Abstract:
The invention relates to a drag-reducing aerodynamic component, comprising a body attachable to a roof of a vehicle, wherein the body comprises an air flow duct with a duct inlet at a front end of the body, and a duct outlet and a rear end of the body, located at a distance different from zero from the front end. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a drag reducing component, wherein the body is attached to a roof of the vehicle and air flows through the air flow duct and is directed toward the rear end of the body, such that air stagnation is reduced around the vehicle and air flow is accelerated between the vehicle and a trailer attached to the vehicle to prevent air recirculation between the vehicle and the trailer, thereby reducing air pressure around and drag on the vehicle.
Abstract:
A latch for an aerodynamic structure is provided. The latch includes a transceiver and antenna coupled to a processor that receives signals indicative of speed. The processor causes the latch driver to be energized to release the latch to deploy the aerodynamic structure.
Abstract:
Method for optimizing a position of an air deflector (3, 4) guiding an airflow around a ground automotive vehicle during driving, comprising sensing a parameter of the electric actuator (30) for moving the air deflector (3, 4) from the first to the second position (p1; p2) and registering a plurality of signal amplitudes of the sensed parameter (101). The method further comprises a step of c1) in a time domain, identifying a portion of consecutive registered signal amplitudes, and identifying a position corresponding to a signal amplitude peak within the identified portion with a largest deviation from the first or second threshold value (102a), or as an alternative to c1), in a step c2) in a frequency domain, identifying center frequencies of pulses corresponding to registered signal amplitudes, and identifying a position corresponding to an identified center frequency of a pulse with a largest deviation from a frequency value (102b). Thereafter the air deflector (3, 4) is moved to the identified position (103).
Abstract:
The present invention includes methods and apparatus for attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. Embodiments of the methods include attaching a skirt-supporting member to a trailer in a cantilevered configuration, and operably coupling a trailer skirt to the skirt-supporting member to provide a sliding coupling between the trailer skirt and the skirt-supporting member. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a trailer-skirt coupling apparatus including a trailer mounting bracket configured for mechanically coupling the apparatus to a trailer, a skirt-supporting member operably attached the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration, and a skirt channel configured to slidingly couple the skirt-supporting member to the trailer skirt.
Abstract:
The present invention includes methods and apparatus for flexibly attaching a trailer skirt to a trailer. This can include attaching a trailer mounting bracket to a trailer and attaching a bi-modulus bending member to the trailer mounting bracket in a cantilevered configuration at a bracket end of the bi-modulus bending member. The bi-modulus bending member includes a bending element set configured to elastically buckle when a lateral force component exceeds a threshold force, and the bi-modulus bending member is configured to return to a straightened configuration after buckling and bending to a buckled configuration when the threshold force is removed.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Heckspoiler-Einrichtung (8) für einen LKW (1), die aufweist: ein Dach-Luftleitelement (10), das zwischen einer Fahrstellung zur aerodynamischen Konturverlängerung einer Dachfläche (5) des LKW und einer eingefahrenen Grundstellung zur Anlage an oder hinter einer Hecktür (6) verstellbar ist, ein Seiten-Luftleitelement (12), das zwischen einer Fahrstellung zur Konturverlängerung einer Seitenwand (4) des LKW (1) und einer eingefahrenen Grundstellung zur Anlage an oder hinter der Hecktür verstellbar ist, eine Kopplungseinrichtung (15) zur Kopplung der Verstellbewegungen der Luftleitelemente. Hierbei ist vorgesehen, dass die Kopplungseinrichtung (15) zwischen einer seitlichen Kante (10c) des Dach-Luftleitelementes (10) und einer oberen Kante (12c) des Seiten-Luftleitelementes (12) vorgesehen ist und diese beiden Kanten miteinander verbindet, die Kopplungseinrichtung eine Koppelstange (15b) aufweist, die zwischen einem hinteren äußeren Eckbereich (10bc) des Dach-Luftleitelementes (10) und einem oberen hinteren Eckbereich (12bc) des Seiten- Luftleitelementes (12) angebracht ist und die Verstellbewegung der Eckbereiche miteinander koppelt, und das Dach-Luftleitelement (10) über eine Dach-Scharniereinrichtung (11) derartig verstellbar vorgesehen ist, dass seine vordere Kante (10a) in der Fahrstellung zur Anlage am LKW (1) ausgebildet und in der Grundstellung nach unten herab geschwenkt ist.
Abstract:
The disclosure provides a passive pressure drag reduction apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing (106) comprising a base face (114), an open top face (110) opposite the base face and at least one side face (108) extending between the base face and the top face, wherein the base face, the top face and the at least one side face define a cavity (102). A panel (112) is aligned with the top face of the housing, and there is provided an aperture (104) extending around the panel, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with an environment surrounding the apparatus via the aperture. Further, attachment means are provided arranged to secure the panel to the housing.
Abstract:
Es wird ein Luftführungselement (4) zum Reduzieren des Luftwiderstandes eines Lastfahrzeuges (1) mit einem Laderaumaufbau (2) beschrieben, welches im Heckbereich (3) des Laderaumaufbaus (2) von außen anbringbar ist und einen Luftleitkanal (5) mit einer in Fahrtrichtung (x) vorderen Lufteintrittsöffnung (6) und einer hinteren Luftaustrittsöffnung (7) aufweist, wobei die Lufteintrittsöffnung (6) den Laderaumaufbau (2) in der Fahrtrichtung (x) überlappt und die Luftaustrittsöffnung (7) hinter dem Laderaumaufbau (2), innerhalb dessen Querschnittskontur angeordnet ist, wobei das Luftführungselement (4) eine den Luftleitkanal (5) begrenzende und beweglich gegenüber dem Laderaumaufbau (2) angeordnete Kappe (8) aufweist, die bei Unterschreiten einer vorgegebenen Luftgeschwindigkeit in Richtung des Laderaumaufbaus (2) absinkt und bei Überschreiten der Luftgeschwindigkeit von der Luftströmung gegenüber dem Laderaumaufbau (2) angehoben ist. Es lag daher der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Luftführungselement zu entwickeln, mit welchem die durch dessen Fahrstellung definierten maximalen Fahrzeugabmessungen auch während des Verstellens eingehalten werden. Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, dass die Kappe (8) gegenüber dem Laderaumaufbau (2) derart gelagert ist, dass diese ausschließlich eine translatorische Bewegung ausführt.
Abstract:
On a moving vehicle (1) an air flow (f1) generated by the draught caused by the moving vehicle is guided round the corner section (4) of the vehicle and along the latter's side section (8) in order to reduce the air resistance and cause the side section (8) to be cleaned by an air flow (f1) which counters its fouling from below by spray and dirt particles. The air flow (f) passes also through an engine space in order to cool an engine. The engine space being relatively cramped means that the air flow (f) is subjected to flow resistance and pressure drop. This leads to part of the air flow (f3) leaking from the engine space, e.g. in the region round a boarding stairway (16). The leaking air flow (f3) may weaken and alter the direction of the air flow (f1), thereby reducing the latter's cleaning effect and increasing the air resistance and the fuel consumption. A redirecting means (50) adapted to redirecting the air flow (f3) in a direction such as not to affect the air flow (f1).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a drag reduction system for a vehicle which comprises an air distribution system, including a nozzle arrangement for providing a directed air flow away from the direction of vehicle travel, a flow regulation arrangement and a sensor arrangement for sensing vehicle speed and/or an air speed relative to the vehicle. The flow regulation arrangement regulates air flow through the nozzle arrangement as a function of vehicle speed and/or air speed information received from the sensor arrangement. The directed air flow from the nozzle arrangement causes adjacent air flow to be pulled towards, or held against, the directed air flow. This is an example of the Coanda effect, and acts to reduce turbulence and low- pressure behind a moving vehicle,and thus aerodynamic drag. The optimal velocity of the directed air flow depends on the vehicle's speed and/or the speed of air relative to the vehicle. Thus, air flow through the nozzle arrangement is regulated based on the readings from the sensor arrangement.