US 5,199,762 A · Square-backed vehicle air foil system

Abstract

The specification describes a preferred embodiment of the square-backed vehicle air foil 10 for attaching to a vehicle 12 adjacent an upper rear edge 21 for projecting into a horizontal airstream "S" for subdividing the airstream into an inner or first airstream layer S.sub.1 and an outer or second airstream layer S.sub.2. The assembly 10 has an inner air foil element 32 that directs the first airstream layer rearward and then rearward and downward over the rear edge 21 and then downward at a first velocity along the rear vehicle panel 21 to form a first air curtain along the rear panel to keep the rear panel clean. The assembly 10 has an outer air foil element 34 that, in cooperation with the inner foil element 32, directs the second airstream layer S.sub.2 rearward along the roof panel while accelerating the layer S.sub.2. The layer S.sub.2 then is directed rearward and downward over the rear edge 21 and is then directed downward along the rear panel at a higher velocity than the first layer forming a second air curtain for keeping the rear panel clean. A frame 30 attaches the assembly 10 to the vehicle 12 projecting the inner and outer foil elements 32, 34 into the airstream to receive the first and second airstream layers S.sub.1 and S.sub.2. The mounting frame 30 provides for longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the assembly 10.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A square-backed vehicle air foil system for attachment to an upper rear edge of a square-backed vehicle to project into a horizontal airstream passing over a roof panel of the vehicle as the vehicle is propelled over a roadway to deflect and direct two layers of the airstream over the upper rear edge and downward along a rear panel of the vehicle to provide two moving air curtains over the rear panel to maintain the rear panel clean, comprising:

a) an elongated inner air foil element for extending along the upper rear edge in which the air foil element extends between an entrance edge and an exit edge;
b) an elongated outer air foil element complementary to and spaced from the inner air foil element for extending along the upper rear edge in which the outer foil element extends between an entrance edge and an exit edge with the entrance edge of the outer air foil element being displaced above the entrance edge of the inner air foil element and the exit edge of the outer air foil element being displaced rearward of the exit edge of the inner air foil element;
c) mounting means operatively connected to the inner and outer air foil elements for attaching the air foil elements to the square-backed vehicle along the upper rear edge with the entrance edges displaced at different elevations above the upper rear edge of the vehicle and projecting into the horizontal airstream passing over the roof panel of the vehicle and the exit edges of the air foils displaced at different distances rearward of the rear panel of the vehicle (1) for subdividing the airstream into layers and for deflecting and directing a first layer of the airstream along an inside surface of the inner air foil element over the upper rear edge of the vehicle and downward along and immediately adjacent the rear panel of the vehicle at a first velocity to provide a first moving air curtain over the rear panel to maintain the rear panel clean and (2) for deflecting and directing a second layer of the airstream between the inner air foil element and the outer air foil element over the upper rear edge of the vehicle and downward along the rear panel adjacent the first layer, at a second velocity greater than the first velocity, to provide a second moving air curtain to maintain the rear panel clean.

a) an elongated inner air foil sheet material element for extending along the upper rear edge having (1) an entrance portion extending rearward from an entrance edge for subdividing the airstream into layers and directing a first layer rearward over the upper rear edge, (2) a transition portion deflecting and directing the first layer of the airstream, and (3) an exit portion for directing the deflected first layer downward from an exit edge along and immediately adjacent the rear panel at a first velocity to provide a first moving air curtain over the rear panel to maintain the rear panel clean;
b) an elongated outer air foil sheet material element complementary to and spaced from the inner air foil element for extending along the upper rear edge having (1) an entrance portion displaced above the entrance portion of the inner air foil element extending rearward from an entrance edge for receiving a second layer of the airstream and for accelerating the second layer rearward, (2) a transition portion for deflecting the accelerated second layer downward;
and (3) an exit portion displaced rearward of the transition portion of the inner air foil element for directing the deflected second layer downward from an exit edge along the rear panel adjacent the first layer, at a second velocity greater than the first velocity, to provide a second moving air curtain to maintain the rear panel clean;
c) mounting means operatively connected to the inner and outer air foil elements for attaching the air foil elements to the square-backed vehicle along the upper rear edge with the entrance edges displaced at different elevations above the upper rear edge of the vehicle and projecting into the horizontal airstream passing over the roof panel of the vehicle for subdividing the airstream into the first layer and second layer.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Square-backed vehicle air foil system

Life of this patent

Square-backed vehicle air foil system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36