Rear spoiler system for a vehicle

A rear spoiler device (10) for a vehicle (1) has at least one rear door (8, 9), wherein the rear spoiler device (10) has at least one side spoiler (16, 17) with at least one side air guide element (32), which can be moved between a driving position for contour extension and aerodynamic air guidance when the rear door (8, 9) is closed, and a base position when the rear door (8, 9) is open. The side spoiler (16, 17) furthermore has a swing arm (30) with a first pivot joint (31) for pivotable fixation to the rear door (8, 9), the side air guide element (32) is mounted pivotably on the swing arm (30) via at least one second pivot joint (34), and the side air guide element (32) has a locking arrangement on its front end region (32a) for releasable and lockable fixation to the truck (1).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a rear spoiler device for a vehicle, in particular a truck, and an arrangement of a truck with such a rear spoiler device.

BACKGROUND

Rear spoilers serve to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and can reduce fuel consumption accordingly. They are mounted in the rear area of the vehicle and generally have air guide elements which extend the contours of the vehicle towards the rear, e.g. with curved surfaces. Such rear spoilers can be fixed to the roof or to the side walls.

German Utility Models DE 20 2009 014 476 U1, DE 20 2009 014 510 U1, and DE 20 2009 015 009 U1 disclose rear spoiler configurations in which the air guide elements or spoiler elements are arranged movably or pivotably in order to allow unhindered opening of the door.

Pivotable or foldable rear spoilers are generally attached to the hinges of the rear door. DE 102 28 658 A1 discloses various folding solutions in which flat faces in the driving area, pivotable via a hinge, achieve an aerodynamic optimization.

DE 10 2008 036 888 A1 shows configurations of rear spoilers and connections to the vehicle, in which it is provided amongst others to mount a carrier between the rear door and the air guide element which can be moved aside for positioning the door in the largely open position. When the tailgate is swung out about its vertical pivot axis, the air guide element is thus initially pivoted with this until it reaches the outer faces of the side wall. On further opening of the tailgate, the flexible carrier element is compressed accordingly.

Such attachments of the air guide elements in the hinge region generally allow a relocation of the air guide element between the rear door and side wall when the rear door is pivoted outward through 270°, as is often the case in trucks, in order to be attached for example to the side wall.

Such systems are however generally very complex. They comprise amongst others complex pivot or hinge designs. Furthermore some rear spoiler systems only allow the use of relatively short air guide elements, whereby the improvement to the aerodynamics is limited.

Furthermore when the rear doors are pivoted, the construction space available in the hinge region of the rear door is very constricted, so more complex rear spoiler configurations may impinge on the 270° opening process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of creating a rear spoiler design which can be constructed with relatively little cost and allows a safe transition between the driving position and the base position.

This object is achieved by a rear spoiler device having at least one side spoiler with at least one side air guide element, which can be moved between a driving position for contour extension and aerodynamic air guidance when the rear door is closed, and a base position when the rear door is open. The side spoiler has a swing arm with a first pivot joint for pivotable fixation on the rear door, the side air guide element is mounted adjustably via the swing arm on the rear door, and the side air guide element has a locking arrangement on its front end region for releasable and lockable fixation to the truck.

Furthermore an arrangement is described of a truck and such a rear spoiler device mounted in the rear region.

According to the invention, the rear spoiler device thus has at least one side spoiler for mounting on the rear door. With the conventional design of a vehicle rear with two laterally pivoting rear doors, the rear spoiler device therefore has two side spoilers, each of which is mounted on one of the rear doors.

The side air guide element of the side spoiler can be mounted on the rear door via an additional swing arm. The swing arm can be mounted on the rear door via a first pivot joint, in particular a vertical first rotary axis with multiple pivot joints. The side air guide element is preferably pivoted on the swing arm via a second rotary axis. The second rotary axis is therefore advantageously formed on or between the rear (in the driving position) end of the side air guide element and the rear (in the driving position) end of the swing arm. Advantageously for this, multiple vertically spaced second pivot joints are formed between the end regions of the swing arm and the air guide element.

The side air guide element is preferably releasably locked to the vehicle via a locking arrangement formed at its front end.

Thus a lockable arrangement is formed which can be pivoted or adjusted after release. The side air guide element can in particular terminate flush with or align with the corresponding side wall of the vehicle. In contrast to conventional connections of the side air guide element at the hinge, the side air guide element is however unlockable at its front end region so that, after unlocking, it can be pivoted about the swing arm and with the swing arm towards the middle of the rear door.

This in itself achieves some advantages. The otherwise constricted space available in the hinge region of the rear door is not filled or not filled to a relevant extent; after unlocking, the side air guide element can be pivoted in towards the middle about the swing arm, so that the entire rear door can then be pivoted outward through e.g. around 270°, and for example be laid against or fixed to the side wall. The side spoiler with side air guide element and swing arm is therefore accommodated between the rear door and the side wall with no disruptive effect in the hinge region. The total length of the swing arm and side air guide element can for example be selected such that the side spoiler, fully folded into the base position, extends approximately to the door edge (middle of the vehicle rear); in this way the fixation of the rear door to the side wall is not hindered by the side spoiler.

The first pivot joint of the swing arm is advantageously mounted on the rear door at a sufficient distance from the hinge, e.g. 10 cm or more from the rear door hinge. For fixing, e.g. holes can be drilled in the rear door which are then sealed again by the first pivot joints.

According to alternative embodiments, the retainable locking arrangement on the front end of the side air guide element can be arranged on the vehicle structure or the side walls, or also on the rear door or door leaf. In all cases, in the driving position with the rear door closed, a stable triangle is formed, the sides of which are formed by the swing arm, the side air guide element and the vehicle, and the corners of which are formed by the at least one first pivot joint, the second pivot joint and the locking means.

This configuration forms the basis of the concept according to the invention, that a formation of such a triangle is stable, even when two or even three of the corners are formed by pivot joints or pivot bearings. There is therefore no need to lock the first and second pivot joints. According to the invention, the resulting configuration also prevents or reduces flutter or flexible vibration of the side air guide elements during travel, since the side air guide element is locked at its front end region and held at its rear end by the swing arm. Thus the material of the side air guide element can optionally be selected freely, e.g. also thinner than in conventional configurations in which the air guide element is not attached at the rear.

To ensure sufficient stability, the swing arm can for example also be formed with a rib structure or recesses to reduce the amount of material and the weight. As a whole, a relatively low weight and low production costs result.

Such a side spoiler according to the invention allows mounting on different door variants and systems; in particular, the precise configuration of the rear door hinge—which can vary greatly between different manufacturers and vehicle types—is not relevant; merely fixings need be provided for the first pivot bearing on the rear door, e.g. by drilling holes, and a retaining receiver for the locking arrangement on the front end or front edge of the lateral side air guide element.

According to one configuration, the front end of the air guide element can be locked to the vehicle on the rear door itself. Thus the stable triangle formed in the driving position is formed by the swing arm, side air guide element and rear door. To allow a flush connection of the side air guide element to the side wall, for this for example a connecting arrangement which is mounted in the region of the front edge of the side air guide element, e.g. a connecting tab, can extend laterally up to a retaining receiver on the rear door. Thus even when the air guide element is attached to the rear door, a fixed termination of the front end region of the side air guide element can be achieved with favorable aerodynamic properties and no tendency to flutter. The locking arrangement can e.g. be formed as an eyelet or receiver hole, the retaining receiver can be formed as a fixation pin on the rear door.

In an alternative embodiment, the side air guide element can be attached at its front end not to the rear door but to the vehicle structure, i.e. the so-called portal of the rear region of the vehicle, or also to the side walls (if the vehicle has solid side walls). In such a configuration, an automatic release of the locking mechanism is possible when the rear door is opened, since the position of the first rotary axis in relation to the locking arrangement changes when the rear door swings open. This automatic release can for example take place by the pivot process in that the side air guide element is pivoted with its front locking arrangement into the catch receiver.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, in addition to the side spoiler at least one roof spoiler is provided, preferably a roof spoiler on each rear door, with a roof air guide element which preferably can be moved automatically between a driving position and a folded base position. Advantageously the roof spoiler is fixed exclusively to the rear door or door leaf of the rear door. For this the roof spoiler preferably has a fixing device for fixation to the rear door, in relation to which the rear roof guide element can be pivoted. For the automatic movement, a support means, in particular a cam, is formed for example on the roof air guide element and protrudes e.g. to the rear in the base position, and on closure of the rear door comes into contact with the vehicle structure so that on further closing of the rear door, it moves e.g. by rolling on the vehicle structure, and thus a pivot moment is exerted on the roof air guide element which pivots this upward into its driving position.

The fixing device can for example be placed in the rear door or door leaf of the rear door mainly or even exclusively from above; if the rear door is closed on its top, corresponding holes can first be drilled in this. The fixing device can e.g. have vertically running insert rods which engage in the holes of the rear door.

As an alternative to this configuration with a rigid coupling between the cam and the roof air guide element, in which thus the roof air guide element always protrudes to the rear when the rear door is closed, in principle it is also possible for the roof air guide element to be able to be released and folded down manually when the rear doors are closed, e.g. to improve the space-saving parking of the vehicle and transport by rail or ship.

Some advantages result from the roof spoiler according to the invention. Advantageously no fixation of the roof spoiler to the vehicle structure or vehicle roof is necessary; a fixation to the rear door is sufficient. Thus the fixation can be created quickly and independently of the roof type or configuration of the roof structure. Preferably the roof spoiler is attached only to the upper edge of the rear door, e.g. by vertical hanging, which allows a rapid mounting process without occupying the outer face of the rear doors.

The fixing device can be formed economically e.g. as one piece, for example as a metal plate with corresponding formation of insert rods or insert regions, wherein the roof air guide element can be formed for example as a plastic injection molding with one or more rearward protruding cams with rounded cam face.

Surprisingly easily, this achieves an economic formation with simple mounting on only the rear door, and an automatic adjustment process on opening and closing of the rear door.

According to the invention, in particular thus synergy effects occur between the formation of the roof spoiler and the side spoiler, since on opening of the rear door, first the roof spoiler is automatically retracted (pivoted down); this then allows the positioning of the swing arm and side air guide elements, where in all cases the swing arm can be formed vertically shorter so that it lies only on the rear door and in the vertical direction does not extend as far as the roof air guide element. The rearward protruding cam does not obstruct the pivot movement or the positioning of the side spoiler.

Thus on opening of the rear door, first an automatic down-folding or downward pivoting of the roof air guide element takes place under its own weight, without adversely affecting the side spoilers. Then the side spoilers can be completely folded out as described above.

The invention is now explained below with reference to the enclosed drawings showing some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According toFIGS. 1 and 2, a truck1has a vehicle structure2which in the rear region is also known as a portal, and a loading space3which is limited towards the outside by side walls4,5and to the top by a vehicle roof6; the side walls4,5and the vehicle roof6can be formed solid, e.g. in a van, or as supporting parts and be connected correspondingly fixedly to the vehicle structure2; furthermore it is also known to form the side walls4,5and optionally also the vehicle roof6from tarpaulins.

The loading space3can be closed at the rear by two rear doors8,9which, starting from their closed position inFIG. 1, can pivot out about their hinge7through around 270° about their respective pivot axis A and can be laid or also locked e.g. on the respective side wall4,5.

A rear spoiler device10is mounted on the truck1and comprises two roof spoilers13,14and two side spoilers16and17.

The two roof spoilers13,14are advantageously attached exclusively to the two rear doors8,9in that they are inserted from above. According toFIG. 5, the left roof spoiler13(viewed in the direction of travel) has a fixing device20(bearing part) which is attached to the rear door8; for this the fixing device20can have for example three vertically downwardly extending insert rods21which are placed in the rear door8from above; if the rear door8is already open at its top, the insert rods21can accordingly be inserted directly; if the door leaf is closed, first holes22must be drilled in the upper edge8aof the rear door and then the insert rods21inserted in these holes from above.

Furthermore the fixing device20has a rotary axis23for a roof air guide element24. The roof air guide element24is made as a one-piece plastic part e.g. a plastic injection molding, with flat or slightly curved outer face25, the shaping of which is known in itself. When the rear door8is closed, the roof air guide element24substantially forms an extension to the vehicle roof6, e.g. with a slight downward curvature. Furthermore the roof air guide element24has one or more cams26which are formed e.g. with said cams on injection molding.

The fixing device20can e.g. be made of steel or plastic. The entire roof spoiler13in the embodiment shown is formed e.g. of two pieces with the fixing device20and the roof air guide element24, where applicable with additional rotary axis23. When the fixing device20is anchored in the rear door8, the cam26protrudes to the rear; the air guide element24is pivoted down under its own weight about the rotary axis23and lies e.g. against the rear door8. When the rear door8is then closed from its open position shown inFIG. 5into the driving position inFIG. 4, first the rearward protruding cam26contacts the vehicle structure2, e.g. a crossmember, in the upper rear region of the truck1. The cam26here has a curved cam face26awhich rolls on the vehicle structure2when the rear door8is closed so that the entire roof air guide element24pivots upward about the rotary axis23.

When the rear door8is closed, the cam26with its cam face26astill lies on the vehicle structure2and is therefore supported in its upward protruding position by the cam26or multiple cams26. When the rear door8is then opened again, the cam26rolls on the vehicle structure2and again protrudes to the rear, the roof air guide element24thus drops automatically, because of its own weight, from its function position with closed rear door8into the down-pivoted or down-folded base position inFIG. 5. No activation by the user is therefore required.

The two side spoilers16,17each have a swing arm30and a side air guide element32. The swing arm30is for example fixed e.g. in four first pivot joints31to the outside8bof the rear door8, for which reason e.g. holes33can be drilled in the rear door8. The side air guide element32is in turn fixed to the swing arm30via second pivot joints34. The swing arm30can be made for example of metal, e.g. aluminum or steel; the side air guide elements32is again advantageously made of plastic, e.g. as an injection molding.

The side air guide elements32are each engaged in a locking arrangement36,40in corresponding retaining recesses37,42on the truck1. According to alternative embodiments, this locking or engagement can take place either according toFIG. 7on the respective rear door8,9, or according toFIG. 67on the vehicle structure2or on the side walls4,5.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 7with locking on the rear door8, i.e. the door leaf itself, a locking tab40can be provided for example in the region of the front edge32aof the side air guide element32, or an additional component mounted here which can engage in a locking pin42serving as a retaining receiver and mounted on the rear door8or on the outside8bof the rear door8. According toFIG. 7therefore the front edge32aterminates flush with the side wall3, wherein a secure fixation to the rear door8is however possible via the locking tab40protruding towards the middle. The locking tab40can be made of metal or plastic; it can for example be fixed to a corresponding receiver on the side air guide element32by a screw43or a bolt.

In the embodiment inFIG. 6, a catch hook (locking hook)36is mounted on the end of the side air guide element32as the locking means, and locks in a retaining receiver37on the side wall4or the vehicle structure2.

The side air guide elements32form an extension of the side walls4,5, as is normal for side spoilers; for this the side air guide elements32can have a flat or suitably curved form. The pivot joints31,34are advantageously—as shown in the figures—formed at the ends of the swing arms30. Accordingly the second pivot joints34and the locking arrangement36,40are advantageously provided in the end regions of the side air guide elements32.

The swing arm30and the side air guide element32therefore, together with the vehicle1—according toFIG. 7, with the rear door8or9of the vehicle1—form a stable triangle, the corners of which are formed by the two pivot joints31,34and the catch connection between the locking arrangement36,40and the retaining receiver37or locking pin42.

From the driving position, the rear spoiler device10is folded into its base position in that first the rear doors8,9are opened slightly. This causes the respective left and right roof air guide elements24of the roof spoiler13,14to drop down and thus lie against the respective rear door8,9. By opening the rear doors8and9, in the embodiment inFIG. 6in position a), an automatic release of the locking hook36from the locking receiver37can already take place. However a configuration is also possible with manual release. If the side air guide element2is fixed to the locking pin42of the rear door8or9as shown inFIG. 7, a manual unlocking is always provided.

The entire side spoiler16,17is now folded in towards the middle in that e.g. a user takes hold of the respective side air guide element32and pivots it inward in a large pivot movement, such that the side air guide element32pivots about the second pivot joint34on the swing arm30and pivots the swing arm30in the first pivot joints31against the rear door8or9. In this movement into the base position, the swing arm30is moved e.g. by around 100° and the side air guide element32is pivoted in relation to the swing arm32by a further 100° for example. InFIG. 3, the movement track35of the front edge32aof the side air guide element32in shown. The swing arms30can preferably come to lie directly flat against the rear doors8and9; the side air guide element32in its upper region can come to rest on the respective down-folded roof air guide element24.

Then the rear doors8,9are folded completely out about their swivel axes A through a total pivot angle of around 270°. The rear spoiler device10with roof spoilers13,14and side spoilers16,17is thus accommodated between the rear door8or9and the side wall3or4.

In the locked or engaged driving position, the front edge32aof the side air guide element32lies advantageously on or behind the vehicle structure2. Thus an outer face32b(air guide face) of the side air guide element32lies flush with the left side wall4so that no turbulence is formed in the transitional region.

While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.