GB2309671A

GB2309671A - Nose cone for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2309671A
Application number: GB9602201A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Leslie Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-03
Filing date: 1996-02-03
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-03
Also published as: GB9602201D0; GB2309671B

Abstract

A nose cone for a vehicle is intended to reduce the air resistance of the vehicle in motion. The cone may be inflatable, being inflated in use from an on-board compressor (5 figure 4) and deflated when not required (figure 3), a pressure relief valve (3 figure 4) may be provided. Alternatively the nose cone may be a permanent construction. An integral air cooling passage for the engine of the vehicle may be provided in the form of a bellows 2. The nose cone may be remotely controlled, eg from the cab of the vehicle and may be provided with means to prevent its inflation when the engine of the vehicle is not in use. A motorised valve (6 figure 4) may control the inflation and deflation of the nose cone (figures 5 to 7). The nose cone may also provide impact protection. The nose cone may be made from rubber or a synthetic polymer possibly with reinforcing means.

Description

STREAMLINING CONE FOR VEHICLES This invention relates to a streamlining cone, to be secured to the front of a vehicle, to improve its aerodynamic properties and reduce its fuel consumption.

Most larger vehicles (freight vehicles and multiple passenger carriers, coaches) do not currently have aerodynamic streamlining at the front of their vehicle bodies. The relatively flat design of the front of these vehicles presents considerable air resistance to the free forward movement of the vehicles: this has an adverse effect on their fuel consumption.

The invention, for ease of description called hereafter a streamlining cone, is primarily intended to reduce air resistance to vehicle propulsion, or forward movement, and therefore reduce fuel consumption. It has the secondary effect of making vehicles less harmful, or harmed, in the event of an impact.

The streamlining cone could be of a permanent "hard" construction or of an inflatable "soft" construction.

The streamlining cone described in detail herein is inflatable and can be deflated when not in use and therefore does not significantly affect the overall dimensions of the vehicle in a permanent way or impair its manoeuvrability in confined spaces. It is generally intended that the streamlining cone will be inflated for use when a vehicle undertakes a journey and that it will be deflated when the vehicle is not in use.

The streamlining cone has a central air-cooling passage and therefore does not affect the efficient operation of the vehicle's engine.

The streamlining cone can be fitted to new vehicles during manufacture and retrospectively to existing vehicles.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reversibly inflatable cone manufactured from rubber or synthetic polymer with steel reinforcement, capable of being securely attached to the front of a vehicle. The streamlining cone is provided with a central air cooling passage for engine cooling, by means of an intrinsic "bellows" unit reinforced for repeated inflation and deflation. Means are provided to inflate the cone to its working pressure and shape, by use of a compressor, and to limit this pressure.

Means are also provided to deflate the cone when it is not required. The operational controls for the cone are provided (remotely) in the vehicle's cab and are provided with a safety feature (interlocked to the vehicle's ignition) to prevent inadvertent inflation of the cone when the vehicle's engine is switched off.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the streamlining cone fitted to a vehicle and in its inflated (activated) state; Figure 2 shows, in cross section, the streamlining cone fitted to a vehicle and in its inflated (activated) state; Figure 3 shows, in cross section, the streamlining cone fitted to a vehicle and in its deflated (inactive) state; Figure 4 shows details of the cone's "bellows" unit, air inlet/outlet, three way valve, compressor and safety relief valve; Figure 5 shows, in schematic form, the three way valve arrangements for operational control with the cone deflating and/or deflated (inactive); Figure 6 shows, in schematic form, the three way valve arrangements for operational control with the cone inflating:: Figure 7 shows, in schematic form, the three way valve arrangements for operational control with the cone inflated (fully active).

Referring to the drawings (figures 1 to 4), the streamlining cone (1) is constructed from rubber or a synthetic polymer, reinforced by steel on its circumferential edge and helically along its integral bellows unit (2).

The cone is attached to the front of the vehicle by annular bolts sealed integrally to the cone on its outer circumference and around the bellows unit (2).

The cone includes a pressure relief valve (3), set marginally above the full working pressure of the cone.

In fitting the cone to the front of the vehicle, minor modification to the vehicle may be required (ie modifying the vehicle's grille) to allow full air cooling flow to the vehicle's radiator or cooling system from the bellows unit (2), and to allow an orifice for the cone's air-inlet/outlet (4).

The streamlining cone is provided with a compressor (5) and motorized three way valve (6) for inflation and deflation of the cone.

Operation of the cone is undertaken by means of a simple remote switch in the vehicle's cab which operates a motorized three way valve and compressor via a relay.

Figure 5 shows the cone switched off (inactive) and the three way valve (6) in the open to atmosphere position. Figure 3 shows the cone on the vehicle in this state.

Figure 6 shows the position when the cone is switched on. In this mode, the three way valve (6) is motored to the inflating position and the compressor (5) is activated to pump air into the cone for a preset time period via a relay. The cone inflates to its working pressure. Coincident with the end of the time period for inflation, the relay causes the compressor to shut down and the three way valve (6) to motor to the closed (closed to cone and atmosphere) position (Figure 7).

Figure 7 shows the configuration of the three way valve (6) with the cone in its fully inflated (operating) state. Figure 2 shows the cone on the vehicle in this state.

Switching the remote (cab) switch to the off position causes the three way valve (6) to motor to the open to atmosphere position (Figure 5) and causes the cone to deflate.

A connection of the wiring circuit to the vehicle's ignition system will only allow use of the compressor when the ignition circuit is live (ie the compressor cannot inflate the cone if the vehicle's ignition is switched off).

Claims

1 A streamlining cone for vehicles comprising a cone capable of being secured to the front of a vehicle.

2 A streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided to inflate the cone for use and deflate the cone when not in use.

3 A streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein means are provided for vehicle engine cooling by an integral air-cooling passage in the streamlining cone.

4 A streamlining cone for vehicles substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

4 A streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein means are provided for remote inflation (and the limit of this inflation) and deflation of the streamlining cone.

5 A streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4, wherein means are provided to prevent inadvertent inflation of the streamlining cone.

6 A streamlining cone for vehicles substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A mechanically inflatable and deflatable streamlining cone for vehicles comprising a cone capable of being permanently secured to the absolute front face of a vehicle, incorporating means for vehicle engine cooling by an integral air-cooling passage in the streamlining cone.

2 A mechanically inflatable and deflatable streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein remote mechanical means are provided to inflate the cone for use (and control the limit of this inflation) and deflate the cone when not in use.

3 A streamlining cone for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein means are provided to prevent inadvertent mechanical inflation of the streamlining cone.