GB2186532A

GB2186532A - Streamlining vehicle bodywork edges

Info

Publication number: GB2186532A
Application number: GB08702850A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gianfranco Negro
Original assignee: Iveco Fiat SpA
Current assignee: Iveco SpA
Priority date: 1986-02-14
Filing date: 1987-02-09
Publication date: 1987-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-09
Also published as: GB2186532B; FR2594399A3; GB8702850D0; DE8701807U1; IT207936Z2; IT8652982V0; FR2594399B3

Abstract

A streamlined deflector (5) consisting of a number of straight (6) and elbow-shaped (7) semitubular elements mutually connectable in such a manner as to define a structure for covering the edge of a front wall (8) of the body (3) on a motor vehicle (1), for the purpose of rounding off the profile of the area adjacent to the aforementioned edge. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Streamlined deflector for a motor vehicle The present invention relates to a streamlined defl ector fora-motor veh icle. In particular, the presentinvention relates to a stream lined deflector which may befitted onto a motor vehicle convenientlyofthetype having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab.

Numerous types of streamlined deflectors designed to fit on to motor vehicles of the aforementioned type are already known. Such include, for example, deflectors designed to fit on to the roof of the cab for blending the respective rooves of the vehicle cab and body. Others are appropriately shaped so as to coverthe edge of a front wall ofthe body, on the side adjacent to the cab, and so round off the profile of the area adjacent to the front edge of the body.

Known deflectors of the aforementioned type present a specific structure, and are usually manufactured in various sizesforenabling assembly on to different motorvehicle models. This obviously involves a considerable increase in manufacturing cost, for producing different types of deflectors, in addition to requiring separate stocks of both first-assembly and spare deflectors.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a streamlined deflector designed to overcomethe aforementioned drawbacks typical of the aforementioned known types of deflector.

With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided a streamlined deflector for a motor vehicle conveniently of the type having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab and extends beyond the top and the opposite sides of the same; characterised by the fact that it com prises a number of straightand elbow-shaped semitubular elements, which may be mutually connected and fitted on to the edge ofthe said front wall, for the purpose of rounding off the profile of the area adjacent to the said edge.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle fitted with a deflector according to the teachings of the present invention; Figure2shows a larger-scale section along line ll-ll in Figure 1; Figure 3shows a larger-scale, exploded view ofthe Figure 1 deflector with a number of parts removed.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a motor vehicle, in particular, a truck comprising a cab 2 and a body3 projecting overthetop and laterally in relation to the said cab 2. Number 5 indicates a streamlined deflector according to the present invention and composed of a number of straights and elbow-shaped 7 semitubular elements connected together and fitted on to the edge of a front wall 8 of body 3so as to define a frame having a rounded profile and covering the top and side edge portions of the said body 3. As shown in Figure 1, elements 6 and 7 constituting deflector 5 combine to define a continuous deflecting surface which, from the streamlining standpoint, substantially acts as a single U-shaped, semitubular deflector fitted to the edge offrontwall 8 of the said body 3.

With special reference to Figures 2 and 3, each of elements 6 and 7 constituting deflector 5 presents a substantially semicircular cross section. In more detail,froma longitudinal edgeofeach element6 and 7, there extends perpendicularly a tab 11 which, in actual use, rests on the surface of wall 8 of body 3 and is connected to the same, for example, by means of a number of screws.

On the opposite side to that presenting tab 11, each element 6 and 7 presents a furthertab 12 (Figure 2) extending in a plane perpendiculartothat in which lies tab 11,so asto rest, in actual use, on the edge of a side wall 13 of body 3, at the connecting point between the said side wall 13 and the said front wall 8.

Finally, each element 6 and 7 presents, on one end, a semicircular end portion 14, the outer surface diameter of which substantially matches the inner surface diameter of elements 6 and 7. In actual use, this enables adjacent elements 6 or 7 to be connected together by partially overlapping the ends-ofthe elements themselves.

Each element 6 and 7 of deflector 5 may conveniently be molded from plastic material, or glass fibre for achieving extremely strong resistance to mechanical stress. The advantages of the deflector according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. First and foremost, deflector 5 may be fitted easily to wall 8 of body 3, by virtue of being fitted one element at a time. Furthermore, the possibility of series-connecting, as required, a number of elements 6, and of cutting the same to any required length, obviously enables the formation of different deflectors for assembly on motor vehicles having different bodies, despite onlytwo basic elements, i.e.

straight element 6 and elbow 7, being employed.

As such, manufacture of the basic elements of deflector 5 is greatly simplified, as is also storage of the same, which requires considerably less space than currently necessary for storing deflectors ready for mounting on to different motor vehicles.

To those skilled in the art itwill beclearthat changes may be made to deflector 5 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the motor vehicle on to which deflector 5 is fitted may be a truck, as shown in Figure 1, or a trailer having a tractor and semitrailer, etc.

1. Astreamlined deflector for a motor vehicle conveniently of the type having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab and extends beyond the top and the opposite sides of the same; characterised by the fact that it comprises a number of straight and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Streamlined deflector for a motor vehicle The present invention relates to a streamlined defl ector fora-motor veh icle. In particular, the presentinvention relates to a stream lined deflector which may befitted onto a motor vehicle convenientlyofthetype having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab. Numerous types of streamlined deflectors designed to fit on to motor vehicles of the aforementioned type are already known. Such include, for example, deflectors designed to fit on to the roof of the cab for blending the respective rooves of the vehicle cab and body. Others are appropriately shaped so as to coverthe edge of a front wall ofthe body, on the side adjacent to the cab, and so round off the profile of the area adjacent to the front edge of the body. Known deflectors of the aforementioned type present a specific structure, and are usually manufactured in various sizesforenabling assembly on to different motorvehicle models. This obviously involves a considerable increase in manufacturing cost, for producing different types of deflectors, in addition to requiring separate stocks of both first-assembly and spare deflectors. The aim of the present invention is to provide a streamlined deflector designed to overcomethe aforementioned drawbacks typical of the aforementioned known types of deflector. With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided a streamlined deflector for a motor vehicle conveniently of the type having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab and extends beyond the top and the opposite sides of the same; characterised by the fact that it com prises a number of straightand elbow-shaped semitubular elements, which may be mutually connected and fitted on to the edge ofthe said front wall, for the purpose of rounding off the profile of the area adjacent to the said edge. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle fitted with a deflector according to the teachings of the present invention; Figure2shows a larger-scale section along line ll-ll in Figure 1; Figure 3shows a larger-scale, exploded view ofthe Figure 1 deflector with a number of parts removed. Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates a motor vehicle, in particular, a truck comprising a cab 2 and a body3 projecting overthetop and laterally in relation to the said cab 2. Number 5 indicates a streamlined deflector according to the present invention and composed of a number of straights and elbow-shaped 7 semitubular elements connected together and fitted on to the edge of a front wall 8 of body 3so as to define a frame having a rounded profile and covering the top and side edge portions of the said body 3. As shown in Figure 1, elements 6 and 7 constituting deflector 5 combine to define a continuous deflecting surface which, from the streamlining standpoint, substantially acts as a single U-shaped, semitubular deflector fitted to the edge offrontwall 8 of the said body 3. With special reference to Figures 2 and 3, each of elements 6 and 7 constituting deflector 5 presents a substantially semicircular cross section. In more detail,froma longitudinal edgeofeach element6 and 7, there extends perpendicularly a tab 11 which, in actual use, rests on the surface of wall 8 of body 3 and is connected to the same, for example, by means of a number of screws. On the opposite side to that presenting tab 11, each element 6 and 7 presents a furthertab 12 (Figure 2) extending in a plane perpendiculartothat in which lies tab 11,so asto rest, in actual use, on the edge of a side wall 13 of body 3, at the connecting point between the said side wall 13 and the said front wall 8. Finally, each element 6 and 7 presents, on one end, a semicircular end portion 14, the outer surface diameter of which substantially matches the inner surface diameter of elements 6 and 7. In actual use, this enables adjacent elements 6 or 7 to be connected together by partially overlapping the ends-ofthe elements themselves. Each element 6 and 7 of deflector 5 may conveniently be molded from plastic material, or glass fibre for achieving extremely strong resistance to mechanical stress. The advantages of the deflector according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. First and foremost, deflector 5 may be fitted easily to wall 8 of body 3, by virtue of being fitted one element at a time. Furthermore, the possibility of series-connecting, as required, a number of elements 6, and of cutting the same to any required length, obviously enables the formation of different deflectors for assembly on motor vehicles having different bodies, despite onlytwo basic elements, i.e. straight element 6 and elbow 7, being employed. As such, manufacture of the basic elements of deflector 5 is greatly simplified, as is also storage of the same, which requires considerably less space than currently necessary for storing deflectors ready for mounting on to different motor vehicles. To those skilled in the art itwill beclearthat changes may be made to deflector 5 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the motor vehicle on to which deflector 5 is fitted may be a truck, as shown in Figure 1, or a trailer having a tractor and semitrailer, etc. CLAIMS

1. Astreamlined deflector for a motor vehicle conveniently of the type having a cab and a rear body, the front wall of which body is greater in size than the said cab and extends beyond the top and the opposite sides of the same; characterised by the fact that it comprises a number of straight and elbow-shaped semitubular elements, which may be mutually connected and fitted on to the edge of the said front wall, for the purpose of rounding off the profile of the area adjacentto the said edge.

2. Adeflectorasclaimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said elements combine to form a continuous deflecting surface.

3. A deflector as claimed in Claim 1 or2, characterised by the fact that each said semitubular element presents a substantially semicircular cross section.

4. Adeflectorasclaimed in Claim 3, characterised by the factthat, along a longitudinal edge, each said semitubular element presents a first tab bent 900 as designed to rest on the surface ofthe saidfrontwall ofthesaid body.

5. A deflector as claimed in Ciaim 3 or4, characterised bythe fact that, along a longitudinal edge, each said semitubular element presents a second tab arranged perpendicularly in relation to the said first tab and designed to rest, in actual use, on an edge surface of a sidewall ofthesaid body, at the connecting point between the said side wall and the said frontwall.

6. A deflector as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 3 to 5, characterised by the fact that each said element presents, on one end, a semicircular portion extending longitudinally and the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the inner surface diameter of each said element; each said portion providing, in actual use, for connecting adjacent said elements.

7. A motorvehicleconvenientlyofthetype having a cab and a rearbody,thefrontwall of which body is greater in size than the said cab and extends beyond the top and opposite sides ofthe same; characterised bythefactthatitcomprisesa streamlined deflector substantially consisting of a number of straight and elbow-shaped semitubular elements connected together and fitted on to the edge of the said front wall of the said bodyforthe purpose of rounding offthe profile of the area adjacent to the said edge.

8. A motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 7, characterised by the fact that the said deflector presents a substantially continuous deflecting surface.

9. Amotorvehicle as claimed in Claim 7, characterised by the fact that each said element of the said deflector presents a substantially semicircular cross section.

10. Amotorvehicleasclaimed in Claim 9, characterised by the fact that, along a longitudinal edge, each said element presentsafirsttab bent 90" and fitted to the said frontwall.

11. Amotorvehicle as claimed in Claim 10, characterised by the factthat, along a longitudinal edge, the said deflector presents a second tab on the opposite side to the said first tab and extending in a plane perpendicularto that defined bythe said first tab; the said second tab resting on the outer surface of a sidewall ofthesaid body, attheconnecting point between the said side wall and the said front wall.

12. Amotorvehicle as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 9 to 11, characterised bythe fact that each said semitubular element presents, on one end, a smaller-diameter portion overlapped by an opposite end portion on the adjacent element.

13. Astreamlineddeflectorasclaimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 1 to 6 and substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Amotorvehicleas claimed in anyone ofthe foregoing Claimsfrom 7 to 12 and substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.