GB2275234A - Vehicle air deflector device - Google Patents
Vehicle air deflector device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2275234A GB2275234A GB9403084A GB9403084A GB2275234A GB 2275234 A GB2275234 A GB 2275234A GB 9403084 A GB9403084 A GB 9403084A GB 9403084 A GB9403084 A GB 9403084A GB 2275234 A GB2275234 A GB 2275234A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- airflow
- air deflector
- inlets
- ducts
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 101100494448 Caenorhabditis elegans cab-1 gene Proteins 0.000 abstract description 10
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000003019 stabilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
- B62D35/001—For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
An air deflector device 4 for a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface 3 extending above the vehicle cab 1 comprises a housing 6 having a plurality of air inlets 13 facing in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle at the front of the housing 6 with each inlet 13 opening to a through flow duct 12 leading to an air outlet 14 at the bottom of the housing 6 for directing the airflow downwardly through a gap 5 behind the cab 1. In an alternative arrangement (Figure 6) in which the vehicle does not have a gap behind the cab, the housing is reversed to direct the airflow upwardly. Two of the devices may be mounted, one to direct flow upwards and one to direct flow downwards. <IMAGE>
Description
AIR DEFLECTOR DEVICE
This invention relates to air deflector devices for reducing aerodynamic drag on bluff vehicles.
It is known to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of goods vehicles such as trucks and lorries having a forward generally vertically disposed bluff surface above the driver's cab by mounting a fairing on the cab roof to direct the airflow over the top and/or along the sides of the vehicle body.
As a result, the power requirement to overcome the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle body is reduced thereby improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
The consequential savings in operating costs from reduced fuel consumption can be considerable even from a small improvement in the aerodynamic characteristics and many different shapes of fairing have been proposed.
There is, however, a limit on the size of fairing that can be accommodated over the cab roof and, in certain applications, provision of a fairing is of limited benefit and may even be undesirable, for example where the differential height between the cab roof and vehicle body is large.
The present invention is a result of the consideration of the problems of the known fairings and has for its object to provide an improved air deflector device.
According to the present invention, I provide an air deflector device for a bluff vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface, the device comprising a housing for mounting in front of the bluff surface, the housing having a plurality of air inlets facing in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle at the front of the housing with each inlet opening to a through flow duct leading to an air outlet at the top or bottom of the housing for directing the airflow upwardly or downwardly.
Further details, benefits and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface provided with an air deflector device embodying the invention arranged to direct the airflow downwards;
FIGURE 2 is a front view of the vehicle shown in Figure 1;
FIGURE 3 is a side view of the vehicle shown in Figures 1 and 2 indicating the direction of airflow created by the device;
FIGURE 4 is a vertical section, to an enlarged scale, through the device shown in Figures 1 to 3;
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing different sizes of air deflector device;;
FIGURE 6 is a side view of a vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface provided with an air deflector device embodying the invention arranged to direct the airflow upwards;
FIGURE 7 is a side view of a vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface provided with air deflector devices embodying the invention arranged to direct the airflow upwards and downwards;
FIGURE 8 is a plan view showing an air deflector device embodying the invention on a generally vertically disposed bluff surface of an articulated vehicle;
FIGURE 9 is a vertical section through an alternative air deflector device embodying the invention;
FIGURE 10 is a vertical section through a modified air deflector device embodying the invention;;
FIGURE 11 is a part vertical section, similar to Figure 10, showing a closure flap for the air outlet of the device; and
FIGURE 12 is a part vertical section, similar to Figure 10, showing an alternative closure flap.
With reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, a vehicle is shown comprising a cab 1 and, rearwardly of the cab, a body 2 of rectangular shape having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface 3 extending above the top of the cab 1.
Mounted on the bluff surface 3 above the cab 1 is an air deflector device 4 arranged to direct the airflow downwards through a gap 5 between the back of the cab 1 and the front of the vehicle body 2 from where it is discharged and flows rearwardly under the body 2. An angled plate or similar deflector means (not shown) may be provided at the bottom of the gap 5 to assist in directing the airflow rearwardly under the body 2.
The air deflector device 4 has a height and width similar to that of the exposed bluff surface 3 and comprises a rectangular housing 6 having opposed side panels 7, a top panel 8 and a rear panel 9 with horizontal and vertical partitions 10 and 11 respectively defining a plurality of through flow air ducts 12. The panels 7,8,9 and partitions 10,11 may be made of metal, alloy or plastics as desired.
Each duct 12 has an air inlet 13 at the front of the housing 6 and, as best shown in Figure 4, is of curved profile in side elevation for directing the airflow downwards to an air outlet 14 at the bottom of the housing 6.
The air inlets 13 are of uniform rectangular size and shape arranged in horizontally and vertically aligned rows and columns. In this embodiment there are eight inlets 13 arranged in two rows and four columns but it will be understood that the number of rows andlor columns may be altered as shown in Figure 5 according to the differential height and width of the bluff surface above the top of the cab.
Furthermore, the device 4 may comprise a single unit of the required height and width or, as also shown in Figure 5, a plurality of modular units 15 of the required height but narrower width equal to one or more of the inlets 13 that are assembled side by side to provide the required width.
In this way, different sizes can be produced using common components with advantages for the manufacture and installation of the device.
As shown in Figure 4, the horizontal centre partition 10 separating each duct 12 associated with an inlet 13 in the upper row and the corresponding duct 12 associated with a vertically aligned inlet 13 in the lower row is arranged so that the respective airflows merge and are discharged through a common outlet 14 at the bottom of the housing 6.
With this arrangement the total cross-sectional area of the inlets 13 exceeds that of the outlet 14 so that the airflow through the device 4 is accelerated and this may be further increased by tapering the ducts 12 in the direction of airflow. In this embodiment the ratio of the area of the inlets 13 to that of the outlet 14 is approximately 2:1.
The horizontal bottom partition 10 below the inlets 13 is of curved profile in side elevation having a concave outer surface which acts as an auxiliary deflector 16 to direct the air flow below the inlets 13 downwards into the gap 5 between the rear of the cab 1 and the vehicle body 2 as shown in Figure 3. The curvature of the bottom partition 10 may be altered to vary the size of the outlet 14 as shown in broken lines in Figure 3.
By directing the airflow downwards between the rear of the cab 1 and the vehicle body 2 to pass under the vehicle body 2, pressure is taken off the bluff front stabilising the vehicle resulting in lighter steering, reduced tyre wear and reduced fuel consumption producing substantial savings in vehicle operating costs.
In will be appreciated, however, as shown in Figure 6, that in vehicles having no gap between the cab 1 and body 2 through which the airflow can be directed downwards, the air deflector device 4 may be mounted upside down on the bluff surface 3 extending above the cab 1 so that the air outlet 14 is at the top of the housing 6 and the airflow is directed upwards and outwards over the top of the vehicle body 2.
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, in vehicles having a gap 5, two air deflector devices 4 may be arranged to direct the airflow both downwards through the gap 5 to pass under the body 2 and upwards to pass over the top of the body 2.
The air deflector device 4 above-described has application to all types of vehicles in which there is a gap 5 below the exposed bluff surface 3 through which the airflow impinging on the bluff surface 3 may be directed downwards by the device 4 including articulated vehicles.
When fitted to a trailer unit of an articulated vehicle, the side panels 7 of the housing 6 may be angled to provide clearance for turning.
Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, the device 4 may be positioned within the turning circle of the trailer unit 116 and angled deflector plates 117 fitted on each side to direct the air flow on each side of the device 4 outwards and along the sides of the trailer unit 116.
Figure 9 shows an alternative air deflector device 104 generally similar to the device 4 above-described in which the horizontal partitions 110 are flat defining straight ducts 112 inclined to the vertical for directing the airflow downwards. In this example, the air inlets 113 are arranged in four rows at the front of the housing 106 and the partitions 110 separating ducts 112 associated with vertically aligned inlets 113 are arranged so that the airflows merge for passage through a common outlet 114 at the bottom of the housing 106.
Figure 10 shows a modified air deflector device 204 with through flow ducts 212 for directing the airflow upwards and over the top of the vehicle body in which the top horizontal partition 210 is of curved profile in side elevation having a convex outer surface which acts as an auxiliary deflector 216 to direct the air flow above the inlets 213 upwards and rearwardly.
Figure 11 shows a further modification in which the outlet 314 at the top is provided with a pivotal closure flap 317 which is lifted to an operative position opening the outlet 314 by the pressure of the airflow through the ducts 312 when the vehicle is moving forwards and is automatically lowered to an inoperative position closing the outlet 314 when the vehicle is stationary or reversing. An inextensible link or chain 318 limits pivotal movement of the flap 317 and, in the operative position, the flap 317 provides an extension of the outer surface of the top horizontal partition 310 so that the airflow above the inlets 313 is directed over the top of the device 304 and does not interfere with the airflow from the outlet 314.
Figure 12 shows yet a further modification in which the pivotal closure flap 417 is mounted by a pin and slot arrangement 419 at each side of the device 404 such that the pivot axis is vertically adjustable to vary the open position of the flap 417 in response to variations in the pressure of the airflow through the device 412. The flap 417 acts as an auxiliary deflector 416 in the operative position to direct the airflow above the inlets 413 over the top of the device 404 and a stop pin 420 limits pivotal movement of the flap 417 in each adjusted position of the pivot axis.
Other variations and modifications of the air deflector devices abovedescribed will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the housing may be pivotally mounted on the vehicle body to allow the device to be raised by a hydraulic or pneumatic strut to provide clearance for the cab to be pivoted forwards where required for access to the engine. The housing may be mounted on the cab roof in front of the exposed bluff surface.
Claims (24)
1. An air deflector device for a bluff vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface, the device comprising a housing for mounting in front of the bluff surface, the housing having a plurality of air inlets facing in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle at the front of the housing with each inlet opening to a through flow duct leading to an air outlet at the top or bottom of the housing for directing the airflow upwardly or downwardly.
2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the inlets are arranged in horizontally and/or vertically aligned rows andlor columns.
3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein ducts associated with vertically aligned inlets have a common air outlet.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the total cross-sectional area of the inlets to the ducts exceeds that of the outlet from the ducts.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the inlets to the ducts lie in a substantially vertical plane and the outlet from the ducts lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the ducts are constructed to accelerate the airflow therethrough.
7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the ducts are tapered in the direction of airflow.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims including means on opposed sides for directing the airflow outwardly of the bluff surface.
9. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising an assembly of modular units arranged side by side with each unit being one inlet wide.
10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein each unit comprises a vertical array of inlets with the associated ducts being separated by horizontal partitions.
11. A device according to Claim 10 wherein the partitions are of curved profile in side elevation for directing the airflow upwardly or downwardly.
12. A device according to Claim 10 wherein the partitions are straight in side elevation and inclined to the vertical and horizontal for directing the airflow upwardly or downwardly.
13. An air deflector device for a bluff vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface, the device having a plurality of air inlets disposed one above the other and facing in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle at the front of the device with each inlet opening to a through flow duct leading to a common air outlet at the top or bottom of the device for directing the airflow upwardly or downwardly.
14. A vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface provided with an air deflector device according to any one of the preceding Claims.
15. A vehicle according to Claim 14 wherein the bluff surface extends above a cab of the vehicle and the device is arranged to direct the airflow downwards through a gap rearwardly of the cab.
16. A vehicle according to Claim 15 wherein the device has an auxiliary external deflector below the inlets arranged to direct the airflow downwards through the gap.
17. A vehicle according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the device has a height and width similar to that of the bluff surface.
18. A vehicle according to any one of Claims 14 to 17 wherein the device has side deflector means for directing the airflow on either side of the device outwardly of the side edges of the bluff surface.
19. An air deflector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
20. An air deflector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings as modified by any one of Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
21. An air deflector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
22. An air deflector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
23. An air deflector device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings as modified by
Figure 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
24. A vehicle having a forward facing generally vertically disposed bluff surface provided with air deflector device according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB939303385A GB9303385D0 (en) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-02-19 | Air deflector device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9403084D0 GB9403084D0 (en) | 1994-04-06 |
| GB2275234A true GB2275234A (en) | 1994-08-24 |
Family
ID=10730725
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB939303385A Pending GB9303385D0 (en) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-02-19 | Air deflector device |
| GB9403084A Withdrawn GB2275234A (en) | 1993-02-19 | 1994-02-18 | Vehicle air deflector device |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB939303385A Pending GB9303385D0 (en) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-02-19 | Air deflector device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB9303385D0 (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2307212A (en) * | 1995-11-18 | 1997-05-21 | Bernard John Wasley | Aerodynamic stabiliser for bluff vehicles |
| US6877793B2 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2005-04-12 | George J. Cory | Method and apparatus for reducing drag of blunt shaped vehicles |
| US20110115254A1 (en) * | 2009-03-05 | 2011-05-19 | Joseph Skopic | Apparatus for reducing drag on vehicles with planar rear surfaces |
| WO2014116161A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-31 | Scania Cv Ab | Cooling of areas behind a vehicle engine by means of air deflectors |
| CN104470796A (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2015-03-25 | 斯堪尼亚商用车有限公司 | Air deflector and freight vehicle |
| EP3276286A1 (en) * | 2016-07-27 | 2018-01-31 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. | Transport chilling unit |
| US10780899B1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-09-22 | Charles C. Yang | Foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly for a domestic or intermodal container |
| US10794410B1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-10-06 | Charles C. Yang | Foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly for an intermodal container |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4357045A (en) * | 1978-11-03 | 1982-11-02 | Kinford Jr Harold G | Method and apparatus for reducing air drag on truck type wheeled vehicles |
| US4567734A (en) * | 1984-08-31 | 1986-02-04 | Danhard, Inc. | Air deflector-air conditioner condenser integrated unit |
-
1993
- 1993-02-19 GB GB939303385A patent/GB9303385D0/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-02-18 GB GB9403084A patent/GB2275234A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4357045A (en) * | 1978-11-03 | 1982-11-02 | Kinford Jr Harold G | Method and apparatus for reducing air drag on truck type wheeled vehicles |
| US4567734A (en) * | 1984-08-31 | 1986-02-04 | Danhard, Inc. | Air deflector-air conditioner condenser integrated unit |
Cited By (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0774402A1 (en) * | 1995-11-18 | 1997-05-21 | Bernard John Wasley | Air stabilizer device for bluff road vehicles |
| US5791724A (en) * | 1995-11-18 | 1998-08-11 | Wasley; Bernard John | Air stabilizer device for bluff road vehicles |
| GB2307212B (en) * | 1995-11-18 | 1999-09-22 | Bernard John Wasley | Air stabilizer device for bluff road vehicles |
| GB2307212A (en) * | 1995-11-18 | 1997-05-21 | Bernard John Wasley | Aerodynamic stabiliser for bluff vehicles |
| US6877793B2 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2005-04-12 | George J. Cory | Method and apparatus for reducing drag of blunt shaped vehicles |
| US20110115254A1 (en) * | 2009-03-05 | 2011-05-19 | Joseph Skopic | Apparatus for reducing drag on vehicles with planar rear surfaces |
| CN104470796B (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2016-08-17 | 斯堪尼亚商用车有限公司 | Air baffle and lorry |
| CN104470796A (en) * | 2012-06-18 | 2015-03-25 | 斯堪尼亚商用车有限公司 | Air deflector and freight vehicle |
| WO2014116161A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-31 | Scania Cv Ab | Cooling of areas behind a vehicle engine by means of air deflectors |
| EP2948330A4 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2016-08-31 | Scania Cv Ab | COOLING ZONES BEHIND A VEHICLE ENGINE USING AIR DEFLECTORS |
| EP3276286A1 (en) * | 2016-07-27 | 2018-01-31 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. | Transport chilling unit |
| US10780899B1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-09-22 | Charles C. Yang | Foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly for a domestic or intermodal container |
| US10794410B1 (en) * | 2019-05-23 | 2020-10-06 | Charles C. Yang | Foldable aerodynamic drag reducing plate assembly for an intermodal container |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9403084D0 (en) | 1994-04-06 |
| GB9303385D0 (en) | 1993-04-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |