GB2463799A

GB2463799A - Vehicle with pivotable aerodynamic surface

Info

Publication number: GB2463799A
Application number: GB0917088A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Greg Parish
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-29
Filing date: 2009-09-29
Publication date: 2010-03-31
Also published as: GB0917088D0; GB0817807D0

Abstract

A system for enabling a vehicle (1) to improve its aerodynamic characteristics comprising a pivotable sheet 2 extending upwardly from the front (4) of the vehicle towards the windscreen 3. The system also comprises a pivotable sheet 6 behind the rear window. Both the front sheet 2 and rear sheet 6 can be pivoted by the driver to provide wind braking of the vehicle. A turbine (16, figure 7) may be provided in the rear sheet 6 to provide a means of generating power for the vehicle.

Description

A System My invention helps to make the front of a car more aerodynamic and help slow the car down faster as well as cooling the engine bay.

With a lot of old cars a windscreen is at an angle which is not aerodynamic, most modern cars are designed aerodynamically. My invention will help make old cars as aerodynamic as modern cars.

Fig 1 shows an old type car (1) with a clear sturdy sheet (2) made of for example plastic fitted to the front (4) of the car. As the car goes along the moving air hits the sheet (2) and flows over the roof (5) of the car instead of hitting the windscreen (3) and slowing the car down.

Fig 2 shows in order to slow the car down the sheet (2) tilts up when a pedal (7) is applied by a foot (9) or alternatively another sheet (6) is fitted to the back of the roof (5) of the car, which also lifts up when the pedal (7) is applied. Both the front sheet (2) and the back sheet (6) are attached to the pedal (7) which is situated below the brake pedal (8) as shown in Fig 3 or above the brake pedal (8) as shown in Fig 4 and Fig 5. The sheet (2) and (6) can rise via a number of ways; examples include electric, hydraulics or as shown in Fig 4 mechanically connected to the front sheet (2) or back sheet (6) as shown in Fig 5.

Fig 4 shows the front sheet (2) connected to a pulley system (10) which in turn is connected to the pedal (7), when you brake your foot (9) automatically hits the pedal (7) causing the pulley (10) to rotate which in turn causes the front sheet (2) to rise up.

Fig 5 shows how the back sheet (6) can be connected to the pedal (7) not by a pulley but by a cog and chain. A large cog (14) is connected to the pedal (7) via a push rod (15) when the pedal is pushed down it causes the cog (14) to rotate which in turn rotates another cog (12) and a smaller cog (13). When the cog (13) rotates, it forces the back sheet (6) up. Both pulley or cog and chain system can be used either on the front or back sheets or a combination of both.

Fig 6 shows the front sheet (2) from a head on view.

Fig 7 shows how the back sheet (6) can have a wind turbine (16) that connects directly to the battery source, so to generate electricity much like the small wind turbines on houses. The turbine blades (17) turn when the sheet (6) lifts up under braking. The moving air turns the blades (17) so the car can have a longer battery life for use in for example electric cars or more electricity to power electric items; rather than using the car battery as a source.

Fig 8 shows an alternative to the back sheet (6) it shows an umbrella type device (18) that lifts up under braking.

Fig 9 shows the device (18) from a side view when not lifted. In front of the device (18) is another sheet (19) so when the umbrella device (18) is not lifted the moving air flows over the sheet (19) and so over the device (18) thus not slowing the car down.

Fig 10 shows the device (18) lifted to catch the moving air thus slowing the car down. A telescopic push rod (20) connected to a cog (12) rises when the cog rotates. The cog rotates due to a chain (11) and another cog (14), which in turn is connected to pedal (7). The moving air collected in the umbrella (18) can force the blades of the turbine (16) round. The turbine can be situated behind the umbrella device (18).

Fig 11 shows in more detail an example of a lifting mechanism for the telescopic rod (20). As the cog (12) rotates the telescopic push rod (20) pushes the top part of the rod (20) up through the roof of the car via a small hole; to extend the umbrella device (18).

Fig 12 shows another way of lifting the back sheet (6) via cogs (14) and (12) and a push rod (20). As the cog (12) rotates it pushes the back sheet (6) up via a telescopic rod (20).

Fig 13 shows Fig 12 from a head on view.

Fig 14 shows a modern type of car. The person (21) is about to be hit by the car. Inside the structure of the modem car is the mechanics shown in Fig 15 in order to stop the person (21) from flying over the car. The back sheet (6) lifts up the same as before during braking but if a person hits the sheet (2) in front of the windscreen (22) the sheet (2) would go inwards and due to a chain reaction would force the roof section rod (24) to go backwards rotating the cog (25) thus lifting the back sheet (6) in order to catch the person (21). The workings are housed in the roof sections and window turrets (23) of the car.

Fig 16 shows the person (21) being caught by the back sheet. The sheet (6) automatically locks in place when the front sheet (2) or windscreen (22)is pushed in beyond a certain point.

Fig 17 shows the basic version, where the sheet (2) under braking does not allow the person to go over the car roof into the car (26) behind. The sheet (2) stays up as long as your foot is on the pedal (7) situated either above or below the brake pedal.

Fig 18 shows the front sheet (2) from the side, the moving air goes along the sheet (2) until it hits a gap (29) which collects the cold moving air forcing it back to the front of the car via a pipe (34) into a collection point (27) which is connected to the underneath of the bonnet (29); for example by magnets or clips (30) as shown in Fig 19.

Fig 20 shows an engine (31) and hollow tubes (32) that run down from the top of the collection point (27). The hot air (33) from the engine rises up the tubes (32) and the cold moving air from the gap (29) in the sheet (2) goes along the pipe (34) and forces the hot air out.

Fig 21 shows the sheet (2) and gap (29) and pipe (34) that feeds the cold air into the collection point (27) from a head on view.

Fig 22 shows the collection point (27) and pipe (34) and the tops of the hollow tubes (32) from above.

Claims

Claims 1) A system for enabling a vehicle to improve its aerodynamic characteristics; comprising a moveable surface extending upwardly from a front region of the vehicle towards the windscreen.
2) A system as claimed in claim I wherein the moveable surface is a surface of a sheet of material.
3) A system as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the surface is pivoted at the front region to provide a wind brake.
4) A system as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the surface can be pivoted by the action of the driver.
5) A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; comprising a surface behind the rear window which can be pivoted upwardly by the action of the driver to provide a wind brake.
6) A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the surface extending from the front of the vehicle and the surface behind the read window are so connected that the operation of one of them causes the other to be operated.
7) A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims; wherein the surface extending from the front of the vehicle is at such an inclination as to allow cooling air to flow towards the engine of the vehicle.
8) A system as claimed in any one of claims 5-7 wherein the surface behind the rear window comprises a turbine which is so connected to the power source of the vehicle to provide additional means for generating power.
9) A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a surface located above the roof of the vehicle which is operated by the driver to provide a wind brake.
10) A system substantially as herein before described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.