REAR ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE

A rear arrangement for a vehicle includes a trailer coupling mount and a rear diffuser having an adjustable air-guiding element which is adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The trailer coupling mount is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is congruent or parallel to the vehicle transverse axis (y), between an inoperative position and a use position. The air-guiding element in the retracted position at least partially conceals the trailer coupling mount, and the air-guiding element has to be brought into the extended position so that the trailer coupling mount can be pivoted into the use position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2021 111 761.5, filed May 6, 2021, the content of such application being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a rear arrangement for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DE 10 2014 116 000 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a trailer coupling device for motor vehicles, comprising a holding unit and a ball neck receptacle at the vehicle rear, wherein the holding unit has a pivot bearing unit by means of which the ball neck receiving sleeve can be brought into a working position and a rest position in which the ball neck receiving sleeve is arranged outside the region of view. The construction of the trailer coupling device is comparatively complex and takes up a large amount of construction space.

US 2011/0204594 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a trailer coupling device for a vehicle, which has a fastening for mounting the trailer coupling device on a vehicle. In addition, a first coupling and a second coupling are provided which are connected to a support and which can be pivoted between a working position and a rest position. The trailer coupling device takes up a large amount of construction space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The rear arrangement for a vehicle has a trailer coupling mounting means and a rear diffuser having an adjustable air-guiding element. The air-guiding element is adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The trailer coupling mounting means is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is oriented congruently or parallel to the vehicle transverse axis, between an inoperative position and a use position. In the retracted position, the air-guiding element at least partially conceals the trailer coupling mounting means, and the air-guiding element has to be brought into the extended position or has to be located in the extended position so that the trailer coupling mounting means can be pivoted into the use position.

When not in use (inoperative position), the trailer coupling mounting means is therefore located outside the region of view, namely behind the adjustable air-guiding element or behind the adjustable air-guiding element and a rear covering element adjacent thereto. Only during use is the trailer coupling mounting means correspondingly pivoted or tilted forward (use position) and is only then visible. When not in use, the trailer coupling mounting means is protected from environmental influences, for example soiling. In addition, the trailer coupling mounting means is then concealed, and therefore, when not in use, it does not form a visual or aerodynamic interfering element.

The vehicle is in particular a motor vehicle, such as a passenger vehicle, e.g. a sports car or an SUV.

As previously explained, the adjustable air-guiding element can be brought into a retracted position and an extended position. The adjustable air-guiding element can be adjusted in particular depending on the driving situation or selected driving program.

In the retracted position, the air-guiding element is located “at the top” along the direction of gravity (vehicle vertical axis or Z axis). The adjustable air-guiding element can be adjacent here to an adjacent rear covering element in such a manner that the contour thereof is continued. The retracted position is in particular a position in which a comparatively high aerodynamic down force is generated at the vehicle rear (“performance position”).

In the retracted position, the air-guiding element is located “at the bottom” along the direction of gravity (vehicle vertical axis or Z axis). The adjustable air-guiding element can protrude or be pivoted here relative to an adjacent rear covering element. The extended position is in particular a position in which a comparatively low aerodynamic down force is generated at the vehicle rear (“ECO position”).

As already indicated, the rear arrangement can have a rear covering which can be formed from one or more rear covering elements. The rear covering can be, for example, a bumper covering.

The adjustable air-guiding element can be designed as a flat element which extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction (x axis) and along the vehicle transverse direction (y axis). In addition, the adjustable air-guiding element can have a defined thickness.

The adjustable air-guiding element can be adjacent at one end (forward along the vehicle longitudinal direction, i.e. forward in the direction of travel) to a further air-guiding element which is optionally not adjustable. The further air-guiding element can form, for example, part of a vehicle underbody covering. At the other end (rearward along the vehicle longitudinal direction, i.e. rearward in the direction of travel), the adjustable air-guiding element can be adjacent to a rear covering element, as already explained.

The adjustable air-guiding element can be mounted pivotably about a pivot axis such that the air-guiding element can be pivoted between the retracted position and the extended position. The pivot axis can be located, for example, at that end of the adjustable air-guiding element which faces the further air-guiding element. The pivot axis of the air-guiding element can be oriented congruently or parallel to the vehicle transverse axis.

The inoperative position and the use position of the trailer coupling mounting means can be located apart from each other by an angle of 20° to 100°, preferably of 30° to 90°, furthermore preferably of 40° to 80°, even more preferably 60°.

The rear arrangement can preferably have a rear covering element which is adjacent to the adjustable air-guiding element, wherein the rear covering element at least partially, preferably completely, conceals the trailer coupling mounting means, in particular with regard to the rear arrangement along the vehicle longitudinal direction forward, i.e. forward in the direction of travel, whenever the adjustable air-guiding element is in the extended position and the trailer coupling mounting means is in the inoperative position. As a result, the trailer coupling mounting means is also at least mostly or completely outside the region of view whenever the adjustable air-guiding element is in the extended position. The rear covering element can have a license plate recess, wherein, in the inoperative position, the trailer coupling mounting means can be at least partially located behind the license plate recess.

The trailer coupling mounting means can preferably be coupled to a bodyshell element of the rear arrangement, for example to a bumper crossmember, and mounted pivotably about the pivot axis by means of a bearing unit, for example a bearing bracket. A structurally simple and stable coupling of the trailer coupling mounting means to the rear arrangement or to the vehicle is thus provided.

An actuator for the trailer coupling mounting means can preferably be provided, by means of which the trailer coupling mounting means can be pivoted. An automatic pivoting of the trailer coupling mounting means between an inoperative position and the use position is therefore possible. This increases the operating comfort for a user and permits a compact arrangement of the components of the rear arrangement since the user does not have to be able to reach the trailer coupling mounting means in the inoperative position (by hand).

The trailer coupling mounting means can preferably have a receptacle for a removable plug-in coupling. The trailer coupling mounting means thereby takes up comparatively little space in the rear arrangement since the plug-in coupling does not have to be concealed in the inoperative position, but rather is then only inserted into the receptacle when this is actually required. The receptacle can be, for example, a square receptacle, i.e. a receptacle which is configured and intended for receiving a square (on the plug-in coupling). The receptacle is spaced apart from the pivot axis (pivoting arm portion) by a certain distance. The plug-in coupling can in particular have a push-in piece (fits into the receptacle) and a coupling element, for example a coupling ball, wherein the push-in piece and the coupling element are connected to each other via an intermediate piece.

The rear arrangement can preferably have a socket and/or at least one securing chain eyelet that are each coupled to the trailer coupling mounting means or to a bodyshell element of the rear arrangement, for example a bumper crossmember. Said components can therefore be pivotable together with the trailer coupling mounting means or they are stationary, for example are coupled to the bumper crossmember.

The rear arrangement can preferably have a (further) actuator for the adjustable air-guiding element, by means of which the adjustable air-guiding element is adjustable or can be adjusted between the retracted position and the extended position. The adjustable air-guiding element can therefore be automatically adjusted between the retracted position and the extended position by means of the actuator. This increases the operating comfort and extends use possibilities. The actuator can be coupled, for example, to a bodyshell element of the rear arrangement, for example a bumper crossmember. A fastening element can be fastened to the adjustable air-guiding element, said fastening element being coupled pivotably to a coupling arm which, in turn, is coupled to the actuator.

An operating element can preferably be provided or arranged on the rear arrangement or in the vehicle (for example in the trunk), wherein the operating element is coupled electrically and/or electronically to a control means (i.e., computer, processor, controller, etc.) which is configured to activate the actuator for the trailer coupling mounting means and/or the actuator for the adjustable air-guiding element. Thus, by activation of one or both actuators, the trailer coupling mounting means and/or the air-guiding element can be actuated. This contributes to a high level of operating comfort.

The control means can have a calculating means, a first interface for receiving input variables (for example an operating element switching position) and a second interface for outputting output variables (for example activation signals for the two actuators).

The control means can preferably be configured to activate the actuator for the adjustable air-guiding element as a result of an actuation of the operating element so that the air-guiding element is adjusted into the extended position, and to (then) activate the actuator for the trailing coupling mounting means so that the trailer coupling mounting means is pivoted into the use position, wherein, when the trailer coupling mounting means is pivoted into the use position, a retraction or adjustment of the air-guiding element into the retracted position is locked. The plug-in coupling can then be mounted in this state. This contributes to a simple and comfortable use of the rear arrangement for an operator. Misoperations or damage arising therefrom can therefore be largely avoided.

The object mentioned at the beginning is also achieved by a motor vehicle having a rear arrangement with one or more aspects as described above. In respect of the advantages, reference should be made to the statements in this regard for the rear arrangement.

The measures discussed in conjunction with the rear arrangement or the measures which have yet to be explained below can be used for the further refinement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1a-1cschematically show a rear arrangement10for a vehicle100. The rear arrangement10is explained with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction (x axis), a vehicle transverse direction (y axis) and a vehicle vertical axis (z axis).

The rear arrangement10has a rear covering element12which forms part of a bumper covering of the vehicle100. In addition, the rear arrangement10has a rear diffuser14having an adjustable air-guiding element16. A further adjustable air-guiding element18which, in the example, is designed as a non-adjustable air-guiding element18and, for example, can form part of an underbody covering is adjacent to the adjustable air-guiding element16. In the example, a license plate recess20is formed on the rear covering element12.

The air-guiding element16is adjustable between a retracted position (cf.FIGS. 1aand 2a) and an extended position (cf.FIGS. 1b, 1cand 2b). In the example, the air-guiding element16is pivotable and for adjustment, is pivoted about a pivot axis22which is located at that end of the air-guiding element16which faces the further air-guiding element18.

The rear arrangement10also has a trailer coupling mounting means24. The trailer coupling mounting means24is pivotable between an inoperative position (cf.FIGS. 1a, 1band 2a) and a use position (cf.FIGS. 1cand 2b) about a pivot axis26which is oriented parallel to the vehicle transverse axis (y axis). In the example, the trailer coupling mounting means24is pivoted here about an angle of approx. 60° into the use position (anticlockwise, cf. arrow inFIG. 2b).

In the example, the air-guiding element16, in the retracted position (cf.FIGS. 1aand 2a), conceals the trailer coupling mounting means24together with the rear covering element12, and the air-guiding element16has to be brought into the extended position or has to be located in this position so that the trailer coupling mounting means24can be pivoted into the use position (cf.FIGS. 1cand 2b).

The rear covering element12partially conceals the trailer coupling mounting means24, in particular forward along the vehicle longitudinal direction (x axis) when looking at the rear arrangement10, whenever the adjustable air-guiding element16is in the extended position and the trailer coupling mounting means24is in the inoperative position (cf.FIG. 1B). As a result, the trailer coupling mounting means24is also at least largely outside the region of view whenever the adjustable air-guiding element16is in the extended position (cf.FIG. 1b). In the inoperative position, the trailer coupling mounting means24is partially located behind the license plate recess20.

The trailer coupling mounting means24is coupled to a bodyshell element30of the rear arrangement10, for example a bumper crossmember30, and mounted pivotably about the pivot axis26(cf.FIGS. 2aand 2b) by means of a bearing unit28, for example a bearing bracket. A further bumper crossmember32can be provided for stabilizing the rear arrangement10.

An actuator (not shown) is provided for the trailer coupling mounting means24, by means of which actuator the trailer coupling mounting means24can be pivoted (automatic pivoting).

The trailer coupling mounting means24has a receptacle34for a removable plug-in coupling36(cf.FIGS. 1cand 2b). In the use position of the trailer coupling mounting means24, the receptacle34is in the intermediate space37between the rear covering element12and the air-guiding element16. In the example, the receptacle34is designed as a square receptacle. The receptacle34is spaced apart from the pivot axis26(pivoting arm portion38) by a certain distance. The plug-in coupling36has a push-in piece (fitting into the receptacle34and being visually concealed by the latter) and a coupling element40, for example a coupling ball40. The push-in piece and the coupling element40are connected to each other via an intermediate piece42.

In addition, a socket and/or at least one securing chain eyelet can be provided on the rear arrangement10, as explained above (not shown).

The rear arrangement10has a further actuator44for the adjustable air-guiding element16, by means of which the adjustable air-guiding element16can be adjusted between the retracted position and the extended position. In the example, the actuator44is coupled to the bumper crossmember30. A fastening element46is fastened to the air-guiding element16, said fastening element being coupled pivotably to a coupling arm48which, in turn, is coupled to the actuator44.

An operating element can be provided or arranged on the rear arrangement10or in the vehicle100(for example in the trunk), wherein the operating element is coupled electrically and/or electronically to a control means (not shown) which is configured to activate the actuator for the trailer coupling mounting means24and/or the actuator44for the adjustable air-guiding element16. Therefore, by activation of the actuators44, the trailer coupling mounting means24and the air-guiding element16can be actuated. As explained above, the control means can have a computing means, a first interface for receiving input variables and a second interface for outputting output variables.

The control means can preferably be configured to carry out the steps described below as a result of an actuation of the operating element. First of all, the control means activates the actuator44for the adjustable air-guiding element16so that the air-guiding element16is adjusted or pivoted from the retracted position into the extended position (cf.FIG. 1B). The control means then activates the actuator for the trailer coupling mounting means24so that the trailer coupling mounting means24is pivoted into the use position (cf.FIGS. 1c, 2b). When the trailer coupling mounting means24is pivoted into the use position, retraction or adjustment of the air-guiding element16into the retracted position is blocked by the control means. In this state, the plug-in coupling36can then be fitted (cf.FIGS. 1cand 2b).