Headwind/crosswind air jet shield

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12240535-B2
Application number	US-202218049792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2022
Priority date	Dec 31, 2021
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to an air jet shield. The air jet shield may include a support frame configured to attach to a vehicle utilizing a set of security straps. Sets of V-shaped and concave air ducts may be horizontally and vertically coupled to the support frame, respectively. Each of the air ducts may have a decreasing cross-sectional area and include (i) an inlet that receives air from a surrounding environment during a travel of the vehicle into a headwind or crosswind and (ii) an outlet that dispenses the air received from the inlet as a free air jet. Upon entering a headwind or crosswind, the free air jet creates a wind shear causing rotation at an increased velocity. Within the free air jet and surrounding the vehicle, static air pressure and wind velocity is decreased, thereby causing a reduction in aerodynamic drag during travel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air jet shield, comprising:
a support frame comprising a generally curved body configured to match a front end of a passenger vehicle;
a plurality of security straps coupled to the support frame, wherein the security straps are configured to attach the support frame to the passenger vehicle; and
a plurality of air ducts coupled to the support frame, the plurality of air ducts comprising a set of V-shaped air ducts horizontally coupled to the support frame and a set of concave air ducts vertically attached to the support frame, each of the air ducts having a decreasing cross-sectional area, wherein each of the air ducts comprises:
an inlet that receives air from a surrounding environment during a travel of the passenger vehicle into at least one of a headwind and a crosswind; and
an outlet forming a rectangular shape that dispenses the air received from the inlet as a free air jet, wherein the outlet projects the free air jet into the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, wherein upon the free air jet entering the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, a wind shear is created causing the free air jet to rotate at an increased velocity relative to a velocity of the air received from the inlet, wherein a static air pressure and a wind velocity in a region of space within the rotating free air jet and surrounding the passenger vehicle is decreased relative to a static pressure of the air received from the inlet and the wind velocity causing a reduction in aerodynamic drag.

2. The air jet shield of claim 1 , further comprising a set of strap spools for storing the plurality of the security straps.

3. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein each of the set of strap spools comprises a handle for adjusting a length of the plurality of the security straps.

4. The air jet shield of claim 2 , wherein the set of strap spools for storing the plurality of the security straps are stored in a cavity forming a portion of the support frame.

5. The air jet shield of claim 2 , wherein the set of strap spools for storing the plurality of the security straps are stored in a cavity coupled to the support frame.

6. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the security straps is configured to attach to a bumper of the passenger vehicle.

7. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the security straps is configured to attach to a hood of the passenger vehicle.

8. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the security straps is configured to attach to a frame of the passenger vehicle.

9. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein the region of space within the rotating free air jet and surrounding the passenger vehicle comprises an air deflection perimeter.

10. The air jet shield of claim 1 , wherein the reduction in the aerodynamic drag reduces a fuel consumption of the passenger vehicle during travel.

11. A system comprising:
A vehicle; and
an air jet shield coupled to the vehicle, the air jet shield comprising:
a support frame; and
a plurality of air ducts coupled to the support frame, the plurality of air ducts comprising a set of V-shaped air ducts horizontally coupled to the support frame and a set of concave air ducts vertically attached to the support frame, each of the air ducts having a decreasing cross-sectional area, wherein each of the air ducts comprises:
an inlet that receives air from a surrounding environment during a travel of the vehicle into at least one of a headwind and a crosswind; and
an outlet forming a rectangular shape that dispenses the air received from the inlet as a free air jet, wherein the outlet projects the free air jet into the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, wherein upon the free air jet entering the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, a wind shear is created causing the free air jet to rotate at an increased velocity relative to a velocity of the air received from the inlet, wherein a static air pressure and a wind velocity in a region of space within the rotating free air jet and surrounding the vehicle is decreased relative to a static pressure of the air received from the inlet and the wind velocity causing a reduction in aerodynamic drag.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the region of space within the rotating free air jet and surrounding the vehicle comprises an air deflection perimeter.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the reduction in the aerodynamic drag reduces a fuel consumption of the vehicle during travel.

14. A headwind and crosswind air jet shield, comprising:
a support frame; and
a plurality of air ducts coupled to the support frame, the plurality of air ducts comprising a set of V-shaped air ducts horizontally coupled to the support frame and a set of concave air ducts vertically attached to the support frame, each of the air ducts having a decreasing cross-sectional area, wherein each of the air ducts comprises:
an inlet that receives air from at least one of a headwind and a crosswind projected onto at least one of an object and a land area in a surrounding environment; and
an outlet forming a rectangular shape that dispenses the air received from the inlet as a free air jet, wherein the outlet projects the free air jet into the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, wherein upon the free air jet entering the at least one of the headwind and the crosswind, a wind shear is created causing the free air jet to rotate at an increased velocity relative to a velocity of the air received from the inlet, wherein a static air pressure and a wind velocity in a region of space within the rotating free air jet and surrounding the at least one of the object and the land area is decreased relative to a static pressure of the air received from the inlet and the wind velocity causing a reduction in aerodynamic drag.

15. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the support frame comprises a body configured to attach to the object, wherein the object comprises a structure.

16. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the support frame comprises a body integrated into the object, wherein the object comprises a structure.

17. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the support frame comprises a body configured to attach to the object, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

18. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the support frame comprises a body integrated into the object, wherein the object comprises a vehicle.

19. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the support frame comprises a body configured to attached to the land area.

20. The headwind and crosswind air jet shield of claim 14 , wherein the region of space within the rotating free air jet comprises an air deflection perimeter.

Assignees

• Florida A&M Univ

Inventors

• Magee Charles

Classifications

• B62D35/008

  Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D35/005 Primary

  Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title