Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Accessories
Patent
1980-10-07
1983-04-12
Bertsch, Richard A.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Accessories
296 91, 293113, B62D 3500
Patent
active
043795820
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for improving the aerodynamic and safety characteristics of automotive vehicles which comprises an air induction passage for producing an airstream directed from a point forward and downward of the vehicle to a rear upward point when the vehicle is moving, and an anti-lift member for generating an anti-lift thrust by the airstream passing through the air induction passage, the induction passage also acting an impact absorbing space to enhance safety of the vehicle upon collision.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Due consideration has not hitherto been paid to the aerodynamic performance of automobiles except for racing cars, so that the vehicle has encountered a substantial amount of air resistance when moving at high speeds, resulting in wasteful consumption of fuel. Furthermore, at high vehicle speeds, the vehicle tends to develop a partial vacuum on its upper contoured surface relative to its underside pressure. This results in the vehicle having an upward thrust or lift, causing it to lose adherence to the ground, resulting in instability and poor driving performance. In addition, it is the general tendency that the impact absorbing device such as bumpers has hitherto been treated as an independent unit which is merely fastened to the vehicle body. However, due consideration has not been paid to the method of mounting of such devices to the vehicle body in order to reduce damages under various circumstances. Conventional types of impact absorbing device are thus not satisfactory in operation.
The present invention has, for its object, the provision of a device for improving the aerodynamic and safety performance characteristics of vehicles by reducing vehicular air resistance at high speeds by shaping the vehicle body contour line while maintaining substantially its general contour lines. This prevents the vehicle from losing its adherence to the ground at high speeds, and enhances the impact absorbing characteristics of vehicle by forming a relatively large size impact absorbing space located at the front and rear of vehicle. A further object of the invention is to manufacture such devices at low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device according to the present invention includes an air induction passage which directs air upwardly rearwardly from a forward and downward position of vehicle and an anti-lift member mounted in the passage to produce anti-lift thrust on the vehicle. The device is mounted on the vehicle without substantial modification of the vehicle's general contour lines. The air resistance is reduced and the loss of adherence to ground is eliminated by the use of the device of the invention. The air induction passage also serves as an impact absorbing space to enhance the safety characteristics of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 to 3 are illustrations of a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view, FIG. 2 illustrating a cross-sectional explanatory view, and FIG. 3 illustrating a perspective view of an anti-lift member;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the present invention in cross-section;
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a front view of the second embodiment;
FIG. 6 is an illustration of a front view of a third embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 7 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII--VIII of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a perspective view of the tilted member of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an illustration of the air induction passage of a fifth embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 12 is an illustration of an explanatory cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings
REFERENCES:
patent: 3618998 (1971-11-01), Swauger
patent: 3776587 (1973-12-01), Oxlade
patent: 3791468 (1974-02-01), Bryan, Jr.
patent: 3869166 (1975-03-01), Burst et al.
patent: 3917332 (1975-11-01), Puleo
patent: 4006931 (1977-02-01), Groves
patent: 4029350 (1977-06-01), Goupy et al.
patent: 4131308 (1978-12-01), Holka et al.
patent: 4159140 (1979-06-01), Chabot et al.
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