# US 10,246,136 B2 · Underbody cladding for a two-track motor vehicle and two-track motor vehicle with such an underbody cladding > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,136 B2 - Document ID: US10246136B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/172,503 - Filed: 2016-06-03 - Published: 2016-09-29 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-06 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Hubert Scholz; Roland Schmidt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246136B2 ## CPC - B62D 29/041: {Understructures} - B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid - B60G 7/001: {Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence)} - B60R 13/0861: {for covering undersurfaces of vehicles, e.g. wheel houses} - B62D 25/2018: {the subunits being front structures} - B62D 25/2027: {the subunits being rear structures} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - B60G 2204/4308: Protecting guards, e.g. for rigid axle damage protection - B60G 2206/10: Constructional features of arms - B60G 2206/8207: by screwing - Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An underbody cladding is provided for a two-track motor vehicle with wheel-controlling links as part of a rear axle for cladding the underbody. The underbody cladding at least partially extends in a substantially horizontal plane and extends in the direction of the outside of the vehicle close to an inner side of a rear wheel. The underbody cladding is divided into three sections, a front section, a central section and a rear section. The central section extends at least over a region below the wheel-controlling links and is connected at least over part of the width thereof to the front section and/or the rear section. The central section is designed in such a manner that the section can at least partially follow and/or yield to a vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links. The front and the rear section of the underbody cladding can in each case be arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the motor vehicle and cannot follow and/or yield to a vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A component for a two-track motor vehicle having wheel-controlling links as part of a rear axle, comprising: an underbody cladding for cladding an underbody at least on one vehicle side in a region of the wheel-controlling links of the rear axle such that, when in an installed state on the two-track motor vehicle, the underbody cladding extends under the wheel-controlling links at least partially in a substantially horizontal plane and, at least in a direction of an outer side of the vehicle, extends close to an inner side of a rear wheel of the motor vehicle, the rear wheel being connected via a wheel support to the wheel-controlling links, wherein the underbody cladding is divided in a vehicle longitudinal direction into three sections comprising a front section, a central section and a rear section, the central section extends under the wheel-controlling links on one vehicle side, and is connected at least over a part of a width of the central section to one or both of the front section and the rear section, the central section is configured such that, in the installed state installed on the motor vehicle, the central section at least partially follows and/or at least partially yields to a substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links during driving operation of the motor vehicle, the front section and the rear section of the underbody cladding are configured to be arranged positionally statically on the motor vehicle such that, when in the installed state, the front and rear sections do not follow and/or yield to the substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the underbody cladding has a unipartite form. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The component according to claim 2, wherein the underbody cladding is divided, via at least two slots, such that the central section at least partially follows and/or yields to the vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links, and the at least two slots extend toward the inside of the vehicle from an outer edge of the underbody cladding, the outer edge facing toward the inner side of the rear wheel in the functionally installed state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the underbody cladding is divided, via at least two slots, such that the central section at least partially follows and/or yields to the vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links, and the at least two slots extend toward the inside of the vehicle from an outer edge of the underbody cladding, the outer edge facing toward the inner side of the rear wheel in the functionally installed state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The component according to claim 4, wherein a film hinge connects the two slots to one another between ends nearest the inside of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The component according to claim 5, wherein the film hinge extends substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the functionally installed state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the underbody cladding has a multi-part form, and the central section is connected via a film hinge to the front section and/or the rear section over at least a part of the width of the underbody cladding. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The component according to claim 7, wherein the front section and the rear section are composed of a flexible material, and the central section at least partially has a region composed of an elastic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The component according to claim 7, wherein the central section is divided in the vehicle longitudinal direction into a front subsection and a central subsection, the central subsection extends, at least over one region, under one of the wheel-controlling links, and the central section is connected at least over a part of its width to the front subsection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The component according to claim 9, wherein the central subsection extends under a spring link of the wheel-controlling links. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The component according to claim 9, wherein the central subsection is composed of an elastic material and is connected to the front subsection via a welt connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the central section is fastened at least regionally to one of the wheel-controlling links. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The component according to claim 12, wherein a Cardan bearing provides the fastening of the central section to the one or the wheel-controlling links. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the underbody cladding comprises at least one flow lip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1, wherein the underbody cladding is configured for a passenger motor vehicle. ### Claim 16 A two-track motor vehicle, comprising: wheel-controlling links of a rear axle; a rear wheel of the motor vehicle, the rear wheel being connected via a wheel support to the wheel-controlling links; an underbody cladding for cladding an underbody at least on one vehicle side in a region of the wheel-controlling links of the rear axle such that the underbody cladding extends under the wheel-controlling links at least partially in a substantially horizontal plane and, at least in a direction of an outer side of the vehicle, extends close to an inner side of the rear wheel, wherein the underbody cladding is divided in a vehicle longitudinal direction into three sections comprising a front section, a central section and a rear section, the central section extends under the wheel-controlling links on one vehicle side, and is connected at least over a part of a width of the central section to one or both of the front section and to the rear section, the central section is configured such that the central section at least partially follows and/or at least partially yields to a substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links during driving operation of the motor vehicle, and the front section and the rear section of the underbody cladding are attached positionally statically on the motor vehicle so as not to follow and/or yield to the substantial vertical movement of the wheel-controlling links.