Active splitter for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9738328-B2
Application number	US-201514959905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A splitter system for a vehicle includes a splitter body having a first splitter body side-section and a second splitter body side-section. The vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and having a first vehicle body end configured to face incident ambient airflow. The splitter body is mounted at the first vehicle body end to generate an aerodynamic downforce thereon when the vehicle is in motion. A mechanism is configured to selectively and individually shift each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end. The shifting of the splitter body side-sections by the mechanism in turn adjusts the aerodynamic downforce generated by the splitter body side-sections on the first vehicle body end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A splitter system for a vehicle having a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and including a first vehicle body end configured to face incident ambient airflow, the splitter system comprising:
a splitter body having a first splitter body side-section and a second splitter body side-section and configured to be mounted at the first vehicle body end and generate an aerodynamic downforce on the first vehicle body end when the vehicle is in motion; and
a mechanism configured to selectively and individually translate each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section along the longitudinal body axis away from the first vehicle body end into the incident ambient airflow and toward the first vehicle body end out of the incident ambient airflow to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section on the first vehicle body end.

2. The splitter system according to claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller configured to regulate the mechanism.

3. The splitter system according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle includes a road wheel, the splitter system further comprising a first sensor configured to detect a rotating speed of the road wheel and communicate the detected rotating speed of the road wheel to the controller.

4. The splitter system according to claim 3 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a yaw rate of the vehicle body and communicate the detected yaw rate to the controller.

5. The splitter system according to claim 4 , further comprising a third sensor configured to detect a velocity of ambient airflow relative to the vehicle and communicate the detected velocity of the ambient airflow to the controller.

6. The splitter system according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle includes a steering wheel, the splitter system further comprising a fourth sensor configured to detect an angle of the steering wheel.

7. The splitter system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively shift, via the mechanism, at least one of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end during vehicle cornering in response to the detected yaw rate, the detected angle of the steering wheel, and at least one of the detected rotating speed of the road wheel and velocity of the ambient airflow, to thereby vary the aerodynamic downforce on the first vehicle body end and control the detected yaw rate.

8. The splitter system according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is programmed to selectively shift, via the mechanism, at least one of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end according to a lookup table establishing a correspondence of magnitude of shift of each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section and a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section on the first vehicle body end.

9. The splitter system according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanism additionally includes at least one of a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, and an electric motor.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and having a first vehicle body end configured to face incident ambient airflow; and
a splitter system having:
a splitter body arranged at the first vehicle body end, having a first splitter body side-section and a second splitter body side-section, and configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the first vehicle body end when the vehicle is in motion; and
a mechanism including:
a first actuator and a first gear-train in operative connection with the first actuator and configured to rotate and selectively lower and raise the first splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by the first splitter body side-section on the first vehicle body end; and
a second gear-train in operative connection with the second actuator and configured to rotate and selectively lower and raise the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by the second splitter body side-section on the first vehicle body end.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10 , further comprising an electronic controller configured to regulate the mechanism.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising a road wheel and a first sensor configured to detect a rotating speed of the road wheel and communicate the detected rotating speed of the road wheel to the controller.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising a second sensor configured to detect a yaw rate of the vehicle body and communicate the detected yaw rate to the controller.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a third sensor configured to detect a velocity of ambient airflow relative to the vehicle and communicate the detected velocity of the ambient airflow to the controller.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising a steering wheel and a fourth sensor configured to detect an angle of the steering wheel.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to selectively shift, via the mechanism, at least one of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end during vehicle cornering in response to the detected yaw rate, the detected angle of the steering wheel, and at least one of the detected rotating speed of the road wheel and velocity of the ambient airflow, to thereby vary the aerodynamic downforce on the first vehicle body end and control the detected yaw rate.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the controller is programmed to selectively shift, via the mechanism, at least one of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section relative to the first vehicle body end according to a lookup table establishing a correspondence of magnitude of shift of each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section and a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section on the first vehicle body end.

18. The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the mechanism additionally includes at least one of a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, and an electric motor.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis and having a first vehicle body end configured to face incident ambient airflow;
a road wheel;
a steering wheel; and
a splitter system having:
a splitter body arranged at the first vehicle body end, having a first splitter body side-section and a second splitter body side-section, and configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the first vehicle body end when the vehicle is in motion;
a mechanism configured to selectively and individually translate each of the first splitter body side-section and the second splitter body side-section along the longitudinal body axis away from the first vehicle body end into the incident ambient airflow and toward the first vehicle body

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Fahland Jason D
• Auden Joshua R
• Dominguez David

Classifications

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• B62D37/02 Primary

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• B62D35/005 Primary

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