FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to splash guard to prevent engine from water splashing. More particularly, the present invention relates to an aerodynamic splash guard for the vehicle to prevent engine from water splash and 5 reduce the aerodynamic drag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Splash guard is incorporated to protect engine parts from water splashing. Electrical and electronics parts may get damage due to splashing and also water splashing can cause rusting of engine components in long run. This results in 10 mechanical as well as the technical failure of the engine and is quite dangerous.
[003] Present splash guards and mounting assemblies are less than satisfactory for a number of reasons.
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[004] Typically, either undercover is used to cover the entire engine room to prevent it from water splashing or splash guards are used.
[005] The primary drawback of undercover is that since it covers the complete engine, which becomes hot due to vehicle running, the undercover doesn’t allow 20 the hot air to escape the engine room easily. This increases the overall temperature of the engine furthermore and results in decreased performance of the engine and in some cases engine failure.
[006] JP5519342B2 discloses an undercover for vehicle. Said disclosed 25 undercover, covers the complete engine and related parts and saves them from water splashes. However the engine cover has major deficiencies.
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[007] Since technically undercover is just a sheet of steel, it increases the overall weight and cost of the vehicle.
[008] The increase in weight decreases the performance of the vehicle.
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[009] JP2002284042 discloses splash guard for shielding the engine room. Said splash guard shields the engine room parts by bending along the front side of the suspension member and extending rearward from the left and right ends ofthe lower side of the shielding portion.
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[0010] It is to be noted that air flow in the underbody of a vehicle affects the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle. In existing design, the splash guard is provided to protect engine parts from water splashing. Said splash guard has no effect on the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle.
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[0011] Fig.1 shows the splash guard structure attached to the under body of the vehicle.
[0012] With the above in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a splash guard which improves the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the 20 vehicle.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a splash guard which improves the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the vehicle.
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[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a splash guard which prevents the vehicle engine from water splashing.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a splash guard which does not increase the weight and cost of the vehicle. 30
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The invention discloses a splash guard design used for reducing aerodynamic drag coefficient of an automobile. Generally, splash guard is incorporated to protect engine parts from water splashing. Electrical and electronics parts may get damage due to splashing and also water splashing can 5 cause rusting of engine components in long run. The splash guard according to the present invention is designed to improve the air flow behaviour in the vicinity of the underbody near engine compartment. The splash guard is designed to provide vertical and horizontal surfaces to protect engine parts from water splashing from under side and also from water splashing caused by tyres. The splash guard is also 10 provided with an air deflector that deflects the air away from the suspension parts and thereby reducing the aerodynamic drag coefficient of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0017] The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages, of the present invention can be fully appreciated by reference to the 15 following detailed description. These features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0018] Fig. 1:Existing Splash guard
[0019] Fig. 2: Top view of the existing Splash Guard 20
[0020] Fig. 3: Splash guard according to the present invention
[0021] Fig.4(a): Front right diagonal view of the splash guard according to the present invention
[0022] Fig. 4(b): Front left diagonal view of the splash guard according to the present invention 25
[0023] Fig. 4(c): Front view of the splash guard according to the present invention
[0024] Fig. 5: Top view of the splash guard according to the present invention
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DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment as shown in the drawing.
[0026] Referring to Fig. 3, this invention provides a new splash guard structure 5 (10) to reduce the aerodynamic drag coefficient of a vehicle by influencing the air flow in the underbody of the vehicle. Said splash guard structure (10) is designed in such a way that its vertical resting surface (15) and horizontal resting surface (20) protect engine parts, electrical parts from the water splashing.
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[0027] Further, said splash guard structure (10) is provided with an air deflector (25) suitably designed to deflect air away from the suspension parts thus reducing the overall aerodynamic drag on the vehicle.
[0028] According to the present invention, said splash guard structure (10) 15 comprises of two resting surfaces, Vertical Resting Surface (VS) (15) and Horizontal Resting Surface (HS) (20). Said VS (15) and HS (20) are perpendicular to each other in such a way that VS (15) is parallel to the wheel of the vehicle and HS (20) is parallel to the ground and engine or the vehicle.
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[0029] Said VS (15) and HS (20) prevent various engine parts and electric components from water splashing.
[0030] Referring to Fig. 5, said HS (20) is further extended in traverse direction and has a curved surface towards the end. Said curved surface is at an angle of 22-25 25 deg. Said curved surface provides a better protection against water splashing and also minimizes the material addition when compared with undercovers.
[0031] For decreasing the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle, an air deflector (25) is integrated to said HS (20) towards the direction of the ground. 30
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[0032] Ref. to Fig. 4 (c) Said air deflector (25) is designed in such a way that it extends vertically downwards (height, H) and is also extended in transverse direction (length, L). The parameters H and L can be optimized based on the vehicle.
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[0033] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the specification, the reference 10 numerals are merely for convenience, and are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described.

WE CLAIM:
1. An aerodynamic splash guard structure (10) to prevent engine from water splashing and reducing aerodynamic drag, the splash guard structure (10) comprising:
a vertical resting surface (15) perpendicularly coupled with a 5 horizontal resting surface (20);
said horizontal resting surface (20) is extended in traverse direction following a curved path; and
an air deflector (25) is integrated to said horizontal resting surface (20) towards the direction of the ground to prevent engine from water 10 splashing and reducing aerodynamic drag of the vehicle.
2. The aerodynamic splash guard structure (10) as claimed in claim1, wherein said vertical resting surface (15) is parallel to wheel of a vehicle and said horizontal resting surface (20) is parallel to the ground and engine 15 of the vehicle.
3. The aerodynamic splash guard structure (10) as claim in claim 1, wherein said splash guard structure (10) is attached to the underbody of said vehicle. 20
4. The aerodynamic splash guard structure (10) as claim in claim 1, wherein said aerodynamic splash guard structure is manufactured using a single mould.
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5. The aerodynamic splash guard structure (10) as claim in claim 1, wherein the angle of the curved path of said horizontal resting surface (20) is 22-25 deg.