Aerodynamic Mirror Housing Generates Thrust to Reduce Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, experience significant drag due to their tall and wide box-shaped profile and large side mirror assemblies, leading to increased fuel consumption and reduced fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
The development of aerodynamically designed side-view mirror housings with a unique airfoil shape that generates a thrust vector when subjected to angled airflow, reducing net drag by creating a lifting force that counters the drag force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional side mirror assemblies are used to allow driver visibility, then the driver can view rearward of the side mirror assembly, but the lateral profile of the vehicle increases and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror housing employs a curved airfoil-shaped cross-section instead of conventional flat or boxy designs. The curved surfaces guide fluid flow smoothly around the mirror assembly, reducing turbulence and drag while maintaining the necessary lateral extension for driver visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the mirror housing by implementing specific curvature radii and airfoil section shapes. These parameter changes optimize the balance between providing sufficient mirror surface area for visibility and minimizing the lateral profile impact on vehicle drag.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If aerodynamic mirror housings with airfoil shape are used to reduce drag, then vehicle drag is reduced and fuel economy improves, but the complexity of the mirror housing design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airfoil-shaped cross-section with curved surfaces provides aerodynamic benefits while maintaining a relatively simple overall housing structure. The curvature is applied systematically to the mirror housing contours, creating an integrated design that reduces drag without requiring complex internal mechanisms or multiple separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new mirror housings result in a significant reduction in vehicle drag, improving fuel economy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, as demonstrated by computational fluid dynamics modeling and coast down testing.
Implementation Method 1
aerodynamically designed side-view mirror housings with a unique airfoil shape that generates a thrust vector when subjected to angled airflow, reducing net drag by creating a lifting force that counters the drag force
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a mirror assembly for a vehicle is described. The mirror assembly includes a housing defining an aerodynamic shape. The housing includes a first curved wall, a second curved wall, a bottom portion, and a top portion. The first and second curved walls extend from the bottom portion to the top portion and intersect one another to form a leading edge of the housing. The housing is dimensionally configured so that a thrust force is generated in a travel direction of the vehicle when a crossflow from the vehicle is directed around the housing.