Motor vehicles – Surface effect vehicles – Having propulsion or control means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-26
2001-05-15
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3611)
Motor vehicles
Surface effect vehicles
Having propulsion or control means
C180S089100, C180S903000, C180S291000, C296S180100, C296S185100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230836
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to automobiles, and more particularly, to a lightweight, passenger, self-propelled vehicle, with improved structural and body characteristics.
BACKGROUND ART
The conventional automobile often carrying a single driver-passenger, weighs on the average between 1000 and 1200 kg. and transports an average person of 70 kg. It is well settled that the conventional automobile is highly inefficient, particularly in a city environment in view of the amount of energy in the form of fuel required to move such a vehicle and resultant pollution. No matter how much research is done on engine efficiency, as long as the automobile has the mass referred to above.
In addition, conventional automobiles have a drag coefficient of C
d
=0.38 or more. For highway driving, the drag coefficient increases the power requirements of the vehicle. Thus relatively powerful engines are required to overcome the mass and drag coefficient. Such engines add to the overall mass of the vehicle. Fuel consumption is rarely below 7 liters per kilometer.
One of the problems with lightweight vehicles is the lack of stability at higher speed. In order to attain a mass of less than 500 kg. the resulting vehicle would be fragile and somewhat unstable at speed of 100 km. or more, due to aerodynamic lift associated with most conventional body shapes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,222, Fletcher, issued Apr. 20, 1976, shows a lightweight car in the form of a reverse airfoil. Although the aerodynamic lift associated with the automobile shown in this patent is reversed, the automobile in this patent would be subject to lateral instability.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a lightweight vehicle with low serodynamic drag coefficient to thereby reduce the power requirements.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an inexpensive automobile construction providing reduced maintenance.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an automobile with reduced drag coefficient of C
d
=0.20 or lower and a mass of less than 450 kg.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an automobile of low mass but having aerodynamic features which render the automobile stable at higher speeds.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an automobile with relatively low fuel consumption.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a vehicle where the engine and transmission is concentrated in the center of the vehicle providing a low polar moment and improve vehicle handling.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an automobile with improved safety for the driver and passengers.
A construction in accordance with the present invention comprises an automobile having a chassis and an outer cladding in the form of an airfoil with a top wall forming the pressure surface, the bottom wall forming the suction surface, the front of the automobile forms the leading edge and the rear forms the trailing edge. At least a spoiler is provided at one of the front and rear portions of the automobile, the spoiler being located at the bottom wall near one of the leading edge and the trailing edge respectively. The spoiler extends transversely of the automobile and is spaced from the bottom wall to provide an air flow passage therebetween and form a downward force on the automobile.
In a more specific embodiment there is a front spoiler and a rear spoiler such that the spoilers provide a downward force on the automobile sufficient to provide stability thereto at high speeds. The spoilers also form the front and rear bumpers of the automobile.
In another aspect of the present invention the automobile is provided with an engine located centrally of the chassis and at the proximity of the center of gravity.
In a more specific embodiment of the present invention a pair of vertical stabilizer fins are provided at the trailing edge of the automobile and project rearwardly in order to provide lateral stability to the automobile and with an additional purpose of locating the pressure center of the automobile aft of the center of gravity of the automobile.
More specifically the present invention provides an automobile body with a drag coefficient of C
d
=0.20 or lower. The total vehicle curb mass would be less than 450 kg.
Still more specifically the automobile is provided with a pair of bulkheads front and rear of the engine and defining an inverted V, the bulkheads forming backrests for oppositely disposed front and rear seats of the automobile.
Thus the structure of the automobile includes back-to-back four passenger seats with the back rests of the seats being integrated to the triangular configuration of structural bulkheads. The drive train is suspended from the apex of the structural bulkheads, including the engine which is located at the level of the floor. The floor is double clad including the bottom wall and includes storage for the gas tank, and in the event of conversion to an electrical motor, storage of the batteries.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2079218 (1937-05-01), Kedwinka
patent: 2118550 (1938-05-01), D'Aubarede
patent: 2533752 (1950-12-01), Alamagny
patent: 2612964 (1952-10-01), Hobbs
patent: 2955869 (1960-10-01), Blaser
patent: 3244246 (1966-04-01), Weiland
patent: 3922014 (1975-11-01), Hinderks
patent: 3951222 (1976-04-01), Fletcher
patent: 4369559 (1983-01-01), Phillips
patent: 4772062 (1988-09-01), Janssen et al.
patent: 4898419 (1990-02-01), Kenmochi et al.
patent: 4966408 (1990-10-01), Yura
patent: 5924763 (1999-07-01), Daniels
patent: 187 296 (1936-10-01), None
patent: 976 991 (1964-10-01), None
patent: 2087519 (1971-12-01), None
patent: 2191519 (1974-02-01), None
patent: 1454507 (1973-09-01), None
Cowan Ben
Kmicikiewicz Marek A.
CKE Technologies Inc.
Jacobson Price Holman & Stern PLLC
Mai Lanna
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