Method and arrangement for controlling air resistance

• US 20060247839A1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Logdberg, Ola
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

A method for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, whereby the distance of the leading vehicle from the following vehicle is detected and the magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle is regulated according to the detected distance in order to optimize the overall air resistance to the leading and the following vehicle. Also a device and a computer program and a computer program product for implementing the method.

Claims

1. A method for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, the method comprising detecting the distance of the leading vehicle from the at least one following vehicle is and regulating the magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance between the leading and the following vehicles in order to optimize the overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the regulating of the magnitude of the wake behind the leading vehicle comprises reducing or switching off the regulating of the wake when the distance between the leading and the at least one following vehicle decreases to below a predetermined value.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the regulating further comprises switching on or increasing the magnitude of the wake as the distance between the leading and the at least one following vehicle increases above a respective predetermined value.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the regulating further comprises switching off or decreasing the magnitude as the distance between the leading and the at least one following vehicle deceases below in respective predetermined value.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein the air flow device is operable to direct air inwardly from a surface of the vehicle past which air flows during driving.

3. A device for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, comprising apparatus at the leading vehicle operable for regulating the magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle comprising a distance sensor at the leading vehicle operable for measuring the distance between the leading and the at least one following vehicle, and a control device operable for controlling the apparatus for regulating the magnitude of the wake according to the distance detected by the sensor, in order to optimize the overall air resistance to the leading and the following vehicle.

8. A device according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus operable comprises an air flow device operative for affecting air flow past the vehicle for regulating the wake.

4. A computer program comprising computer-readable code which, when run on a computer, causes a control device to regulate during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle by detecting the distance of the leading vehicle from the at least one following vehicle and regulating the magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance between the leading and the following vehicles in order to optimize the overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle.

5. A computer program product comprising a support and a computer program according to claim 4, and the computer program is recorded on the support.