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Apparatus reducing critical upper wheel vehicle drag

  • US 9,796,430 B2
  • Filed: 09/08/2014
  • Issued: 10/24/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A wind-diverting apparatus for reducing propulsory counterforces required to countervail drag-induced resistive forces upon a terrestrial vehicle employing a wheel assembly exposed to a headwind impinging substantially unimpeded thereon wholly above a level of an axis of an axle of the wheel assembly directly upon a major primary vehicle-drag-inducing portion of forward-facing upper circumferential surfaces of a tire of the wheel assembly while the vehicle is in forward motion under a range of external headwind conditions including null wind conditions, comprising:

  • a wind-diverting structure attached directly to a nonrotatable structural member wherein the nonrotatable structural member is a frame or a body of the vehicle;

    the wind-diverting structure disposed to divert the headwind from impinging directly upon a critical vehicle-drag-inducing wheel surface comprising a substantial section of a primary drag-inducing portion of a major upper drag-inducing surface positioned wholly above the level of the axis of the axle and centered around the level of a critical elevation that is itself centered around the primary vehicle-drag- inducing wheel surface of the wheel assembly with said primary drag-inducing portion also comprising a section of the wheel assembly that is both positioned forward of the axle and centered around the critical elevation;

    the critical elevation being positioned not lower than an elevation above the ground equal to 75 percent of the outer diameter of the wheel assembly;

    the critical wheel surface spanning across the level of the critical elevation;

    the critical wheel surface extending downwards nowhere lower than a minimum level positioned not lower in elevation above the ground equal to 60 percent of the outer diameter of the wheel assembly;

    the wind diverting structure disposed to divert the headwind from impinging upon an otherwise exposed portion of the critical wheel surface to flow laterally around a lateral upper side of the wheel assembly or above the wheel assembly wherein the headwind is nowhere diverted downwards by impinging upon wind-deflecting surfaces of the wind-diverting structure that are located above the minimum level;

    wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle;

    the wheel assembly disposed on a forwardmost wheel of the vehicle wherein the forwardmost wheel is any forward or rearward wheel not immediately preceded by another wheel disposed both in-line therewith and in sufficient proximity thereto wherein said immediately preceding wheel would thereby deflect the headwind from otherwise impinging substantially unimpeded directly upon said a forward-facing upper circumferential portion of said major primary vehicle-drag-inducing portion of the wheel assembly;

    wherein the wind-diverting structure is a vehicle exhaust pipe disposed upstream immediately ahead of the wheel assembly; and

    the vehicle exhaust pipe being disposed to divert an oncoming headwind from otherwise impinging substantially unimpeded directly on the critical wheel surface of an exposed adjacent forward-facing upper circumferential tire surface of the wheel assembly to flow largely above or laterally around the wheel assembly and to flow largely past and apart from the critical wheel surface by directing exhaust gases ejected therefrom to divert a major portion of the headwind wherein the otherwise exposed said circumferential surface is effectively shielded from headwinds otherwise impinging directly thereon.

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