Ram air tail cone apparatus and method of use thereof
OwnerW. Davis Leeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle moving through air, comprising the steps of: carrying, by the vehicle, a tail cone in an undeployed state; deploying the tail cone on a back of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, the tail cone comprising a flexible material; and pressurizing, with the air, an interior space at least partially enclosed by the tail cone, the tail cone forming an aerodynamic feature extending at least fifteen inches behind the vehicle, where pressurizing transforms the tail cone from a flexible material to a static and compliant aerodynamic feature, which increases miles per gallon of the vehicle by at least ten percent at speeds in excess of fifty miles an hour through a reduction in drag force on the vehicle.
Claims16
A method for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle moving through air, comprising the steps of:
- carrying, by the vehicle, a tail cone in an undeployed state;
- deploying said tail cone, by a back of the vehicle, said tail cone comprising a flexible material, said step of deploying further comprising the steps of:
- attaching at least a portion of said tail cone to a moveable element;
- and
- moving said movable element from within one foot of a first side of the vehicle to within one foot of an opposite side of the vehicle;
- and
- pressurizing, with the air, an interior space at least partially enclosed by said tail cone, said tail cone forming an aerodynamic feature extending at least fifteen inches behind the vehicle.
An apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle moving through air, comprising:
- a tail cone configured to be carried, by the vehicle, in an undeployed state;
- means for deploying said tail cone on a back of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, said tail cone comprising a flexible material, said means for deploying comprising a movable element attached to at least a portion of said tail cone, said movable element moveable from within one foot of a first side of the vehicle to within one foot of an opposite side of the vehicle;
- and
- an interior space at least partially enclosed by said tail cone, said interior space pressurized by the air, said tail cone comprising an aerodynamic feature extending at least fifteen inches behind the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.