Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a novel vehicle wind deflector
and more particularly relates to a wind deflector for cab-over-
engine vehicles and other vehicles having flat fronts e.g.
buses.
Cab-over-engine vehicles have become quite popular in
recent years because they reduce the proportion of the vehicle
occupied by the engine and the driver compartment. Position- -
ing the driver compartment oYer the engine provides a signifi-
cant increase in cargo space which means a greater payload
and increased profits. ~
One of the disadvantages of cab-over-engine vehicles, -~ -
however, has been the increased wind resistance caused by the
relatively flat front surface presented to the wind as the
vehicle moves down the highway. This increased wind drag
requires that the engine produce more power to move the vehicle
at the same speed. A greater power requirement necessitates
that the engine be larger and/or that it use more fuel. With
the recent sharp increases in fuel costs, the greater fuel
requirement has become a serious drawback to cab-over-engine
vehicles.
The present inYention provides a novel wind deflector
for cab-over-engine vehicles which results in significant
improvements in the fuel economy of such vehicles. These
improvements in fuel economy are achieved with the wind
deflector of the invention without significantly increasing
the overall length of the vehicle. Also, the novel design
of the wind deflector does not hinder driver vision. In
addition, the wind deflector is simple in design and can be
fabricated from available materials.
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Other benefits and advantages of the novel wind
deflector of the present invention will ~e apparent fr~m the
following description and the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front view o~ one form of the novel
wind deflector of the present invention on a ca~-over-engine
vehicle;
Figure 2 is a side view-of the wind deflector shown . .
in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a top view of the wind deflector shown
in Figure l;
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Figure :4 is a front view of another form of the
novel wind deflector of the present invention mounted on -~
~he ~o~ o~ a ca~-~er-engi~e ~ehic7es
Figure 5 Is a side view of the wind deflector shown
in Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a top view of the wind deflector shown
in Figure 4.
As shown in Figures 1 - 3 of the drawings, a novel wind
deflector 10 of the present ;nventïon for the front of a vehicle
body 11 includes a first section 12 which extends downwardly
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and forwardly from the top of the vehicle body 11. First
section 12 has a transparent upper portion 13 that has a uni-
form width substantially the same as the vehicle body 11.
First section 12 also has a lower portion 14 which extends from
transparent portion 13 to the leading edge 15 at the bottom -~
of the first section 12. Lower portion 14 diminishes in width
from substantially full body width where it connects with
transparent portion 13 to a significantly smaller width at
edge 15.
A second section 17 extends downwardly and rearwardly
from leading edge 15 to the bottom of the vehicle body 11.
Second section 17 has an opening 18 therein adjacent to radi-
ator opening (not shown) of the vehicle body 11. The opening
18 may have a suitable decorative grillwork 19 over the open-
ing. Advantageously, second section 17 has a substantially
uniform width from top to bottom. Side sections 21 and 22 ex-
tend from the side edges of sections 12 and 17 to the sides
of the vehicle body 11.
Bumper assembly 25 extends forwardly from vehicle body
11 below the wind deflector 10. The bumper assembly 25 extends
beyond the leading edge 15 of the wind deflector. Advanta-
geously, the arms 26 of the bumper assembly 25 are hinged
adjacent the vehicle body 11. As shown in Figure 3, by removing
face bar 27 affixed across the ends of arms 26, the arms can
be pi~oted so they will allow the body 11 to swing completely
from the engine.
A second wind deflector 30 preferably is attached to
the bumper assembly 25 below wind deflector 10. Deflector 30
has two substantially vertical sections 31 and 32 which are
joined adjacent the midpoint of the face bar 27 of the bumper
assembly. The vertical sections 31 and 32 extend rearwardly
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and o~twardly from each other toward the sides of the vehicle
body 11, as shown in Figure 3.
Another form of the novel wind deflector of the invention
is illustrated in Figures 4 - 6 of the drawings. This wind
deflector provides some of the benefits of the invention and
reduces wind drag to a lesser degree than the deflector of
Figures 1 - 3 but is less expensive to fabricate and is more
easily mounted on a vehicle body. Wind deflector 40 has a
first sec,tion 41 extending forwardly and dcwnwardl~ below windshield
42. The width of section 41 diminishes from its top to lead-
ing edge 43.
A second section 44 extends downwardly and rearwardly -
from leading edge 43 toward the bottom of the vehicle body 11.
Second section 44 has an opening 45 with grillwork 46 therein
adjacent the radiator opening (not shown) of the vehicle body.
The width of second section 44 as shown in Figure 4 increases ,
in width from leading edge 43 to its bottom edge. Advanta-
geously, sections 41 and 44 are mirror images of each other
except for the open,ing 45 in section 44. Side sections 47 and
48 of a generally -triangular shape extend between the sides
of sections 41, 44.
Wind deflector 40 is mounted on a frame 49 which ex-
tends forwardly from the bottom of vehicle body 11. Prefer-
ably, frame 49 is of a size which allows section 41 to be
positioned in a plane intersec'ing the top of the vehicle body
and section 44 to be positioned in a plane intersecting the
bottom of the vehicle body. Frame 49 is pivotable about
point 50 by removing pin 51 from the frame. This allows body , ,
11 to swing away from the engine for servicing.
The wind deflector of the invention may be fabricated
from commercially available materials. Metals such as aluminum
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or steel sheets may be employed. Also, the deflector may be
molded of plastic which advantageously is reinforced with glass
fiber. The deflector can replace the conventional flat front
panel of a vehicle body or may he secured over the flat front
panel as shown in Figures 1 - 3. Alternatively, a wind
deflector such as deflector 40 of Figures 4 - 6, may be mounted
in front of the front panel of the vehicle body.
The size and specific shape of the wind deflector will
depend upon the particular vehicle to which the deflector is
to be fitted. The angle between the first and second sections
will depend upon the spacing of the leading edge from the front
of the body and the overall height of the body. Advantageously,
the leading edge of the deflector extends forward from the
front panel of the vehicle, a distance between about 25% and
50% of the width of the body. For example, with a tractor cab
eight feet wide, the deflector may extend about two to four
feet from the body. The width of the deflector at the leading
edge preferably in b~tween about three and six feet and
particularly between about four and five feet for an eight
foot wide body.
The above description and the accompanying drawings
show that the present invention provides a novel wind deflector
for cab-over~engine vehicles which reduces the wind drag nor-
mally encountered with such vehicles. Moreover, because of
such reductions in wind resistance, vehicles incorporating the
wind deflector of the invention show significant increases in
fuel economy. Also, the wind deflector does not hinder driver
~ision nor significantly increase the overall length of the
vehicle. Further, the wind deflector of the invention is
simple in design and can be fabricated from commercially
available materials.
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It will be apparent that various modifications can be
made in the specific wind deflectors described in detail above
and shown in the drawings within the scope of the invention.
For example, the transparent portion or the wind deflector
can be enlarged or the shape changed for particular cab designs
or special requirements. Also, if desired, the configuration
of the bumper assembly can be modified for the specific vehicle.
Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the following
claims.
