초록 ▼

An aerodynamic accessory, such as a front and/or a rear spoiler, is adjustable by a deployed working position and a retracted rest position, and its positioning can be controlled automatically in accordance with vehicle conditions reflecting the need for road/tire traction. These vehicle conditions

An aerodynamic accessory, such as a front and/or a rear spoiler, is adjustable by a deployed working position and a retracted rest position, and its positioning can be controlled automatically in accordance with vehicle conditions reflecting the need for road/tire traction. These vehicle conditions may include vehicle speed, crosswinds, road surface roughness or wetness, and/or road grade, these factors taken singly or in combination. The aerodynamic accessory may be a rear spoiler retractable to lie flush with the trunk lid and/or a front spoiler capable of selectably reducing the air-flow clearance between the road surface and the front end of the vehicle. Specific vehicle condition detection devices and techniques are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

An aerodynamic accessory for an automotive vehicle comprising: a spoiler member capable of projecting from an external surface of a vehicle body for reducing the lift coefficient of the vehicle body while the vehicle is moving, said spoiler member being movable between a first position in which it p

An aerodynamic accessory for an automotive vehicle comprising: a spoiler member capable of projecting from an external surface of a vehicle body for reducing the lift coefficient of the vehicle body while the vehicle is moving, said spoiler member being movable between a first position in which it projects from said external surface of the vehicle body, and a second position in which it is enclosed substantially within the contours of the vehicle body whereby said spoiler member has no aerodynamic effect; an actuator associated with said spoiler member for actuating said spoiler member to either of said first and second positions; sensor means for monitoring vehicle driving conditions including vehicle speed and environmental conditions, and producing a driving condition indicative signal and an environmental condition indicative signal in response to detected conditions; and a controller responsive to said vehicle driving condition indicative signal and said environmental condition indicative signal for deriving a control signal to control operation of said actuator and thereby controlling the position of said spoiler member, said controller producing a control signal for controlling the movement of said spoiler member to said first position when at least either of a predetermined vehicle driving condition is satisfied, as indicated by said vehicle driving condition indicative signal or an environment condition is satisfied as indicated by said environmental condition indicative signal, and otherwise producing a control signal for controlling the movement of said spoiler member to said second position.