Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Details
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-08-21
Barefoot, Galen L. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Details
C244S199100, C244S200000, C296S180100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276636
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
This invention relates to an apparatus and method of using fluid or wind de-organizers which are mounted on moving objects such as, but not limited to, motor vehicles, or to objects over which liquids or air flows.
2. Background Art
Since the creation of motor vehicles, designers and engineers have attempted to reduce air drag to increase the efficiency of the vehicle. Aerodynamic designs have proliferated throughout the years. Initially, it was believed that the smoother the surface, the faster and more fuel efficient the motor vehicle would be. However, it appeared that the opposite results were obtained. These results were confirmed with the design of golf balls. When dimples were added to the surface of golf balls, they would travel farther. The placement and texture of the dimples is the subject of several patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,937 to Dalton, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,283 to Gobush, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,727 to Shaw, et al. The purpose of these wind de-organizers is to disturb the air flow so as to reduce the friction as the air passes over the object, or the object passes through the air. Air passing over a smooth object creates friction between the smooth surface and the air. By placing dimples or “chevrons” on the surface of airplanes, skin friction can be reduced by thirteen percent (13%). “Bumps to the Rescue”, Murray,
Popular Science,
1998. The present invention takes this concept one step further. By fastening tabs or adding protrusions to the surface of a motor vehicle, the performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle can be enhanced. In addition, the stability of the vehicle is increased by the use of the tabs or protrusions.
Most prior art for air diverting apparatuses are used for deflecting the air flow from a certain portion of the vehicle for noise reduction and the like. These include U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,753 to Steffanoff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,305 to Watzlawick, et al. Other spoiler devices are designed to direct the air flow in a manner to keep the vehicle on the road surface, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,931 to Nelson. Spoilers such as rear spoilers on automobiles do nothing to help the air flow over a vehicle. They merely use the air that has already passed over the vehicle to create a down force to the rear end of the vehicle.
Other prior art patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,203 to Morelli, teach the use of fan blades attached to the wheels of a vehicle, venting air to the bottom edge of a truncated tail to form stationary ring vortex, which reduces drag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,145 to Harris discloses the use of a plurality of cavities on a rear portion of a tractor trailer for reduction of drag.
Front spoilers merely keep air from getting underneath the vehicle so as to help eliminate lift or in effect, making the vehicle stick to the road better.
However, none of the prior art discloses the use of air de-organizers, placed to break up the smooth flow of air over the motor vehicle to improve the efficiency of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for de-organizing a liquid or gas flowing over an object to break up the smooth flow of air or liquid, thus reducing friction and improving the efficiency of the flow or movement of the object. The preferred apparatus for increasing the efficiency of a fluid or gas flowing over an object comprises wind de-organizers affixed to the object for breaking up a smooth flow of the liquid or gas over the object. The preferred wind de-organizers comprise tabs. The tabs are preferably affixed to the object at random angles between ±30° and ±45° to a direction of the fluid or gas flow. The wind de-organizers can also comprise protrusions. The wind de-organizers can also comprise dimples. The preferred dimples comprise apertures.
The preferred apparatus for de-organizing a fluid or gas passing over a moving object comprises a plurality of tabs affixed to the moving object. The preferred tabs comprise L shaped structures. The tabs can also comprise protrusions on a body of the moving object. The preferred protrusions comprise an integral part of the body of the moving object. The plurality of tabs are preferably affixed to the moving object in a random pattern. The preferred random pattern comprises affixing the tabs randomly at angles in a range between ±30° to ±45° to a direction of movement of the moving object. The plurality of tabs can comprise different sized tabs. The plurality of tabs can be removably affixed to the moving object.
The preferred method of de-organizing a fluid passing over an object comprises the steps of providing tabs and affixing the tabs to the object so the fluid or air passes over the tabs. The alternative step of providing tabs comprises providing protrusions. The preferred step of affixing the tabs to the object so the fluid or air passes over the tabs comprises randomly affixing the tabs at angles in a range between ±30° to ±45° to a direction of a flow of the fluid or air.
A primary object of the present invention is to improve the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the stability of a motor vehicle.
Yet another object of the invention is to improve the efficiency of vehicles in water.
Another object of the invention is to improve the efficiency of air conditioning ducts.
A primary advantage of the present invention is that it is simple and inexpensive to apply to existing motor vehicles.
Another advantage of the present invention is the reduction of air noise on motor vehicles.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the simplicity of installation of the de-organizers.
Another advantage of the present invention is its simplicity to manufacture.
Another advantage is the versatility of the invention. It can be used on motor vehicles, boats, trailers, helmets, and any other object over which air or liquid flows.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 306993 (1990-04-01), Nitzke
patent: D. 408771 (1999-04-01), Johnston
patent: 2261558 (1941-11-01), Orloff
patent: 2650752 (1953-09-01), Hoadley
patent: 2800291 (1957-07-01), Stephens
patent: 2873931 (1959-02-01), Fleischmann
patent: 3186753 (1965-06-01), Steffanoff
patent: 3612446 (1971-10-01), Lebert
patent: 4006931 (1977-02-01), Groves
patent: 4142727 (1979-03-01), Shaw et al.
patent: 4655419 (1987-04-01), van der Hoeven
patent: 4960283 (1990-10-01), Gobush
patent: 5058837 (1991-10-01), Wheeler
patent: 5108145 (1992-04-01), Harris
patent: 5114099 (1992-05-01), Gao
patent: 5171623 (1992-12-01), Yee
patent: 5184832 (1993-02-01), Miwa
patent: 5542630 (1996-08-01), Savill
patent: 5544931 (1996-08-01), Nelson
patent: 5820203 (1998-10-01), Morelli et al.
patent: 5833305 (1998-11-01), Watzlawick et al.
patent: 5842937 (1998-12-01), Dalton et al.
“Bumps to the Rescue”, Murray, Popular Science Magazine, Jul. 1998.
Armijo Dennis F.
Barefoot Galen L.
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