Patent Publication Number: US-2009223757-A1

Title: Undercar air management system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for patent Ser. No. 61/034,805, filed Mar. 7, 2008, and entitled UNDERCAR AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The following disclosure relates to an underbody air management system for a vehicle such as an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Braking systems for automobiles and trucks can generate a significant amount of heat during operation. For example, in the case of disk-type brakes, when the brakes are applied, friction between the brake pads and the brake rotors can result in significant heating of the pads and rotors. If the heat is excessive, the brake components may be damaged or suffer significant wear. For example, if the rotors of a disk brake system overheat, the rotors may warp, rendering the brakes inoperable. This is especially true in the case of high performance automobiles. Thus, there exists a need for a system to manage the flow of air to brake components to facilitate cooling. 
     High performance vehicles also tend to require a relatively stiff frame to facilitate handling and performance of the vehicle. Further, the air flow under a vehicle tends to impart “lift” to the vehicle, reducing the frictional forces between the vehicles tires and the road. Thus, there exists a need for an air management system that provides a supply of cooling air to the vehicles brakes and further provides a means of stiffening the vehicle&#39;s frame and/or body. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect thereof, an under body air management system for a vehicle is disclosed. The air management system includes first and second ducts adapted to be mounted on parallel, longitudinally extending frame members of a vehicle, each of the ducts having first and second ends, a top wall, a bottom wall and a generally W-shaped stiffening member attached to the top and bottom walls and extending along the length of the ducts. An inlet fixture mounted on the first end of each of the ducts is configured to conduct air into the ducts. The inlet fixtures are adapted for mounting toward the forward end of the car to receive air therethough as the car travels in a forward direction. An outlet fixture is mounted to a second end of each of the ducts and configured to direct air from each of the ducts against rear wheel brakes of the vehicle. An electrically powered fan associated with each of the air inlet fixtures may be provided and configured to direct air into the inlet fixture. 
     In another aspect, a vehicle including an under body air management system includes a frame having first and second parallel, longitudinally extending frame members, rear wheel brakes and first and second ducts adapted to be mounted on parallel, longitudinally extending frame members of the vehicle. Each of the ducts has first and second ends, a top wall, a bottom wall and a stiffening member attached to the top and bottom walls and extending along the length of the ducts. In one embodiment, the top and bottom walls of the ducts extend from the stiffening member to form a C-shaped channel wherein a frame member of the vehicle is received. 
     In one variation, an air inlet fixture is mounted on the first end of each of the ducts. The air inlet fixtures are configured to conduct air into the ducts and adapted for mounting toward the forward end of the car to receive air as the car travels in a forward direction. Air outlet fixtures mounted at the second end of each of the ducts direct air from the ducts against rear wheel brakes of the vehicle. In one embodiment, each of the air outlet and air inlet fixtures form a C-shaped channel wherein a frame member of the vehicle is received. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  illustrate side, front and rear views, respectively, of a two seat roadster style automobile; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of air management system of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of left and right ducts of the air management system of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the inlets and outlets of the air management system of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the ducts of the air management system of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout, the various views and embodiments of an undercar air management system. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations based on the following examples of possible embodiments. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are side, front and rear views, respectively, of a two seat roadster style automobile  100  employing the under body air management system of the present disclosure. Automobile  100  includes a nose  102  having a forward end  104 . Nose  102  opens in the direction indicated by arrow  106 , pivoting around forward end  104 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , nose  104  includes a central opening  108  that receives air therethrough when vehicle  100  is traveling in the forward direction. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of air management system  200 . Automobile  100  includes front tires  110  and rear tires  112 . Each of rear tires  112  has a brake assembly  114  associated therewith. In one embodiment, brake assemblies  114  comprise disc-type brakes. Air management system  200  includes a pair of longitudinally extending ducts  202  adapted to be mounted on frame members  204  of vehicle  100 . An air inlet fixture  206  is mounted on a forward end of each of ducts  202 . An air outlet fixture  208  is mounted on a rear end of each of ducts  202 . In one embodiment, air inlet fixtures  206  are positioned adjacent front wheels  110 . Air outlet fixtures  208  are positioned at the rear end of ducts  202  and configured to direct air from the ducts onto brake assemblies  114 . In one embodiment, an electrically operated fan  210  is configured to direct air into air inlet fixtures  206 . Fan  210  may be mounted on, inside or adjacent to air inlet fixtures  206  so long as the fan is positioned to direct air into the inlet. 
     In one embodiment, fan  210  is controlled such that the fan is actuated only when vehicle  100  is stopped or traveling at a low rate of speed. When the vehicle accelerates to a predetermined speed, fan  210  is de-energized. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of left and right ducts  202  of air management system  200 . Each of ducts  202  includes a top wall  212 , a bottom wall  214  and a generally W-shaped stiffening member  216  extending between the top and bottom walls. In one embodiment, top wall  212 , bottom wall  214  and W-shaped stiffening member  216  are each formed from aluminum sheet. Top wall  212 , bottom wall  214  and W-shaped stiffening member  216  may be assembled by means of welding, fasteners such as rivets or screws and/or by means of adhesives. In one embodiment, top and bottom walls  214  extend outward from W-shaped stiffening member  216  to form a C-shaped channel or opening  218  wherein frame member  204  ( FIG. 4 ) of automobile  100  is received. Ducts  202  may be fastened to frame members  204  by means of mechanical fasteners such as screws or rivets, by means of welding, or by means of appropriate adhesives. In other embodiments, ducts  202  may have different geometries with or without stiffener and may be formed from different materials such as carbon fiber composites, steel, plastic or fiber glass. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of inlet fixtures  206  and outlet fixtures  208  of air management system  200 , with duct  202  shown in phantom for purposes of illustration. As shown, air inlet fixtures  206  include a plurality of slots  220  formed in an upper wall  222  of the air inlet. Slots  220  allow air to pass into air inlet fixtures  206  and through ducts  202  to outlet fixtures  208 . Each of outlet fixtures  208  has a side opening  224  configured to direct air from ducts  202  through the outlet fixture and onto a brake assembly  114  ( FIG. 4 ) of automobile  100 . In one embodiment, air inlet fixtures  206  are formed from cast aluminum and include side runners or extensions  226  that form a C-shaped channel  228  wherein a frame member  204  ( FIG. 4 ) of automobile  100  is received. Similarly, outlet fixtures  208  include side members or extensions  230  that form a channel  232  wherein a frame member  204  is received and may be bonded to the air outlet fixture. In one embodiment, air outlet fixtures  208  are fabricated from carbon fiber composite materials. In other embodiments, fixtures may be formed from a metal such as aluminum, plastic or fiberglass. 
     As will be appreciated, ducts  202  serve as frame stiffeners for vehicle  100 . Hence, the weight and strength of frame members  204  may be reduced accordingly. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the position of ducts  202  of air management system  200 . As shown, ducts  202  are positioned over frame members  204  with the frame member at least partially in C-shaped opening or channel or  218 . Ducts  202  may be attached to frame members  204  by means of mechanical fasteners such as screws or rivets, by welding or by means of appropriate adhesives. In one embodiment, a combination of mechanical fasteners and adhesives are used. In this embodiment, the mechanical fasteners are provided to hold the ducts  202  onto the frame members  204  until the adhesives cure. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure provides an undercar air management system. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.