Patent ID: 6918456
Filing Date: 2005-07-19
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: structure that defines a flow inlet; and a grille that is disposed in the flow inlet and through which flow passes in a direction generally normal to the flow inlet; the grille comprising grille bars that have lengths extending across the flow inlet and that are arranged side-by-side and spaced apart to allow flow between them; each grille bar comprising opposite sides that extend in the direction of flow from a leading end of the grille bar to a trailing end of the grille bar and that endow the grille bar with a shape that in transverse cross section has a chordal dimension measured in the direction of flow and a width measured perpendicular to the chordal dimension, each side comprising an outer surface exposed to flow through the grille between the grille bars, and each side further comprising a gap extending lengthwise of the grille bar to impart discontinuity to the respective outer surface between leading and trailing ends of the grille bar, wherein each gap has a dimension measured parallel to the chordal dimension of the respective grille bar that is less than 20% of the chordal dimension of the respective grille bar as measured from leading end to trailing end of the respective grille bar.