Vehicle drag reduction apparatus
OwnerPhilip Valainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle air drag reduction system is provided for mounting on the rearward facing surface of a vehicle, and in particular a truck trailer, that provides improved efficiency. The system comprises a flexible panel that will assume a cone-shape at the rearward end of the trailer, and which is held in place by a plurality of support rods fitted within the flexible panel, and which attach to brackets mounted on said trailer. An inexpensive and simple air drag reduction system is provided which is easily attached or removed from a vehicle is provided.
Claims21
A vehicle air drag reduction system for mounting on the rearward surface of a vehicle, wherein said rearward surface of said vehicle on which said system is to be mounted, is substantially flat and rectangular, with opposed vertically disposed side edges and opposed horizontally disposed upper and lower edges, said vehicle air drag reduction system comprises:
- a flexible panel to be affixed to said rearward surface, and extending, in use, essentially between said disposed side edges and essentially between said upper and lower edges, and having two exterior support rod passages, and at least one interior support rod passage positioned between said exterior support rod passages, all of which support rod passages extend from one edge of said flexible panel to an opposite edge thereof;
- two exterior support rods, and at least one interior support rod, each of which are essentially parallel to each other, and are positioned, in use, as to be vertically orientated to the ground, and are positioned substantially within said exterior or interior support rod passages respectively, so as to provide structural support for the flexible panel, and each having a support rod end fitting protruding from said support rod passages at each end of said support rod passage;
- a series of support rod brackets affixed to said vehicle in a substantially linear fashion on opposing edges of said vehicle, and in corresponding alignment with said support rod passages, into which brackets said support rod ends are fitted;
- and wherein said interior support rods are longer in length than said exterior support rods such that said interior support rods, and thus said flexible panel, are bowed, in use, to form a cone-shaped panel.
A flexible panel structure for use on a vehicle air drag reduction system, which is to be mounted on the rearward surface of a vehicle, wherein said rearward surface of said vehicle on which said system is to be mounted, is substantially flat and rectangular, with opposed vertically disposed side edges and opposed horizontally disposed upper and lower edges;
- said flexible panel panel structure being adapted to be affixed to said rearward surface, and extending, in use, essentially between said disposed side edges and essentially between said upper and lower edges, and comprising a flexible panel;
- two exterior support rod passages at or near the sides of said flexible panel, and at least one interior support rod passage positioned between said exterior support rod passages, all of which support rod passages extend from one edge of said flexible panel to an opposite edge thereof:
- two exterior support rods, and at least one interior support rod, each of which are essentially parallel to each other, and are positioned, in use, so as to be vertically orientated to the ground, and are positioned substantially within said exterior or interior support rod passages respectively, so as to provide structural support for the flexible panel, and each having a support rod end fitting extending out or said support rod passages at each end of said support rod passage;
- and wherein said interior support rods are longer in length than said exterior support rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.