Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – With distinct wind deflector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2001-03-06
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
With distinct wind deflector
C296S180100, C180S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196620
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to spoiler systems in general, and relates specifically to an aerodynamically responsive vehicular undercarriage safety spoiler system for race cars. As used herein, the term “race cars” is intended to include cars, as well as trucks, and any similar vehicle adapted for high speed movement on a solid surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of fixed rear spoilers have been employed for automobiles, including race cars, that serve to spoil or divert air flow passing over the aerodynamic surfaces of the vehicle to thereby reduce, or negate, the aerodynamic lift created thereon by high speed air flow. These spoilers are normally set at a minimum angle by the sanctioning body controlling race car competition. At this angle, the spoilers located on the desk lid of vehicles provide positive aerodynamic down forces on the rear end of the vehicle to thereby increase tire traction, enhance directional stability and, as one of several devices employed, to limit maximum vehicle speed. Speeds approach or exceed approximately one-hundred ninety miles per hour (190 mph) during competition and often, when one race car contacts another aft of the vehicle center of gravity of the vehicle, at these high speeds, radial inertia forces cause it to rotate or spin, through a one-hundred eighty degree arc angle and become airborne while going in the backward direction. The fixed spoiler, and aerodynamic design of the race car vehicle, exposed to the high velocity aerodynamic air stream lifts the rear end of the car off the ground, resulting in tumbling, cart-wheeling and airborne rolls before striking the ground. Extensive car damage and/or driver injury is the result. The hard mounted, or fixed spoiler, at a high angle of attack contributes greatly to the aerodynamic lift effect when traveling in a high speed, backward mode.
To alleviate this problem, pivotally movable rear deck-mounted spoilers have been proposed and are disclosed in applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,619. Also, roof mounted spoilers that deploy only during vehicle spin or during high speed vehicle backward movement are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,098. While these prior art devices improve vehicle stabilization during spins and during high speed backward movement, they do not influence high velocity air movements under the vehicle that also provide positive pressure lift on the vehicle. Air flow over areas of the undercarriage of a race vehicle not influenced at certain angles during spin-out by these prior art systems include the rear floor pan, fuel cell, wheel wells and other apparatus.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for further vehicle stabilization during spin outs and during high speed backward movements.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved aerodynamic stability to a race vehicle during spin-out.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a spoiler system for the undercarriage of a race vehicle that is responsive to the direction of movement of the vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an angular adjustable spoiler system for the undercarriage of a race vehicle.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for creating air turbulence and drag as air passes underneath of a race vehicle during spin-out and subsequent rearward movement.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a spoiler system for the undercarriage of a race car vehicle that is pivotally movable between a position having a favorable effect on the air flowing underneath the vehicle when traveling in a forward direction, to a position spoiling the aerodynamic air flowing underneath the vehicle when traveling in a high speed rearward direction.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a spoiler system for the undercarriage of a race vehicle wherein the spoiler plate is aerodynamically and spring urged to return to its normal, or static un-deployed position, as the race vehicle resumes its normal forward direction after recovering from a spin.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, the foregoing and additional objects are attained by providing a spoiler plate transversely, and pivotally, connected to the aft undercarriage, and adjacent to the rear bumper of a race car vehicle. Additional spoiler plates are also pivotally connected to the vehicle aft undercarriage and are essentially perpendicularly disposed relative to the first spoiler plate. These perpendicularly disposed spoiler plates are located in spacing in the rear lower quarter panel on each side of the vehicle.
The individual spoiler plates are in the form of a unitary plate in one aspect of the present invention and two or more segmented plates in other aspects of the invention. The first plate and the perpendicularly disposed spoiler plates are of the same construction, and function, with the only particular difference being in the sizes thereof. In the preferred embodiment, radial pivot arms support the spoiler plate(s). The radial pivot arms are secured to a horizontal mounting support structure fixed, and adjacent, to the aft end of the vehicle frame.
The radial pivot arms serve to limit the pivotal movement of the spoiler plate(s) in both the fore and aft directions. Tension or torsion springs connect the radial pivot arms, and maintain them in contact with the mounting structure when not under the influence of air flow acting on the rear of the vehicle during spin-out and high speed rearward vehicle movement. The vehicle rear bumper is provided with one or more horizontal slots along the length thereof to permit high speed air flow therethrough to contact the spoiler plate(s) during vehicle spin-out and high-speed rearward vehicle movement. The transverse spoiler plates are provided with angular depending lip surfaces along the leading edge length thereof adjacent to and disposed essentially flush with the rear bumper of the vehicle. The quarter panel spoiler plates are also provided with an angular depending lip and disposed essentially flush with the quarter panel exterior surface when in the static or undeployed position. These depending lips serve to help stabilize the undercarriage air flow when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction and assist in deploying the spoiler plates against the force of their spring connections when the vehicle undergoes spin and rearward reverse movement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4119339 (1978-10-01), Heimburger
patent: 4511170 (1985-04-01), Sankrithi
patent: 4678118 (1987-07-01), Fukami et al.
patent: 2159636 (1973-05-01), None
patent: 3245410 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 3625814 (1988-02-01), None
patent: 3712048 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 0601292A1 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 560594 (1959-01-01), None
Dayoan D. Glenn
Murray Mickki D.
Nelson Wallace J.
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