Aerodynamic aid for speed skiing and method of its production

The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing, crafted from 3D scanning data and numerical calculations, optimizes airflow around the lower leg segment by matching the skier's curvature, significantly increasing speed by reducing air resistance and eddy currents.

EP4473858A1Pending Publication Date: 2024-12-11TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V KOSICIACH
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2024176322
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-05-22
Filing Date
2024-05-16
Publication Date
2024-12-11

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Speed skiers face reduced speed due to air resistance and eddy currents caused by airflow circulation around their suits, particularly in the lower leg segment, where premature separation of airflow occurs, leading to pressure drops.

Method used

An aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is designed using 3D scanning data and numerical calculations to optimize airflow, featuring a curved rear edge that minimizes air resistance by matching the curvature of the speed skier's leg, ensuring continuous airflow and reducing pressure drops.

Benefits of technology

The personalized aerodynamic aid increases maximum speed by 25 km/h by minimizing air swirling and drag, creating a smooth airflow passage between the leg, boot, and aid, tailored for each skier's unique leg shape.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing and the method of its manufacture serve to increase the maximum speed of a speed skier by optimizing the shape in order to reduce turbulent air swirling in the calf segment of the speed skier's leg. The invention may be classified in the field of mechanical engineering, more particularly in the field of fluid flow. The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing forms a compact unit comprising a rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane (1), rear edge (5), arcs (2), upper and lower contact surfaces (3, 4), wherein the curvature of the rear edge (5) of the aerodynamic aid for speed skiing follows the curvature of the calf segment of the leg. By taking into account the curvature of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg, a curved and rounded shape of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid is formed from an aerodynamic point of view, thereby forming a smooth transition between the skier's calf, the skier's ski boot and the aerodynamic speed skiing aid in the calf segment of the speed skier's leg. The application of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid reduces air resistance and improves airflow smoothness in any horizontal plane of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg.
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Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing and to the method of its production. The invention may be classified in the field of mechanical engineering, more particularly in the field of fluid flow, which includes aids and components that improve aerodynamic parameters by reducing air resistance.Background to the invention

[0002] Speed skiing is a sport discipline in which the main task of a speed skier is to achieve maximum speed by skiing down a slope in a straight line. To achieve high speeds, the speed skier is in a downhill position where he or she tries to minimize air resistance. At the same time, the speed skier is braked by the friction of the skis against the snow. As the air is circulated around the different parts of the suit, eddy currents are often created, which create a pressure drop behind the speed skier with a consequent reduction in his speed. To prevent the occurrence of swirling and premature separation of the airflow from the surface of the suit, speed skiers use a variety of aerodynamic aids designed to minimise air resistance and swirling, thereby increasing their maximum speed. In the rear lower leg segment of the skit boots (Fig. 1), speed skiers use an aerodynamic aid to optimize airflow, which prevents the airflow bypassing the sides of the ski boot from suddenly breaking off, by virtue of gradual narrowing, up to the rear vertical straight edge of the aerodynamic aid.Summary of the invention

[0003] The essence of the invention of an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing and the method of its production is to optimize the airflow in the lower leg segment of a speed skier by taking into account the body predisposition of the lower leg segment of the speed skier. The invention takes into account the data of the curvature of the lower leg segment of the speed skier from the 3D scan and the air resistance coefficients obtained by numerical calculation at several horizontal levels, thus obtaining a curve of the curvature of the rear edge of the aerodynamic aid for speed skiing (Fig. 2).

[0004] The curve of the curvature of the rear edge of the aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is the result of numerical calculations taking into account the data of the body predisposition of the lower leg segment of the speed skier, obtained from 3D scanning, which take into account the optimal airflow around the speed skier's legs to reduce the air resistance.

[0005] The resulting optimized aerodynamic aid curve for speed skiing is based on air resistance coefficients obtained by numerical calculation in several horizontal planes, respecting the ideal ratio of the maximum permissible depth of the leg of the speed skier, the skit boot and the aerodynamic aid defined by the rules of the sport, and the width of the calf segment of the speed skier. At the same time, the proposed personalized solution ensures continuous airflow passage between the calf segment of the speed skier's leg, the ski boot and the aerodynamic speed skiing aid, thereby eliminating the pressure drop behind the calf segment and increasing the speed skier's maximum speed. Aerodynamic optimization allows for the creation of a unique personalized pair of aerodynamic speed skiing aids (namely for the right and the left leg of a specific speed skier).Brief description of the drawings

[0006] Fig. 1 shows a front and left view of a standard aerodynamic aid that is commonly used by speed skiers. Fig. 2 shows a front and left view of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid, which respects the body predisposition of the lower leg segment of the speed skier with the curvature of his calf segment of the leg, and shows the upper and lower contact surfaces of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid to the leg of the speed skier and to the ski boot itself. Fig. 3 shows the placement of the aerodynamic aid for speed skiing on the skier's leg and the calf segment of the speed skier's leg. Detailed description Example 1

[0007] This example embodiment describes a method of manufacturing an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing. A 3D scanner is used to create a scan of a speed skier's leg in a downhill position, and horizontal sections at selected distances of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg are created from the scan of the leg in the downhill position in a virtual environment. Subsequently, in the circular shape of the section of the calf segment of the skier's leg, a rear edge endpoint 5 is added to the rear segment, wherein the junction of the centre of the front calf segment of the leg and the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane 1 (determined by the intersection of the rear edge 5 with the arc 2) is parallel to the direction of the airflow. In this example embodiment, the endpoint of the rear edge in the particular cutting plane 1 is at a distance of from 30 to 400 mm from the upper and lower contact surfaces 3, 4. Between the calf scan of the leg and the rear edge endpoint in the particular plane cutting plane 1, an arc 2 is added on both sides which is tangent to the calf scan at the point of greatest diameter and is tangent to the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane 1. The radius of curvature of arcs 2 is then calculated, taking into account the calculated air resistance coefficients and the curvature of the calf of the leg obtained from the 3D scan. All horizontal sections are joined using a profile stretching function and a specific curve of the rear edge 5 curvature of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid is generated from the rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane 1, which takes into account the curvature of the calf of the speed skier's leg obtained by 3D scanning. The resulting calf leg scan is determined from the combined horizontal sections.

[0008] By combining 3D scanning and aerodynamic design of the optimized shape, a pair of mirror-symmetrical personalized aerodynamic aids (for the right and the left leg) are created that respect the curvature of the calf of the speed skier's leg and allow for a smooth passage of airflow in the calf segment with minimized air swirling.

[0009] The aerodynamic aids are placed on the back of the ski boot (Fig. 3), which are covered by the elastic suit. The use of an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing has been shown in tests to increase the maximum speed of a particular speed skier by 25 km / h.Example 2

[0010] This example embodiment describes an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing, which forms a compact unit manufactured by additive manufacturing (3D printing). It respects the curvature curve of the rear edge 5 of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid, which is the result of numerical calculations taking into account the data of the body predisposition of the lower leg segment of the speed skier, obtained from 3D scanning and the parameters of the ideal airflow around the speed skier's legs, thereby reducing the air resistance. The curvature of the rear edge 5 of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid is personalized to the particular speed skier.

[0011] The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is composed of rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane 1, which are touched on both sides by an arc 2 extending to an upper part of the contact surface 3 for attachment to the rear calf segment and to a lower part of the contact surface 4 for attachment to the rear of the ski boot. The curvature curve of the rear edge 5 takes into account the calculated air resistance coefficients and the curvature of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg obtained by 3D scanning. The radius of curvature of the arcs 2 also takes into account the calculated air resistance coefficients and the curvature of the calf segment obtained by 3D scanning. The horizontal distance of the rear edge 5 from the upper and lower parts of the contact surfaces 3, 4 is between 30 and 400 mm.

[0012] The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is specially designed for the right and left leg of the speed skier, the aerodynamic aid designed for the left leg of the speed skier being mirror symmetrical with the aerodynamic aid designed for the right leg of the speed skier. The aerodynamic aids for speed skiing respect the curvature of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg and allow for a smooth passage of airflow in the calf segment with minimized air swirling.Industrial applicability

[0013] The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the speed skier in the calf segment of the leg and allows to increase his maximum speed. By an initial 3D scan of the calf of the speed skier's leg and with subsequent aerodynamic design, it is possible to create, by means of 3D printing, personalised aerodynamic aids for speed skiers which respect the curvature of the calf segment of the leg and thus allow to create suitable conditions for a smooth airflow between the calf segment of the leg, the skier and the aerodynamic aid for speed skiing, and thus increase the maximum speed of the speed skier.

Examples

example 1

[0007]This example embodiment describes a method of manufacturing an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing. A 3D scanner is used to create a scan of a speed skier's leg in a downhill position, and horizontal sections at selected distances of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg are created from the scan of the leg in the downhill position in a virtual environment. Subsequently, in the circular shape of the section of the calf segment of the skier's leg, a rear edge endpoint 5 is added to the rear segment, wherein the junction of the centre of the front calf segment of the leg and the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane 1 (determined by the intersection of the rear edge 5 with the arc 2) is parallel to the direction of the airflow. In this example embodiment, the endpoint of the rear edge in the particular cutting plane 1 is at a distance of from 30 to 400 mm from the upper and lower contact surfaces 3, 4. Between the calf scan of the leg and the rear edge endpoint in ...

example 2

[0010]This example embodiment describes an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing, which forms a compact unit manufactured by additive manufacturing (3D printing). It respects the curvature curve of the rear edge 5 of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid, which is the result of numerical calculations taking into account the data of the body predisposition of the lower leg segment of the speed skier, obtained from 3D scanning and the parameters of the ideal airflow around the speed skier's legs, thereby reducing the air resistance. The curvature of the rear edge 5 of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid is personalized to the particular speed skier.

[0011]The aerodynamic aid for speed skiing is composed of rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane 1, which are touched on both sides by an arc 2 extending to an upper part of the contact surface 3 for attachment to the rear calf segment and to a lower part of the contact surface 4 for attachment to the rear of the ski boot. The curvature cur...

Claims

1. An aerodynamic aid for speed skiing characterized in that it is composed of rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane (1), which are touched on both sides by an arc (2) extending to an upper part of the contact surface (3) for attachment to the rear calf segment and to a lower part of the contact surface (4) for attachment to the rear of the ski boot, wherein curvature curve of the rear edge (5) is the junction of the rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane (1) and its curvature is generated by a polynomial function taking into account the shape of the calf segment of the leg of the speed skier.

2. The aerodynamic speed skiing aid according to claim 1 characterized in that, the radius of curvature of the arcs (2) takes into account the calculated air resistance coefficients and the curvature of the calf segment of the leg obtained by 3D scanning.

3. The aerodynamic speed skiing aid according to claim 1 characterized in that the horizontal distance of the rear edge (5) from the upper and lower parts of the contact surfaces (3, 4) is between 30 and 400 mm.

4. A method of production of an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing as described in claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a. A 3D scanner is used to create a scan of a speed skier's leg in a downhill position; b. Horizontal sections at selected distances of the calf segment of the speed skier's leg are created from the scan of the leg in the downhill position in a virtual environment; c. In the circular shape of the section of the calf segment of the skier's leg, an endpoint is added to the rear part to form a rear edge (5), wherein the junction of the centre of the front calf segment of the leg and the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane (1) is parallel to the direction of the airflow; d. An arc 2 is added on both sides between the calf scan and the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane (1), which is tangent to the calf scan at the point of greatest diameter and is tangent to the rear edge endpoint in the particular cutting plane (1); e. The radius of curvature of arcs (2) is then calculated, taking into account the calculated air resistance coefficients and the curvature of the calf of the leg obtained from the 3D scan; f. All horizontal sections are joined using a profile stretching function and a specific curve of the rear edge (5) curvature of the aerodynamic speed skiing aid is generated from the rear edge endpoints in the particular cutting plane (1), which takes into account the curvature of the calf of the speed skier's leg obtained by 3D scanning; g. The resulting calf leg scan is determined from the combined horizontal sections;5. The method of production of an aerodynamic aid for speed skiing according to claim 4 characterized in that, in the circular shape of the section of the calf segment of the skier's leg, an endpoint is added to the rear part at a distance from the upper and lower parts of the contact surface (3, 4) ranging from 30 to 400 mm.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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