# US 11,897,548 B2 · Airflow adjusting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,548 B2 - Document ID: US11897548B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/369,435 - Filed: 2021-07-07 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: Subaru Corporation - Applicants: Subaru Corporation - Inventors: Naoto Watanabe; Yusaku Dogahira - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897548B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/00: Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - H05H 1/2439: {Surface discharges, e.g. air flow control} - 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) - H05H: PLASMA TECHNIQUE (apparatus or processes specially adapted for producing X-rays H05G2/00); PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An airflow adjusting apparatus to be provided in a vehicle includes a road clearance detector, an airflow generator, and a processor. The vehicle includes a vehicle body, a wheel attached to the vehicle body to be partly protruded downward from the vehicle body, and a suspension that holds the wheel to permit the wheel to make a vertical stroke relative to the vehicle body. The road clearance detector is configured to detect a road clearance. The road clearance is a vertical distance from a road surface to an underside of the vehicle body. The airflow generator is provided in an underneath of the vehicle body, and configured to generate an airflow. The processor is configured to allow the airflow generator to generate a downward airflow having a downward speed component, on the condition that the road clearance has been on the increase. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airflow adjusting apparatus to be provided in a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body, a wheel attached to the vehicle body to be partly protruded downward from the vehicle body, and a suspension that holds the wheel to permit the wheel to make a vertical stroke relative to the vehicle body, the airflow adjusting apparatus comprising: a road clearance detector configured to detect a road clearance, the road clearance being a vertical distance from a road surface to an underside of the vehicle body; an airflow generator provided in an underneath of the vehicle body, and configured to generate an airflow; and a processor configured to allow the airflow generator to generate a downward airflow having a downward speed component, on a condition that the road clearance has been on an increase. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to allow the airflow generator to generate a backward airflow having a backward speed component, on a condition that the road clearance has been on a decrease. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the airflow generator includes a plasma actuator including: at least one pair of electrodes; and a power supply configured to apply a voltage to the at least one pair of the electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one pair of the electrodes include a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair, with a voltage to be applied to the first electrode pair and a voltage to be applied to the second electrode pair being configured to be controlled independently, and the airflow generator is configured to generate a composite airflow of a first airflow and a second airflow, the first airflow being formed by the first electrode pair, and the second airflow being formed by the second electrode pair and moving in a different direction from the first airflow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airflow generator includes a plasma actuator including: at least one pair of electrodes; and a power supply configured to apply a voltage to the at least one pair of the electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one pair of the electrodes include a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair, with a voltage to be applied to the first electrode pair and a voltage to be applied to the second electrode pair being configured to be controlled independently, and the airflow generator is configured to generate a composite airflow of a first airflow and a second airflow, the first airflow being formed by the first electrode pair, and the second airflow being formed by the second electrode pair and moving in a different direction from the first airflow. ### Claim 7 An airflow adjusting apparatus to be provided in a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body, a wheel attached to the vehicle body to be partly protruded downward from the vehicle body, and a suspension that holds the wheel to permit the wheel to make a vertical stroke relative to the vehicle body, the airflow adjusting apparatus comprising: a road clearance detector configured to detect a road clearance, the road clearance being a vertical distance from a road surface to an underside of the vehicle body; an airflow generator provided in an underneath of the vehicle body, and configured to generate an airflow; and a processor configured to allow the airflow generator to generate a backward airflow having a backward speed component, on a condition that the road clearance has been on a decrease. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the airflow generator includes a plasma actuator including: at least one pair of electrodes; and a power supply configured to apply a voltage to the at least one pair of the electrodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The airflow adjusting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one pair of the electrodes include a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair, with a voltage to be applied to the first electrode pair and a voltage to be applied to the second electrode pair being configured to be controlled independently, and the airflow generator is configured to generate a composite airflow of a first airflow and a second airflow, the first airflow being formed by the first electrode pair, and the second airflow being formed by the second electrode pair and moving in a different direction from the first airflow.