The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 1989
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1987
Bandu N Pamadi, Hampton, VA (US);
Lawrence W Taylor, Jr, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Vigyan Research Associates, Inc., Hampton, VA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and process for reducing the aerodynamic drag on land transport vehicles are disclosed wherein a pair of vertical panels 34, 36 (FIG. 3) are disposed on the forward surface of a vehicle body 30 and facing the airstream encountered during vehicle movement. Panels 34, 36 (and similar panels as shown in FIGS. 4-6 and 9) are thin rigid flat plates and disposed in spaced relationship from each other and spaced from the vehicle sides. An additional thin panel 59 secured to and spanning the pair of vertical panels is employed in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. Panel height and location, relative to the vehicle surface, influences the drag coefficient of the vehicle body. This drag reduction is accomplished due to the transition in the flow, consequent to the flow separation at the panels, leading to flow reattachment to the vehicle body surface near the front thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 8. This reduction of aerodynamic drag results in significant fuel cost savings and conservation of energy resources.