With Distinct Wind Deflector Patents (Class 296/180.1)
  • Patent number: 9327779
    Abstract: A removable front spoiler for a vehicle includes a body member, a fastener and a clip. The body member has a shape configured to disrupt airflow, the body member including a horizontal mounting member extending in a car forward direction and being configured to mount directly to an underside of a vehicle body part, and a vertical wind deflection member adjacent the horizontal mounting member and being configured to face in a direction away from the vehicle body part. The horizontal mounting member includes an opening extending through the horizontal mounting member. The fastener is configured to extend in a vertical direction through the opening and into the vehicle body part. The clip is configured to couple to the fastener so as to couple the body member to the vehicle body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chiray Wey, Alfredo Dimichele, Christopher Prisby
  • Patent number: 9315221
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a storage compartment defined by the vehicle body and having a storage compartment length. The vehicle also includes a tailgate operatively connected to the vehicle body and configured to selectively expand and restrict access to the storage compartment. The vehicle additionally includes a pivotable section configured to selectively retract into and deploy out of the tailgate. In the state when the pivotable section is deployed out of the tailgate and when the tailgate restricts access to the storage compartment, the pivotable section operates to reduce aerodynamic drag on the vehicle body. Also, when the pivotable section is deployed out of the tailgate and when the tailgate expands access to the storage compartment, the pivotable section operates as a stop for cargo having a cargo length greater than the storage compartment length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global TEchnology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9296434
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting a substantially flat vehicular surface on the rear of a vehicle so as to create at least one surface which operates to reduce aerodynamic drag, comprising: at least one surface adapted to be moveably attached to the rear surface of a vehicle; at least one surface operating to move from deployed position extending from the rear of a vehicle to a retracted position; whereby the apparatus operates to reduce aerodynamic drag in the deployed position and does not interfere with vehicle parking in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Inventor: Lawrence E Anderson
  • Patent number: 9254876
    Abstract: In an apparatus for reducing vehicle aerodynamic drag equipped with an air jet device installed at upper and lower positions of a rear of a vehicle and each having a vibrator connected to a diaphragm disposed in an enclosed region and adapted to be driven based on a drive signal to vibrate the diaphragm to jet/suck air through an orifice formed in the region, a vehicle traveling condition is detected, the drive signals for the respective air jet devices are determined independently of each other based on the detected traveling condition, and the vibrators of the respective air jet devices are driven based on the determined drive signals to reduce aerodynamic drag acting on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Shinya Uno, Haruo Aoki
  • Patent number: 9254873
    Abstract: An impact element (10) for a motor vehicle (70) has a flat basic body (12) formed from a rigid material and has connecting sections (16) on one side (50) to fix the basic body (12) to a supporting frame (72) of the motor vehicle (70). The basic body (12) has a gas-tight chamber (24) in which at least one opening (26) is formed to fill the chamber (24) with compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Keller, Eduard Ewert
  • Patent number: 9248872
    Abstract: A flexible skirt assembly for a trailer, such as a trailer, is provided. The flexible assembly includes a first bracket and a first arm attachable to an underside of a vehicle, and a second bracket and a second arm attachable to the underside of the vehicle. A skirt body may include a first side and a second side. The first side of the skirt body attaches to the first arm and the second side of the skirt body attaches to the second arm. The first arm, second arm, and skirt body may be made of a flexible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Michael White
  • Patent number: 9242683
    Abstract: A rear spoiler system for a vehicle has at least one roof spoiler comprising a roof air-deflector element. The roof spoiler is configured to be secured only on a rear door of the vehicle without being secured on the vehicle structure. The roof air-deflector element can be raised into a driving position automatically when the rear doors are closed, and can be moved automatically into an idle position when the rear doors are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, David Inkermann, Christopher Neumann, Rouven Petzold, Ralf Rainer Wokoeck, Frank Zielke
  • Patent number: 9221322
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for restricting wind turbulence in a moving open top automobile. The device comprises an elongate wind panel adapted to be secured to the double seat or the pair of non-contiguous juxtaposed seats thereof such that, the wind panel vertically, upwardly and contiguously extends from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: King Penn Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Pennington
  • Patent number: 9221503
    Abstract: A front spoiler device configured to be installed on a vehicle having a vehicle width direction, a vehicle upward direction, a vehicle downward direction, a vehicle forward direction, and vehicle rearward direction, has a front bumper, a bumper fascia that forms an outer surface of the front bumper, a spoiler supporting flange portion extending in the vehicle rearward direction from a lower end of the bumper fascia, a spoiler body extending along the lower end of the bumper fascia in the vehicle width direction, the spoiler body being provided with a vertical wall portion facing the vehicle forward direction, and two diffuser portions, each of which is connected to each lateral end of the spoiler body, each of which extends in the vehicle downward direction and in the vehicle width direction along a corner portion of each lateral end on the lower end of the bumper fascia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Kojima
  • Patent number: 9216644
    Abstract: Car provided with: at least one radiator; a ventilation channel which houses on the inside the radiator; an aerodynamic duct, which extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening obtained inside the ventilation channel between the inlet opening of the ventilation channel and the radiator; and a shutter, which is arranged in the area of the inlet opening of the aerodynamic duct and is mounted mobile between an engagement position, in which the shutter closes the inlet opening of the aerodynamic duct, and a disengagement position, in which the shutter leaves the inlet opening of the aerodynamic duct free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Enrico Cardile, Alessandro Calamita
  • Patent number: 9193398
    Abstract: A method of reducing aerodynamic drag on a moving blunt-edged body, the method comprising actively generating a flow of air at a blunt edge of a body and using the generated flow of air to control an external flow of air moving relative to an edge of a moving blunt-body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Seifert, Vitali Palei
  • Patent number: 9187138
    Abstract: A roof spoiler mounting bracket assembly for mounting a roof spoiler to a roof panel of an automotive vehicle. The mounting bracket assembly comprises a vehicle-side bracket having upper and lower sides extending longitudinally between first and second ends and laterally between first and second edges. A spoiler-side bracket having upper and lower sides extends longitudinally between first and second ends and laterally between first and second edges. The spoiler-side bracket has a unitary recessed section for receiving the vehicle-side bracket at least partially therein and the spoiler-side bracket is fixedly secured to the roof spoiler, A first mounting bolt extends from the lower side of the vehicle-side bracket for fixedly securing the vehicle-side bracket to the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Tiercon Corp.
    Inventors: Bradley Charles Newberry, Christopher Wade Campbell, Jani Petri Hamalainen, Glenn David Steed, Michael Glenn Weber
  • Patent number: 9180919
    Abstract: An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adapted for mounting behind a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus includes a side panel, an actuator arrangement, a top panel, and an interconnecting member. The side panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The actuator is mounted between the side panel and the vehicle. The top panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The interconnecting member is connected between the side panel and the top panel. The interconnecting member coordinates movement between the side and top panels such that they each move together between the deployed positions and the stowed positions, respectively. One or more of the panels may be mounted to a door of the vehicle via deformable hinges and/or deformably mounted hinges and thereby allow the door to open compactly against a side of the vehicle by deforming the panels, the hinges, and/or the mounts of the hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Scott Breidenbach
  • Patent number: 9162641
    Abstract: A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Nicolay E. Vandercar
  • Patent number: 9145177
    Abstract: A system that has electrically or electro-pneumatically actuated aerodynamic structures. An electric or electro-pneumatic actuator is employed, which receives signals from an existing anti-lock braking system (ABS) controller to determine when actuation occurs. Other systems are also provided that feature electric or electro-pneumatic actuation, including underbody skirts and scoops, as well as inflatable tractor-trailer gap sealing devices, adjustable tractor-trailer gap sealing flaps and inflatable trailer upper streamlining devices. Electronic control units (ECUs) for aerodynamic system control interfacing with alternate sensors for calculating speed are also provided. Satellite navigation, platooning awareness and managed pressure reserve capability can be employed with the aerodynamics ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ADVANCED TRANSIT DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Smith, Riccardo M. Pagliarella, Court S. Hinricher, Jeffrey J. Grossmann, Jared A. Niemiec, Michael W. Polidori
  • Patent number: 9139240
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for decreasing aerodynamic drag, improving stability, and reducing road spray of a transport vehicle. The apparatus comprises an underbody fairing comprising a substantially parabolic elongated panel. The underbody fairing is strategically positioned beneath the transport vehicle and forward of the rear wheel assembly to deflect air around the rear wheel assembly while also facilitating a laminar airflow moving laterally beneath the transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kodiak Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Long
  • Patent number: 9126639
    Abstract: An air guiding device (10) for a motor vehicle has a spoiler lip (12) mountable on a front part (8) of the motor vehicle via an adapter (32) and extends in the transverse direction (FQ) of the vehicle. A pneumatic actuating device (28) shifts the spoiler lip (12) between a retracted rest position and an extended position. A flexurally elastic rod (24) is guided in a guide (26) near the free end of the spoiler lip (12). The spoiler lip (12) is mounted on the adapter (32) so that the spoiler lip (12), even in the retracted rest position, is under a prestress that opposes the shifting of the spoiler lip (12) out of the rest position into an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, Apollo Vredestein B.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Hoelzel, Bjorn Foerster, Gerard Nijman, Mike Ludovica Karel Peeters, Louis-Phillippe Antoine Eugene Maria Reuvekamp
  • Patent number: 9114770
    Abstract: A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James M. Townson, Nicolay E. Vandercar
  • Patent number: 9090150
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a stationary roof part, a roof opening provided therein and a panel movably mounted in said stationary roof part for opening and closing said roof opening. A movable wind deflector is disposed proximate a forward edge of the opening and comprises an upper elongate member extending substantially parallel to said forward edge. The wind deflector includes a flexible wind deflecting material having an upper end attached to said elongate member and a lower end attached to the stationary roof part. A movable control part extends parallel to said forward edge and was a first end attached to the stationary roof part and an opposite second end connected to the wind deflecting material at an engagement position between the upper and lower ends of the wind deflecting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: John Dean Krauss, Marko Walhout, Andrew Michael Roberts, Robert Rikkert
  • Patent number: 9085324
    Abstract: A front pillar structure for a vehicle includes: a windshield; a front door; a front pillar located between the windshield and the front door; a pillar outer cover disposed on an outer surface of the front pillar; and a side mirror. A flow passage for flowing air is formed between the pillar outer cover and the front pillar. An inlet port and an air outlet port are respectively formed at the front and rear of the flow passage. The flow passage is provided with ribs to separate air and rain water from each other. The air outlet port is open toward the rear of the vehicle at a position slightly higher than the upper edge of the door mirror. The air outlet port has a longitudinal dimension approximately one-fifth of the longitudinal dimension of the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Kojima
  • Patent number: 9073583
    Abstract: A rectifier of a vehicle wheel house to rectify an air flow in the wheel house housing a wheel includes: an air passage configured to introduce running wind from a forward position of a vehicle; and an air blowing port which is formed at a partition wall member included in a partition wall of the wheel house on the vehicle body side, and configured to allow the running wind through the air passage to strike an outer circumferential surface of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9051919
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting flow-altering devices to an outer surface of a wind turbine blade is disclosed. The flow-guiding devices are of the type having a base comprising an inner side for attaching onto the surface of the wind turbine blade, and an outer side with protruding flow-altering device parts. The method comprises the steps of: a) inserting the protruding flow-altering device parts into a mounting plate so that the inner side of the flow-guiding devices are exposed from a first side of the mounting plate, b) adhering the inner side of the flow-altering devices to the surface of the wind turbine blade by applying the first side of the mounting plate onto an area of application on the surface of the wind turbine blade, and c) removing the mounting plate from area of application on the surface of the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: LM Windpower A/S
    Inventors: Lars Erik Jensen, Hans Tommerup Knudsen, Jesper Madsen
  • Publication number: 20150145280
    Abstract: An air guide assembly for a vehicle includes an air guide depending from an underside of the vehicle and an air guide extension contiguously disposed at one lateral end of the air guide. The air guide extension includes a tab received through a tab aperture defined in the air guide. The tab includes a tab feature facilitating sliding movement of the tab relative to the tab aperture due to an external force being applied to one of the air guide and the air guide extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryan L. Kabbes, Matthew W. Wolfe, Nicholas Goldsberry, S. Don Gibson, JR., Michael J. Kralik, Jeremy Lucas
  • Patent number: 9039068
    Abstract: A deployable air dam for an automotive vehicle has panel, a plurality of four-bar linkages coupling the panel to a front of the vehicle, and an electric clutched actuator coupled to the four-bar linkages for moving the panel of the air-dam between a deployed and an undeployed position wherein the panel extends vertically down from a bottom of a bumper of the vehicle when in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M Niemi, Praveen Joseph John
  • Publication number: 20150108787
    Abstract: An active and passive boundary layer control system and method for reducing boundary layer separation and the resulting form drag from ground vehicles. Tubings with multiple venturis connected in series are attached to the side and/or roof of the ground vehicle. A flow of compressed air is created by an engine auxiliary, e.g., a turbocharger or a supercharger, or by a designated blower and injected into the tubings. Suction created by the venturis actively removes decelerated fluid from the boundary layer and keeps the boundary layer flow attached. Optionally, the system exhausts the air in concentrated free jets along the vehicle body to a series of passive boundary layer control devices, such as vortex generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9010842
    Abstract: Proposed is an aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device for a vehicle roof rack, particularly ski rack. The device comprises an add-on aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device in the form of a hollow parabolic-shaped container having a smoothly rounded closed front or leading side, an interior portion accessed from the rear side of the device for accommodating an object such as a ski rack in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and noise generated while the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion, and to protect the object, e.g. ski rack, from the elements whether the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion or not, and a mechanism for mounting and securing the disclosed device to the article carrier, e.g. ski rack. The front closed side of the device can be used for carrying graphic information such as advertisement, logo, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventors: Warren R. Webster, Richard C. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20150102633
    Abstract: A rear spoiler system for a vehicle has at least one roof spoiler comprising a roof air-deflector element. The roof spoiler is configured to be secured only on a rear door of the vehicle without being secured on the vehicle structure. The roof air-deflector element can be raised into a driving position automatically when the rear doors are closed, and can be moved automatically into an idle position when the rear doors are open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, David Inkermann, Christopher Neumann, Rouven Petzold, Ralf Rainer Wokoeck, Frank Zielke
  • Publication number: 20150102634
    Abstract: A frame arrangement of a motor vehicle body accommodates at least a windshield and has a cowl frame part that runs in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle on an upper side of the windshield. At least one pivotably mounted wind deflector is mounted at the cowl frame part and is movable by a drive device. The wind deflector has at least first and second flow surfaces. The flow surfaces are arranged so that, via a pivoting movement of the wind deflector, only one flow surface can be set into an active position. The first flow surface is designed to match the cowl frame part and the second flow surface has at least one interfering contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Markus Alexander Bauer
  • Patent number: 8998293
    Abstract: An airflow control device is mounted to the front end of an automotive vehicle and includes an upper air scoop section having a scoop channel disposed rearward of a bumper assembly and oriented to direct airflow entering a bumper intake opening toward an air-receiving powertrain component. A lower air dam section extends downwardly from the upper section to be positioned below a lower extent of the bumper assembly to deflect airflow away from an underside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Brian Glickman
  • Patent number: 8998291
    Abstract: The vehicle attachable carrier device includes a mounting bracket assembly for movably mounting a guard frame to a vehicle that includes a bracket coupled to the vehicle. A frame is movably coupled to the bracket. The frame may guard the vehicle. The frame is positionable between a stored position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph P. Addis
  • Publication number: 20150091325
    Abstract: A spoiler device for a vehicle includes plural link mechanisms configured to support a spoiler via plural rotatable link members in a deployed state where the spoiler protrudes from a surface of the vehicle, a driving shaft configured to connect each of the link members provided to be spaced apart from each other in a vehicle width direction, the driving shaft configured to change the deployed state and a retracted state of the spoiler by rotating each of the link members about an axis of the driving shaft, and a connection mechanism connecting an input shaft to which a driving torque of a power source is inputted and the driving shaft to transmit the torque therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tokuhiro SHIGA, Kenji HORI
  • Publication number: 20150084369
    Abstract: A deployable air dam for an automotive vehicle has panel, a plurality of four-bar linkages coupling the panel to a front of the vehicle, and an electric clutched actuator coupled to the four-bar linkages for moving the panel of the air-dam between a deployed and an undeployed position wherein the panel extends vertically down from a bottom of a bumper of the vehicle when in the deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Niemi, Praveen Joseph John
  • Publication number: 20150084371
    Abstract: A motor vehicle comprises a system for controlling the aerodynamic drag thereof by causing detachment of the boundary layer at a predetermined area of a part of the body thereof The system comprises at least one component of the structure of the motor vehicle constituting a separate element rigidly connected to the structure, wherein the component defines an outer wall of the motor vehicle, wherein the outer wall is made porous, with an orderly distribution of pores or holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Enrico RIBALDONE, Matteo GIUSTI
  • Publication number: 20150084370
    Abstract: A roof spoiler mounting bracket assembly is disclosed for mounting a roof spoiler to a roof panel of an automotive vehicle. The mounting bracket assembly comprises a vehicle-side bracket having upper and lower sides extending longitudinally between first and second ends and laterally between first and second edges. A spoiler-side bracket having upper and lower sides extends longitudinally between first and second ends and laterally between first and second edges. The spoiler-side bracket has a unitary recessed section for receiving the vehicle-side bracket at least partially therein and the spoiler-side bracket is fixedly secured to the roof spoiler. A first mounting bolt extends from the lower side of the vehicle-side bracket for fixedly securing the vehicle-side bracket to the roof panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley Charles Newberry, Christopher Wade Campbell, Jani Petri Hamalainen, Glenn David Steed
  • Patent number: 8985676
    Abstract: A vehicle component includes a surface which, during operation, is exposed to an air flow. The surface includes a separating area where the air flow separates from the surface, and at least one obstructing element associated with the separating area for introducing an obstruction into the air flow. The obstructing element includes at least one guide surface which protrudes into the air flow. The guide surface is inclined relative to the local direction of the main air flow so that it confers on the part of the main air flow that impacts the guide surface a speed component that runs perpendicular to the local direction of the main air flow and induces turbulence in the air flow downstream of the obstructing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Orellano, Martin Schober, Andreas Tietze, Rene Blaschko
  • Publication number: 20150076858
    Abstract: A spoiler for a vehicle, the vehicle having a cabin defining a cabin outer surface and a bed located behind the cabin, the spoiler being usable with an object, the spoiler comprising: a main portion and a utility portion extending from the main portion; the main portion being mountable to the cabin and defining substantially opposed main portion top and bottom surfaces; the utility portion being configured and sized for supporting at least part of the object; the main and utility portions being together configured and sized for deflecting air to reduce turbulence when the spoiler is operatively mounted to the cabin and the vehicle moves forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Bertrand Godin
  • Publication number: 20150076857
    Abstract: A protective device for a vehicle includes a flexible cover duplicating the contours of the car, and a container, in which the flexible cover is arranged. The container can be fastened in the rear part of the vehicle with the aid of at least one fastening element. The flexible cover is polymeric, with a light-reflecting material or coating applied to one side and a light-absorbing material or coating applied to the other side. The container can be fastened on the vehicle boot or on the rear part of the vehicle roof or on the vehicle bumper. In another alternative, the container of the protective device can be fastened on the internal side of the vehicle boot lid with the aid of at least one fastening element. The protective device provides reliable and durable protection for the car from overheating in summer and from super cooling in winter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Igor Iifliyandskyi, Oleg E. Mikhailov, Boris L. Bobrovnikov
  • Publication number: 20150069783
    Abstract: Proposed is an aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device for a vehicle roof rack, particularly ski rack. The device comprises an add-on aerodynamic drag and noise reduction device in the form of a hollow parabolic-shaped container having a smoothly rounded dosed front or leading side, an interior portion accessed from the rear side of the device for accommodating an object such as a ski rack in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and noise generated while the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion, and to protect the object, e.g. ski rack, from the elements whether the vehicle to which it is attached is in motion or not, and a mechanism for mounting and securing the disclosed device to the article carrier, e.g. ski rack. The front closed side of the device can be used for carrying graphic information such as advertisement, logo, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Warren R. Webster, Richard C. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20150054302
    Abstract: In an apparatus for reducing vehicle aerodynamic drag equipped with an air jet device installed at upper and lower positions of a rear of a vehicle and each having a vibrator connected to a diaphragm disposed in an enclosed region and adapted to be driven based on a drive signal to vibrate the diaphragm to jet/suck air through an orifice formed in the region, a vehicle traveling condition is detected, the drive signals for the respective air jet devices are determined independently of each other based on the detected traveling condition, and the vibrators of the respective air jet devices are driven based on the determined drive signals to reduce aerodynamic drag acting on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Shinya Uno, Haruo Aoki
  • Patent number: 8960771
    Abstract: The invention is a vehicle for ground transportation that is an aerodynamic shell attached to wheels. The aerodynamic shell is shaped according to airship technology and is elevated such that air flow around the shell is like air flow would be for that shell in flight. The elevation is accomplished with attached structure and attached wheels. Wheels at each side of the vehicle are arranged in wheel trains that are filled in and streamlined to form secondary aerodynamic units, with space between wheels used for equipment. The invention requires changing the position of the engine from its usual place that is low and at the front of the vehicle to a very different position that is high and at the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: James Kenneth Bullis
  • Patent number: 8950798
    Abstract: A vehicle spoiler that is provided to the rear part of the vehicle body and extends in the width direction of the vehicle. The spoiler is provided with a resin external surface member; and a metallic reinforcement member for reinforcing the external surface member. The reinforcement member is provided with a reinforcement body extending rearward with respect to the vehicle body from the rear part thereof. The external surface member has an upper member that extends in the width direction of the vehicle above the reinforcement body, and also has a lower member that extends in the width direction of the vehicle below the reinforcement body. The reinforcement body is inserted through the inside of the hollow closed cross-section formed by the upper member and the lower member. The upper member and the lower member are joined within the hollow closed cross-section to the reinforcement body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Inubushi
  • Patent number: 8950799
    Abstract: A windbreak structure for a saddle type vehicle to provide an increase in the windshield effect behind a leg shield. Exhaust ports for letting a flow of air from the front of a vehicle body rearwardly are provided at a side end portion of a leg shield. Further, sideward covering portions are provided that serve as exhaust air guide portions that extend rearwardly on the inner side in a vehicle widthwise direction of the exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Yokouchi, Tomotake Shimoji, Hiroyuki Sasazawa
  • Patent number: 8944489
    Abstract: A variable aerodynamic device for a vehicle, comprising: a wing element (1) having a front and a rear; a frame or body (2) for mounting to a vehicle; a linear actuator (4, 5) mounted between the body (2) and a first mounting point or first location (8) on the wing element for moving the rear of the wing element between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the body; and a guide strut or linkage (9) mounted between the body and the wing element, the linkage being pivotally coupled to the wing element at a second mounting point or second location (10) forwards of the first location (8); the linkage being configured such that when the rear of the wing element is moved by the linear actuator between the raised position and the lowered position, the second location moves rearwardly relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patterson, Jeremy Curnow, John Begley
  • Publication number: 20150028623
    Abstract: A wind deflector (10) for a vehicle has a fastening section (11) for mounting the wind deflector (10) releasably on a retainer (13) of an upper cowl (14) of the vehicle and an air-guiding section (12) for guiding the flow of air. A locking device (17) assigned to the fastening section (11) releasably locks the wind deflector (10) to the retainer (13) of the upper cowl. The locking device (17) has at least one shiftable anchor (18), an actuator (19) and a spring (20). The actuator (17) interacts with the anchor (18) so that, when the actuator (19) is not actuated, the spring (20) presses the anchor (18) into a locking position, and, when the actuator (19) is actuated, that actuator presses the anchor (18) into an unlocking position counter to a spring force of the spring (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kai Geissenhoener, Lars Schulz
  • Patent number: 8939495
    Abstract: A spoiler where when a weld face is inclined with respect to a pressurization direction, a weld rib is uniformly welded, and an outer member and an inner member are welded and fixed to each other at a stable strength. An inner member is welded and fixed to on an interior face side of an outer member by a vibration welding method. The outer member and/or the inner member before being welded has a weld rib formed on a face inclined with respect to a pressurization direction at the time of welding; a cross section of the rib is formed in a triangular or quadrangular shape; and in the cross section, two corners at both ends of a bottom edge each form an angle of 90 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takenori Kurata
  • Publication number: 20150021951
    Abstract: An underside cooling arrangement and method for a vehicle includes an underside component mounted to the underside of the vehicle, and an airflow directing member that directs airflow generated when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction to a location rearward of the underside component. The airflow that is directed to the location rearward of the underside component creates a vacuum that draws an auxiliary airflow near the underside component for cooling thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Michael W. Maurer, Jesse Black, Xavier Hernandez, Scott Simmons
  • Publication number: 20150015026
    Abstract: Outer side end sections 16a of a floor undercover 16 in a width direction of a vehicle are provided so as to overlap, in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, with rear wheels 19 forwardly of the rear wheels 19b in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Front parts of the side end sections 16a in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are composed of concavities 20 concave upward in a vertical direction of the vehicle relative to other parts of the floor undercover 16. Fronts of the concavities 20 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are open, while rear end surfaces 22 of the concavities 20 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are inclined obliquely downwardly toward the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaya Nojima, Toshitsugu Misaki, Kosuke Yoshimura, Takuya Noborizato
  • Publication number: 20150008701
    Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: AERO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Reeder Ryan, John Vogel, James R. Tuerk
  • Publication number: 20150008700
    Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: AERO INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Reeder Ryan, John Vogel, James R. Tuerk
  • Publication number: 20150008698
    Abstract: A motor vehicle component having at least one surface which, in the installed position, forms an outer side of the motor vehicle, in which the surface has substantially V-shaped and/or substantially U-shaped projections, with the closed sides thereof facing a direction of air flow during normal operation of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Eric REISENHOFER