A downforce system 102 for a vehicle 100 includes a restrictor 104 for restricting a flow of air into a region defined by restrictor 104 and a ground 106 on which the vehicle is disposed and a rim 108 on restrictor 106 forming at least a partial seal with the ground. A dedicated pressure source is provided outside restrictor 104 and connected to the restrictor via an air flow path to generate a pressure differential across the restrictor. System 102 also has a preload mechanism for applying a preload force to rim 108 to press the rim towards ground 106, with an actuator (418, Figure 4a) for varying the preload force applied by the preload mechanism. A dust and debris removal system may also be provided. An extendable coupling may be provided between rim 108 and a mounting element, which may be telescopic or may be a flexible coupling. Rim 108 may have a sealing element, which may contain inserts and/or spacers, for contacting ground 106.
Downforce system for a vehicle
2022-02-23
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B62D MOTOR VEHICLES , Motorfahrzeuge |