# US 12,595,004 B2 · Front spoiler arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for a truck > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,004 B2 - Document ID: US12595004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/643,430 - Filed: 2024-04-23 - Published: 2024-12-19 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-16 - Assignees: Volvo Truck Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Truck Corporation - Inventors: Muthukumar Venkitachalam; Aniroop Kelothum Kandy; Rifat Fahmida Ali - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595004B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - G06V 20/58: Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - 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 - 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) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A front spoiler for a motor vehicle, comprising a central part and lateral curved parts configured to extend laterally from the central part to a front wheel arch of a vehicle, an extension configured to extend along a lower edge of the front spoiler towards a road surface, the extension comprising extension flaps fixed to the lower edge of the front spoiler, such that each extension flap is moveable between an extended position in which the extension flap is lowered into proximity with a road surface and a retracted position in which the extension flap is raised above the road surface, wherein one of the extension flaps extends along a lower edge of each lateral curved part of the front spoiler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A front spoiler for a motor vehicle, comprising: a central part and lateral curved parts configured to extend laterally from the central part to a front wheel arch of a vehicle; an extension configured to extend along a lower edge of the front spoiler towards a road surface, the extension comprising extension flaps fixed to the lower edge of the front spoiler, such that each extension flap is moveable between an extended position in which the extension flap is lowered into proximity with a road surface and a retracted position in which the extension flap is raised above the road surface; wherein one of the extension flaps extends along a lower edge of each lateral curved part of the front spoiler and each extension flap is fixed to the spoiler by at least two hinges, a spring being provided to apply to the extension flap a restoring force urging the extension flap in the extended position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, wherein one of the extension flaps comprises a lateral edge area that overlaps a lateral edge area of a lateral extension flap of the extension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, wherein the extension comprises at least a central flap, two first lateral flaps which are adjacent to lateral edges of the central flap, and two second lateral flaps which are adjacent to lateral edges of the first lateral flaps. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, further wherein the hinges fixing one of the extension flaps to the spoiler are linked together by a spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, wherein one or more of the extension flaps comprises an inclined part extending towards the ground and a flat part disposed against a flat part of the spoiler in the extended position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, further comprising an actuator driving at least one of the extension flaps between its extended and retracted positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The front spoiler of claim 1, wherein each of the central part and the lateral parts of the front spoiler is formed by a separate panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the front spoiler of claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising: an actuator driving at least one of the extension flaps between its extended and retracted positions; a computer vision system configured to generate data related to obstacles in front of the vehicle, that may hit the extension; and a computing unit configured to analyze a space in front of the spoiler to detect an obstacle that can hit the extension flap, and control the actuator to move the extension flap towards its retracted position when an obstacle is detected and to set the extension flap in its extended position when no obstacle is detected. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the computing unit is further configured to control the actuator so as to move the extension flap between the extended position and the retracted position as a function of a longitudinal speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the computing unit is further configured to control the actuator so as to move the extension flap in the raised position when the vehicle speed is lower than a first speed threshold, and to move the extension flap in the extended position when the vehicle speed is greater than a second speed threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A computer implemented method comprising: analyzing, by a processing circuitry, a space in front of a front spoiler of a motor vehicle, the front spoiler being of claim 1; and controlling, by the processing circuitry, an actuator to move one of the extension flaps towards its retracted position when an obstacle is detected and to set the extension flap in its extended position when no obstacle is detected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling, by the processing circuitry, the actuator so as to move the extension flap between the extended position and the retracted position as a function of a longitudinal speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling, by the processing circuitry, the actuator so as to move the extension flap in the raised position when the vehicle speed is lower than a first speed threshold, and to move the extension flap in the extended position when the vehicle speed is greater than a second speed threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by the processing circuitry, the method of claim 12. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of claim 12.