# US 10,864,950 B2 · Moveable underslung wing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,950 B2 - Document ID: US10864950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/213,584 - Filed: 2018-12-07 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-08 - Assignees: McLaren Automotive Limited - Applicants: McLaren Automotive Limited - Inventors: Arthur Danny Slight - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864950B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/007: {Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - B62D 37/02: by aerodynamic means - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a wing having an upper side and a front; a wing support mounted between the vehicle body and the wing, the wing support extending from the upper side of the wing, around the front of the wing, to the vehicle body and being pivotally attached to the wing at a first location on the wing so that the first location is positionally fixed relative to the wing support and the wing can rotate between a first position and a second position; a linear actuator for moving the wing between the first position and the second position; and a linkage pivotally attached to the wing at a second location forwards of the first location and coupled to the linear actuator so that the linear actuator can move the wing between the first position and the second position; wherein the wing is capable of imposing a downforce on the wing support acting through a centre of pressure of the wing as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing and the centre of pressure is located rearwards of the first location irrespective of the position of the wing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a wing having an upper side and a front; a wing support mounted between the vehicle body and the wing, the wing support extending from the upper side of the wing, around the front of the wing, to the vehicle body and being pivotally attached to the wing at a first location on the wing so that the first location is positionally fixed relative to the wing support and the wing can rotate between a first position and a second position; a linear actuator for moving the wing between the first position and the second position; and a linkage pivotally attached to the wing at a second location forwards of the first location and coupled to the linear actuator so that the linear actuator can move the wing between the first position and the second position; wherein the wing is capable of imposing a downforce on the wing support acting through a centre of pressure of the wing as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing and the centre of pressure is located rearwards of the first location irrespective of the position of the wing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing has a rear and the wing support does not pass around the rear of the wing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the vehicle comprising a rocker pivotally mounted to the wing support, wherein the linkage is coupled to the linear actuator by the rocker. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linkage is pivotally attached to the rocker at one end of the rocker and the linear actuator is pivotally attached to the rocker at the other end of the rocker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rocker is pivotally mounted to the wing support between where the rocker is attached to the linkage and where the rocker is attached to the linear actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the wing support comprising an outer shell, wherein the linear actuator is housed inside the outer shell of the wing support, the linkage is housed inside the outer shell of the wing support, and the rocker is housed inside the outer shell of the wing support. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the vehicle comprising a mount for the linear actuator and the linear actuator is pivotally attached to the mount. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein irrespective of the position of the wing the wing causes a positive force to be exerted on the linear actuator as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the linear actuator comprises a chamber, a piston dividing the chamber into a first volume and a second volume, the piston being moveable along the length of the chamber to vary the size of the first and second volumes, and a piston rod coupled to the piston so that the piston rod moves with the piston, the piston rod being coupled to the linkage, the linear actuator further comprises a first connection between the first volume and the exterior of the linear actuator, and a second connection between the second volume and the exterior of the linear actuator, the connections being capable of providing coupling for fluid within the chamber with apparatus external to the linear actuator, wherein one of the connections is provided with a variable restriction to adjust the flow of fluid through the connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing is configured so that in the first position the wing is streamlined so as to be capable of imposing a low rearward force on the vehicle body as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing relative to the rearward force imposed on the vehicle body when the wing is in the second position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing is configured so that in the second position the wing is capable of imposing a high downforce on the vehicle body as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing relative to the downforce imposed on the vehicle body when the wing is in the first position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing comprises a main wing element and the wing support is mounted between the vehicle body and the main wing element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, the wing comprises a plurality of wing elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wing element(s) have profile(s) such that in the first position the wing is streamlined so as to be capable of imposing a low rearward force on the vehicle body as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing relative to the rearward force imposed on the vehicle body when the wing is in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the wing element(s) have profile(s) such that in the second position the wing is capable of imposing a high downforce on the vehicle body as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing relative to the downforce imposed on the vehicle body when the wing is in the first position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing support is mounted to the vehicle body at a rear portion of the vehicle body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises: a second wing support mounted between the vehicle body and the wing, the second wing support extending from the upper side of the wing, around the front of the wing, to the vehicle body and being pivotally attached to the wing at a third location on the wing so that the third location is positionally fixed relative to the wing support and the wing can rotate between a first position and a second position; a second linear actuator for moving the wing between the first position and the second position; and a second linkage pivotally attached to the wing at a fourth location forwards of the second location and coupled to the linear actuator so that the linear actuator can move the wing between the first position and the second position; wherein the wing is capable of imposing a downforce on the wing support acting through the centre of pressure of the wing as a result of the action of rearward airflow on the wing and the centre of pressure is located rearwards of the third location irrespective of the position of the wing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second wing supports are positioned either side of a centreline of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and third locations are co-planar, and the second and fourth locations are co-planar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A vehicle as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pivotal attachment of the first wing support to the wing and the pivotal attachment of the second wing support to the wing share a common axis.