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GM aero patents (includes active side skirts for drag reduction)

side skirt detail

GM's side skirt claims caught my attention:

https://ecomodder.com/forum/attachme...1&d=1539091309

Interestingly, GM's discussion of the device isn't limited to concern about reducing lift. The patent actually mentions drag reduction more:

Quote:

The disclosure relates to active side-skirts for enhancement of aerodynamics of a motor vehicle.

[...]

The main goals of the study are reducing drag and wind noise, minimizing noise emission, and preventing undesired lift forces and other causes of aerodynamic instability at high speeds.

[...]

Such a side-skirt is generally positioned to extend from the vehicle body side and streamline ambient airflow around a same-side rear road wheel of the vehicle. Such positioning of the side-skirt and streamlining of the ambient airflow consequently reduces the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle at the subject body side. Such side-skirts are frequently found on racing cars where they are used to increase overall vehicle efficiency and maximum speed. Generally, the larger the area of the side-skirts, the lower is the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle body.

Full text of the side skirt in the patent application:

Active side-skirts for a motor vehicle - GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Lots of pre-existing stuff IMO
Did they get the patent ?

Has there been another car with active side skirts?

I remember reading about another car some time with in the last year with blown side skirts and I don't think it was US made.

Not that it shows but the design for the air dam and side skirts on this panel van were to have been strapped to the mounting brackets with bungee cords like a light-plane landing gear. With 2-3" of travel ground strikes would abrade the edge of a wooden plank. The air dam was to be curved plywood.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/member-f...pe-ii-boat.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG (Post 581145)

Has there been another car with active side skirts?

As far as I know, no. There have been active air dams in production cars before, notably the Mitsubishi 3000GT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvJLb1s2NNw

You put side skirt extensions on your Prius, right? Did you ever test them?

I never did get around to testing those--they kept flaring out from speed bumps, so I removed them. Motorized skirts like the patent would be very nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vman455 (Post 581386)

I never did get around to testing those--they kept flaring out from speed bumps, so I removed them. Motorized skirts like the patent would be very nice.

How about allowing them to slide up/down in slots ?
Hanging down by gravity
Getting pushed up by a bump