Wheel-well closure system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle comprising such a system

Abstract

A wheel-well closure system for a motor vehicle has a wheel-arch delimiting a wheel-well and a wheel mounted in the wheel-well, the system comprising: a support structure connected to the wheel-arch; and a cover connected to the support structure and covering the wheel-well; wherein the cover is made of a flexible material and is secured to the wheel arch; wherein the system comprises a continuous annular part secured to the wheel facing the cover and rotating with the wheel about a horizontal axis; and wherein the support structure comprises an arm extending radially in front of the continuous annular part and against the cover, a steering movement of the wheel about a vertical axis causing the continuous annular to push the support structure and stretch the cover outside the wheel-well.

Claims

1. A wheel-well closure system for a motor vehicle, having a wheel-arch delimiting a wheel-well and a wheel system mounted in the wheel-well, the system comprising: a support structure connected to the wheel-arch; and a cover connected to the support structure and covering the wheel-well; wherein the cover is made of a flexible material and is secured to the wheel arch; wherein the wheel system comprises a wheel, a continuous annular part secured to the wheel facing the cover and rotating with the wheel about a horizontal axis; and characterized in that the support structure comprises an arm extending radially in front of the wheel system and against the cover, a steering movement of the wheel about a vertical axis causing the continuous annular part of the wheel system to push the support structure and stretch the cover outside the wheel-well.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the arm of the support structure is positioned vertically and is articulated to an upper part of the wheel-arch about a pivot articulation having a horizontal axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the support structure comprises a U-shaped bar having: a central portion connected to a lower portion of the arm; and two opposite end portions articulated to lateral parts of the wheel-arch, each about a pivot articulation having a horizontal axis parallel to a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

4. The system according to any claim 2, wherein the arm is provided with at least one contact element pushed by the continuous annular part of the wheel system during the steering movement of the wheel.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the arm is provided with contact elements configured as fingers extending on both front and rear sides of the arm along the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the arm has an upper portion provided with a contact element configured as a roller disposed in contact with the continuous annular part of the wheel system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the arm of the support structure is positioned horizontally, is made of an elastically deformable material and has two opposite ends secured to lateral parts of the wheel-arch.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the arm has an intermediate portion provided with contact elements pushed by the continuous annular part of the wheel system during the steering movement of the wheel.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the contact elements is configured as a finger arranged toward the continuous annular part of the wheel system.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the contact elements is configured as a roller arranged toward the continuous annular part of the wheel system.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the continuous annular part of the wheel system is a part of the tire facing the cover.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the continuous annular part of the wheel system is a part of the rim facing the cover.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the continuous annular part of the wheel system is a rotating part secured to the wheel facing the cover and rotating with the wheel about a horizontal axis.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating part is a disk secured to the wheel around the horizontal axis, and wherein at least the rotating part or the arm is provided with a protruding contact element.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating part is a tubular part secured to the wheel around the horizontal axis, and wherein an annular border of the rotating part located opposite the wheel pushes the arm during the steering movement of the wheel.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cover is directly secured to the wheel-arch.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cover extends at least partly above an outer edge of the wheel-arch.

18. Motor vehicle, comprising at least one wheel-well closure system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained in correspondence with the annexed figures, and as an illustrative example, without restricting the object of the invention. In the annexed figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel-well closure system according to the invention, equipping a front left wheel-well of a heavy truck, the system comprising a cover, together with a support structure and a wheel system;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing a wheel system provided with a rotating part and a vertical arm of the support structure, without the cover and without a lower part of the support structure;

(4) FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2, without the cover and the wheel system, and with the lower part of the support structure;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, during a steering movement of the wheel;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view along arrow V of FIG. 2, showing the wheel, the wheel system provided with a rotating part secured to the wheel, and the vertical arm provided with contact fingers;

(7) FIG. 6 is schematic view similar to FIG. 5, during a steering movement of the wheel;

(8) FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, of another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

(9) FIGS. 9 to 11 are schematic views similar to FIGS. 5 and 7, showing only the wheel and various embodiments of the rotating part;

(10) FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 13 is a front view at a larger scale of the contact element configured as a roller in the system of FIG. 12;

(12) FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, of an another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 15 is a top view of another embodiment of a system according to the invention;

(14) FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the system of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIGS. 1 to 6 discloses a first embodiment of a wheel-well closure system 10 according to the invention.

(16) System 10 is mounted on a motor vehicle 1, having a vehicle body wheel-arch 2 delimiting a wheel-well 3 and a wheel system provided at least with a wheel 4 mounted in the wheel-well 3.

(17) In this first embodiment, system 10 comprises a support structure 20 articulated to arch 2, a cover 30 connected to structure 20 and covering well 3, and a rotating part 40 secured to wheel 4 facing cover 30.

(18) Part 40 rotates with wheel 4 about a horizontal axis X4, that is the axle axis of wheel 4. Part 40 is a disc secured to the hub or rim of wheel 4. Part 40 has an inner plane face 44 secured to wheel 4 and an outer plane face 46 facing structure 20 and cover 30.

(19) Cover 30 is made of a flexible material and is secured to arch 2. Advantageously, cover 30 is directly secured to arch 2, without intermediate elements such as springs between cover 30 and arch 2. Preferably, cover 30 extends at least partly above an outer edge 6 of arch 2, so that no radial gap (relative to axis X4) is left between cover 30 and arch 2. Still preferably, cover 30 is secured to arch 2 over an angle of at least 180° around axis X4.

(20) Structure 20 comprises a vertical arm 22 provided with fingers 24, and a horizontal U-shaped bar 26.

(21) Arm 22 extends radially to axis X4 in front of part 40 and against cover 30. Arm 22 is positioned vertically and is articulated to an upper part 7 of arch 2, about a pivot articulation 21 having a horizontal axis Z21 parallel to a longitudinal direction D1 of vehicle 1. Arm 22 is provided with fingers 24 extending on both front and rear sides along direction D1. Fingers 24 constitute contact elements, intended to be pushed away by outer face 46 of part 40 during a steering movement of wheel 4.

(22) Bar 26 has a horizontal central portion 27 connected to a lower portion 25 of arm 22, and two opposite end portions 28 articulated to lower lateral parts 8 of arch 2, each about a pivot articulation 29 having a horizontal axis Z29 parallel to a direction D1. Bar 26 extends horizontally against cover 30, under axis X4 and retains horizontally the lower part of the cover 30.

(23) In practice, a steering movement of wheel 4 about a vertical axis Y4 causes outer face 46 of part 40 to push fingers 24, arm 22 and bar 26 outside well 3, opposite wheel 4. Thus, cover 30 connected to structure 20 is stretched outside well 3.

(24) Since cover 30 does not penetrate inside well 3 during the steering movement and keeps a smooth taught surface, system 10 provides satisfying aerodynamics around well, while avoiding direct contact between wheel 4 and cover 30.

(25) In another embodiment where the wheel system is not provided with a rotating part, contact elements 24 are pushed away by the continuous annular part located on the outer face of the wheel system such as a part of the tire or the rim.

(26) Other embodiments of the invention are represented on FIGS. 7 to 16. In these embodiments, elements similar to the first embodiment have the same references and work in the same way. Only the differences with respect to the first embodiment are described hereafter.

(27) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a rotating part 140 configured as a tubular part.

(28) An annular border 144 of part 140 is secured to the wheel 4, for example its hub or rim. The other annular border 146 of part 140, located opposite wheel 4, constitutes a contact element between part 140 and arm 22. Border 146 pushes arm 22 during steering movements of wheel 4.

(29) Arm 22 can be devoid of contact elements, such as fingers. Alternatively, arm 22 can be provided with contact elements arranged in contact with border 146.

(30) FIG. 9 shows part 40 configured as a disc, with a central aperture.

(31) FIG. 10 shows part 40 configured as a disc, without central aperture.

(32) FIG. 11 shows part 140 configured as a tube.

(33) FIGS. 12 and 13 show arm 22 having an upper portion 23 provided with a contact element 24 configured as a roller disposed in contact with the continuous annular part of the wheel system. As shown in FIG. 12, the roller 24 is disposed in contact with the outer face of the tire of the wheel system.

(34) In another embodiment where the wheel system is provided with a rotating part 40, the roller is disposed in contact with the part 40.

(35) FIG. 14 shows another embodiment where the wheel system is provided with a rotating part 40 and where the contact element 24 is configured as a recessed roller and disposed in contact with border 146 of the tubular part 140.

(36) Alternatively, the contact element 24, configured as a recessed roller, can be disposed in contact with the border 146 of a tubular element secured to part 40 configured as a disc or with a protruding part of the wheel system, (when not provided with a rotating part) such as the border of the rim. Indeed the rim of the wheel element can have a cylindrical shape with a tubular protruding border, therefore forming a continuous annular part protruding from the outer face of the wheel system.

(37) FIGS. 15 and 16 show another embodiment of the system 10, having a support structure 120 comprising a horizontal arm 122.

(38) Arm 122 is made of an elastically deformable material and has two opposite ends 121 secured to lateral parts 8 of arch 2. Arm 122 has an intermediate portion 125 provided with contact elements 124 pushed by part 40 during the steering movement of wheel 4. Elements 124 can be configured as fingers and/or rollers arranged toward part 40.

(39) Structure 120 can comprise a second horizontal arm 126 arranged under arm 122 and having the same function as bar 26. Alternatively, when the wheel system is not provided with a rotating part, contact elements 124 can be pushed directly by a continuous circular part of the wheel system such as a part of the tire or the rim during the steering movement of wheel 4. Elements 124 can be configured as fingers and/or rollers arranged toward the wheel system. Structure 120 can comprise a second horizontal arm 126 arranged under arm 122 and having the same function as bar 26.

(40) Other non-shown embodiments can be implemented within the scope of the invention. In addition, technical features of the different embodiments can be, in whole or part, combined with each other. Thus, the wheel-well closure system 10 can be adapted to specific requirements of the application.