Patent ID: 8807630

Claim:
A fairing air inlet assembly to reduce drag on a vehicle having a radiator with a front comprising: a) a frame having a front and a back, wherein the frame has a pair of approximately horizontal segments and a pair of approximately vertical segments forming an interior, wherein one of the pair of segments has a pair of curved tracks on the interior near the front of the frame; b) at least one air tunnel in the interior of the frame; c) a cover having parallel sides; wherein the sides are moveably engaged with the pair of curved tracks; d) a drive mechanism to move the cover from an unblocked position to a blocked position and back; wherein the back of the frame is mounted adjacent to the radiator; wherein the at least one air tunnel is in front of and approximately perpendicular to the radiator front and defines an opening through which air can flow into the radiator; wherein the at least one air tunnel is further defined by at least one panel; wherein the at least one panel is generally rectangular and has sides, an outer tip end, width and depth; and wherein the at least one panel is fixedly mounted on its sides in the interior of the frame; wherein the depth of the panel is sufficient to bring the at least one panel proximate to the front of the radiator; wherein the front tip end approximately aligns with the cover in the blocked position; wherein the cover in the blocked position blocks airflow into the air tunnel toward the radiator and in the unblocked position allows airflow into the air tunnel and into the radiator; wherein the cover in the blocked position conforms to the curved shape of the track; wherein the curved shape reduces drag on the vehicle; and wherein the cover is one continuous piece.