Aerodynamic wing device and method of making same
First Claim
1. An aerodynamic wing device adapted to be mounted horizontally on an automotive type vehicle, said aerodynamic wing device including a substantially hollow elongated body having generally horizontal upper and lower peripheral wall portions interconnected to enclose said body, said body being formed by bending into a predetermined horizontally swept configuration, said peripheral wall portions having a wall thickness that decreases from a generally compressed inner side portion of said body to a generally tensioned outer portion of said body, said wall thickness tapering from approximately 0.1 inch to approximately 0.06 inch, said wall thickness being greater at said generally compressed inner side portion of said horizontally swept body in order to substantially prevent buckling of said horizontal peripheral wall portions at said compressed inner side portion during bending to form said horizontally swept configuration, said swept configuration being in the range of a zero sweep to approximately a No. 15 sweep without buckling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light-weight aerodynamic wing device is adapted for mounting on a vehicle in a generally horizontal orientation and in a generally vertically spaced-apart relationship with the vehicle. The wing device is preferably extruded from aluminum and includes generally horizontal upper and lower peripheral walls interconnected to enclose a hollow elongated body. The body can be horizontally and/or vertically swept after extrusion into desired swept configurations for particular vehicular installations. The wall thickness of one or both of the peripheral wall portions is greatest at the compressed portion of the elongated body in order to substantially prevent buckling during horizontal sweep forming. One or more vertical reinforcing members can also be included in the hollow elongated body and extend between the upper and lower peripheral walls. The wing device also preferably includes air-retaining end caps at opposite ends of the elongated body, with the end caps being adapted to be snapped into the open opposite ends of the hollow extruded body. Mounting means, preferably including one or more universally-adapted stanchion members, are also provided and are adapted to be laterally adjustable along the length of the elongated extruded body in order to accommodate a wide variety of vehicular installations.
52 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. An aerodynamic wing device adapted to be mounted horizontally on an automotive type vehicle, said aerodynamic wing device including a substantially hollow elongated body having generally horizontal upper and lower peripheral wall portions interconnected to enclose said body, said body being formed by bending into a predetermined horizontally swept configuration, said peripheral wall portions having a wall thickness that decreases from a generally compressed inner side portion of said body to a generally tensioned outer portion of said body, said wall thickness tapering from approximately 0.1 inch to approximately 0.06 inch, said wall thickness being greater at said generally compressed inner side portion of said horizontally swept body in order to substantially prevent buckling of said horizontal peripheral wall portions at said compressed inner side portion during bending to form said horizontally swept configuration, said swept configuration being in the range of a zero sweep to approximately a No. 15 sweep without buckling.
- 4. An aerodynamic wing device adapted to be mounted horizontally on a land vehicle or the like, said aerodynamic wing device including a substantially hollow elongated body having generally horizontal upper and lower peripheral wall portions interconnected to enclose said body, said body being formed by bending into a predetermined horizontally swept configuration, said peripheral wall portions having wall thicknesses that decrease from a generally compressed inner side portion of said body to a generally tensioned outer side portion of said body, said wall thicknesses being greater at said generally compressed inner side portion of said horizontally swept body in order to substantially prevent buckling of said horizontal peripheral wall portions at said compressed inner side portion during bending to form said horizontal swept configuration.
- 14. A generally horizontal aerodynamic wing device for a land vehicle or the like, said aerodynamic wing device including an extruded generally hollow elongated body having generally horizontal upper and lower wall portions interconnected to enclose the generally hollow extruded body, said extruded body being horizontally formed into a predetermined horizontally swept configuration, the vertical cross-sectional thickness of at least one of said horizontal wall portions being tapered from a relatively larger thickness at a generally compressed inner side portion of said horizontally swept extruded body to a relatively smaller thickness at a generally tensioned outer side portion, at least one generally vertical reinforcing member being integrally extruded between said upper and lower wall portions generally at said compressed inner side portion, and mounting means for mounting said horizontal aerodynamic wing device on said vehicle in a generally horizontal orientation and in a generally vertically spaced relationship therefrom.
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20. A method of making an aerodynamic wing device for a land vehicle or the like, said method comprising the steps of:
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extruding an elongated generally hollow body member having a generally inverted airfoil wing shape, said body member including generally vertically spaced apart horizontal walls, with at least one of said walls being extruded with a tapered vertical wall thickness that decreases in a horizontal direction from a first side portion of said elongated body to a second opposite side portion thereof; horizontally sweep-forming said elongated body into a predetermined horizontally swept configuration, said body being horizontally swept in a direction so that said first side portion of said body having said horizontal wall of a relatively greater thickness is generally compressed during said horizontal sweep-forming with said second opposite side portion of said body being generally tensioned during said horizontal sweep-forming said relatively greater thickness tending to resist buckling during said horizontal sweep-forming and said relatively lesser thickness facilitating tensioning during said horizontal sweep-forming. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification