Truck streamlining
OwnerKenneth Steelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A leading edge airfoil 7, intermediate airfoil 9 and trailing edge airfoil 11 are provided to reduce drag on a truck towing or carrying at least one bluff body as a load. The leading edge airfoil 7 has a curved nose 23 and an upper surface angled away from the curved nose, and may have a rear part of the upper surface substantially aligned with an upper surface of the most forward bluff body, to assist in attaching oncoming airflow to the upper surface of the most forward bluff body. The intermediate airfoil is configured in use to direct airflow over the gap between two bluff bodies and toward the upper surface of the most rearward of the two bluff bodies. The trailing edge airfoil is configured to reduce the area and volume of the load's turbulent flow in use. The airfoils may be provided individually or as a set.
Claims65
A leading edge airfoil for reducing drag on a truck towing or carrying at least one bluff body as a load, the airfoil comprising a curved nose and an upper surface angled away from the curved nose and a lower surface extending rearwardly from the curved nose, with the vertical distance from a lowest point of the lower surface to a most forward part of the curved nose being less than the vertical distance from an upper point of the upper surface to the most forward part of the curved nose, the airfoil configured for attachment to a most forward bluff body of the load or to the top of a tractor unit with a rear part of the upper surface substantially aligned with an upper surface of the most forward bluff body of the load and with a space provided below the lower surface of the airfoil, such that the airfoil assists in attaching oncoming airflow to the upper surface of the most forward bluff body, thereby reducing air drag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.