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DE-102024126498-B4 - WHEEL ARCH CAVITY COVER ARRANGEMENT

DE102024126498B4DE 102024126498 B4DE102024126498 B4DE 102024126498B4DE-102024126498-B4

Abstract

Wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) for a vehicle (10) defining a forward and a reverse direction along a longitudinal axis, a right and a left direction along a transverse axis, and an upward and a downward direction along a vertical axis, wherein the vehicle (10) comprises a wheel (16R, 16L) within a wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), wherein the wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) comprises a front cover plate (111L, 111R) configured to cover at least a front portion of a lower opening (26R, 26L) of the wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), the front cover plate (111L, 111R) being configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a front portion of the wheel (16R, 16L) is rotated to the front cover plate (111L, 111R); wherein the wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) further comprises a fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) which is positioned in the rearward direction of the front cover plate (111L, 111R) and is configured to be fixed with respect to the vehicle (10); and a rear cover plate (113L, 113R) positioned in the reverse direction of the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) and configured to cover at least a rear section of the lower opening (26R, 26L) of the wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), wherein the rear cover plate (113L, 113R) is configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a rear section of the wheel (16R, 16L) is rotated towards the rear cover plate (113L, 113R); wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) is coupled to a tie rod (77) of a steering assembly (70) coupled to the wheel (16R, 16L), to rotate the wheel (16R, 16L), wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) is movable with the tie rod (77); and wherein the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) is connected to a control arm (71) of the steering assembly (70); characterized by the fact that the front cover plate (111L, 111R) and the rear cover plate (113L, 113R) are configured to rotate around the same pivot joint (216L, 216R) which is located on the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R).

Inventors

  • Vishal Raul
  • Chih-Hung Yen

Assignees

  • GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240913
Priority Date
20240717

Claims (5)

  1. Wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) for a vehicle (10) defining a forward and a reverse direction along a longitudinal axis, a right and a left direction along a transverse axis, and an upward and a downward direction along a vertical axis, wherein the vehicle (10) comprises a wheel (16R, 16L) within a wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), wherein the wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) comprises a front cover plate (111L, 111R) configured to cover at least a front portion of a lower opening (26R, 26L) of the wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), the front cover plate (111L, 111R) being configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a front portion of the wheel (16R, 16L) is rotated to the front cover plate (111L, 111R); wherein the wheel arch cavity cover assembly (100R, 100L) further comprises a fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) which is positioned in the reverse direction of the front cover plate (111L, 111R) and is configured to be fixed with respect to the vehicle (10); and a rear cover plate (113L, 113R) positioned in the reverse direction of the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) and configured to cover at least a rear section of the lower opening (26R, 26L) of the wheel arch cavity (25R, 25L), wherein the rear cover plate (113L, 113R) is configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a rear section of the wheel (16R, 16L) is rotated towards the rear cover plate (113L, 113R); wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) is coupled to a tie rod (77) of a steering assembly (70) coupled to the wheel (16R, 16L) in order to rotate the wheel (16R, 16L), wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) is movable with the tie rod (77); and wherein the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R) is connected to a control arm (71) of the steering assembly (70); characterized in that the front cover plate (111L, 111R) and the rear cover plate (113L, 113R) are configured to rotate about one and the same pivot joint (216L, 216R) which is arranged on the fixed cover plate (115L, 115R).
  2. Wheel arch cavity cover arrangement (100R, 100L) according to Claim 1 , wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) moves in one direction along the transverse axis.
  3. Wheel arch cavity cover arrangement (100R, 100L) according to Claim 1 , wherein the front cover plate (211L, 211R) is structured as a plurality of apertures that rotate around the pivot joint (216L, 216R).
  4. Wheel arch cavity cover arrangement (100R, 100L) according to Claim 1 , wherein the front cover plate (111L, 111R) is formed as a partial disk which rotates around the pivot joint (216L, 216R).
  5. Wheel arch cavity cover arrangement (100R, 100L) according to Claim 2 , wherein the rear cover plate (213L, 213R) includes one or more vent openings (214L) extending through it along the vertical axis.

Description

INTRODUCTION The present invention relates to vehicles and in particular to a wheel arch cavity cover arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 for a vehicle, of the type essentially consisting of the EP 3 049 313 B1 is known. Further details of the state of the art can also be found in the printed materials. DE 10 2016 212 267 A1 and DE 10 2013 225 083 A1 . SUMMARY According to the invention, a wheel arch cavity cover arrangement for a vehicle is presented, which is characterized by the features of claim 1. The front cover plate can move in one direction along the transverse axis. The rear cover plate may include one or more vents extending through it along the vertical axis. Furthermore, a vehicle is described. The vehicle defines a forward and a reverse direction along a longitudinal axis, a right and a left direction along a transverse axis, and an upward and a downward direction along a vertical axis. It comprises a wheel arch cavity, a wheel positioned within the wheel arch cavity, and a wheel arch cavity cover assembly that includes a front cover plate covering at least a front portion of a lower opening of the wheel arch cavity. The front cover plate is configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a front portion of the wheel is rotated toward the front cover plate. The vehicle may also include a fixed cover plate positioned in the reverse direction of the front cover plate and fixed in relation to the vehicle. The wheel arch cavity cover arrangement may further comprise a rear cover plate positioned in the reverse direction of the front cover plate and covering at least a rear section of the lower opening of the wheel arch cavity, and the rear cover plate is configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a rear section of the wheel is rotated towards the rear cover plate. The vehicle may further include a steering assembly comprising a tie rod coupled to the wheel to rotate the wheel. The front cover plate is coupled to the tie rod and is therefore movable. The vehicle may further include a steering assembly comprising a steering knuckle coupled to the wheel. The front cover plate is coupled to the steering knuckle and is therefore movable. The vehicle may also include an actuation system configured to be actuated to move the front cover plate. The actuating system may include an actuator comprising a shaft movable along the transverse axis, a linkage coupled to the shaft and rotatable about a fixed joint, and an end linkage coupled to the linkage and the front cover plate. As the shaft moves along the transverse axis, the linkage rotates about the fixed joint and moves the end linkage, and the end linkage moves the front cover plate at least partially along the transverse axis. The vehicle may further include a steering assembly comprising a transverse control arm. The wheel arch cavity cover assembly further comprises a fixed cover plate positioned in the rearward direction of the front cover plate and fixed relative to the vehicle, and a rear cover plate positioned in the rearward direction of the fixed cover plate and configured to cover at least a rear portion of the lower opening of the wheel arch cavity. The fixed cover plate overlaps the transverse control arm at least partially along the vertical axis. The rear cover plate is configured to move at least partially along the transverse axis when a rear portion of the wheel is rotated toward the rear cover plate. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a vehicle defines a forward direction and a reverse direction along a longitudinal axis, a right direction and a left direction along a transverse axis, and an upward direction and a downward direction along a vertical axis, and comprises a wheel arch cavity, a right wheel positioned within the right wheel arch cavity, a left wheel arch cavity, and a left wheel positioned within the left wheel arch cavity. The right wheel arch cavity cover assembly comprises a right wheel arch cavity cover assembly and a left wheel arch cavity cover assembly. The right wheel arch cavity cover assembly includes a right front cover plate covering at least a front portion of a right lower opening of the right wheel arch cavity, the right front cover plate being configured to move at least partially to the left when a front portion of the right wheel is rotated to the left; a right fixed cover plate positioned in the rearward direction of the right front cover plate and fixed with respect to the vehicle; and a right rear cover plate positioned in the rearward direction of the right fixed cover plate, covering at least a rear portion of the right lower opening of the right wheel arch cavity, the right rear cover plate being configured to move at least partially to the left when a rear portion of the right wheel is rotated to the left. The left wheel arch cavity cover assembly comprises a left front cover plate covering at least a front portion of a left lower opening