초록 ▼

A cowling assembly (10) is installed about the radiator (R) of a vehicle (V). A frame (12) fits about the radiator and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator. A rack and pinion drive (600) for moving a sheet (618) over the frame to expose a portion of the opening and allow a

A cowling assembly (10) is installed about the radiator (R) of a vehicle (V). A frame (12) fits about the radiator and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator. A rack and pinion drive (600) for moving a sheet (618) over the frame to expose a portion of the opening and allow air to flow into the radiator, the frame and sheet producing a smoother flow of air over and about the front of the vehicle thereby reducing the amount of drag on the vehicle while still allowing air flow into the radiator.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fairing air inlet assembly to reduce drag on a vehicle having a radiator with a front comprising: a) a frame having a front and a back, wherein the frame has an upper section and a lower section, and a pair of curved side panels forming an interior, wherein the upper section and the lower secti

1. A fairing air inlet assembly to reduce drag on a vehicle having a radiator with a front comprising: a) a frame having a front and a back, wherein the frame has an upper section and a lower section, and a pair of curved side panels forming an interior, wherein the upper section and the lower section have parallel curved front edges near the front of the frame;b) at least one air tunnel defined in the interior of the frame;c) a pair of sheets having parallel sides; wherein the sides are moveably engaged with the pair of curved front edges;d) a pair of vertical spools mounted on each curved side panel;the sides of the frame, the approximately horizontal and approximately vertical panel defining tunnels through which air flows to the radiator. 2. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 1 further including a plurality of interior panels mounted in the frame at spaced intervals so to define a plurality of air tunnels to the radiator. 3. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 1, wherein the sheets are moveable back and forth on curved tracks mounted near the front edges of the upper section and the lower section to control the amount of air flow through the tunnel to the radiator. 4. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 3 in which the tracks are heated so to facilitate movement of the sheets over the tracks during freezing conditions. 5. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 1 in which the sheets are a lightweight, flexible material. 6. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 1 wherein the interior panel mounted in the frame is an approximately horizontal panel that extends approximately horizontally across the front of the radiator, and wherein the fairing air inlet assembly further includes at least one approximately vertical interior panel located intermediate wherein the sheets in the blocked position conform to the curved front edges of the upper section and the lower section; andwherein the curved shape of the front edges and the side panels reduces drag on the vehicle. 7. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 6 further including sensors monitoring the radiator fluid temperature, wherein the sensors output data to a controller which in turn activate the drive mechanism. 8. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is a reversible step motor. 9. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 8 in which the sheets comprise two sheets of material wound on the two spools; wherein the drive mechanism winds and unwinds the sheets from the spools; and wherein the sheets, when unwound, cover at least a portion of the front of the radiator. 10. A fairing air inlet assembly to reduce drag on a vehicle having a radiator with a front comprising: a) a frame having a front and a back, wherein the frame has an upper section and a lower section, and a pair of curved side panels forming an interior, wherein the upper section and the lower section have parallel curved front edges near the front of the frame;b) at least one air tunnel defined in the interior of the frame;c) a pair of sheets having parallel sides; wherein the sides are moveably engaged with the pair of curved front edges;d) a pair of vertical spools mounted on each curved side panel;e) a drive mechanism to move the sheets from an unblocked position to a blocked position and back; wherein the back of the frame is mounted adjacent to the radiator;wherein the at least one air tunnel is in front of and approximately perpendicular to the radiator front and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator;wherein the sheets in the blocked position block airflow into the air tunnel toward the radiator and in the unblocked position allow airflow into the air tunnel and into the radiator;e) a drive mechanism to move the sheets from an unblocked position to a blocked position and back; wherein the back of the frame is mounted adjacent to the radiator;wherein the at least one air tunnel is in front of and approximately perpendicular to the radiator front and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator;wherein the at least one air tunnel is further defined by at least one interior panel;wherein the at least one interior panel is generally rectangular and has sides, a front tip end, width and depth; and wherein the at least one interior panel is fixedly mounted on its sides in the interior of the frame;wherein the depth of the interior panel is sufficient to bring the at least one interior panel proximate to the front of the radiator;wherein the front tip end approximately aligns with the sheets in the blocked position;wherein the sheets in the blocked position block airflow into the air tunnel toward the radiator and in the unblocked position allow airflow into the air tunnel and into the radiator;wherein the sheets in the blocked position conform to the curved front edges of the upper section and the lower section; andwherein the curved shape of the front edges and the side panels reduces drag on the vehicle. 11. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one air tunnel is further defined by at least one interior panel. 12. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one interior panel is generally rectangular and has sides, a front tip end, width and depth; and wherein the at least one interior panel is fixedly mounted on its sides in the interior of the frame. 13. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 12, wherein the depth of the interior panel is sufficient to bring the at least one interior panel proximate to the front of the radiator. 14. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 10 further including sensors monitoring the radiator fluid temperature, wherein the sensors output data to a controller which in turn activate the drive mechanism. 15. The fairing air inlet assembly of claim 10 in which the tracks are heated so to facilitate movement of the sheets over the tracks during freezing conditions. 16. A fairing air inlet assembly to reduce drag on a vehicle having a radiator comprising: a) a frame having a front and a back, wherein the frame has an upper section and a lower section, and a pair of curved side panels forming an interior, wherein the upper section and the lower section have a pair of curved tracks on the interior near the front of the frame;b) a plurality of air tunnels in the interior of the frame;c) a pair of sheets having parallel sides; wherein the sides are moveably engaged with the two curved tracks;d) a drive mechanism to move the sheets from an unblocked position to a blocked position and back;e) the pair of sheets comprise two sheets of material wound on two spools; wherein the drive mechanism winds and unwinds the sheets from the spools; and wherein the sheets, when unwound, cover at least a portion of the front of the radiator, wherein the back of the frame is mounted in front of, adjacent to and about the radiator;wherein the air tunnels are approximately perpendicular to the radiator front and define openings through which air can flow into the radiator;wherein the air tunnels are further defined by a plurality of approximately horizontal and approximately vertical interior panels;wherein the interior panels are generally rectangular and have sides, an outer tip end, width and depth; and wherein the panels are fixedly mounted on their sides in the interior of the frame;wherein the depth of the panels is sufficient to bring the mounted panel proximate to the front of the radiator;wherein the sheets in the blocked position block airflow into the air tunnel toward the radiator and in the unblocked position allow airflow into the radiator;wherein the sheets in the blocked position conforms to the curved shape of the track; and wherein the curved shape reduces drag on the vehicle;wherein the sheets move between the blocked and unblocked position, and multiple intermediate positions between the blocked and unblocked positions; andwherein the fairing further includes sensors monitoring the ambient temperature, and air conditions, wherein the sensors output data to a controller which in turn activate the drive mechanism.