GB2139165A

GB2139165A - Adjustable wind deflector

Info

Publication number: GB2139165A
Application number: GB08304920A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart James Fitton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-22
Filing date: 1983-02-22
Publication date: 1984-11-07
Also published as: GB8304920D0; GB2139165B

Abstract

An adjustable wind deflector for use on a haulage vehicle tractor unit, consisting of a shield (5) hinged on its front edge to the front of the cab roof and supported on its rear edge by a rear frame (10) which locks into latches (6) attached to the rear of the cab. The frame can be locked at different points along its height, giving the shield (5) different angles of deflection. The operation of the rear frame (10), and the latches (6) is carried out from ground level, not requiring access to the rear frame, or cab roof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector for use on the cab of a hauliage vehicle The invention relates to an adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector, stationed on the roof of a hauliage vehicle. The invention is primarally, but not exclusively for use on the cab roof of a tractor unit for articalted semi-trailers.

The object of the invention is to provide an air deflector which can be readily adjusted in its angle of inclination to the cab roof, to suit different heights of trailer load, the nett result being a reduction in aerodynamic drag over the whole vehicle and a resultant increase in performance, with the adjustmentcarried out from ground level.

The problem with existing examples of wind deflector is that they cannot be adjusted from ground level, access being required to the struts or supports on the cab roof to alter the angle of inclination to the cab roof.

An improvement to the system of support and operation of the deflector has been achieved by this described invention, characterised in that the deflector is pivoted at its front edge to the front edge of the cab roof, and is supported adjacent to its rear edge by a frame of fixed size, pivoted at its attachment points to the deflector, and locked to two clamps positioned on the rear edge of the cab roof, there being four points along the frames hieght at which the clamps can lock the frame to themselves, thus with the control for the clamp and the frame positioned near to ground level, alteration of the angle of inclination of the deflector from ground level can be achieved.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the deflector in position on the cab roof, showing the frame and controls for ground level operation, according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevational projection from the rear and side, according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective and elevational view of the rear clamp which locks the frame to the rear edge of the cab roof. (Right hand example shown).

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a deflector 5 mounted on the cab roof of a tractor unit 18. The deflector 5 is pivoted on its leading edge to the front edge of the cab roof, being held by two clamps 12, attached to the gutter rail 2, and joined by a single cross tube 19 parallel to the front edge of the cab. Two support tubes 3 are extended from the front cross tube 19 to the rear clamps 1, being held in a locating tube 4 on the clamp 1, the support tubes 3 preventing the rear clamps 1 from twisting down under load from the frame 10.

Set laterally into the rear of the deflector 5, are two tubes 14, along which the hinges 13 attaching the frame 10 to the deflector 5 are able to slide. When the deflector 5 is horizontal the frame 10 can be moved forward on its sliding hinges 13 and brought up to lie flat against the back of the cab, so that as the deflector 5 is raised, and the frame 10 becomes angled away from the vertical, (see Figure 1) the frames 10 projection towards the trailer in tow is kept rio a minimum. This is necessary to prevent the frame 10 coming into contact with the trailer, as the deflector 5 is raised.

The frame 10 is basically rectangular in shape, and is constructed from tube and plate metal, and comprises of two vertical side tubes with cross braces attached for ridgidity. Attached to and projecting horizontally from the vertical sides tubes are short studs 9, and a handle 15 is fitted to one side of the frame 10, so that the frame 10 can be manually raised or lowered by a person standing on the ground.

The handle 15 can pivot about the sleeve which attaches itto the frame 10. This allows the handle to be swung to a position adjacent to the vertical side tube of the frame 10, clear from making contact with the chassis of the tractor unit 18, particularly when the deflector is lowered, and the frame moves down the back of the cab.

The frame 10 is held to the cabs rear face by the rear clamps 1. The rear clamps 1 are attached to the gutter rail 2 on the cab, with the frame 10 resting the required pair of studs 9 in a cup 11 on each rear clamp. A latch 6 pivots about point A, and closes the open top of the cup 6, in which the stud 9 is now contained. A spring 7 holds the latch 6 in the closed position. Operation of the latch is effected from ground level by depressing lever 17, the lever 17 being linked to the latch 6 by a rod 16. The lever 17 is mounted on a tube which is fixed into the end of one of the support tubes 3. As both of the latches 6 are joined together by a tie bar 8, their operation is simultaneous.

With this arrangement, the driver of the tractor unit 18 can, when standing on the ground, next to the controls for the deflector 5, adjust, and lock the said deflector 5 in the required position, by depressing the lever 17, lifting the now unlocked frame 10 from the rear clamps 1, and resting the required studs 9 in the cup 6 on each rear clamp 1, then releasing the lever 17 which allows the spring 7 to pull the latch 6 over the stud 9, so locking the frame 10 supporting the deflector 5 at an alternative angle.

1. An adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector stationed on the cab roof of a hauliage vehicle, for reducing the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle when towing a trailer which projects above the cab roof, in which the deflector is pivoted at its leading edge, along the front edge of the cab roof, and supported at its rear by a frame of of fixed size, which can be locked into two clamps positioned on the rear edge of the cab roof, adjacent to the outside vertical members ofthe rectangularframe,the said clamps able to lock the frame to themselves at four points along the frames height, thus permitting alteration of the deflectors angle to the horizontal.

2. A deflector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame can be locked at a number of points more or less than four in total.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector for use on the cab of a hauliage vehicle The invention relates to an adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector, stationed on the roof of a hauliage vehicle. The invention is primarally, but not exclusively for use on the cab roof of a tractor unit for articalted semi-trailers. The object of the invention is to provide an air deflector which can be readily adjusted in its angle of inclination to the cab roof, to suit different heights of trailer load, the nett result being a reduction in aerodynamic drag over the whole vehicle and a resultant increase in performance, with the adjustmentcarried out from ground level. The problem with existing examples of wind deflector is that they cannot be adjusted from ground level, access being required to the struts or supports on the cab roof to alter the angle of inclination to the cab roof. An improvement to the system of support and operation of the deflector has been achieved by this described invention, characterised in that the deflector is pivoted at its front edge to the front edge of the cab roof, and is supported adjacent to its rear edge by a frame of fixed size, pivoted at its attachment points to the deflector, and locked to two clamps positioned on the rear edge of the cab roof, there being four points along the frames hieght at which the clamps can lock the frame to themselves, thus with the control for the clamp and the frame positioned near to ground level, alteration of the angle of inclination of the deflector from ground level can be achieved. The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the deflector in position on the cab roof, showing the frame and controls for ground level operation, according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevational projection from the rear and side, according to Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a perspective and elevational view of the rear clamp which locks the frame to the rear edge of the cab roof. (Right hand example shown). Referring to the drawings, there is shown a deflector 5 mounted on the cab roof of a tractor unit 18. The deflector 5 is pivoted on its leading edge to the front edge of the cab roof, being held by two clamps 12, attached to the gutter rail 2, and joined by a single cross tube 19 parallel to the front edge of the cab. Two support tubes 3 are extended from the front cross tube 19 to the rear clamps 1, being held in a locating tube 4 on the clamp 1, the support tubes 3 preventing the rear clamps 1 from twisting down under load from the frame 10. Set laterally into the rear of the deflector 5, are two tubes 14, along which the hinges 13 attaching the frame 10 to the deflector 5 are able to slide. When the deflector 5 is horizontal the frame 10 can be moved forward on its sliding hinges 13 and brought up to lie flat against the back of the cab, so that as the deflector 5 is raised, and the frame 10 becomes angled away from the vertical, (see Figure 1) the frames 10 projection towards the trailer in tow is kept rio a minimum. This is necessary to prevent the frame 10 coming into contact with the trailer, as the deflector 5 is raised. The frame 10 is basically rectangular in shape, and is constructed from tube and plate metal, and comprises of two vertical side tubes with cross braces attached for ridgidity. Attached to and projecting horizontally from the vertical sides tubes are short studs 9, and a handle 15 is fitted to one side of the frame 10, so that the frame 10 can be manually raised or lowered by a person standing on the ground. The handle 15 can pivot about the sleeve which attaches itto the frame 10. This allows the handle to be swung to a position adjacent to the vertical side tube of the frame 10, clear from making contact with the chassis of the tractor unit 18, particularly when the deflector is lowered, and the frame moves down the back of the cab. The frame 10 is held to the cabs rear face by the rear clamps 1. The rear clamps 1 are attached to the gutter rail 2 on the cab, with the frame 10 resting the required pair of studs 9 in a cup 11 on each rear clamp. A latch 6 pivots about point A, and closes the open top of the cup 6, in which the stud 9 is now contained. A spring 7 holds the latch 6 in the closed position. Operation of the latch is effected from ground level by depressing lever 17, the lever 17 being linked to the latch 6 by a rod 16. The lever 17 is mounted on a tube which is fixed into the end of one of the support tubes 3. As both of the latches 6 are joined together by a tie bar 8, their operation is simultaneous. With this arrangement, the driver of the tractor unit 18 can, when standing on the ground, next to the controls for the deflector 5, adjust, and lock the said deflector 5 in the required position, by depressing the lever 17, lifting the now unlocked frame 10 from the rear clamps 1, and resting the required studs 9 in the cup 6 on each rear clamp 1, then releasing the lever 17 which allows the spring 7 to pull the latch 6 over the stud 9, so locking the frame 10 supporting the deflector 5 at an alternative angle. CLAIMS

3. A deflector as claimed in claims 1 to 2, wherein the mechanical lock on the rear clamps, is by means of mechanical linkages controlled from a position immediately accessible to a person stood at ground level.

4. A deflector as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame is by means of an attached vertical appendage able to be handled by a person stood at ground level.

5. A deflector as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the frame locked at its uppermost point, holds the deflector adjacent to and parallel to the cab roof.

6. An adjustable aerodynamic wind deflector, stationed upon the cab of a hauliage vehicle, supported and operated substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.