Means for maintaining attached flow of a flowing medium
OwnerGary O. Wheelerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more channels whose edges generate streamwise vortices from heights coincidental with a local flow-control surface into the channels are used to maintain attached flow of a fluid medium flowing therepast, even in areas of severe regional adverse pressure gradients. The channels are generally triangular in shape with the apex forwardmost in the flow. The channels work very effectively when nested in series and are most effective when the channels extend to the trailing edge of a flow-control surface.
Claims53
Means to maintain flow of a flowing medium attached to the exterior of a flow control member having a flow control surface, said means including:
- a first generally triangularly shaped channel submerged in the flow control surface, said triangularly shaped channel having:
- an apex portion facing the flow of the flowing medium;
- an end portion positioned downstream in the flow of flowing medium from said apex portion;
- a floor surface extending from the flow control surface at said apex portion to said end portion;
- a first sidewall extending between the flow control surface and said floor surface and extending between said apex portion and said end portion, said first sidewall forming a first sidewall edge between said first sidewall and the flow control surface, said first sidewall edge having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a central portion, said first sidewall central portion being positioned out of alignment with the flow of the flowing medium;
- and
- a second sidewall extending between the flow control surface and said floor surface and extending between said apex portion and said end portion, said second sidewall forming a second sidewall edge between said second sidewall and the flow control surface, said second sidewall edge having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a central portion, said second sidewall central portion being positioned out of alignment with the flow of the flowing medium, whereby first and second counterrotating vortices form over said first and second sidewall edges in said first channel which thin the boundry layer of the flow of flowing medium at the adjacent flow control surface and provide turbulent mixing within said first channel so that the flow of flowing medium remains attached to the flow control surface and said floor surface.
Means to maintain flow of a flowing medium attached to the exterior of a flow control member having a flow control surface by thinning the boundry layer thereof, said means including:
- a first channel formed in the flow control surface, said first channel having:
- a forward portion generally facing the flow of the flowing medium;
- an end portion positioned downstream in the flow of flowing medium from said forward portion;
- a floor surface extending from the flow control surface at said forward portion to said end portion;
- and
- a first sidewall extending between the flow control surface and said floor surface and extending between said forward portion and said end portion, said first sidewall forming a first sidewall edge between said first sidewall and the flow control surface, said first sidewall edge having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a central portion, said first sidewall central portion being positioned out of alignment with the flow of the flowing medium, whereby a first counterrotating vortex forms over said first sidewall edge in said first channel which thins the boundry layer of the flow of flowing medium at the adjacent flow control surface and provides turbulent mixing within said first channel so that the flow of flowing medium remains attached to the flow control surface and said floor surface.
A body having a usual direction of motion through a medium, a front, a rear, and rear side areas which rear side areas each include:
- a flow control surface;
- a first channel formed in said flow control surface, said first channel having:
- a forward portion generally facing the front;
- an end portion positioned closer to the rear than said forward portion;
- a floor surface extending from said flow control surface at said forward portion to said end portion;
- and
- a first sidewall extending between said flow control surface and said floor surface and extending between said forward portion and said end portion, said first sidewall forming a first sidewall edge between said first sidewall and said flow control surface, said first sidewall edge having at least a portion positioned out of alignment with the usual direction of motion of said body;
- and
- a last channel formed in said flow control surface, said last channel having:
- a forward portion generally facing the front;
- an end portion positioned closer to the rear than said forward portion of said last channel;
- a floor surface extending from said flow control surface at said last channel forward portion to said last channel end portion;
- and
- a first sidewall extending between said flow control surface and said last channel floor surface and extending between said last channel forward portion and said last channel end portion, said last channel first sidewall forming a last channel first sidewall edge between said last channel first sidewall and said flow control surface, said last channel first sidewall edge having at least a portion positioned out of alignment with the usual direction of motion of said body.
A motor vehicle having a usual direction of motion, said body including a front, a rear, and right and left rear fender areas, said rear fender areas each having a flow control surface, and means to maintain flow of the medium attached to the exterior of said rear fender areas having said flow control surface, said means including:
- a first channel formed in each said fender surface, said first channel having:
- a forward portion generally facing the front;
- an end portion positioned closer to the rear than said forward portion;
- a floor surface extending from said fender surface at said forward portion to said end portion;
- and
- a first sidewall extending between said fender surface and said floor surface and extending between said forward portion and said end portion, said first sidewall forming a firt sidewall edge between said first sidewall and said fender surface, said first sidewall edge having at least a portion positioned out of alignment with the usual direction of motion of said motor vehicle.
An automobile having a usual direction of motion, a front, a rear, and right and left rear downforce creating tunnels generally aligned with the usual direction of motion, each rear downforce creating tunnels including:
- an upper undersurface;
- and
- a first channel formed in said upper undersurface, said first channel having:
- a forward portion generally facing the front;
- an end portion positioned closer to the rear than said forward portion;
- a floor surface extending from said upper undersurface at said forward portion to said end portion;
- a first sidewall extending between said upper undersurface and said floor surface and extending between said forward portion and said end portion, said first sidewall forming a first sidewall edge between said first sidewall and said upper undersurface, said first sidewall edge having at least a portion positioned out of longitudinal alignment with said tunnel;
- and
- a second sidewall extending between said upper undersurface and said floor surface and extending between said forward portion and said end portion, said second sidewall forming a second sidewall edge between said second sidewall and said upper undersurface, said second sidewall edge having at least a portion positioned out of longitudinal alignment with said tunnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.