Vehicle exhaust orientation assembly
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorJohn G. Korpi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle exhaust orientation assembly directs an extremely hot, forceful haust gas flow from a tank or other vehicle that is towing a trailer or the like. The assembly has a transition shroud affixed to the exterior of the vehicle over its exhaust portal. A drum is rotatably connected to the shroud by rollers on the drum which engage a track on the shroud. Several anchoring structures are mounted on the shroud about the drum. The structures can hold the drum in one of several rotational positions of the drum on the shroud. Flow directing fins in the drum are pivoted by a linkage which can engage a tab on the drum so as to lock the fins in a selected pivot position. Rotational force is imparted to the drum and fins by flanges obliquely attached to the fins so that the fins are spun by the exhaust flow from the tank.
Claims9
An assembly in combination with a vehicle for orienting the flow of exhaust gas exiting from an exhaust portal of the vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a transition shroud affixed to the exterior of the vehicle over the exhaust portal;
- a drum;
- rollers and track rotatably connecting the drum to the shroud, whereby the drum is rotatable on the shroud;
- means for holding the drum in any of a set of rotational positions of the drum relative to the shroud;
- fins encircled by the drum;
- means for pivoting the fins relative to the drum;
- means to lock the fins in a chosen one of a set of pivot positions relative to the drum;
- and
- means for imparting rotation to the drum and fins, the imparting means comprising flanges attached to the fins and disposed oblique thereto.
In a tandem arrangement of vehicles including a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, an assembly attached to the exterior of the towing vehicle for selectively orienting the flow of exhaust gas of the towing vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a transition shroud affixed to the exterior of the towing vehicle over an exhaust portal thereof;
- a drum;
- rollers and track connecting the drum to the shroud such that the drum is rotatable on the shroud;
- means connected to the shroud for holding the drum in any of a set of rotational positions of the drum relative to the shroud;
- fins encircled by the drum;
- means for pivoting the fins relative to the drum;
- means to lock the fins in a chosen one of a set of pivot positions relative to the drum;
- and
- means for imparting rotation to the drum and fins, the imparting means comprising flanges attached to the fins and disposed oblique thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.