Air deflector assembly for an automatic vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorSteven A. Del Gaizo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive vehicle includes a body with an upper surface defined by a front fascia disposed proximate a fore end, and a closure panel with a fore edge proximate the front fascia. A deflector with a first end and a second end is movably coupled to the upper surface and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position the second end projects a first distance from the upper surface and in the deployed position the second end projects a second distance from the upper surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A controller is configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control an actuator to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position.
Claims20
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a body with a fore portion, an aft portion, a longitudinal axis extending from the fore portion to the aft portion, and a lateral axis extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the body including a front fascia disposed proximate the fore portion and a closure panel with a fore edge proximate the front fascia, the front fascia and closure panel cooperatively defining an upper surface;
- a deflector movably coupled to the upper surface proximate the fore edge, the deflector having a first end and a second end, the deflector being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the deployed position the second end projects an increased distance from the upper surface relative to the stowed position to thereby interrupt a flow of air over the upper surface;
- an actuator operably coupled to the deflector and configured to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a controller in communication with the actuator, the controller being configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position.
An assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a front fascia configured to couple to a fore portion of a vehicle foreword of a closure panel, the front fascia and closure panel being cooperable to define an upper surface;
- a deflector movably coupled to the upper surface proximate an interface between the front fascia and closure panel, the deflector having a distal end being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the deployed position the distal end projects an increased distance from the upper surface relative to the stowed position to thereby interrupt a flow of air over the upper surface;
- an actuator operably coupled to the deflector and configured to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a controller in communication with the actuator, the controller being configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position.
A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a front fascia configured to couple to a fore portion of a vehicle foreword of a closure panel, the front fascia and closure panel being cooperable to define an upper surface;
- providing a deflector movably coupled to the upper surface proximate an interface between the front fascia and the closure panel, the deflector having a distal end being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein in the deployed position the distal end projects an increased distance from the upper surface relative to the stowed position to thereby interrupt a flow of air over the upper surface;
- providing an actuator operably coupled to the deflector and configured to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- providing a controller in communication with the actuator;
- and
- in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, automatically controlling the actuator, via the controller, to move the deflector from the stowed position to the deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.