# US 10,370,042 B2 · Adjustable aerodynamic assembly and a method

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- Number: US 10,370,042 B2
- Document ID: US10370042B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/666,611
- Filed: 2017-08-02
- Published: 2019-02-07
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-02
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Samantha J. Bray; Joshua R. Auden; Jason D. Fahland; Timothy D. Demetrio; Caleb Potvin; Rebecca Tjoelker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370042B2

## CPC

- B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)}
- B60T 17/22: Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
- B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)}
- B62D 37/02: by aerodynamic means
- G01D 5/00: Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable (G01D3/00 takes precedence; specially adapted for apparatus giving results other than momentary value of variable G01D1/00)
- B60T 1/16: by increasing air resistance, e.g. flaps
- 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)
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes a support structure and a blocking member supported by the support structure. The blocking member is movable between an extended position in which the blocking member is disposed transverse to the support structure to interact with an airflow and a retracted position in which the blocking member retracts to minimize interaction with the airflow. The adjustable aerodynamic assembly also includes an actuator coupled to the blocking member and configured to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions, and a detection member coupled to the blocking member and configured to determine whether a surface of the blocking member is detected. A method of monitoring the adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes determining whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detection member. The method also includes selectively activating the actuator to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An adjustable aerodynamic assembly comprising:
a support structure;
one or more spacers that extend outwardly from the support structure to define a space;
a blocking member supported by the support structure and including a surface;
wherein the blocking member is movable between an extended position in which the blocking member is disposed transverse to the support structure to interact with an airflow and a retracted position in which the blocking member retracts to minimize interaction with the airflow;
wherein the blocking member is movable between the extended position and the retracted position about a single pivot point;
an actuator disposed in the space and secured to the support structure, and the actuator is coupled to the blocking member;
wherein the actuator is configured to move the blocking member to the extended position and the retracted position about the single pivot point; and
a detector coupled to the blocking member and configured to determine whether the surface of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a controller in communication with the actuator and configured to receive information regarding the position of the blocking member due to movement from the actuator moving the blocking member, and the controller is in communication with the detector and configured to receive information regarding whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the blocking member is disposed in a breakaway position in response to a force applied to the blocking member, and wherein the breakaway position is detected via the detector and the breakaway position is communicated to the controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the surface of the blocking member is movable to the breakaway position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least part of the surface of the blocking member is detachable from the support structure when in the breakaway position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The assembly as set forth in claim 3 further including an indicator in communication with the controller, and wherein the indicator activates when the controller communicates to the indicator that the blocking member is in the breakaway position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the blocking member includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side;
the blocking member is movable between the extended position and the retracted position to change a direction of the airflow relative to the first side of the blocking member; and
the surface is disposed along one of the first side and the second side.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes a sensor configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the sensor includes a load sensor configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the sensor includes a brake sensor configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the sensor includes a plurality of sensors configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes a switch configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes a laser configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes a camera configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes a pitot tube configured to determine whether the airflow that passes the surface of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 16 (depends on 7)

The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the detector includes an inertia measurement unit configured to determine whether the surface of the first side of the blocking member is detected.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1:
further including a controller in communication with the actuator and configured to receive information regarding the position of the blocking member due to the actuator moving the blocking member, and the controller is in communication with the detector and configured to receive information regarding whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detector;
wherein the blocking member is disposed in a breakaway position in response to a force applied to the blocking member;
wherein the breakaway position is detected via the detector and communicated to the controller;
further including an indicator in communication with the controller;
wherein the indicator activates when the controller communicates to the indicator that the blocking member is in the breakaway position;
wherein the blocking member includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side;
wherein the blocking member is movable between the extended position and the retracted position to change a direction of the airflow relative to the first side of the blocking member; and
wherein the surface is disposed along the first side of the blocking member.

### Claim 18

A method of monitoring an adjustable aerodynamic assembly, the method comprising:
determining whether a surface of a blocking member is detected via a detector, wherein the blocking member is supported by a support structure and the detector is coupled to the blocking member, and wherein the blocking member is movable between an extended position in which the blocking member is disposed transverse to the support structure to interact with an airflow and a retracted position in which the blocking member retracts to minimize interaction with the airflow, and wherein the blocking member is movable between the extended position and the retracted position about a single pivot point; and
selectively activating an actuator to move the blocking member to the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the actuator is coupled to the blocking member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18 further comprising communicating between the actuator and a controller information regarding the position of the blocking member due to the actuator moving the blocking member, and communicating between the detector and the controller information regarding whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method as set forth in claim 18:
further comprising communicating between the actuator and via a controller information regarding the position of the blocking member due to the actuator moving the blocking member, and communicating between the detector and the controller information regarding whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detector;
further comprising disposing the blocking member in a breakaway position in response to a force applied to the blocking member, and wherein the breakaway position of the blocking member is different from the position that the actuator disposed the blocking member in;
wherein determining whether the surface of the blocking member is detected further comprises detecting the breakaway position via the detector and communicating the breakaway position to the controller;
further comprising activating an indicator when the controller receives information that the blocking member is in the breakaway position by comparing the information between the actuator and the detector;
wherein the blocking member includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side;
wherein the blocking member is movable between the extended position and the retracted position to change a direction of the airflow relative to the first side of the blocking member; and
wherein the surface is disposed along the first side of the blocking member.