Drag reduction device and method for wheeled vehicles
OwnerSteve Whiteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air drag reduction apparatus attaches to the rear of vehicles having a generally rectangular rear end, such as tractor trailers, busses, and recreational vehicles. A left side roller is mounted in a generally vertical orientation to the rear of the vehicle and a right side roller is mounted in a generally vertical orientation to the rear of the vehicle, where the left side roller and the right side roller are each rotatable about a vertical axis. The left side roller and the right side roller may be mounted with attachment mechanisms which allow the rollers to each be moved out of the way as the rear door or doors of the vehicle are opened.
Claims20
An air drag reduction apparatus for use with a vehicle having a left side, a right side, and a generally rectangular rear end wherein said rectangular rear end comprises a left edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the left side and a right edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the right side, said apparatus comprising:
- a left side bracket mechanism attached to the vehicle;
- a left side roller mounted to the left side bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation, wherein a first longitudinal axis is defined by the left side roller and the left side roller is rotatable about the first longitudinal axis with respect to the left side bracket mechanism wherein a portion of the left side roller extends outwardly past the left edge thereby defining a left side roller extended position;
- a right side bracket mechanism attached to the vehicle;
- and
- a right side roller mounted to the right side bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation, wherein a second longitudinal axis is defined by the right side roller and the right side roller is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis with respect to the right side bracket mechanism wherein a portion of the right side roller extends outwardly past the right edge thereby defining a right side roller extended position.
A method of reducing drag on a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a left side, a right side, and a generally rectangular rear end wherein said rectangular rear end comprises a left edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the left side and a right edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the right side, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching a left side roller in a vertical orientation to the vehicle, wherein a portion of the left side roller extends outwardly past the left edge thereby defining a left side roller extended position, the left side roller disposed such that the left side roller is adjacent to the left edge, wherein said left side roller is rotatable about a first vertical axis;
- and
- attaching a right side roller in a vertical orientation to the vehicle, wherein a portion of the right side roller extends outwardly past the right edge thereby defining a right side roller extended position, the right side roller disposed such that the right side roller is adjacent to the right edge, wherein said right side roller is rotatable about a second vertical axis.
An air drag reduction apparatus for use with vehicles having a left side, a right side, and a generally rectangular rear, said apparatus comprising:
- a left side bracket mechanism attached to the vehicle;
- a left side roller mounted to the left side bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation with the left side roller adjacent to the left side, wherein a first longitudinal axis is defined by the left side roller and the left side roller is rotatable about the first longitudinal axis;
- a left air foil member comprising a surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the surface disposed adjacent to an outside circumferential surface of the left side roller;
- a right side bracket mechanism attached to the vehicle;
- a right side roller mounted to the right side bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation with the right side roller adjacent to the right side, wherein a second longitudinal axis is defined by the right side roller and the right side roller is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis;
- and
- a right air foil member comprising a surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the surface disposed adjacent to an outside circumferential surface of the right side roller.
An air drag reduction apparatus for use with a vehicle having a first side, a second side, and a generally rectangular rear end wherein said rectangular rear end comprises a first edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the first side and a second edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the second side, said apparatus comprising:
- a first bracket mechanism attached to the first side of the vehicle;
- a roller mounted to the bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined by the roller, the roller comprising an axially aligned opening with an axle extending through the axially aligned opening, wherein the roller is rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the first side bracket mechanism;
- and
- a fan member connected to the axle, wherein the roller is rotated by the fan member.
An air drag reduction apparatus for use with a vehicle having a first side, a second side, and a generally rectangular rear end wherein said rectangular rear end comprises a first edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the first side and a second edge defined by the attachment of the generally rectangular rear end to the second side, said apparatus comprising:
- a first bracket mechanism attached to the first side of the vehicle;
- a roller mounted to the bracket mechanism in a vertical orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis is defined by the roller, the roller comprising an axially aligned opening with an axle extending through the axially aligned opening, wherein the roller is rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the first side bracket mechanism;
- and
- a motor connected to the axle, wherein the roller is rotated by the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.