Deployable and active rear wing assembly with safety features
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorsDavid Lemire, James Michael Arthur Crook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example vehicle wing assembly includes a multi-element wing with a main wing element and a leading edge slat element. A deployment mechanism moves the wing between a stowed position where the main wing element blends with a vehicle body panel and the slat element is concealed, and an active deployed position away from a vehicle. A rotation mechanism adjusts the wing's angle of attack when deployed. A controller dynamically controls deployment and rotation based on vehicle operating parameters. The wing assembly provides enhanced aerodynamic performance while maintaining vehicle styling and incorporating safety features for impact protection.
Claims20
A vehicle wing assembly comprising:
- a multi-element wing including a main wing element and a leading edge slat element;
- a deployment mechanism configured to move the multi-element wing between:
- a stowed position in which the main wing element blends with a rear panel of a vehicle and the leading edge slat element is concealed under the rear panel of the vehicle, and
- an active deployed position in which the multi-element wing is located further away from the vehicle than in the stowed position;
- a rotation mechanism configured to adjust an angle of attack of the multi-element wing when in the active deployed position;
- and
- a controller configured to control the deployment mechanism and the rotation mechanism dynamically to adjust drag and downforce based on one or more vehicle operating parameters.
A vehicle wing system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a deployable wing assembly including:
- a main airfoil element having a step feature configured to blend with a vehicle body panel when in a stowed position;
- a leading edge slat element positioned ahead of the main airfoil element when in a deployed position;
- a deployment mechanism coupled to the deployable wing assembly and configured to transition the deployable wing assembly between the stowed position and the deployed position;
- and
- an impact protection system configured to retract the deployable wing assembly upon detecting a rear impact.
A method comprising:
- controlling deployment of a multi-element vehicle wing between:
- a road mode in which a main wing element of the multi-element vehicle wing blends with a vehicle body panel and a slat element of the multi-element vehicle wing is concealed, and
- a track mode in which the multi-element vehicle wing is deployed upward and rearward;
- and
- controlling rotation of the multi-element vehicle wing through a continuous range of angular motion when deployed to adjust one or more of:
- a downforce by rotating to a high downforce position,
- a drag by rotating to a drag reduction system (DRS) position, and
- an aerodynamic balance by rotating to intermediate positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.