Movable Air Conduction Element for Truck Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conduction elements for load-carrying vehicles increase vehicle dimensions and require complex disassembly for unloading, leading to issues with legal regulations and collision risks during adjustment, and often result in increased fuel consumption due to suction effects behind the cargo space structure.
Innovation Solution
An air conduction element with a movable cover that translates to increase the air conduction duct's cross section, allowing it to be lowered by air flow without additional subassemblies, maintaining vehicle dimensions and reducing air resistance by being integrated into the cargo space structure's design, particularly on the roof wall with flexible side walls and articulated connection elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air conduction surfaces are arranged solely behind the cargo space structure, then the coefficient of air resistance is reduced, but the cargo space structure requires prior disassembly of air conducting surfaces for unloading and the permissible vehicle length is significantly exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The air conduction element is made dynamically adjustable through a telescopic mechanism that allows it to extend during travel to reduce air resistance and retract during unloading operations. This dynamic adjustment enables the element to serve dual purposes: aerodynamic optimization during transport and accessibility during loading/unloading, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and operational ease.
2Loss of energy
If a rigid-shape tubular structure is used to take up air flow, then air flow is channeled to the negative pressure region, but the vehicle height increases which may result in contact with the roof of the cargo terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The air conduction element employs a telescopic mechanism that allows it to extend only in the longitudinal direction during travel, maintaining a compact profile vertically. This dynamic extension capability enables effective air flow management and drag reduction without permanently increasing vehicle height, thus avoiding contact with cargo terminal roofs while still channeling air flow to reduce pressure drag.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conduction element is designed to extend primarily in the longitudinal dimension rather than vertically, redirecting air flow along the length of the vehicle. This dimensional shift allows the element to manage air flow effectively without increasing vehicle height, resolving the contradiction between aerodynamic performance and clearance requirements.
3Loss of energy
If extensible air conduction elements are swiveled from retracted position to extended travel position, then air resistance is reduced, but the vehicle dimensions are increased during rotational movement beyond the level in starting and travel position
Solution Approach 1:
The air conduction element uses a telescopic extension mechanism rather than rotational swiveling, allowing it to extend linearly along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic design enables the element to achieve its extended travel position without increasing vehicle dimensions during adjustment, as the extension occurs collinearly with the vehicle's existing structure, avoiding the dimensional excursions associated with rotational movement.
4Loss of energy
If the cover is arranged movably relative to the cargo space structure, then the air conduction duct cross section is changed to optimize air flow, but the device complexity increases with additional subassemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with a telescopic mechanism that allows it to extend and retract along the longitudinal axis, dynamically adjusting the air conduction duct cross section. This dynamic adjustment optimizes air flow during travel while maintaining a compact profile during unloading, resolving the contradiction between aerodynamic performance and structural simplicity through intelligent mechanical design.
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 solution effectively reduces air resistance during high-speed travel while minimizing structural height and avoiding obstacles, maintaining vehicle dimensions and reducing fuel consumption by optimizing air flow and pressure distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the air inlet opening overlaps the cargo space structure in the direction of travel and the air outlet opening is arranged behind the cargo space structure within its cross section contour
Implementation Method 2
During rapid forward travel of the load-carrying vehicle, a negative pressure arises in the region behind the cargo space structure, resulting in a suction effect and increasing the fuel consumption of the load-carrying vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An air conduction element for reducing the air resistance of a load-carrying vehicle having a load space structure. The air conduction element can be externally mounted in the rear region of the load space structure and includes an air conduction duct with a front air inlet opening and a rear air outlet opening, front and rear being in relation to the direction of travel (x). The air inlet opening overlaps the load space structure in the direction of travel (x) and the air outlet opening is arranged behind the load space structure within the cross-sectional contour thereof. The air conduction element has a cover which delimits the air conduction duct and which is arranged movably relative to the load space structure. The cap slowly drops in the direction of the load space structure when the air speed drops below a defined value and is raised by the air current in relation to the load space structure when the air speed exceeds a defined value. It is therefore the aim to devise an air conduction element with which the maximum vehicle dimensions defined for the travel position of the air conduction element are maintained also during adjustment thereof. For this purpose, the cover is mounted in relation to the load space structure such that it can carry out a translatory movement only.