Low Drag Low Noise Devices Using Jet Flow Control

• US 20160031496A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialectic Flow Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dialectic Flow Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Zha, Gecheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/003 comprising surface features, e.g. indentations or protrusions F15D1/0055, F15D1/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/004 oriented essentially parallel to the direction of flow
• CPC Class Codes: F15D 1/0055 comprising apertures in the surface, through which fluid is withdrawn from or injected into the flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aerodynamics

Abstract

Low drag low noise devices are described herein that use passive jet flow control to reduce the drag and noise created by motor vehicles (e.g., motor vehicle side view mirrors and their main bodies) while the motor vehicles travel through a fluid. The low drag low noise devices described herein comprise a lengthwise axis, an outer body, and an inner body. The outer body and the inner body cooperatively define a channel through which fluid can pass during use.

Claims

1. A low drag low noise device having a lengthwise axis, the low drag low noise device comprising:

an outer body having a first end, and a second end, the outer body defining a first opening, a second opening, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the inner surface extending from the first opening to the second opening and defining a passageway, the outer surface defining a plurality of peaks and troughs; and

an inner body attached to the outer body and at least partially disposed within the passageway defined by the outer body, the inner body having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface;

wherein the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body define a channel within the passageway of the outer body, the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body configured to allow a fluid to pass through the channel from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body such that the fluid exits the channel at the second end of the outer body at an angle that is directed toward said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device and away from the second end of the inner body.

2. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of peaks and troughs define a sinusoidal edge.

3. The low drag low noise device of claim 2, wherein the sinusoidal edge is defined along a plane that is orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

4. The low drag low noise device of claim 2, wherein a distance is disposed between the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body along a plane that is disposed orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device;

and

wherein the sinusoidal edge has an amplitude that is equal to about 1 time to 4 times the distance between the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body.

5. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the peaks are disposed at the second end of the outer body;

and

wherein the troughs are disposed between the first end and the second end of the outer body.

6. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the second end of the outer body has a thickness that extends from the outer surface of the outer body to the inner surface of the outer body;

and

wherein the thickness is uniform.

7. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the outer body has a projection that extends from the outer surface and away from said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

8. The low drag low noise device of claim 7, wherein the projection has a first end and a second end, the first end of the projection having a surface that is disposed orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device, the second end of the projection having a surface that is disposed orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

9. The low drag low noise device of claim 7, wherein the projection has a first end and a second end, the second end of the projection disposed on a plane that contains the second end of the outer body.

10. The low drag low noise device of claim 7, wherein the projection has a top surface that is substantially parallel to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

11. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the outer body has a plurality of projections that extend from the outer surface and away from said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

12. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the outer body has a length that extends from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body;

and

wherein a portion of the length of the outer surface of the outer body has a waved configuration.

13. The low drag low noise device of claim 1, wherein the inner body is attached to a vehicle.

14. A low drag low noise device having a lengthwise axis, the low drag low noise device comprising:

an outer body having a first end, and a second end, the outer body defining a first opening, a second opening, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the second end of the outer body having a uniform thickness extending from the outer surface of the outer body to the inner surface of the outer body, the inner surface extending from the first opening to the second opening and defining a passageway, the outer surface defining a plurality of peaks and troughs that define a sinusoidal edge; and

an inner body attached to the outer body and at least partially disposed within the passageway defined by the outer body, the inner body having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface;

wherein the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body define a channel within the passageway of the outer body, the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body configured to allow a fluid to pass through the channel from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body such that the fluid exits the channel at the second end of the outer body at an angle that is directed toward said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device and away from the second end of the inner body.

15. The low drag low noise device of claim 14, wherein the sinusoidal edge is defined along a plane that is orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

16. The low drag low noise device of claim 14, wherein a distance is disposed between the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body along a plane that is disposed orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device;

and

wherein the sinusoidal edge has an amplitude that is equal to about 1 time to 4 times the distance between the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body.

17. The low drag low noise device of claim 14, wherein the outer surface of the outer body has a projection that extends from the outer surface and away from said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device.

18. The low drag low noise device of claim 14, wherein the outer body has a length that extends from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body;

and

wherein a portion of the length of the outer surface of the outer body has a waved configuration.

19. The low drag low noise device of claim 14, wherein the inner body is attached to a vehicle.

20. A low drag low noise device having a lengthwise axis, the low drag low noise device comprising:

an outer body having a first end, a second end, and a length extending from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body, the outer body defining a first opening, a second opening, an inner surface, and an outer surface, the second end of the outer body having a uniform thickness extending from the outer surface of the outer body to the inner surface of the outer body, the inner surface extending from the first opening to the second opening and defining a passageway, the outer surface defining a plurality of peaks and troughs that define a sinusoidal edge along a plane that is orthogonal to said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device, a portion of the length of the outer surface of the outer body having a waved configuration; and

an inner body attached to a vehicle and to the outer body, the inner body at least partially disposed within the passageway defined by the outer body, the inner body having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface;

wherein the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body define a channel within the passageway of the outer body, the inner surface of the outer body and the outer surface of the inner body configured to allow a fluid to pass through the channel from the first end of the outer body to the second end of the outer body such that the fluid exits the channel at the second end of the outer body at an angle that is directed toward said lengthwise axis of said low drag low noise device and away from the second end of the inner body.