IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract: The skirt presenting an opening (3) at the front of the motor vehicle whereby when vehicle is in forward motion the skirt (2) traps air beneath the vehicle, the air cushion so generated opposing the weight of the vehicle.

Description: "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES" The invention has for an object to reduce fuel consumption in motor vehicles. Accordingly the invention consists in a motor vehicle provided with a flexible skirt having side portions extending on bath sides of the vehicle, and a rear portion extending across the rear of the vehicle, the skirt presenting an opening at the front of the vehicle whereby when the vehicle is in forward motion the skirt traps air beneath the vehicle, the air cushion so generated opposing the weight of the vehicle. I In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, two embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure I is a perspective view of a motor car incorporating one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partially cut-away view of a motor car incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a propulsion system for a motor car. Referring now to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the motor car in Figure I is fitted with a skirt generally indicated at 2 which covers the wheels of the car and extends around the rear of the car so as to present an opening generally indicated at 3 facing in a direction of travel of the car in normal use. The skirt 2 may be suspended from a tubular member 4 secured to the car body and hangs flexibly downwardly from this member 4 to a height a few inches above the road surface. The skirt 2 also is provided with a pair of covers 4 for the front wheels only one of which can be seen in the drawing. Each cover 5 is fitted with a rigid air intake 6 to direct air under the car as it moves. Means may be provided for adjusting the height of the skirt with regard to the ground surface. Thus, a flexible metal cable may be fastened inside the bottom edge of the skirt so as to slide freely within a casing. The casing may be of metal and is mounted along the bottom edge of the skirt.2. The ends of the cable are connected to a lever mechanism which can be operated from inside the car. The required height of the skirt above the ground surface can thus be obtained by elongating or shortening the length of the cable located within the skirt by operating this lever mechanism in the appropriate manner. E SHEET Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment in which skirting is prov internally of the wheels of the car. In this embodiment a flexible skirt is secured to a substantially U-shaped tubular frame II which is mounted the axles of the vehicle so that the support points for the skirt move wi the wheels of the car. Thus j.f a wheel of the car encounters either a ri or a depression the lowest edge of the skirt 10 will still tend to follow contour of the road surface. The embodiment shown in Figure 2 may be fitted with a similar arra for adjusting the height of the skirt above the ground surface which has described with regard to the embodiment of Figure I. With both embodiments described as the car travels forwardly air i directed beneath the vehicle so as to be trapped by the skirt. This gene a cushion of air which has a lifting effect which acts against the weight the car. Thus when the car is cruising, far example, at speeds between 4 70 mph. the lift generated by the air cushion will decrease the effect of weight of the car so that a saving in fuel consumption can be achieved. Taking the weight of an average car as 2,000 lbs, and assuming tha car has an effective width of 66 inches and length of 192 inches the area enclosed by the skirting will be 12,672 square inches. Assuming that the cushion generates a lift of 2 ounces per square inch at 70 mph it will be appreciated that a total lift of 1,584 can be generated which is in exces requirements. Naturally to increase lift generated by the air cushion the bottom the car will have to be covered with a corrugated or channeled panel whic will provide hot air escape for engine cooling and also trap air cushion effectively. It will also be appreciated that the lift generated by the air cus will adversely effect the braking capability of the car. Thus the brake may be attached via a suitable linkage to the centre of the rear portion the skirting. Actuation of the brake pedal will cause the rear portion o skirt to lift, thus releasing the air cushion and allowing the car brakes grip more effectively. It will also be appreciated that the safety of the car may be enda should too great a pressure be built up by the air cushion when the car i travelling at high speed. Thus a suitable pressure-sensitive transducer located in the base of the car so as to be capable of giving a measuremen the pressure generated by the trapped air cushion. This transducer may b linked through a suitable control circuit to the mechanism already described for raising the rear portion of the skirt to release the pressure of the air cushion which the pressure exceeds a prε-determined limit. To achieve a further improvement in fuel saving the embodiments described with regard to Figures I and 2 may be used in conjunction with a dual propulsion system in which an electric drive motor is arranged to propel the vehicle from start to approximately 20 .p.h. at which speed an internal combustion engine takes over. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of such an arrangement and in this Figure an internal combustion engine 20 drives the rear wheels 21 of a car through a conventional drive shaft 22. An electric motor 23 is mounted beneath the rear seat 24 of the car so as to drive a pulley 25 which is coupled by a V-belt or chain 26 to a pulley 27 associated with the drive shaft 22. Suitable means may be provided for maintaining tension in the pulley 27. Thus the motor 23 may be mounted so that it can be slid transversely to the direction of drive shaft 22. The pulley 27 is capable αf transmitting drive to the drive shaft 22 in one direction only by means of a suitable ratchet mechanism. Naturally this direction will correspond to forward movement of the car. In this embodiment a plurality of heavy duty batteries 28 are mounted in the boot of the car. A battery fast-charger may also be mounted under the rear seat of the car for fast-charging the batteries 28. Current from the batteries 28 is supplied to the motor 23 under the control of three stage low/medium/high switching circuit indicated at 29 connected to the accelerator pedal 30 of the car. The accelerator controlled three-stage electromagnetic contractor breaks or makes current supply to the electric motor in such a manner that the speed of the electric motor 23 is controlled by the accelerator position. The circuit is also fitted with a cut-out relay activated by the dynamo of the internal combustion engine 20, this relay serving to cut off the ignition to the internal combustion engine 20 when the latter enters its idling regime. Thus, to start the car just described, the following sequence αf actions is carried out: Firstly, the ignition key is switched on and the car is engaged in second gear. The clutch is depressed, the handbrake released and the -car can then be driven by means αf the electric motor 23. When a sufficient speed has been reached, for example, 10 m.p.h. the clutch is released and the petrol engine takes over in the conventional manner. When the car is stopped in traffic the petrol engine is switched off automatically by the arrangement already described. By pressing the accelerator and the clutch again, the vehicle will start under electric power. The above description has been given with regard to cars, but naturally the invention is applicable to all mαtorisεd vehicles including lαrries and vans.

Claims: CLAIMS I I. A motor vehicle provided with a flexible skirt having side portion extending on both sides of the vehicle, and a rear portion extending acro the rear of . the vehicle, the skirt presenting an opening at the front of vehicle whereby when the vehicle is in forward motion the skirt traps air 5 beneath the vehicle and generates an air cushion which opposes the ' weight of the vehicle. 2. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim I, and including means for adjusting the height of the skirt relative to the road surface. 3. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim I or claim 2, and including me 0 for raising the rear portion αf the skirt so as to allow the air cushion be dissipated. , 4. A motor vehicle as claimed in claim 3, including means for sensing pressure of said air cushion and for causing said rear portion to be lift when pressure exceeds a predetermined value. 5. A motor vehicle as claimed in any one αf the preceding, claims wher said skirt depends from a tubular member secured to the unsprung portion the vehicle whereby the skirt follows movement of the wheels of the vehic in response to changes in the contour of the road surface. 6. A motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with refer to either Figure I αr Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. 7. A motor vehicle as claimed in any one αf the preceding claims and including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for providi propulsive power to the vehicle, and wherein means are provided whereby t electric motor is operative to propel the vehicle during a low speed regi and the internal combustion engine is operative to propel the vehicle dur the remainder of the operating regime. OMH SHEET

Inventors: MALAKOWSKI K
Applicants: MALAKOWSKI K
Application year: 1980
Main classification: B60V1
IPC codes: B60V1, B60V3