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US 12,703,442 B2Granted
Vortex generator for a vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsFernando Hiroshi Saito, Connor Dane Buckman, Ljubomir Erakovic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle body component includes an underbody panel having an underbody surface and a wheel well panel including a forward edge portion connected to the underbody panel. The wheel well panel includes an arcuate surface that extends from the underbody surface. An air deflector is arranged at the forward edge portion of the wheel well panel. A vortex generator is mounted to the underbody surface at the wheel well panel. The vortex generator disrupts air currents flowing over the air deflector.
Claims14
A vehicle body component comprising:
- an underbody panel having an underbody surface;
- a wheel well panel including a forward edge portion connected to the underbody panel, the wheel well panel defining an arcuate surface that extends from the forward edge portion connected to the underbody panel;
- an air deflector connected to the forward edge portion of the wheel well panel and including an outwardly facing edge, the air deflector being arranged to extend at least a portion of the arcuate surface of the wheel well panel distally from the underbody surface of the underbody panel;
- and
- a vortex generator mounted to the arcuate surface of the wheel well panel adjacent the outwardly facing edge of the air deflector, the vortex generator disrupting air currents flowing from the outwardly facing edge.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a body defining a passenger compartment, the body including a body component comprising:
- an underbody panel having an underbody surface;
- a wheel well panel including a forward edge portion connected to the underbody panel, the wheel well panel defining an arcuate surface that extends from the forward edge portion connected to the underbody panel;
- an air deflector connected to the forward edge portion of the wheel well panel and including an outwardly facing edge, the air deflector being arranged to extend at least a portion of the arcuate surface of the wheel well panel distally from the underbody surface of the underbody panel;
- and
- a vortex generator mounted to the arcuate surface of the wheel well panel adjacent the outwardly facing edge of the air deflector, the vortex generator disrupting air currents flowing from the outwardly facing edge.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.