Vehicle air dam system
First Claim
1. For use with a land vehicle, an air dam comprising a plurality of pneumatically-actuated deflector cells disposed adjacent to one another on an air dam frame that is to be mounted to an underside of the land vehicle, the air dam frame being configured to extend along the underside of the land vehicle, wherein with the air dam frame mounted to the land vehicle the deflector cells are each coupled to the air dam frame in a lateral spatial arrangement along the underside of the land vehicle and, when deployed, project from an upward position in a generally downward direction from the underside of the vehicle into a space between the underside of the vehicle and the ground.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air dam is made of flexible cells installed adjacent to one another so that the air darn is capable of installation in many deflecting configurations on a vehicle and can also deflect under impact. The air dam system may be capable of being deployed at higher speeds while being stowed under the frame of the truck when the truck is operating on rough road surfaces to reduce the potential for air dam damage. The air dam system can be actuated pneumatically and when deployed tends to reduce aerodynamic drag by altering the path of airflow under and/or immediately around a vehicle. Other methods of actuation such as hydraulic or mechanical components may also be used with the air dam system. Alternatively, the air dam cells may be stationary and include an inflated bladder and/or flexible sleeve mounted adjacent to one another on an air dam frame.
57 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. For use with a land vehicle, an air dam comprising a plurality of pneumatically-actuated deflector cells disposed adjacent to one another on an air dam frame that is to be mounted to an underside of the land vehicle, the air dam frame being configured to extend along the underside of the land vehicle, wherein with the air dam frame mounted to the land vehicle the deflector cells are each coupled to the air dam frame in a lateral spatial arrangement along the underside of the land vehicle and, when deployed, project from an upward position in a generally downward direction from the underside of the vehicle into a space between the underside of the vehicle and the ground.
-
18. A method for deflecting air encountered by a land vehicle having a frame suspended above the ground by a plurality of wheels, the method comprising:
-
suspending a plurality of adjacent inflatable air dam cells between the vehicle frame and the ground in a lateral spatial arrangement spanning along an underside of the vehicle frame, wherein the lateral spatial arrangement comprises the plurality of inflatable air dam cells arranged side by side relative to each other to collectively span a portion of a width of the land vehicle; maintaining the inflatable air dam cells in a stowed position adjacent to the underside of the vehicle frame when the inflatable air dam cells are not deployed; and inflating the inflatable air dam cells to extend the inflatable air dam cells in a downward direction generally away from the underside of the vehicle towards the ground when the inflatable air dam cells are deployed to route wind around a wheel assembly provided to the land vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A system for reducing aerodynamic drag of a wheeled vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a mounting fixture adapted to be supported to an underside of a vehicle frame, the mounting fixture comprising a plurality of interior passages for conveying a fluid from a fluid source to be delivered to a plurality of nipples projecting from the mounting fixture, each of the nipples defining a passage through which the fluid is to exit the nipple; and an arcuately-shaped resiliently deflectable air barrier assembly comprising a plurality of independently flexible cells that are to be coupled to the underside of the vehicle by the mounting fixture to extend from the underside of the wheeled vehicle and extend along a substantial portion of the ground clearance between the underside of the wheeled vehicle and the ground when deployed, each of the plurality of flexible cells being secured to at least one of said plurality of nipples projecting from the mounting fixture and comprising a bladder to be placed in fluid communication with at least one of the nipples when the flexible cells are secured to the nipples for receiving the fluid discharged through the passage of the at least one nipple, wherein the flexible cells are adjustable to extend into the ground clearance between the underside of the wheeled vehicle and the ground when the fluid is received within the bladder. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
Specification