Aerodynamic vehicles and fairing assemblies thereof
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorBrian V. Castillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle having reduced aerodynamic drag includes a wheel assembly configured for moving the vehicle across a surface. The wheel assembly has an inboard surface and an outboard surface and includes a wheel configured for rotation with respect to the vehicle and a tire disposed on the wheel. The vehicle also includes a fairing assembly configured for reducing aerodynamic drag across the wheel assembly. The fairing assembly includes a first portion configured for partially enclosing an inboard surface of the wheel assembly and a second portion configured for partially enclosing an outboard surface of the wheel assembly and removably coupled to the first portion. The fairing assembly is moveable in unison with the wheel assembly during vehicle steering and suspension maneuvers.
Claims20
A vehicle having reduced aerodynamic drag comprising:
- a wheel assembly configured for moving the vehicle across a surface, said wheel assembly having an inboard surface and an outboard surface and including a wheel configured for rotation with respect to the vehicle and a tire disposed on said wheel;
- and
- a fairing assembly configured for reducing aerodynamic drag across said wheel assembly and including;
- a first portion configured for partially enclosing said inboard surface of said wheel assembly;
- and
- a second portion configured for partially enclosing said outboard surface of said wheel assembly and removably coupled to said first portion;
- wherein said fairing assembly is moveable in unison with said wheel assembly during vehicle steering and suspension maneuvers.
A vehicle having reduced aerodynamic drag comprising:
- an axle;
- a wheel assembly disposed on said axle, said wheel assembly having an inboard surface and an outboard surface and including a wheel configured for rotation with respect to the vehicle and a tire disposed on said wheel;
- a side body panel;
- a fascia spaced apart from said side body panel to define a wheelhouse that is configured for housing said wheel assembly;
- a vehicle control system attached to said wheel and partially disposed within said wheelhouse, said vehicle control system including;
- a steering component configured for controlling axial translation of said wheel assembly to thereby steer said wheel assembly across a surface;
- and
- a suspension component configured for controlling vertical translation of said wheel assembly with respect to the surface;
- and
- a fairing assembly configured for reducing aerodynamic drag across said wheel assembly and including;
- a first portion configured for partially enclosing said inboard surface of said wheel assembly;
- a second portion configured for partially enclosing said outboard surface of said wheel assembly and removably coupled to said first portion;
- and
- a fastener configured for attaching said first portion to said vehicle control system;
- wherein said fairing assembly allows for full rotation of said wheel assembly about said axle and is moveable in unison with said wheel assembly during vehicle steering and suspension maneuvers.
A fairing assembly configured for reducing aerodynamic drag across a wheel assembly of a vehicle including at least one of a steering component and a suspension component attached to the wheel assembly, the fairing assembly comprising:
- a first portion configured for partially enclosing an inboard surface of the wheel assembly and defining an aperture configured for receiving at least one of the steering component and the suspension component;
- wherein said first portion is attachable to at least one of the steering component and the suspension component;
- and
- a second portion configured for partially enclosing an outboard surface of the wheel assembly and having an aerodynamic outboard surface;
- wherein said second portion is removably coupled to said first portion to form a concave shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.