Wind deflector configuration
AssigneeWalter Selden Saunders
InventorsSteven L. Meinecke, Walter Selden Saunders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
By providing an upstanding drag reducing baffle wherein the upper edge of said baffle comprises smoothly curved extension portions on both sides thereof, lying in substantially the same plane of the baffle, an improved wind deflector capable of increased drag reduction is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, these extension portions extend from the edge of the baffle toward the center and comprise at least half the distance from the edge to the mid-point of the baffle. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a front curved vortex stabilizer, a portion of which extends above the wind deflector, is used in combination with the wind deflector for additional drag reduction.
Claims15
A wind deflector for mounting to land vehicles forward of a drag producing surface and comprising upstanding baffle means positioned above a substantially horizontal surface for deflecting oncoming air over the drag producing surface and thereby reducing the drag caused by said surface and comprising:
- A. a substantially rectangular frontal shape generally convex in a horizontal plane as viewed from the front and generally angled in the vertical plane toward the rear;
- and
- B. at least one extension portion
- a. positioned about an upper corner of said substantially rectangular baffle means, and
- b. increasing the height dimension of the baffle means at said corner, and
- c. said extension substantially smoothly continuing said convex and rear angled contour of said frontal shape,
- thereby providing a wind deflector with improved drag reduction capabilities.
On a land vehicle having a substantially horizontal surface spaced ahead of a substantially vertical drag producing panel and being lower in height than the top of the trailing vertical panel, a drag reducing system for mounting to said vehicle comprising:
- A. a wind deflector comprising upstanding baffle means
- a. positioned above the substantially horizontal surface, for deflecting oncoming air over the vertical drag producing panel to produce a large vortex of air behind said baffle, said vortex having a substantially horizontal axis and thereby reducing the drag caused by said panel, and incorporating
- b. a substantially rectangular frontal shape and
- c. at least one extension portion
- 1. positioned about an upper corner of said substantially rectangular baffle means, and
- 2. increasing the height dimension of the baffle means at said corner,
- 3. said extension portion forming with said frontal shape a continuous smooth convex surface in a horizontal plane as viewed from the front at said extension and at its boundary with said frontal shape;
- and
- B. a vortex stabilizer extending above said substantially horizontal surface and extending from said wind deflector toward said trailing vertical panel.
On a land vehicle incorporating a leading member having a substantially horizontal surface and a trailing wall and a trailing member having a drag producing leading panel defining a gap between said members, a wind deflector for mounting to said leading member comprising upstanding baffle means positioned above said substantially horizontal surface ahead of said leading panel of said trailing member for deflecting oncoming air over said leading panel to produce a large vortex of air behind said baffle said vortex having a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to said baffle and reducing the drag caused by said panel, and comprising:
- A. a substantially rectangular frontal shape;
- and
- B. at least one extension portion positioned about an upper corner of said substantially rectangular baffle means, increasing the height dimension of the baffle means in the area of said corner, smoothly joined to said frontal shape in a continuous surface convex in a horizontal plane as viewed from the front at said extension and at its boundary with said frontal shape and causing the top edge of the baffle means to be non-planar,
- thereby providing a wind deflector with improved drag reduction capabilities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.