Patent Application
20210284247
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to skid plates for vehicles. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to a skid plate disposed at an underside of a vehicle and having a duct portion to facilitate a flow of air from the underside towards an engine and/or a transmission assembly.
Vehicles, generally, include skid plates at an underside of the vehicle to protect engine and/or transmission components from an impact of the protruding road surface or various debris, such as pebbles, when driving on a rough road such as a dirt road. Skid plates, therefore, prevent or restrict a flow of air to the engine and the transmission from an ambient, which may lead to heating of one or more components of the engine and the transmission assembly. In certain scenarios, the skid plates may include one or more openings to allow a passage of cooling air to the engine and the transmission assembly. However, the debris may pass through the one or more opening and hit the engine/or transmission assembly and damage the one or more components of the engine and/or transmission assembly, which is undesirable.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a skid plate adapted to be disposed at an underside of a vehicle is provided. The skid plate includes a plate portion having a first side adapted to be disposed facing a ground and a second side disposed opposite to the first side. The skid plate further includes a duct portion connected to the plate portion and extending away from the plate portion. The duct portion defines a channel for directing a flow of air from the first side to the second side. The skid plate also includes a screen disposed at an outlet of the channel to prevent an ingress of debris to the second side.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a skid plate disposed at an underside of the vehicle. The skid plate has a first end disposed proximate to a front end of the vehicle and a second end disposed distally to the front end. The skid plate includes a plate portion having a first side disposed facing a ground and a second side disposed opposite to the first side. The skid plate further includes a duct portion connected to the plate portion and extending away from the plate portion. The duct portion defines a channel for directing a portion of air flowing the underside of the vehicle to the second side. The skid plate also includes a screen disposed at the outlet of the channel for preventing an ingress of debris to the second side from the underside of the vehicle.
In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure a skid plate adapted to be disposed at an underside of a vehicle includes a plate portion having a first side adapted to be disposed facing a ground and a second side disposed opposite to the first side. The skid plate further includes a duct portion connected to the plate portion and extending away from the plate portion. The duct portion defines a channel for directing a flow of air from the first side to the second side. Further, a width of the channel increases along a direction of flow of air through the channel. The skid plate also includes a screen disposed at an outlet of the channel to prevent an ingress of debris to the second side. Furthermore, the duct portion and the screen are integrally formed with the plate portion.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. Embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views and examples of
The vehicle 100 may include a front end 102, a rear end 104, a first longitudinal side 106 (hereinafter referred to as a right side 106), a second longitudinal side 108 (hereinafter referred to as a left side 108), and a frame 110 having a plurality of frame members 112 for supporting various component and/or assemblies of the vehicle. The frame members 112 may be tubular and may be connected together by welding or fasteners, for example. The vehicle 100 includes an engine module 120 having an engine 122 and a transmission assembly 124 operatively connected to the engine 122 and adapted to transmit power from the engine 122 to a plurality of traction members 126, such as wheels, of the vehicle 100. In an embodiment, the engine 122 may be an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, of any suitable size and configuration for providing a motive power to the vehicle 100. In one embodiment, the engine module 120 may be supported by the frame 110 at a location behind seats 130. However, in alternative embodiments, the engine module 120 may be located in a central or front portion of the vehicle 100. Further, the vehicle 100 may include an engine cover 132 disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle 100 and covering the engine module 120 and defining an engine compartment.
Referring to
As shown, the duct portion 154 extends upwardly and outwardly from the second side 158 of the plate portion 152 and defines a channel 164 to direct a flow of air, received from the elongated opening 160, from the first side 156 (i.e. underside of the vehicle 100) to the second side 158 (i.e. inside the engine compartment). In this manner, the elongated opening 160 defines an inlet 162 of the channel 164 through which the air enters the channel 164. As shown, the duct portion 154 is disposed proximate to the rear end 104 of the vehicle 100 relative to the front end 102 of the vehicle 100. Although the duct portion 154 is contemplated to be disposed proximate to the rear end 104, it may be envisioned that a location of the duct portion 154 may depend on a location or position of the engine 122 and/or the transmission assembly 124.
In an exemplary embodiment, the duct portion 154 may include a pair of sidewalls, for example, a first sidewall 166 (shown in
Further, as shown, the sidewalls 166, 168 and the cover member 170 extend along a length of the elongated opening 160, in the downstream direction ‘A’, from the first longitudinal end 180 to the second longitudinal end 182. Accordingly, the cover member 170 along with the sidewalls 166, 168 covers the elongated opening 160 from the second side 158, and thereby facilitates in directing a flow of air entering the channel 164 through the elongated opening 160 to the second side 158. In an implementation, a width ‘W’ of the cover member 170 may increase in a direction away from the first longitudinal end 180 towards the second longitudinal end 182 (i.e. in the downstream direction ‘A’). In an embodiment, a shape of the cover member 170 may substantially similar to a shape of the elongated opening 160. Although, the cover member 170 having a varying width is contemplated, it may be appreciated that the width ‘W’ of the cover member 170 may remain constant between the first longitudinal end 180 to the second longitudinal end 182.
Further, the skid plate 140 includes a screen 190 disposed at the outlet 186 of the channel 164 and having a plurality of elongated members 192 (best shown in
The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate certain principles and various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
