IP Library Granted Patent US 10,974,773
Granted Patent B2
US 10,974,773 · App. 16/330,939 · Granted Apr 13, 2021

Air resistance-reducing device for a vehicle

Inventors: Umut Gencaslan (Hannover, DE); Gandert Marcel Rita Van Raemdonck (PW Delf, NL)
Assignee: WABCO Europe BVBA
B62D35/007B62D35/001B62D37/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,974,773
App. No.
16/330,939
Granted
Apr 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) for a vehicle ( 12 ) includes a first air guide element A ( 3 ) and a second air guide element B ( 4 ) which can be adjusted between a rest position and a travel position for contour extension and aerodynamic air guidance by an actuator ( 6 ). The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) includes connecting element ( 7 ) with a coupling element 8 , which connects the actuator ( 6 ) to the at least one connecting element ( 7 ), a first leg ( 9 ), which connects the coupling element ( 8 ) to the first air guide element A ( 3 ), a second leg ( 10 ), which connects the coupling element ( 8 ) to the second air guide element B ( 4 ), and a third leg ( 11 ), which connects the first leg ( 9 ) to the second leg ( 10 ).

Claims (18)

1. An air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) for a vehicle ( 12 ), the air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) comprising:

a first air guide element A ( 3 );

a second air guide element B ( 4 );

an actuator ( 6 ) configured for jointly adjusting both the first air guide element A ( 3 ) and the second air guide element B ( 4 ) between a rest position and a travel position; and

a connecting element ( 7 ) including:

a coupling element ( 8 ) which connects the actuator ( 6 ) to the at least one connecting element ( 7 );

a first leg ( 9 ) which connects the coupling element ( 8 ) to the first air guide element A ( 3 );

a second leg ( 10 ) which connects the coupling element ( 8 ) to the second air guide element B ( 4 ); and

a third leg ( 11 ) which connects the first leg ( 9 ) to the second leg ( 10 ).

2. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first air guide element A ( 3 ) and the second air guide element B ( 4 ) are connected together only via the connecting element ( 7 ).

3. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 6 ) and the connecting element ( 7 ) form a supporting device ( 5 ).

4. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 6 ) is arranged on a substantially flat surface ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ) via a hinge connection ( 16 ).

5. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 6 ) of the support device ( 9 ) is a linear actuator, a pneumatic actuator or an electronic actuator.

6. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) is arranged on a rear face ( 2 ) of a driver's cab, a truck, a semitrailer or a trailer.

7. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) can be adjusted between the rest position and the travel position depending on the speed of the vehicle ( 2 ) via at least one of a rotation speed sensor ( 19 ), a driver request ( 18 ), and an input from a global position determination device ( 17 ).

8. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first air guide element A ( 3 ) is arranged vertically on a substantially flat surface ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ), and the second air guide element B ( 4 ) is arranged horizontally on the substantially flat surface ( 2 ) of a vehicle ( 12 ).

9. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to adjust the first air guide element A ( 3 ) and the second air guide element B ( 4 ) both from the rest position into the travel position and from the travel position into the rest position via the actuator ( 6 ).

10. The air resistance-reducing device ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first air guide element A ( 3 ) and the second air guide element B ( 4 ) have no direct connection.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: WABCO EUROPE BV
To: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 067002/0195 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2019
From: GENCASLAN, UMUT; VAN RAEMDONCK, GANDERT MARCEL RITA
To: WABCO EUROPE BVBA
Reel/Frame 048518/0213 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2016 011 094.5 · Sep 15, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190233024A1 · Aug 1, 2019