Back to results
US 2002/0153746 A1Published application
Solid state drag reducing vehicle grille
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsL. Bradley Hewitt, Edward J. Zeuty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solid state drag reducing vehicle grille for a vehicle includes a front bumper carried by the vehicle, left and right grille portions carried by the vehicle situated above the front bumper, and slats carried by the left and right grille portions wherein the slats are adapted to allow air to flow through at low vehicle speeds and to partially redirect airflow at high vehicle speeds.
Claims14
A solid-state drag reducing vehicle grille for a vehicle comprising:
- a front bumper carried by the vehicle;
- left and right grille portions carried by the vehicle situated above the front bumper;
- slats carried by the left and right grille portions;
- and
- wherein the slats are adapted to allow air to flow through at low vehicle speeds and to redirect airflow at high vehicle speeds.
2 more elements
A solid-state drag reducing vehicle grille for a vehicle comprising:
- a front bumper having an upwardly and forwardly directed fin of predetermined thickness extending a predetermined distance carried by the vehicle;
- left and right grille portions carried by the vehicle situated above the front bumper;
- and
- a predetermined number of slats each having a lower portion extending upwardly and rearwardly a predetermined length greater than an upper portion extending upwardly and forwardly, forming a stagnation area wherein at high vehicle speeds airflow is forced upward, carried by the left and right grille portions.
1 more element
A solid-state drag reducing vehicle grille for a vehicle comprising:
- a front bumper, having an upwardly and forwardly directed fin extending a predetermined distance, carried by the vehicle;
- left and right grille portions, carried by the vehicle, situated above the front bumper;
- a predetermined number of slats substantially L-shaped in cross-section each having a lower portion extending upwardly and rearwardly a predetermined length greater than an upper portion extending upwardly and forwardly, forming a stagnation area wherein at high vehicle speeds airflow is forced upward, carried by the left and right grille portions;
- wherein airflow is allowed to pass through the slats at low vehicle speeds;
- and
- wherein a predetermined amount of airflow is actively redirected upward over the slats at high vehicle speeds.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.