IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0525406
(2014-10-28)
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등록번호 |
US-9162716
(2015-10-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Gottlieb, Rackman & Reisman, P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
38 |
초록
▼
An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements each coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door that the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted pos
An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least two air deflection elements each coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door that the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing door of the vehicle, with at least the latter two air deflection elements having matching configurations. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a cargo-carrying compartment of a cargo-hauling ground vehicle, said cargo-carrying compartment being characterized by a rear wall formed by substantially planar wall portions arranged above, below and on opposite sides of an opening with at least on
1. A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a cargo-carrying compartment of a cargo-hauling ground vehicle, said cargo-carrying compartment being characterized by a rear wall formed by substantially planar wall portions arranged above, below and on opposite sides of an opening with at least one door disposed therein, the drag reduction apparatus comprising two non-planar air deflection elements, and a plurality of support members associated with each said air deflection element and coupling each said air deflection element to a respective associated portion of the exterior surface of said cargo-carrying compartment that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, each said air deflection element comprising a housing member and an elongating member, said housing member having a leading edge and a trailing edge and said elongating member being selectively displaceable between a retracted position and at least one deployed position wherein at least a portion of said elongating member extends from said housing member, said plurality of associated support members allowing selective movement of each said air deflection element between a proximal position and at least one distal position, wherein in said proximal position the leading edge of each respective housing member is substantially flush with said associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of each respective housing member substantially abuts said associated portion of said exterior surface, and wherein said two air deflection elements comprise the left-side air deflection element and the right-side air deflection element for said vehicle. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third non-planar air deflection element and a plurality of support members associated with said third air deflection element and coupling said third air deflection element to a third associated portion of the exterior surface of said vehicle that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, said third air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plurality of support members associated with said third air deflection element allowing selective displacement of said third air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least a first deployed position and a second deployed position, and wherein in said retracted position the leading edge of said third air deflection element is substantially flush with said third associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of said third air deflection element substantially abuts said third associated portion of said exterior surface. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a fourth non-planar air deflection element, said fourth air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said fourth air deflection element having an associated frame attached to the exterior surface of an associated one of said wall portions and said fourth air deflection element having at least one support member associated with said fourth air deflection element and coupling said fourth air deflection element to said associated wall portion, said at least one support member associated with said fourth air deflection element allowing selective displacement of said fourth air deflection element between a fourth air deflection element retracted position and at least one fourth air deflection element deployed position, said at least one fourth air deflection element deployed position comprising at least one proximal deployed position and at least one distal deployed position, wherein in said retracted position said fourth air deflection element is disposed substantially within said associated frame, wherein in said at least one proximal deployed position the leading edge of said fourth air deflection element substantially abuts said associated frame, and wherein in said at least one distal deployed position the leading edge of said fourth air deflection element is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from said associated frame. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third non-planar air deflection element, said third air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said third air deflection element having an associated frame attached to the exterior surface of an associated one of said wall portions and said third air deflection element having at least one support member associated with said third air deflection element and coupling said third air deflection element to said associated wall portion, said at least one support member associated with said third air deflection element allowing selective displacement of said third air deflection element between a third air deflection element retracted position and at least one third air deflection element deployed position, said at least one third air deflection element deployed position comprising at least one proximal deployed position and at least one distal deployed position, wherein in said retracted position said third air deflection element is disposed substantially within said associated frame, wherein in said at least one proximal deployed position the leading edge of said third air deflection element substantially abuts said associated frame, and wherein in said at least one distal deployed position the leading edge of said third air deflection element is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from said associated frame. 5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-4 further comprising drive elements for power-assisted displacement of each said air deflection element. 6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-4 further comprising drive elements for manual displacement of each said air deflection element. 7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-4 wherein each said air deflection element further comprises a selectively energizable heating element. 8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-4 wherein said cargo-hauling ground vehicle comprises a medium-haul box truck. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one rear door comprises a roll-up door.
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