Aerodynamic device and motor vehicle

A motor vehicle having an interior compartment which is at least partially enclosed by windows is provided. At least one windshield or one side window or one rear window is assigned an aerodynamic device which is designed to, when an air flow impinges on the aerodynamic device, generate turbulence at a surface, facing toward the interior compartment, of the window. The aerodynamic device is also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to an aerodynamic device and to a motor vehicle having said aerodynamic device, the motor vehicle having an interior compartment which is at least partially enclosed by windows.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,890 B1 has disclosed a deicing deflector which is formed from an elongate flexible channel which is arranged on the inner side of a windshield close to an upper edge. The channel is an inverted U-shaped profile with an outer, an upper and an inner wall. The outer wall comprises an adhesive surface with a peelable cover which is peeled off immediately before application to the windshield. The channel is composed of a flexible material, such as in particular neoprene, polyurethane or rubber, which can be bent and pulled and, in the process, maintains its U shape.

SUMMARY

It is an object of this document to provide a motor vehicle having an improved arrangement for aerating the windows.

Said object is achieved by means of a motor vehicle and aerodynamic device as set forth in the following claims.

The motor vehicle has an interior compartment which is at least partially enclosed by windows. At least one windshield or one side window or one rear window is assigned an aerodynamic device which is designed to, when an air flow impinges on the aerodynamic device, generate turbulence at a surface, facing toward the interior compartment, of the window.

The aerodynamic device generates small vortices in the boundary layer with respect to the window. The window can thus be more quickly demisted, and thus the view through the window can be improved. The faster demisting or thawing of the window offers an increase in safety and comfort for the passengers.

In an advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the window is the rear window.

The rear window in particular remains misted up for longest in conventional motor vehicles. The benefit of the aerodynamic device is thus at its greatest at the rear window.

In an alternative advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the window is the side window or a windshield. Demisting and a clear view are thus also realized more quickly at the other windows.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the aerodynamic device is arranged on a surface, facing toward the interior compartment, of the window. This arrangement is advantageous in particular for a retrofit solution, because the aerodynamic device can be easily attached to the window.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the aerodynamic device does not make contact with the window. Thus, the aerodynamic device can be arranged in the interior compartment in an unobtrusive and aesthetically more appealing manner than in the case of an adhesively bonded variant.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the aerodynamic device is transparent. Thus, the view through said aerodynamic device, in particular in the adhesively bonded variant, is ensured, and the field of view is not impaired. In the transparent or translucent design, the aerodynamic device may under some circumstances be designed to be larger, and thus more effective, without obstructing the view.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the window has a heating wire. The effect of the aerodynamic device is thus further assisted.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, this comprises at least one air vent which is arranged in the interior compartment and which is designed to generate an air flow in the direction of the at least one aerodynamic device. The impingement of flow on the aerodynamic device can thus be effected in a more targeted manner.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is a sedan. The rear window of sedans in particular is affected by the misting problem. The arrangement of at least one aerodynamic device can solve this problem.

The aerodynamic device is designed for an interior compartment, which is at least partially enclosed by windows, of a motor vehicle. Here, the aerodynamic device is designed to generate turbulence downstream of the aerodynamic device when an air flow impinges on the aerodynamic device. Thus, a device is provided which can be used in a motor vehicle and which assists in more quickly demisting a window to which the aerodynamic device is assigned.

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate the new and improved motor vehicle10in an exemplary embodiment in different views.FIG. 1shows the exemplary motor vehicle10from the outside in a view from the rear, andFIG. 2shows the exemplary motor vehicle10in a sectional illustration. The motor vehicle10is in particular in the form of a sedan (notchback). This situation is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. The motor vehicle10may alternatively be in the form of a station wagon, fastback, hatchback or squareback. In the exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle10has at least one side door26and a tailgate27.

As is conventional, the motor vehicle10has a front24and a rear25. During forward travel, the motor vehicle10moves in the direction of the front24.

As is likewise conventional, the motor vehicle10has an interior compartment13for accommodating at least one passenger, who may also be a driver of the motor vehicle10. The interior compartment13is schematically shown in an exemplary embodiment in a sectional illustration inFIG. 2.

The interior compartment13is at least partially surrounded by windows11,17,18. Accordingly, the motor vehicle10has a windshield17, at least one side window18and a rear window11. The at least one side window18is in particular arranged in the at least one door26. The rear window11may be arranged in the tailgate27or outside the tailgate27.

The motor vehicle10furthermore has a roof12, which may also be of tiltable and/or foldable design.

The motor vehicle10has at least one A pillar20, and the motor vehicle10may furthermore have a B pillar21and/or a C pillar22. In the exemplary embodiment as a sedan, the motor vehicle10consequently has the A pillar20, the B pillar21and the C pillar22, wherein a side window18is arranged in the C pillar22.

The motor vehicle10comprises at least one aerodynamic device16, which is assigned to the windshield17and/or to the at least one side window18and/or to the rear window11. It is preferable for the at least one aerodynamic device16to be assigned to in each case one of the windows11,17,18. At least one of the windows11,17,18may also be assigned multiple aerodynamic devices16, arranged in particular in a row. The windshield17or the side window18or the rear window11to which the at least one aerodynamic device16is assigned furthermore comprises, in particular, a heating wire36. The aerodynamic device16according to the invention is schematically illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in a functional diagram inFIG. 3.

The aerodynamic device16is designed to generate a turbulent flow30downstream of the aerodynamic device16when a flow is incident thereon, that is to say when an air flow19impinges on the aerodynamic device16. The aerodynamic device16is a turbulator or a vortex generator. In particular, the aerodynamic device16is designed to generate turbulence30comprising eddy currents, in particular small eddy currents. The aerodynamic device16is designed such that the turbulence30is generated at a surface, facing toward the interior compartment13, of the window11,17,18, in particular in an aerodynamic boundary layer at the surface of the window11,17,18.

For this purpose, the aerodynamic device16comprises, in particular, an incident-flow region28which is designed for an air flow19to be incident thereon. The air flow19may in this case be in particular a laminar flow, or a turbulent flow. Furthermore, the aerodynamic device16comprises in particular a flow-off region29, which is designed to generate turbulence30downstream of the flow-off region29.

The aerodynamic device has for example the shape of at least one pyramid. The pyramid in this case preferably has a square base34and a height which corresponds approximately to half of the length of one side of the base. This form has proven to be particularly advantageous with regard to effectiveness, production and aesthetics. In particular, the pyramid has a side surface of 12 mm and a height of 7 mm.

In order that said turbulence30occurs at an interior surface, facing toward the interior compartment13of the motor vehicle10, of the window11,17,18to which the aerodynamic device16is assigned, the aerodynamic device16is arranged upstream of at least one region of the window11,17,18. The possible positions at which the at least one aerodynamic device16is arranged in the interior compartment13are illustrated by way of example simultaneously inFIG. 2. The at least one aerodynamic device16is therefore illustrated as a dashed line inFIG. 2.

The aerodynamic device16may be arranged in the motor vehicle10on that surface of the side window18or windshield17or rear window11which faces toward the interior compartment13. In particular, the aerodynamic device16is in this case of transparent, in particular translucent, form. Here, the aerodynamic device16is attached, in particular adhesively bonded, to the window11,17,18in particular in a front region. The front region of the window11,17,18is defined here as being closer than a rear region of the window11,17,18to the front24of the motor vehicle10.

InFIG. 2, the positions16.2,16.5,16.8,16.10and16.11show positions at which the aerodynamic device16is mounted in each case on the window11,17,18. Here, the aerodynamic device16is, in the position16.2, attached to the front side window18. In the position16.5, the aerodynamic device16is attached to the rear side window18. In the position16.8, the aerodynamic device16is attached to the rear window11. In the position16.10, the aerodynamic device16is attached to the rear side window18arranged in the C pillar22. In the position16.11, the aerodynamic device16is attached to the windshield17. Here, the position16.2is close to the A pillar20. The position16.5is close to the B pillar21, and the position16.10is in the C pillar.

As an alternative to the arrangement on the window11,17,18, the aerodynamic device16may be arranged in the motor vehicle adjacent to the windshield17or to the side window18or to the rear window11, in particular such that the aerodynamic device16does not make contact with the respective window11,17,18. Here, the at least one aerodynamic device16is preferably arranged on a paneling part, or integrated into a paneling part.

If the at least one aerodynamic device16is assigned to the windshield17, the paneling part is in particular a dashboard32. This situation is illustrated inFIG. 2at the position16.12.

If the at least one aerodynamic device16is assigned to the rear window11, the paneling part is in particular a roof lining14. This situation is illustrated inFIG. 2at the position16.7. Alternatively, if the aerodynamic device16is assigned to the rear window11, the paneling part is in particular a brake lamp. Here, the aerodynamic device16is in particular, in the direction of the rear25of the motor vehicle10, arranged in front of the rear window11.

If the at least one aerodynamic device16is assigned to the at least one side window18, the paneling part is in particular a side paneling part23. This situation is illustrated inFIG. 2at the positions16.1,16.4and16.9. Here, the aerodynamic device16is in particular, in the direction of the rear25of the motor vehicle10, arranged in each case in front of the side window18.

It is alternatively possible, if the at least one aerodynamic device16is assigned to the at least one side window18, for the paneling part to be in particular a door paneling part31. This situation is illustrated inFIG. 2at the position16.6, wherein the aerodynamic device16is arranged in each case below the side window18.

The motor vehicle10comprises, in particular, at least one air vent15. The air vent15is designed to generate an air flow19. Here, the at least one air vent15is arranged in the motor vehicle10such that the air flow19reaches the at least one aerodynamic device16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the motor vehicle10has multiple air vents15. Accordingly, the air vent15may be arranged in the dashboard32and/or in the door paneling part31and/or in the side paneling part23and/or in a console33.

Although the motor vehicle and aerodynamic device have been illustrated and described in more detail on the basis of the preferred exemplary embodiments, the motor vehicle and aerodynamic device are not restricted by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection provided by the following claims.

The figures are not necessarily accurate in all details and true to scale, and may be presented on an enlarged scale or a reduced scale in order to provide a better overview. Therefore, functional details disclosed here are to be understood not as being of a limiting nature but rather merely as an illustrative basis that provides a person skilled in the art in this technological field with guidance for using the present invention in a versatile manner.

The expression “and/or” used here, where used in a series of two or more elements, means that each of the stated elements may be used individually, or any combination of two or more of the stated elements may be used. For example, if a configuration is described which comprises the components A, B and/or C, the configuration may comprise A on its own; B on its own; C on its own; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B and C in combination.