AU603222B2 - Improvements in aerodynamic devices for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

6 322 4 tl l "t 0*04 a *a Ot 4 a 44 a 4 aa oe e a e a, 4 a o o 1 444' a a 4 0 a COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual Inventors Address for Service COMPLETE SPECIFICAT:

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-FURIR-E-Y-- T---BTB .l9--Kensa-. -St-r-ee-t----Me-r-eok-a-- Queensland,-4-1-- KEITH JOHN BLACKER and DON GREGORY PARKER GRANT ADAMS COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 333 Adelaide Street, BRISBANE. QUEENSLAND. 4000

AUSTRALIA.

ION FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED: Ll "IMPROVEMENTS IN AERODYNAMIC DEVICES FOR VEHICLES The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

1 7- THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in aerodynamic devices for vehicles.

The inventioi; is particularly suitable for cargo vans, pantechnicons, caravans and other vehicles.

At normal highway speeds, the airflow drag on primemovers and load bodies is very high and a considerable amount of fuel is expended in pushing the vehicles through the air. The blunt nature of the vehicles generates the primary drag, while the turbulent air around the wheels and cha-sis creates additional drag.

o° ~In recent years, transport operators have fitted airflow cowls on the roofs of their primemovers ol to promote the flow of air over the load bodies. These cowls have resulted in small gains in fuel consumption U e.g. of the order to It is an object of the present invention to provide an airflow cowl which promotes the airflow over the load body.

It is a preferred object to provide a cowl which further reduces the drag on the vehicle by directing air from the area of the wheels and chassis to flow over the load body.

It is a perferred object to provide such a cowl which can feed the air through the condensation unit of a refrigeration plant mounted on the load body.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following Wdescription.

In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in an airflow cowl for vehicles including: a front wall, generally planar or convex in plan view having a rearwardly curved upper section; and a pair of side walls curved in plan view, extending rearwardly from the sides of the front wall 2 for attachment to the vehicle or a load body thereon; so arranged that when the cowl is mounted on the vehicle or load body, an air inlet is formed at the lower end of the cowl to draw air into the duct formed between the cowl and the vehicle load body and the air is expelled through an outlet at the upper end of the cowl.

Preferably the inlet receives air from the high pressure region, containing turbulent and/or stagnant air, forwardly and/or below the load body and/or around the wheels and chassis of the vehicle.

Preferably the outlet comprises one or more slots in a low pressure area generated by the flow of air over the curved upper section of the cowl.

At least one fan may be provided within the duct e.g. to assist the airflow therethrough at low vehicle speeds.

Where the load body is close-coupled to the cabin of the vehicle, a pair of inlets, one on each side of the load body, may be provided.

Where the load body is fitted with a refrigeration unit, e.g. of the type described in our Australian Patent No. 564112, or sold under the registered trade mark "THERMO KING", the cowl may enclose the front of the unit to direct the airflow through the condensor of the unit.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, a number of preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side view of the airflow cowl fitted to the front of the load body of an articulated vehicle; FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the cowl; FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2; 3 and FIGS. 4 and 5 are respective side and plan views of the cowl fitted to a refrigerated load body.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the airflow cowl is fitted to the front of the load body 11 of an articulated vehicle 12.

The cowl 10 has a fronL wall 13 which is convex in plan view and has curved corners 14 leading to curved side walls 15 fixed to the load body 11. THe upper section 16 of the front wall is curved to a level flush with the top of the load body.

The cowl 10 has a transverse inlet 17 which draws air from the region 18 of high pressure turbulent/stagnant air around the chassis and wheels of the primemover 19, the air passing through the duct formed between the cowl 10 and the load body 11, and then out an outlet 21 formed in the upper section 16.

The cross-sectional area of the outlet 21 is less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet 17 to cause the air to be accelerated as it passes up the duct The outlet is in an area 22 of low pressure generated by the airflow 23 over the upper section 16.

As the turbulent/stagnant air is drawn away from the high pressure area 18, there is reduced drag on the vehicle 12 and the estimated savings in fuel consumption may be of the order of 10-20%. The curved upper section 16 and corners 14 help direct the airflow past the primemover 19 around the load body 11.

One or more fans 24 may be provided in the duct 20 to assist the airflow therethrough at low vehicle speeds.

Where the vehicle has a rigid chassis, the cowl 10 may be mounted between the load body 11 and cabin of the primemover 19. Where the load body 11 is close-coupled on an existing vehicle, the cowl can be 4 I~ru Cmounted over the cabin with extension down to inlets 17 on each side of the cabin at the front of the load body.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, where the load body is fitted with a refrigeration unit 25 e.g. of the type disclosed in Australian Patent No. 564112, the air is drawn up through the duct 20, from the inlet 17 and is then directed through the condensor unit 26, assisted by fans 27, and redirected to a plenum 28 before passing out through the outlet 21.

The cowl 10 may also be used with refrigeration units which have side inlets for the condensor air e.g. of the type sold under Model "SB-11 1500" by Thermo King Corporation of the U.S.A. With such units, only a small clearance is provded between the front wall 13 and the front wall of the refrigeration unit, the air being directed up side ducts from the inlet 17 to the condensor.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the cowl can be used with other vehicles, including caravans. It will also be readily apparent that the cowl can extend above the level of the load body and that the outlet 21 may be rearwardly directed.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (7)

1. 2. A cowl as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: the inlet receives air from the high pressure region forwardly and/or below the load body and/or around the wheels and chassis of the vehicle.
2. 3. A cowl as claimed in Claim 2 wherein: the cowl includes a pair of air inlets, one on each side of the load body.
3. 4. A cowl as claimed in any one of the Claims 1 to 3 wherein: -the outlet includes one or more slots or holes provided in the rearwardly curved upper section in a low pressure area generated by the flow of air over the rearwardly curved upper section. A cowl as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 ;l wherein: the cross-sectional area of the outlet is less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet to cause the air to be accelerated as it passes through the duct.
4. 6. A cowl as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to wherein: at least one fan is provided within the duct to assist the airflow through the duct at low vehicle 6 speeds.
5. 7. A cowl as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein: a condensor for a refrigeration unit is provided within the duct and the air flows through the duct being directed through the condensor.
6. 8. An airflow cowl for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3; or FIGS. 4 and 5; of the accompanying drawings.
7. 9. A vehicle fitted with an airflow cowl S substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3; or FIGS. 4 and 5; of the accompanying drawings. A refrigeration unit for a vehicle incorporating the airflow cowl substantially as heeinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this ninth day of June 1988. EURLEY-P-Y-.--LT-D- by their Patent Attorneys, GRANT ADAMS COMPANY. 2 -1i