Structural member for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282982-A1
Application number	US-201715436156-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A structural member for a vehicle projects from a vehicle body. The structural member includes a first airflow surface and a second. airflow surface along each of which airflow flows, and an imaging window. The first airflow surface and the second airflow extend between a front edge and a rear edge of the structural member in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body and face away from each other. The first airflow surface has a length longer than a length of the second airflow surface in the front-rear direction. The imaging window is provided in the first airflow surface, and an image of an area outside the vehicle body is captured through the imaging window.

First claim

1 . A structural member for a vehicle, the structural member projecting from a vehicle body, the structural member comprising:
a first airflow surface and a second airflow surface along each of which airflow flows, the first airflow surface and the second airflow extending between a front edge and a rear edge of the structural member in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body and facing away from each other the first airflow surface having a length longer than a length of the second airflow surface in the front-rear direction; and an imaging window that is provided in the first airflow surface and through which an image of an area outside the vehicle body is captured.

2 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a camera configured to capture the image of the area outside the vehicle body,
wherein the imaging window is provided for the camera.

3 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the structural member provided on each side of the vehicle body so as to project leftward and rightward.

4 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the structural member has an airfoil section in which the first airflow surface and the second airflow surface face away from each other from the front edge to the rear edge.

5 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the structural member has a symmetrical airfoil section in which the first airflow surface and the second airflow surface are symmetrically curved, and
wherein the structural member is inclined relative to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body so that the first airflow surface faces rearward.

6 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein an end portion of the structural member at the rear edge projects in a direction from the first airflow surface toward the second airflow surface.

7 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the structural member has an asymmetrical airfoil section in which the first airflow surface bulges more than the second airflow surface does.

8 . The structural member vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the first airflow surface has a communication hole that extends from a bent portion near the front edge to a location near the rear edge.

9 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the second airflow surface is flat.

10 . The structural member for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein an angle of the first airflow surface and the second airflow surface relative to the airflow in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is changeable, and
wherein the structural member for a vehicle further comprises a controller capable of controlling the angle of the first airflow surface and the second airflow surface relative to the airflow in the front-rear direction o the vehicle body on the basis of a pressure on the first airflow surface and a pressure on the second airflow surface.

Assignees

• Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Nagasawa Isamu
• Iwata Satoru
• Kaminaga Kazuhiro

Classifications

• B60R1/12

  Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title

• B62D37/02

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• B60R1/06

  mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title