.

15. The active aerodynamic assembly of claim 14 , wherein the base portion further includes a base member slot

Assignees

• Magna Exteriors Inc

Inventors

• Lindberg Braendon R
• Cowan Michael
• Peterson Ted E

Classifications

• B62D35/007 Primary

  Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D37/02

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title