Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~7977Z
Tbis invention relates tu an air flow d~Fl~ctDr For u~s at
the raar of heavy vehicles.
It is well known that high turbelence occurs at the back of
a vshicla in movem~nt due to the vacuum created by th~ moving vehicle.
It is also wsll known thst this turbulencs ha~ a suction a~Foct which
increases fusl consumption.
~ t i5 therefors the objact of the pres~nt inuention to provide
an air flow daflector for usa at the r~ar of a u~hicle body which
substantially dacraas~s turbulencs whan the vehicle is in mouament.
Tha air flow deflsctor, in accurdanc~ with the invention~
cornprises a profil~d plat~ in tha ganeral shape of an "5" in transvers~
cros~ eection adaptetJ to bu mount~d vertically, one on a~ch side at
; tha roar of the uehlcle body ~or directing tha air ~Low directly out-
w~r~ to substantially raduca turbulance,
The plate preferably extends the full haight of ths vehicle
body and has a width approximatsly equal to one third of ths width of
the body~
Each pro~iled plate is preferably mountad on a structura
permitting pivotal movsment of the plate to a position along tha aide
of the vehicle body. Such structure may include two transverse bars
located one adjac~nt the top and the oth~r adjacent the bottom of the
plate, two hingaa located at tha corner uf the vahicle body ~nd upon
which ths bars ars pivotally mountsd at one end and means for removably
securing tha other snd o~ the bars to the back of tha vehicls body~
ThH invention will now be disclosed, by way of sxample~ with
referenca to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the back of a heauy vshicla providad
with two dafl0ctors in accordancs with the invantion;
Figure 2 illustrat0s the air flow at tha rear o~ a vehicle
equipped with the air flow deflectora in accDrdance with the inuention;
Figure 3 show6 how the air flow deflactors can ba mo~ed to
-2~ $ ~ ~
~CI 7977z
a pusiti.0n alorlg the side of thr~ vcehiclQ bo(Jy;
Figure 4 illustrates an ~mbod rnnnt for p:ivotally mounting
tile ~flector in accordance with the invention;
Fi.~Jurc 5 illustrates a Vi~!W takerl along line 5-5 of Fi~u~e 3;
and
Figure 6 is a brokHn section taken alung line 6-6 of Figure 1.
~eferring to ths drawings~ th~re i.s shown an cmbodl!nent w~
the invention including a profilr.~ plat~ 10 gPnr~rally in the ~ape of an
"5~ in transver~e cross-section moLmtsd ono on each side at the rear
oF a vehicle body 12~ Each plate 10 cxtends the full height of the
vehicls body and has a width approxirnat01y equal to ons~third o~ the
width of the vehicle body. The plate 10 las inwardly curved top and
bottom edg~ portions 13 and 13~ OirectslJ towartls the back of th~ vehicle
borly 12 as hown in figuro 6. Plate 10 is preFora~Jly m~de of ~heet
metal reinforcr3d with transvers~ msrnbers 14 but could alsa be mad~ of
moulded plastic material.
Referring to Figures 4 and S, each plate 10 i5 mounted on a
frame comprising two transvarse bars 16. Ons vertical sdge of each
plats is provided with two L-shaped brackets 1~, the top one of which
fits ovsr top bar 16 and the lower one of which is rsmovably sscured
to lowor bar 16 by a p.in 20. ~ars 16 are pivotally mDuntud on the
cornsr of khe vehicle body ~y hingss 22, The oppos:ltr~ ndgo of each
plate is provided with two C-shaped brackets 2~ which are
permanently secured to the other end of the bars by pins 26, A flexible
link 28 consisting of a pair of rubber straps 29 secursd to metal end
membars 29~ and 29" is pivotally attachsd to each bar 16 by means of end
member 29~ and pin 26. End member 29" of each link 28 is attached to a ..
vertical post 30 which is provided at a proper end with a hook 22
engaging a catch 24 fixed to the top edge of the back of vehicle body
12. Ths lowsr end oF the post 30 is removably locked in position on
the back of the vehicls body by catch 36 and pin 3~.
- As illustrater~ in Figurs 3, oach plate 10 may bs moved to the
- 3 ~ ..
'~ ,~' ' ', , ; ' '''
1079772
sida of tha uahicle body in the diraction indicatad by arrow A to
cl~ar the back of the behicle body for full opening of the raar doors
of the vehicle~ For so doing, locking pin 3a and locking pin 20 are
removed and po~t 30 is lift~d slightly ~o disengage llook ~2 from
catch 34. This i9 pos~ible due to rubber straps 29 which, while bsing
rigid enough to hold the deflactor in position, ha~e enough flexibility
,, .. .,, " . .
to allow su~ficisnt vsrtical movem0nt of the pos-t to disengaga tha hook
32 ~rom catch 340 ~y leaving pin 20 in position, it is possible to
open the plates 10 about hingss 22 to clear the raar doors of the vHhiole
body.
Straps 29 serve alqo to prevent transmission of vibrations
between plates 10 and vehicle body 12.
Figure 2 illu~trates schematically ths dirsction of ths air
flow at tlle rear o~ a moving vHhicle sguippotl with th~ air de~lectur~
in sccordanc~ with the invention. Due to the S-shaped p~ofile of ths
deflsctor and its curved top and bottom edges, the air Flow along th~
sides and top and bottom surfaces of the vahicls body 12 and passing ` `~
outside cf the dsflector is deflected in the direction ~. The air flow
passing between the deflector and the back of the vehicle body flows
out in the direction C in bstwsen the two deflectors. The two air
flows merge and flow outwardly in the direction D to substantially
ellmina~e all turbulence. Applicant ha~ found that his air d~flectors ;~
can reduce Fuel consumption ~or a hsavy vehicle by about 10~ at 60 m.p.h.
Although the invention has been disclossd with reference to a
preferred embodiment~ it iq to be underqtood that it is not limited to
such smbodlment and that othsr alternativss are also envisaged. For
sxample~ othsr means may be providsd for mounting the deflectors at the
rear of the vehicle body.
' :"`''~
'~ ,'
. ,
-4-
'' ,'.
