Device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance
First Claim
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1. A device for reducing aerodynamic resistance of a vehicle, having a generally rectangular body with a front, a rear, a bottom, and sides disposed above rear wheels, which positions the rectangular body a predetermined position above a ground surface, the device comprising:
- a plurality of opposed load bearing members of a predetermined size, attached continuously and linearly to the bottom of the rectangular body to form opposed acute mounting angles of not more than 20 degrees with the sides of the rectangular body and rearward mounting points adjacent the sides of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance in front of the rear wheels;
a plurality of opposed flat sheets disposed vertically with respect to the ground and made of flexible material, each having a top edge attached to the opposed load bearing members so that the opposed flat sheets are oriented continuously and linearly in the same vertical planes defined by the opposed acute mounting angles, a forward edge that can attach to adjacent opposed flat sheets, a rearward edge that can attach to adjacent opposed flat sheets, and a lower edge disposed at a predetermined height above the ground surface and below the bottom of the rectangular body;
a plurality of opposed flexible load bearing struts of a predetermined length and flexibility, attached at pivot points to the bottom of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance from the opposed load bearing members and attached at pivot points to the opposed flat sheets at a predetermined height above the lower edge;
whereby the flexible load bearing struts support the opposed flat sheets to prevent wind induced movement during normal vehicle operation, can bend freely by rotating at the pivot points into an arc of consistent radius to absorb side impacts and then return to their original position, while also enabling the flexible opposed flat sheets to bend freely by rotating at the pivot points connecting the load bearing struts to absorb vertical impacts by uneven ground surfaces and then return to their original position;
so that the predetermined height above the ground surface of the lower edge of the opposing flat sheets can be minimized without resulting in damage to the device due to impacting uneven ground surfaces, so that maximum airflow is directed around the rear wheels reducing the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle when moving.
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Abstract
A device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance for vehicles having a generally rectangular body disposed above rear wheels, comprising a plurality of flexible opposing flat sheets and a plurality flexible load bearing struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body, that bend to resist damage when struck by the ground, and guide airflow around the rear wheels of the vehicle to reduce its aerodynamic resistance when moving.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device for reducing aerodynamic resistance of a vehicle, having a generally rectangular body with a front, a rear, a bottom, and sides disposed above rear wheels, which positions the rectangular body a predetermined position above a ground surface, the device comprising:
- a plurality of opposed load bearing members of a predetermined size, attached continuously and linearly to the bottom of the rectangular body to form opposed acute mounting angles of not more than 20 degrees with the sides of the rectangular body and rearward mounting points adjacent the sides of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance in front of the rear wheels;
a plurality of opposed flat sheets disposed vertically with respect to the ground and made of flexible material, each having a top edge attached to the opposed load bearing members so that the opposed flat sheets are oriented continuously and linearly in the same vertical planes defined by the opposed acute mounting angles, a forward edge that can attach to adjacent opposed flat sheets, a rearward edge that can attach to adjacent opposed flat sheets, and a lower edge disposed at a predetermined height above the ground surface and below the bottom of the rectangular body;
a plurality of opposed flexible load bearing struts of a predetermined length and flexibility, attached at pivot points to the bottom of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance from the opposed load bearing members and attached at pivot points to the opposed flat sheets at a predetermined height above the lower edge;
whereby the flexible load bearing struts support the opposed flat sheets to prevent wind induced movement during normal vehicle operation, can bend freely by rotating at the pivot points into an arc of consistent radius to absorb side impacts and then return to their original position, while also enabling the flexible opposed flat sheets to bend freely by rotating at the pivot points connecting the load bearing struts to absorb vertical impacts by uneven ground surfaces and then return to their original position;
so that the predetermined height above the ground surface of the lower edge of the opposing flat sheets can be minimized without resulting in damage to the device due to impacting uneven ground surfaces, so that maximum airflow is directed around the rear wheels reducing the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle when moving. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a plurality of opposed load bearing members of a predetermined size, attached continuously and linearly to the bottom of the rectangular body to form opposed acute mounting angles of not more than 20 degrees with the sides of the rectangular body and rearward mounting points adjacent the sides of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance in front of the rear wheels;
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12. A device for reducing aerodynamic resistance of a vehicle, having a generally rectangular body with a front, a rear, a bottom, and sides disposed above rear wheels, which positions the rectangular body a predetermined position above a ground surface, the device comprising:
- a plurality of opposed load bearing members of a predetermined size, hinged with an axis adjacent the bottom of the rectangular body, attached continuously and linearly to the bottom of the rectangular body to form opposing acute mounting angles of not more than 20 degrees with the sides of the rectangular body and rearward mounting points adjacent the sides of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance in front of the rear wheels, the opposing acute mounting angles positioning the opposed load bearing members such that they extend from the rearward mounting points to forward mounting points adjacent vehicle support struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance from the sides of the rectangular body;
a plurality of opposed flat sheets disposed vertically with respect to the ground and made of flexible plastic material, each having a top edge attached to the opposed load bearing members by removable fastening means, a rearward edge that can overlap adjacent opposed flat sheets and attach thereto by removable fastening means, a forward edge that can attach to adjacent opposed flat sheets, and a lower edge disposed at a predetermined height above the ground surface of approximately 8 inches and below the bottom of the rectangular body;
a plurality of opposed flexible load bearing struts of a predetermined length and flexibility, attached at pivot points to the bottom of the rectangular body by clamping means at a predetermined distance from the opposed load bearing members, and to the opposed flat sheets at a predetermined height above the lower edge by strut hinges with an easily disconnected fastener, so that when the easily disconnected fastener is disconnected the opposed flat sheets can freely rotate about the axis point of the hinged load bearing members and open to provide convenient access to the bottom of the rectangular body;
whereby the flexible load bearing struts support the opposed flat sheets to prevent wind induced movement during normal vehicle operation, can bend freely by rotating at the pivot points into an arc of consistent radius to absorb side impacts and then return to their original position, while also enabling the flexible opposed flat sheets to bend freely by rotating at the pivot points of the strut hinges, to absorb vertical impacts by uneven ground surfaces and then return to their original position;
so that the predetermined height above the ground surface of the lower edge of the opposing flat sheets can be minimized without resulting in damage to the device due to impacting uneven ground surfaces, so that maximum airflow is directed around the rear wheels reducing the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle when moving.
- a plurality of opposed load bearing members of a predetermined size, hinged with an axis adjacent the bottom of the rectangular body, attached continuously and linearly to the bottom of the rectangular body to form opposing acute mounting angles of not more than 20 degrees with the sides of the rectangular body and rearward mounting points adjacent the sides of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance in front of the rear wheels, the opposing acute mounting angles positioning the opposed load bearing members such that they extend from the rearward mounting points to forward mounting points adjacent vehicle support struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body at a predetermined distance from the sides of the rectangular body;
Specification