Patent ID: 9290041
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: B60B,B60C,B60J,B60Y,B62D,B62J,B63B,B63H,B64C,F15D,H01Q,Y02T,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for reducing the net vehicle propulsory counterforce required to countervail drag-induced forces upon a terrestrial vehicle employing a spoked wheel assembly exposed to headwinds impinging thereon above the level of an axle of said wheel assembly when the vehicle is in forward motion, comprising: a streamlined spoke tailfin disposed in longitudinal rotatable attachment proximally adjacent to a structural spoke wherein the structural spoke fastening an outer rim to a central hub of a vehicle wheel assembly; the tailfin disposed lengthwise adjacent to the spoke wherein the tailfin may swivel freely about the longitudinal axis of the spoke in response to winds from varying directions impinging thereon; the tailfin disposed in streamlined orientation to be thicker near a longitudinal side located proximally adjacent to the spoke and to be substantially thinner at an opposite longitudinal side located furthest from the spoke; the tailfin employed on the spoke disposed for reduced drag on the spoke from a headwind impinging thereon when the tailfin is positioned directly above the axle in a most elevated position within an upper region of said wheel assembly comprising a major upper drag-inducing surface of said wheel assembly located wholly above the level of the axle, with said region comprising the primary vehicle-drag-inducing wheel surface of said wheel assembly; the tailfin in the most elevated position extending downwards from the level of a critical elevation which is centered around the primary vehicle-drag-inducing wheel surface; and the tailfin in the most elevated position extending above the level of the critical elevation, whereby the tailfin in the most elevated position can reduce an upper wheel drag force from the headwind or from a crosswind impinging on the spoke.