Active air dam
An air deflector assembly for a vehicle includes a vertically translatable air deflector and linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector. The air deflector includes one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks. A controller is operatively connected to the driver, and may be configured to vertically translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel. The driver selectively causes the linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.
1. An airflow control system for a vehicle, comprising:
a vertically translatable air deflector;
a plurality of actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector; and
a controller operatively connected to the driver, the controller comprising logic including executable instructions to translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driver is a fluid driver.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air deflector comprises one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more rails are configured as T-channel sliders.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the driver is a hydraulic pump.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic pump is reversible to cause the plurality of linear actuators to selectively raise or lower the air deflector.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of linear actuators is a hydraulic piston, the plurality of linear actuators in combination with the hydraulic pump defining a reversible hydraulic circuit.
8. A vehicle including the system of claim 1 .
9. An air deflector assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a vertically translatable air deflector; and
a plurality of linear actuators actuated in series by a reversible hydraulic pump to vertically translate the air deflector.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a controller operatively connected to the reversible hydraulic pump;
wherein the controller comprises logic including executable instructions to translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel.