Underbody panelling part of wheel axle and subassembly comprising an underbody panelling part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855984-B2
Application number	US-201615061064-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2013
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

An underbody panelling part of a wheel axle near the wheel arch of a motor vehicle has a main part, the covering surface of which is variable, and a fastening structure for fixed connection to the body and/or a fastening structure for fixed connection to a transverse link of the motor vehicle. In the mounted state the covering surface can be varied with the steering angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An underbody panelling part of a wheel axle in a region of a wheel arch of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a main body of the underbody panelling part, wherein
the main body has a variable covering surface,
the main body has a fastening structure for a fixed connection to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle and/or a fastening structure for a fixed connection to a transverse link of the motor vehicle, and
the main body has at least one section which is reversibly pulled apart and pushed together in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle.

2. The underbody panelling part according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to be flexible for varying the covering surface.

3. The underbody panelling part according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one section has substantially parallel folds and is reversibly pulled apart and pushed together in the transverse direction relative to a longitudinal extent of the substantially parallel folds.

4. The underbody panelling part according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one transverse web that extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal vehicle axis, the transverse web being composed of an elastic material and being provided in the underbody panelling part.

5. The underbody panelling part according to claim 1 , wherein along one longitudinal side of the main body at least one flexible strut is provided, the at least one flexible strut facing toward a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle in an installed state.

6. The underbody panelling part according to claim 5 , wherein the flexible strut comprises flexible longitudinal webs which converge at one end, and multiple transverse webs arranged in parallel and which extend transversely between the flexible longitudinal webs.

7. The underbody panelling part according to claim 6 , wherein along the longitudinal side of the main body, at least two flexible struts are provided, each flexible strut having a convergent end, wherein the ends are directed away from one another.

8. A subassembly, comprising:
a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle;
an underbody panelling part of a wheel axle in a region of a wheel arch of the motor vehicle, the underbody panelling part comprising:
a main body of the underbody panelling part, wherein
the main body has a variable covering surface, and
the main body has a fastening structure for a fixed connection to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle and/or a fastening structure for a fixed connection to a transverse link of the motor vehicle, wherein
the underbody panelling part is coupled to the wheel suspension of the motor vehicle such that the covering surface is varied as a result of a wheel steering movement.

9. The subassembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a transverse link of the motor vehicle; and
a transverse web provided in the underbody panelling part, the transverse web extending transversely with respect to a vehicle longitudinal axis and being composed of an elastic material, wherein
the transverse web is fastened to the transverse link of the motor vehicle.

10. The subassembly according to claim 8 , further comprising a wheel suspension component movable during wheel steering movement, wherein the covering surface of the underbody panelling part is varied based on contact with the wheel suspension component.

11. The subassembly according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a wheel carrier of the motor vehicle having two guide projections facing toward the underbody panelling part, wherein
during a steering movement, at least one of the guide projections comes into contact with the underbody panelling part.

12. The subassembly according to claim 11 , wherein the underbody panelling part has, along one longitudinal side of the main body, at least one flexible strut which, in an installed state, faces toward the wheel carrier of the motor vehicle, and
wherein during the steering movement, the at least one guide projection comes into contact with the at least one flexible strut.

13. The subassembly according to claim 8 , wherein the underbody panelling part is firmly fixed to the wheel arch in sections along one longitudinal side thereof.

14. The subassembly according to claim 8 , wherein the underbody panelling part delimits, at a rear edge directed toward a rear end of the motor vehicle, an air duct which is oriented substantially horizontally.

15. The subassembly according to claim 14 , wherein the air duct is formed by a gap between the underbody panelling part and an adjacent vehicle body section of the motor vehicle.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag
• Bayershire Motoren Werke Aktiegesellschaft

Inventors

• Tesch Gregor
• Kohlhuber Markus
• Leicht Rasmus
• Schmidt Roland
• Scholz Hubert
• Hennig Matthias
• Seethaler Ludwig
• Koenig Roland
• Fauser Markus

Classifications

• Y02T10/88

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

• B62D25/2009

  in connection with other superstructure subunits · CPC title

• B62D35/02 Primary

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

• B60R13/0861

  for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title