초록 ▼

A drag reduction arrangement for the body of an athlete moving through a fluid medium, comprises a device attachable to the athlete's body for delaying the onset of boundary layer separation at a trailing surface thereof. The device preferably comprises an array of vortex generators. As a result, fo

A drag reduction arrangement for the body of an athlete moving through a fluid medium, comprises a device attachable to the athlete's body for delaying the onset of boundary layer separation at a trailing surface thereof. The device preferably comprises an array of vortex generators. As a result, form drag is reduced by an amount which is substantially greater than any increase in skin friction due to the presence of the vortices.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A wearable article for use by a person moving rapidly through a fluid medium in a longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining a direction of fluid flow relative to said person, and said article having a drag reduction arrangement comprising an upstream row and at le

[ I claim:] [1.] A wearable article for use by a person moving rapidly through a fluid medium in a longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining a direction of fluid flow relative to said person, and said article having a drag reduction arrangement comprising an upstream row and at least one additional row of spaced vortex generators secured to said article, at least said upstream row being located on a line at least just upstream of a surface that is curved in said longitudinal direction, each said row of vortex generators being arranged so as to extend in a transverse direction relative to said fluid flow when said article is worn, and said vortex generators being oriented so as to create trailing vortices extending in said longitudinal direction and having a height sufficient to extend about 1/4 to 1/2 the way into a boundary layer formed by the motion of the person through the fluid medium, whereby said vortex generators delay the onset of boundary layer separation and thereby reduce form drag.