Truck aerodynamic A-pillar design

• US 6,065,800 A
• Filed: 04/15/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck and Engine Corporation
• Original Assignee: Navistar International Transportation Corp. (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Olson, M. Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/293,511
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 296/84.1, 296/96.21, 296/201, 296/190.01, 296/190.08, 296/190.1
• US Class Current: 296/190.08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

An aerodynamic windshield to door frame interface on a mobile ground vehicle, such as a medium or heavy duty highway truck. More specifically, the interface including the windshield and front door frame, sometimes referred to as the "A" pillar, contains a third order mathematical ellipse when viewed from the top of the vehicle. The inclusion of the third order ellipse in the "A" pillar and in some cases the outer edge of the windshield moves the rear point of tangency further back along the vehicle cab.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic mobile ground vehicle with a drivers cab having a roof and a cowl at a lower forward section, and the cab engaged to a chassis which may be driven on the ground, comprising:

(a) an open windshield frame in an upper forward portion of the cab;

(b) said windshield frame defined by a front edge of the roof of the cab, an upper portion of the cowl on a lower edge and front door frame `A` pillars on sides of said windshield frame;

(c) a windshield with curved corners engaged into said windshield frame; and

(d) said front door frame `A` pillars having a portion of a third order ellipse on an exterior surface in a plane parallel to the ground for a portion of said front door frame `A` pillar vertical length.

2. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said third order ellipse extends into said curved corners of said windshield.

3. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said third order ellipse is blended with a portion of a second order curve on each said curved corner of the windshield.

4. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 2, wherein said third order ellipse is defined by an equation ##EQU2## and wherein (a) X and Y are variables referenced to a zero-zero reference points, with a zero-zero reference point for each curved corner of said windshield to front door frame `A` pillar interface;

(b) said X direction is along an axis running from front to rear of the vehicle;

(c) said Y direction is along an axis running across the vehicle and perpendicular to said X direction;

(d) said zero-zero reference point is aft of said windshield relative to a lengthwise axis of the vehicle and inboard of said front door frame `A` pillars relative to crosswise axis of said vehicle;

(b) said X and Y variables are both zero at said zero-zero reference points; and

(c) `a`, `b`, and `c` are constants.

5. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said constants `a` and `b` are related by the proportion that `b` is one half constant `a` and `c` is the scaling or size setting constant.

6. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 5, wherein:

(a) a center area of said windshield contains a number 20 sweep.

7. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

(a) said constants `a` and `b` are related by the proportion that `b` is two thirds constant `a` and `c` is the scaling or size setting constant.

8. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 7, wherein:

(a) a center area of said windshield contains a number 20 sweep.

9. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 6, wherein:

(a) said third order ellipse is blended with a portion of a second order curve on each said curved corner of the windshield.

10. The aerodynamic vehicle of claim 7, wherein:

(a) a center area of said windshield contains a number 28 sweep.

11. An aerodynamic mobile ground vehicle with a cab engaged to a chassis which may be driven on the ground, the cab having a windshield interfaced with a front door frame `A` pillar on each side of the windshield, comprising:

(a) a third order ellipse on an exterior surface of the windshield to front door frame `A` pillar interface in a plane parallel to the ground.

12. An aerodynamic mobile ground vehicle with a cab engaged to a chassis that may be driven on the ground, said cab having a windshield interfaced with a front door frame `A` pillar on each side of said windshield, and said cab having an elliptical, continuously smooth, decreasing curve in a plane parallel with the ground commencing in said windshield and continuing with a gradually increasing radius curvature as said curve progresses around said `A` pillar with a termination of said curve at a tangency point on a side glass of a side door of the vehicle.

13. An aerodynamic mobile ground vehicle with a cab engaged to a chassis, said cab having a windshield interfaced with a front door frame `A` pillar on each side of said windshield, said `A` pillars each having an elliptical, continuously smooth, decreasing curve in a plane parallel with the ground and continuing with a gradually increasing radius curvature as said curve progresses around said `A` pillar with a termination of said curve at a tangency point on a side glass of a side door of the vehicle.