C8 Patent For Active Aero Dynamic Side Body Panel System?

[John]

Here is potentially a mid engine C8 active aero dynamic side body panel system. While shown on a C7, clearly GM’s development of moving side body panels (skirts) did not happen on during the C7’s run, so might this always been envisioned to become a component of the mid engine C8?



What is especially interesting is that it presents movable side body panels that could move differentially, having an inside stored position and an outer deployed one, capable of moving separately on one side of the car versus the other side of the car, ]Might this system assist in creating differential side cornering forces?

The abstract specifically states that this “would provide for a system and method for improving turning and braking of an automotive vehicle via body-acting forces.”

Patent was filed on August 8, 2017; note today’s Feb. 14th patent publication date.

Thanks to Jeremy Welborn (“jagamajajaran”) for finding this patent, just as he has found many previous C8 potential patents.

SOURCE=USPTO.

[John]

[Ssscooter66]

Always something interesting to read here , thanks Jeremy !

[Skank]

The more I read this patent publication, the more it appears to be applicable to only the front engined Corvette. Whether this is for a C8 ZORA or the next C8 FE, that is the question. The system utilizes the steering system with sensors to calibrate the position of the side front vents behind the front wheel wells being key to this function. The C7 ZR1 has stationary side coves that project far beyond the body surface to create a different air pressure on the side of the car at higher speeds. Tadge Juechter has discussed this at length on the CF Ask Tadge forum section on a Aero question I asked. It makes sense to coordinate the air pressure on the side of the car with the steering wheel position progressively adjusting the side flaps. The only side vents on the C8 ZORA appear to be the side coves at the rear of the doors. Trying to tie that into the steering system seems illogical. The front fenders of the C8 ZORA do not have side cove vents behind the front wheel wells to extract hot air out of the wheel well cavity. Unless these ZORA mule front fenders show otherwise It appears this tech is for a front engine configuration.

[Mobius]

This reminds me a bit of the Pagani active-aero system, although the Pagani system is tailored towards differential downforce.

[Skank]

Exactly my thoughts too. Horacio Pagani gave a few of us a tour of his car and discussed the four flaps( 2 front and 2 rear) that control corner downforce.

[John]

Skank, you absolutely are reading this right from what we have seen from the entry ME that if the renderings are correct, the front fender has no vents in it. However, as we all know, the front fender configuration for the Z06+ versions of the ME could be very different, including their have front fender vents, moveable body panels and more.

[Skank]

No doubt there could be vents on the higher performing versions of the ME. The issue is where would they be located? The distance from the rear of the front wheel well to the front edge of the doors is a very small dimension. I see this as a integrated blade thats wide enough to create the necessary air pressure that would affect high speed handling!

[John]

Good question. Not smart enough to know the answer.

[MidEngine]

I will bet that the Z06 C8 looks different and functions different. It might well have some active aero. $$$. I expect it to start a fair bit more than the C7 Z06.

[Skank]

Reading paragraph 0027 of the Patent Publication is very interesting in that it clearly indicates these active vents after the front wheel wells. It the goes on to describe using actuators to push out and deform the body panel by bulging the body surface outward. That indicates the large rear side vents could possibly be used for that in addition to the front vents on the ME. This patent seems to service both FE and ME configurations.

[Fasttoys]

Section two at the start of the paragraph explains a lot to me. Plus I just can't determine by reading this article that it definitely means an FE is imminent. I do bet which ever vehicle has this type of AA, it probably be the more expensive example if they even decide to move forward with this particular active areodynamics. We all know plans change heck the 12 to 48 volts system through us forum members in frenzy. This could be for the electric Corvette of the future, It's definitely interesting times at GM.

[Skank]

This side active aero system plays right into utilizing the ZF 4 wheel steering system for lateral force management.

[John]

Thanks Skank for tying that past and current info together.

[Skank]

Section two at the start of the paragraph explains a lot to me. Plus I just can't determine by reading this article that it definitely means an FE is imminent. I do bet which ever vehicle has this type of AA, it probably be the more expensive example if they even decide to move forward with this particular active areodynamics. We all know plans change heck the 12 to 48 volts system through us forum members in frenzy. This could be for the electric Corvette of the future, It's definitely interesting times at GM.

Paragraph 0029 describes the use of the system immediately behind the front wheel well to exhaust the heated air from the hot brakes. There are quite a few locations within the entire publication that describes these moveable planar surface vents aft of the front wheel well. These would work very well in FE configuration, where the ME does not have near the available space to accomodate a large blade. Not saying that a ME wouldn't work, just that it's optimum in a FE.