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AssigneeMcLaren Automotive Limited
InventorsDan Parry-Williams, Arthur Slight
Estimating the term…
An automobile comprising a cooling duct that extends to underneath the automobile to channel cooling air to a component of the automobile when the automobile is in motion is provided. A restriction located within the cooling duct that is moveable from a first position, in which airflow to the component is substantially unimpeded, to a second position in which the airflow to the component is substantially impeded, when the automobile is in motion is further provided. The automobile generates more downforce when the restriction is in the second position versus the first position. A control unit configured to select the position of the restriction to control the downforce generated by the automobile if the temperature of the component is below a predetermined level, and to select the first position for the restriction if the temperature of the component is above the predetermined level, is also provided.
An automobile comprising a duct arranged to channel air from a region which is at relatively high pressure when the automobile is in motion to a region underneath the automobile which is at relatively low pressure when the automobile is in motion, the duct comprising a resilient elastic restriction arranged to substantially close off the duct, the duct being configured such that motion of the automobile generates a pressure difference across the elastic restriction, the elastic restriction being configured to open when the pressure difference approximately exceeds a predetermined value so as to allow air to flow from the relatively high pressure region to underneath the automobile and reduce the downforce generated by the automobile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.