ME ‘Vert Air Deflector Patent

[John]

GM patent for a convertible air deflector was approved yesterday. Thank you little birdie for sharing this information with us!!!

It is noteworthy that while forum member Skank informed us of a somewhat different Ferrari patented method of deflecting the air, GM’s might not have the increased drag and the decreased fuel consequences as noted in the Ferrari patent.

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...ctable-hardtop

The GM patent is essentially an extended air foil which can extend upward from the top of the windshield header frame to both reduce occupant air fluttering and to reduce vehicle drag.. It was filed on June 29,2017, and was just granted yesterday (August 28, 2018).



What is noteworthy in looking at this one picture from the patent, is that it visually shows it on a C7 — just like the some of other Corvette patents GM filed last year. However, due to the time between patent application, next acceptance, and then production execution, just like every auto media concluded that while the “active aero patent” that GM filed last year and similarly showed it on a C7, the soonest it would first apply would be to a C8 mid engine Corvette, i.e., both the active aero and the convertible air deflector patents have roughly the same timeframes, and again at the soonest, could therefore only potentially apply to a ME.

The entire patent, page by page, is contained in the second post below. Here is one picture from the patent best summarizing the convertible air deflector patent.

[John]

Convertible air deflector patent:

[Frenzy36]

Would have been fun working in the wind tunnel seeing the colored smoke and all of the various deflectors causing turbulence. Was watching high mpg vehicle testing and it was extremely interesting how reducing front surface area reduces drag coefficient immensely. Strange how the manufacturers slowly release technology even though it has been known for many years.

[JB]

Cool information.., you guys are on the ball..

just getting rid of the large glass hatch should help reduce wind noise for the lift off targa top too..

this new air foil for the vert could make it to the targa version as well...

or it could be saved for the extra cost convertible version only?

[Mobius]

Very nice tech!

From the patent, "As may be seen, the present disclosure provides a system for reducing drag and improving handling on a convertible vehicle in open-air mode."

I expect the engineers can achieve these two goals, with reduced cabin turbulence as a consequence, but I do wonder about the wing's appearance...

Can they make it look "cool"?

[JustOneMore]

Cool information.., you guys are on the ball..

just getting rid of the large glass hatch should help reduce wind noise for the lift off targa top too..

this new air foil for the vert could make it to the targa version as well...

or it could be saved for the extra cost convertible version only?

I haven't been following this as closely as others, but did I miss info about getting rid the large glass hatch? I was hoping to have the engine exposed under a C7 style hatch.

[John]

We have definitely not given up about an opening in the rear deck similar to the intake duct over the motor as on the C8.R. Whether that opening on our customer cars allows us to see down onto the top of the motor is yet to be confirmed. But none of us have thrown in the towel, still hope yet we might have that opportunity.

[Shadow]

I did not read the patent, just the abstract and looked at a couple of pictures. But even that left me excited, for wind buffeting (both itself and its sound) is not pleasant, leading me to a question.

Since the essense of the patent is a small airfoil that extends upwards out of the windshield header when the HT’s roof is “stowed,” does it makes sense to anyone else that the adjustable air foil would be standard on the HT version.

[dcbingaman]

Clever. In essence this is acting as a slotted flap to redirect the upper moving air that the windshield creates back downward to reduce the bubble of separated turbulent air in the open air on the cabin. This is much the same geometry that a slotted trailing edge flap uses to increase wing circulation and lift coefficient for approach to landing conditions on a jet airliner. Should work.

[John]

Your aeronautic experience is invaluable, as your review and analytical comparisons so help us less knowledgeable people in these areas, to now better understand what is occurring. Thank you Binger!

[Frenzy36]

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out why they are having it self deploy with the use of a CPU. When it could simply have a two stage lever inside the cabin that raises and lowers it manually when the top is being put up or down. Seems to be too much added expense when you could manually just flip a lever.

[John]

When you want to compete with the best (not talking about track and performance times), you need to offer a level of amenities that are considered “current practice.” Going to a manual lever system would, IMO, bring out comments from the auto media, about how the Corvette is still behind the times, not up with its competition — and might even get those comments from many current Corvette owners who have for years enjoyed an electric convertible top system.

Also for a person who is physically unable in that wrist, arm, elbow or shoulder to move such a lever (military injury, one from work, arthritis and similar), a one button, electric switch/button system would be far superior.

[dpmarty]

Frenzy36 - I think you missed the first dependent claims (#2 and #8) which add "a biasing member connected to the linkage..."
In other words, spring loaded to deploy automatically when the top is retracted, and retract under load when the top is latched up.

[ltomn]

All that stuff and clever technology is wonderful but it the thing looks like the drawings, I think I will suffer the noise.

[RoketRdr]

All that stuff and clever technology is wonderful but it the thing looks like the drawings, I think I will suffer the noise.

Patent drawings are typically over pronounced so that the individuals that are reviewing them have a complete and proper understanding of how the mechanics work and the design intent. The final product wont stick up that far and in fact will probably only move about 1/2" inch. But I'm definitely with ya on that. If it DOES stick up that far I'm gonna really frown.