Vehicle Air Dam System
First Claim
1. For use with a land vehicle, an air dam comprising a plurality of flexible deflector cells disposed adjacent to one another on an air dam frame that is mounted to an underside of the land vehicle, wherein the cells project from the underside of the vehicle into a space between the underside of the vehicle and the ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air dam is made of flexible cells installed adjacent to one another so that the air dam 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.
75 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. For use with a land vehicle, an air dam comprising a plurality of flexible deflector cells disposed adjacent to one another on an air dam frame that is mounted to an underside of the land vehicle, wherein the cells project from the underside of the vehicle into a space between the underside of the vehicle and the ground.
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5. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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19. The air dam of claim 8 wherein the plurality of flexible deflector cells are connected to a respective nipple of said nipples on the air dam frame with a circular clamp.
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19-1. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
- 22. 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 bank of adjacent flexible air dam cells between the vehicle frame and the ground.
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26. A system for reducing aerodynamic drag of a motorized or non-motorized wheeled vehicle, the system comprising:
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a mounting fixture being supported to an underside of a vehicle frame, the mounting fixture having a plurality of nipples projecting from the mounting fixture toward the ground; and an arcuately-shaped resiliently deflectable air barrier assembly comprising a plurality of independently flexible cells that extend from the underside of the wheeled vehicle to cover a substantial portion of the ground clearance between the underside of the wheeled vehicle and the ground, each of the plurality of flexible cells being independently secured to a respective nipple of said plurality of nipples projecting from the mounting fixture. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification