US-12623730-B2 - Vehicle aerodynamic altering system and method

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a plurality of fins engaged with a bed wall of a cargo bed. The plurality of fins are configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. The fins can be disposed along a vertical top of the bed wall. The fins can slidably engage the bed wall.

Inventors

• Sriram Pakkam
• Michael John Harmon
• Andrew Brand
• Marius Curea
• Jack Marchlewski

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230606

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A vehicle system, comprising: a plurality of fins engaged with a bed wall of a cargo bed, the plurality of fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position, the plurality of fins including at least a first fin and a second fin, when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position, the first fin is held within a second fin aperture of the second fin, the second fin defining an inboard side of the second fin aperture at a position between the cargo bed and the second fin aperture.
2. 2 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are disposed along a vertical top of the bed wall, wherein each fin is positioned entirely outboard of the cargo bed such that no portion of the fin spans over the cargo bed.
3. 3 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein a drag coefficient of a vehicle having the plurality of fins is lower when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position than when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position.
4. 4 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are nested when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position.
5. 5 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins further includes a third fin, wherein, when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position, the first and second fins are held within a third fin aperture of the third fin, the third fin defining an inboard side of the third fin aperture at a position between the cargo bed and the third fin aperture.
6. 6 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins are a plurality of driver side fins, and the bed wall is a driver side cargo bed wall, and further comprising a plurality of passenger side fins engaged with a passenger side cargo bed wall, the plurality of passenger side fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position.
7. 7 . The vehicle system of claim 6 , further comprising a diffuser interfacing directly with a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the diffuser including a horizontally extending portion, a vertically extending portion on a driver side, and a vertically extending portion on a passenger side, the plurality of driver side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the driver side when the plurality of driver side fins are in the stowed position, the plurality of passenger side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the passenger side when the plurality of passenger side fins are in the stowed position.
8. 8 . The vehicle system of claim 7 , further comprising a tonneau cover that moves with the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins.
9. 9 . A vehicle system, comprising: a plurality of fins engaged with a bed wall of a cargo bed, the plurality of fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position, the plurality of fins are a plurality of driver side fins, and the bed wall is a driver side cargo bed wall, and further comprising a plurality of passenger side fins engaged with a passenger side cargo bed wall, the plurality of passenger side fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position; a diffuser interfacing directly with a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the diffuser including a horizontally extending portion, a vertically extending portion on a driver side, and a vertically extending portion on a passenger side, the plurality of driver side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the driver side when the plurality of driver side fins are in the stowed position, the plurality of passenger side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the passenger side when the plurality of passenger side fins are in the stowed position; and a tonneau cover that moves with the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins, the tonneau cover is a rollable tonneau cover that unrolls when the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins are moved to the deployed position, and that rolls when the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins are moved to the stowed position.
10. 10 . The vehicle system of claim 7 , wherein the vertically extending portion on the driver side and the vertically extending portion on the passenger side extending extend upward from respective cargo bed walls to the horizontally extending portion.
11. 11 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein an aftmost fin within the plurality of fins pulls the other fins within the plurality of fins when the plurality of fins are transitioned from the stowed position to the deployed position.
12. 12 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins provide a wedge-shaped buttress when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position.
13. 13 . The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins extend to an aft end of the cargo bed when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position.
14. 14 . An aerodynamic adjustment method, comprising: transitioning a plurality of fins from a stowed position to a deployed position, the plurality of fins including an aftmost fin that pulls the other fins within the plurality of fins during the transitioning; and providing a buttress with the plurality of fins in the deployed position to reduce a drag coefficient of a vehicle, wherein the aftmost fin is received within an aperture of another of the fins when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position, the other of the fins defining opposing inboard and outboard sides of the aperture at a position between the cargo bed and the aperture.
15. 15 . The aerodynamic adjustment method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins are slidably engaged with a cargo bed wall of the vehicle, wherein each fin is positioned entirely outboard of the cargo bed such that no portion of the fin spans over the cargo bed.
16. 16 . The aerodynamic adjustment method of claim 14 , wherein the transitioning comprises an automatic transitioning made in response to an operational condition of the vehicle.
17. 17 . The aerodynamic adjustment method of claim 16 , wherein the operational condition is a speed of the vehicle.
18. 18 . The aerodynamic adjustment method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins are stowed within a diffuser when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position.
19. 19 . The aerodynamic adjustment method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fins are a plurality of driver side fins slidably engaged with a driver side cargo bed wall, and further comprising a plurality of passenger side fins slidably engaged with a passenger side bed wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/392,544, which was filed on 27 Jul. 2022 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to systems that alter aerodynamics of a vehicle particularly aerodynamics associated with a cargo bed of the vehicle. BACKGROUND Some vehicles, such as pickup trucks, include a cargo bed. Users utilize cargo beds to carry various types of cargo. The cargo bed can be located aft of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The cargo bed can alter flow as the vehicle is driven. SUMMARY In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, including: a plurality of fins engaged with a bed wall of a cargo bed, the plurality of fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins are disposed along a vertical top of the bed wall. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein a drag coefficient of a vehicle having the plurality of fins is lower when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position than when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins are nested when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins includes at least a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin, wherein, when the plurality of fins are in the stowed position, the first fin is held within an aperture of the second fin, and the first and second fins are held within an aperture of the third fin. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins are a plurality of driver side fins, and the bed wall is a driver side cargo bed wall, and further including a plurality of passenger side fins engaged with a passenger side cargo bed wall, the plurality of passenger side fins configured to move telescopically back-and-forth between a stowed position and a deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, further including a diffuser interfacing directly with a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the diffuser including a horizontally extending portion, a vertically extending portion on a driver side, and a vertically extending portion on a passenger side, the plurality of driver side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the driver side when the plurality of driver side fins are in the stowed position, the plurality of passenger side fins at least partially received within the vertically extending portion on the passenger side when the plurality of passenger side fins are in the stowed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, further including a tonneau cover that moves with the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the tonneau cover is a rollable tonneau cover that unrolls when the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins are moved to the deployed position, and that rolls when the plurality of passenger side fins and the plurality of driver side fins are moved to the stowed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the vertically extending portion on the driver side and the vertically extending portion on the passenger side extending upward from respective cargo bed walls to the horizontally extending portion. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein an aftmost fin within the plurality of fins pulls the other fins within the plurality of fins when the plurality of fins are transitioned from the stowed position to the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins provide a wedge-shaped buttress when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle system, wherein the plurality of fins extend to an aft end of the cargo bed when the plurality of fins are in the deployed position. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an aerodynamic adjustment method, including: transitioning a plurality of fins from a stowed position to a deployed position; and providing a buttress with the plurality of fins in the deployed position to reduce a drag coefficient of a vehicle. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an aerodynamic adjustment method, wherein the plura