GB2467727A

GB2467727A - A vehicle air deflector

Info

Publication number: GB2467727A
Application number: GB0901748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Gerard Vasey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-04
Filing date: 2009-02-04
Publication date: 2010-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-04
Also published as: GB0901748D0; GB2467727B; WO2010089592A1

Abstract

A deflector 10 for a vehicular structure 22, comprising a deflector element 12 and mounting means for mounting 24 the deflector element at or near a trailing edge of the vehicular structure, the deflector element being adapted to direct airflow behind and inwardly relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure thereby to reduce turbulence behind the vehicular structure and the drag induced by the vehicular structure. The mounting means 24 allows the deflector to be easily attached to or removed from the vehicular structure 22 by an operator. The deflector may comprise a convex first surface 18 and a concave second surface 20. The deflector element may be elongate and the mounting means may comprise a first end 25 attached to the deflector element and a second end 26 which engages with the vehicle structure. The engagement between the second end of the mounting means and the vehicle structure may be an aperture or eyelet (15, figure 3) provided on the vehicle. The deflector may be securely locked to the vehicle structure.

Description

A Vehicle Deflector The present invention relates to deflectors for vehicles, or objects transported by a vehicle, to reduce the drag coefficient of the vehicle thereby to improve fuel efficiency.

It is well known that there is considerable drag induced by box-like vehicles such as articulated lorries and container lorries, particularly when moving at high speeds. The drag induced by such vehicles is increased 1 0 when the rear of the vehicle is flat, such as the rear doors of a trailer or a container being transported by a vehicle. When such vehicles are operated over relatively long distances, the excess fuel used as a result of the induced drag significantly increases the cost to the haulage company and also has an adverse environmental impact.

This problem is not only associated with road vehicles. Freight locomotives are used to transport box-like trailers and containers, particularly over long distances at high speed. In an attempt to compete with the trucking industry, it is also known to stack box-like containers on a flatbed rail trailer. The box-like trailers and containers transported by rail induce considerable drag which increases the fuel consumption of the locomotive. The same problem therefore exists in the rail freight industry.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a deflector for a vehicular structure, comprising a deflector element and mounting means for mounting the deflector element at or near a trailing edge of the vehicular structure, the deflector element being adapted to direct airflow inwardly relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure.

The terms vehicular structure' shall be understood to include the body of a vehicle, such as a truck cab, a modular vehicle comprising a vehicle chassis and a box-like structure mounted thereto, and to modular objects for transporting on a vehicle, such as box-like containers for container trucks or railroad trailers. In a particularly preferred embodiment the vehicular structure is a standard ISO container (also known as a shipping container, Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU) or isotainer). There are a variety of sizes of standard ISO containers, all of which are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. The forty foot container is 1 0 the most common size used for international transportation of non-bulk goods and is thus a particularly preferred container for use in the present invention.

Directing air flowing along the boundary surfaces of the vehicular structure, when the vehicle is moving forward, to the rear of the vehicular structure and inwardly relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure towards a rear centre of the structure advantageously reduces flow separation and air turbulence behind the vehicular structure, where air pressure is low. Reducing turbulence is known to reduce the drag induced by a moving object.

Reducing the drag induced by a moving vehicle advantageously reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle and the associated cost and environmental impact. This is particularly desirable where the vehicle is operated over long distances and at relatively high speeds, e.g. by rail or truck.

Preferably the deflector element is detachable from the vehicular structure.

This allows an operator, such as the driver, to easily attach the deflector on the vehicular structure before a journey and easily remove the deflector after a journey. The deflector may be stored on or in the vehicle during a short and/or low speed journey and attached to the vehicular structure before and during a relatively long and high speed journey. For example, it would be inconvenient to have the deflector mounted on a container during transportation on a ship as many containers are packed closely together and the deflector would interfere with the packing arrangement, and also there is little to be gained aerodynamically in the comparatively slow speeds of sea transportation. However, when the container is transferred to a truck or railway car, the container will typically be 1 0 transported individually and at relatively high speed and thus it is desirable to provide the deflector to improve the aerodynamic properties.

Preferably the deflector element comprises a convex outer surface The deflector may be attached to the vehicular structure so the side of the vehicular structure continues along the outer surface of the deflector element. Alternatively, the element may be spaced from the trailing edge of the vehicular structure to define a gap in a lengthwise direction relative to the vehicle. In these arrangements, airflow is directed inwardly relative to the trailing edges of the vehicular structure by the convex outer surface only.

Preferably the deflector element comprises a concave inner surface.

Preferably the inner surface directs air flow inwardly relative to the trailing edges of the vehicular structure. Suitably the deflector element is spaced outwardly from a side of the vehicular structure thereby to allow the concave inner surface to direct air flow inwardly relative to the trailing edges of the vehicular structure.

The convex outer surface will be understood to be curved outwardly in a lateral direction relative to the vehicle, when in use on a vehicular structure. Similarly, the concave inner surface will be understood to be curved inwardly in a lateral direction relative to the vehicle, when in use on a vehicular structure. Outer and inner will be understood to be relative to the vehicular structure when the deflector element is mounted thereto in use. For example, where the deflector element is mounted to a side of the vehicular structure, the convex outer surface will face outwardly relative to the vehicle and the concave inner surface will face inwardly relative to the vehicle.

Preferably the deflector element is a single elongate deflector element.

The deflector element may suitably be of similar length to the trailing edge at or near which it is mounted. For example, the deflector element may be a length which corresponds with the width or height of the rear of the vehicular structure. Suitably the deflector element may be mounted at or near a horizontal and/or vertical trailing edge of the vehicular structure, i.e. the deflector element may be mounted to the top, bottom and/or sides of the vehicular structure.

Preferably the mounting means comprises a first end attached to the deflector element and a second end attachable to the vehicular structure.

Preferably the second end is adapted to engage with the vehicular structure or a part thereof. Suitably the second end may engage with an aperture of the vehicular structure or a part thereof. The mounting means may comprise a nut and bolt arrangement. Alternatively, a hinge arrangement may be provided whereby the second end inserts downwardly into the aperture relative to the vehicular structure. Two or more hinge arrangements may be provided to mount the deflector element to the vehicular structure. The deflector element may hang from the vehicular structure on the hinge arrangement or may be secured to the vehicular structure by a nut or split pin, for example.

Preferably the second end is adapted to engage in an aperture of an eyelet on the vehicular structure. Suitably the second end may engage laterally into the aperture relative to the vehicular structure. The second end may insert into the aperture in a lateral direction and then sit in a corresponding slot in the eyelet, for example. Suitably the second end may comprise a wider end portion which prevents it moving laterally from the eyelet when seated in the slot. For example, the mounting means may comprise a bar having a disc of larger diameter attached to one end to define the second end. The aperture is complementarily shaped with the disc to allow the same to be inserted into the eyelet. The eyelet may comprise a u-shaped slot extending downwardly from the aperture to allow the bar to be moved downwardly in the eyelet and sit in the slot. The disc prevents the bar moving laterally from the eyelet. This type of arrangement advantageously allows the deflector element to be detachably mounted to the vehicular structure.

Alternatively the eyelet may only comprise the aperture. Preferably the second end is complementarily shaped with the aperture and is rotatably attached to the deflector element. The aperture and second end may be any shape which allows the second end to insert into the eyelet and rotate therein to an orientation which prevents the second end moving laterally out of the aperture. For example, the mounting means may comprise a circular bar having a wider portion attached to one end to define the second end. The second end and aperture may be triangular or square thereby to allow the second end to insert into the aperture but when rotated forty-five degrees therein will be prevented from moving laterally from the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicular structure may be a standard ISO container and the aperture may be provided by a hole in a corner casing of the container into which the mounting means inserts and engages. The deflector may suitably be sized to mount to standard containers of differing size. For example, the length of the deflector element may be the same or similar length to the length of a trailing edge of the container when being transported.

Preferably the aperture is elongate. Suitably, the aperture has parallel long sides, for example being rectangular or defining an elongate slot having curved ends.

Preferably the mounting means comprises a bearing to allow the second end to rotate relative to the deflector element. The bearing may suitably be provided at or near one of the first or second ends.

Suitably the second end may be adapted to clamp to the eyelet thereby to secure the deflector element to the vehicular structure.

Suitably the second end may have a first clamping face which engages with an inner surface of the eyelet thereby to clamp a second clamping face of the mounting means against an outer surface of the eyelet when the second end is rotated in the aperture. The first clamping face may be provided by a tapered portion of the second end, the tapered portion narrowing towards the first end of the mounting means. This arrangement provides a convenient means of moving the second clamping face against the outer surface of the eyelet when the second end is rotated therein.

Suitably the second clamping face is provided by a clamping member disposed between the first and second ends. Preferably the clamping member is constrained from moving towards the first end. This ensures a clamping interface is achieved when the second clamping face is urged against the outer surface of the eyelet.

Suitably the clamping member may be generally annular. The clamping member may suitably be made of a resilient material, e.g. rubber or spring steel.

Preferably the mounting means comprises two or more individually spaced mounting means adapted to engage with corresponding apertures. Two or more mounting means ensures the deflector element is securely attached to the vehicular structure, particularly important during transit.

Suitably a mounting means is provided at or near the ends of the deflector element thereby to adequately support the deflector element on the vehicular structure. This embodiment is particularly desirable for mounting the deflector to upper and lower apertures of a standard ISO container, for example. Where the deflector element is of significant length, more than two spaced mounting means may be desirable.

Preferably the two or more mounting means are coupled together to allow the second ends thereof to be rotated. Suitably the mounting means are coupled by an actuation member, suitably a bar. This advantageously allows the second ends of the individual mounting means to be rotated together in a single operation through movement of the actuation member.

Movement of the actuation bar in a downward direction is preferable for ease to an operator and gravity will ensure the actuation bar remains in an actuated downward position during transit. Single operation of the mounting means is particularly desirable where one or more apertures on the side of the vehicular structure are out of reach from an operator.

Where this is the case, the corresponding mounting means may simply be offered up to the corresponding apertures on the vehicular structure and the second ends thereof rotated together thereby to securely mount the deflector element to the vehicular structure without the need for ladders, for example. This also allows the deflector element to be easily detached from the vehicular structure.

Preferably the actuation bar is coupled to each mounting means by a linking member. Preferably the actuation bar is hingedly coupled to each linking member.

Preferably the deflector further comprises locking means to prevent the deflector being accidentally or maliciously detached from the vehicular structure. Preferably the mounting means comprises the locking means.

Suitably the mounting means may comprise a locking member projecting outwardly therefrom.

Suitably the locking member may be adapted to prevent actuation of the actuation bar, thereby to prevent rotation of the second ends of the mounting means and detachment of the deflector element from the vehicular structure.

Suitably the locking member may comprise two locking members each having a hole near a free end, the locking members being spaced apart and adapted to receive the actuation bar therebetween when in an actuated position. Preferably the holes of the locking members allow the same to be locked together, for example by a padlock.

Suitably the mounting means may further comprise a reinforcement plate.

The reinforcement plate may engage with at least two sides of the vehicular structure. For example, the reinforcement plate may engage on an edge or around a corner of the vehicular structure. Alternatively, the reinforcement plate may be part of the vehicular structure, such as the corner casing of a container.

Suitably the deflector element may be made from glass fibre, composite, carbon fibre, plastics or a metal material. The mounting means may suitably be a material having adequate strength and stiffness such as steel or aluminium. Aluminium is preferred to minimise weight. Suitably, metallic parts may be resistant to corrosion. This may be achieved by 1 0 known techniques such as powder coating, painting, anodising or galvanisation, for example.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a vehicular structure comprising a deflector as described above.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of mounting a deflector to a vehicular structure, in particular a standard ISO container, the method comprising the steps of: -providing a deflector element; -providing one or more mounting means having a first end attached to the deflector element and a second end attachable to a vehicular structure; and -inserting the second end into an aperture of the vehicular structure, thereby to mount the deflector at or near a trailing edge of the vehicular structure, the deflector element being adapted to direct airflow inwardly relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure.

The method may further comprise one or more of the following steps: -providing actuation means to rotate the second end in the aperture; and -providing locking means to lock the actuation means thereby to prevent accidental or malicious removal of the deflector from the vehicular structure.

A further aspect of the present invention provides use of a deflector, as described above, to reduce the induced drag of a vehicular structure.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which: -Figure 1 shows a plan view of deflector mounted to the side of a vehicular structure; -Figure 2 shows a plan view of the mounting means of Figure 1; -Figure 3 shows the second end of the mounting means inserted and rotated in an aperture of the vehicular structure; -Figure 4a shows a side view of the deflector when not mounted to a vehicular structure; -Figure 4b shows an enlarged view of the lower mounting means of Figure 4a; -Figure 4c shows a side of the deflector when of Figure 3a when mounted to a vehicular structure and locked; -Figure 4d shows an enlarged view of the lower mounting means of Figure 4c; -Figure 5 shows a front view of a vehicular structure having a deflector mounted on both sides, each deflector extending round an upper corner of the vehicular structure and over an upper rear edge of the vehicular structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and -Figure 6 shows a plan view of a vehicular structure having a deflector mounted on both sides.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a deflector 10 comprises a deflector element 12 having a leading edge 14 and a trailing edge 16. The element 12 has a convex outer surface 18 and a concave inner surface 20 and is substantially curved towards a rear centre of the vehicular structure 22 to which the deflector 1 0 is attached.

The deflector element 12 is mounted to the vehicular structure 22 by a pair of spaced elongate members 24 each having a first end 25 rotatably attached to the element 12 and a second end 26 attachable to the 1 0 vehicular structure 22. The elongate members 24 are circular in cross section. A bearing 28 is provided between the first end 25 and the element 12 to allow the second end 26 to rotate relative to the element 12.

The second end 26 is wider than the elongate member 24 and has an elongate cross section. An aperture 15 on the vehicular structure 22 is complementarily shaped with the second end 26 to allow the same to be inserted into its corresponding aperture on the vehicular structure 22. The aperture 15 may be provided by an eyelet on the vehicular structure 22 or may be an aperture 15 of a container carried by a vehicle, for example.

The aperture 15 of the eyelet is adapted to allow the second end 26 on the elongate member 24 to be inserted and rotated approximately ninety degrees therein to prevent it from moving laterally out from the eyelet, as shown in Figure 3.

The second end 26 has a tapered clamping surface 30 which engages with an inner surface of the eyelet. As the second end 26 is rotated in the eyelet, the tapered clamping surface 30 urges the second end 26 away from the inner surface of the eyelet and the first end 25 of the elongate member 24 towards the eyelet. An annular clamping member 32 is mounted on the elongate member 24 between the first 25 and second 26 ends. The clamping member 32 is mounted on the elongate member 24 between two annular shoulders 34, 36 which limit movement of the clamping member 32 along the elongate member 24. The clamping member 32 is a dome-shaped compression disc made of a resilient material, such as neoprene rubber. When the elongate member 24 is rotated and the first end 25 is urged towards the eyelet, the clamping member 32 engages with an outer surface of the eyelet to clamp the eyelet between the tapered second end 26 and the clamping member 32.

The elongate member 24 is thereby securely attached to the eyelet which 1 0 in turn securely attaches the deflector element 1 2 to the vehicular structure 22.

To rotate both elongate members 24 together, a linking bar 38 extends perpendicularly from each elongate member 24. The free ends 40 of each linking bar 38 and hingedly coupled to an actuation bar 42. When the actuation bar 42 is moved longitudinally, the linking bars 38 coupled thereto are also moved and the corresponding elongate members 24 are rotated.

To attach a deflector element 12 to the side of a vehicular structure 22, the second ends 26 of the spaced elongate members 24 are offered up to their corresponding eyelets. The second ends 26 are inserted into their corresponding apertures 15 of the eyelets. The actuation bar 42 is then moved downwardly to rotate the second ends 26 by ninety degrees in their apertures 15. Such rotation clamps the second ends 26 in the eyelet and securely attaches the deflector element 12 to the vehicular structure 22.

Advantageously, the actuation bar 42 allows the deflector element 12 to be attached to a vehicular structure 22 of significant height relative to an operator. The upper elongate member 24 may easily be offered up to and inserted into an upper eyelet on the vehicular structure 22 which is out of reach from the operator. The deflector 10 may be easily attached and removed from the vehicular structure 22.

To prevent the deflector 10 being maliciously or accidentally removed from the vehicular structure 22, means to lock the deflector 1 0 to the vehicle or container are also provided. Two locking members 44 extend perpendicularly from the elongate member 24 and are suitably spaced to wholly receive the actuator bar 42 therebetween in an actuated position, i.e. when the second ends 26 are rotated and clamped in their corresponding eyelets.

Each locking member 44 has a hole 46 near its free end through which may attach a padlock 48 or similar. The padlock 48 prevents movement of the actuation bar 42 and malicious removal of the deflector 10 from the vehicular structure 22.

Figures 4a and 4b show the deflector 10 in an unattached state and the actuation bar in an un-actuated state with the second ends 26 of each elongate member 24 being at a zero degree position.

Figures 4c and 4d show the deflector 10 in an attached state and the actuation bar in an actuated state with the second ends 26 of each elongate member 24 being at a ninety degree position after rotation thereof in their corresponding eyelets.

As shown in Figure 1, the deflector 1 0 may include a reinforcement plate 50. The reinforcement plate 50 may engage with at least two sides of the vehicular structure 22. For example, the reinforcement plate 50 may engage on an edge or around a corner of the vehicular structure 22 thereby to engage with two or more edges. The reinforcement plate 50 may be integral with an eyelet or may be attached to an elongate member 24 of the deflector 10. The reinforcement plate 50 may be two separate plates each being local to an eyelet or may be a single continuous plate extending along an edge of the vehicular structure 22 from one eyelet to another. The reinforcement plate 50 provides additional strength for mounting the deflector 1 0 to the vehicular structure 22. Alternatively, the reinforcement plate 50 may be part of the vehicular structure 22, such as the corner casing of a container. In a particularly preferred embodiment the vehicular structure 22 is a standard ISO container (also known as a 1 0 shipping container, Intermodal Transport Unit (ITU) or isotainer). There are a variety of sizes of standard ISO containers, all of which are suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. The forty foot container is the most common size used for international transportation of non-bulk goods and is thus a particularly preferred container for use in the present invention. The apertures 15 are conveniently provided by existing corner casings 50 of the container 22. To attach a deflector 10 according to the present invention, the second end 26 of an upper mounting means is offered up its corresponding aperture 15 in an upper corner casing 50 of the container 22. Similarly, the second end 26 of a lower mounting means of the deflector 10 is offered up to an aperture 15 in a lower corner casing of the container 22. The second ends 26 are inserted into the corresponding apertures 15 and rotated by the actuation bar 42 to easily and securely mount the deflector 10 to the container 22.

The deflector 10 may be attached to at least one of the sides, top and bottom trailing edges of a vehicular structure 22. As shown in Figure 5, a deflector 10 is mounted on both sides, each deflector element 12 extending round an upper corner of the vehicular structure 22 and over a portion of the upper trailing edge of the vehicular structure 22. In a further embodiment, the upper portions 52 of the deflector elements 12 in Figure may be joined to form a single deflector element having two side portions and a top portion.

As shown in Figure 6, a deflector element 1 2 is attached to the trailing edges of two sides of the vehicular structure 22. The elongate members 24 space the concave inner surface 20 of the deflector element 12 from the side 54 of the vehicular structure 22. When the vehicular 22 is moving forward, as indicated by arrow D, air flows down the sides of the vehicular structure 22 (shown as arrow A), as well as along the top and underneath 1 0 the vehicular structure 22. Air flow (indicated by arrow C) is directed by both the convex outer surface 1 8 and concave inner surface 20 towards the rear centre of the vehicular structure 22. The air pressure behind the vehicular structure 22 is low relative to the air pressure in the vicinity of the sides or top of the vehicular structure 22 and the air flow is known to be turbulent behind the vehicular structure 22, particularly when the vehicle 22 is travelling at high speed. The drag induced by vehicular structure 22 is increased with increased turbulence.

The deflector elements 12 direct air flowing down the sides or upper surface of the vehicular structure 22 towards the rear centre of the vehicle and inwardly relative to the trailing edges of the vehicular structure 22.

Directing air flow in this way, advantageously reduces the amount of turbulence behind the vehicular structure 22 and therefore the drag induced by the vehicular structure 22. A reduction in drag advantageously reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle 22 which is particularly desirable when the vehicle 22 is operated over large distances and at relatively high speeds.

Of course, the profile of the deflector element 12 may be varied for a particular application and/or a preferred direction of deflected air flow.

Advantageously, the deflector 10 may be easily attached to and removed from the vehicular structure 22 by an operator, such as the driver of the vehicle 22, and the deflector 10 may be stored on or in the vehicular structure 22 when not required or during overnight breaks in travel, for

example.

The deflector element 12 may be any suitable material such as carbon fibre, plastic, aluminium or glass reinforced plastic or fibre, for example. A suitable material for the elongate member 24, linking bars 38 and actuation bar 42 may be steel or aluminium, for example.

Claims

Claims 1. A deflector for a vehicular structure, comprising a deflector element and mounting means for mounting the deflector element at or near a trailing edge of the vehicle, the deflector element being adapted to direct air flow behind and inward relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure.
2. A deflector according to claim 1, wherein the deflector element is detachably mountable on a vehicular structure.
3. A deflector according to any preceding claim, wherein the deflector element comprises a convex outer surface.
4. A deflector according to claim 3, wherein the deflector element comprises a concave inner surface.
5. A deflector according to claim 4, wherein the inner surface directs air flow inwardly relative to the trailing edges of the vehicular structure.
6. A deflector according to any preceding claim, wherein the deflector element is a single elongate deflector element.
7. A deflector according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means comprises a first end attached to the deflector element and a second end attachable to the vehicular structure.
8. A deflector according to claim 7, wherein the second end is adapted to engage with the vehicular structure or a part thereof.
9. A deflector according to claim 8, wherein the second end is adapted to engage in an aperture of an eyelet.
10. A deflector according to claim 9, wherein the second end is adapted to clamp to the eyelet.
11. A deflector according to claim 10, wherein second end is complementarily shaped with the aperture and is rotatably attached to the deflector element.
12. A deflector according to claim 11, wherein the aperture is elongate.
1 3. A deflector according to claim 11 or 1 2, wherein the mounting means comprises a bearing to allow the second end to rotate relative to the deflector element.
14. A deflector according to claim 1 3, wherein the second end has a first clamping face which engages with an inner surface of the eyelet thereby to clamp a second clamping face of the mounting means against an outer surface of the eyelet when the second end is rotated in the aperture.
1 5. A deflector according to claim 14, wherein the first clamping face is provided by a tapered portion of the second end, the tapered portion narrowing towards the first end of the mounting means.
16. A deflector according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the second clamping face is provided by a clamping member disposed between the first and second ends.
17. A deflector according to claim 16, wherein the clamping member is constrained from moving towards the first end.
18. A deflector according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the clamping member is generally annular.
19. A deflector according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the clamping member is made of a resilient material.
20. A deflector according to any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein the mounting means comprises two or more individually spaced mounting means adapted to engage with corresponding apertures on a vehicular structure.
21. A deflector according to any one of claims 11 to 20, wherein the two or more mounting means are coupled together by an actuation member to allow the second ends thereof to be rotated.
22. A deflector according to claim 21, wherein the mounting means are coupled by an actuation bar.
23. A deflector according to claim 22, wherein the actuation bar is coupled to each mounting means by a linking member.
24. A deflector according to claim 23, wherein the actuation bar is hingedly coupled to each linking member.
25. A deflector according to any preceding claim, further comprising locking means to prevent the deflector being maliciously detached from the vehicular structure.
26. A deflector according to claim 25, wherein the mounting means comprises the locking means.
27. A deflector according to claim 26, wherein the mounting means comprises a locking member projecting outwardly therefrom.
28. A deflector according to claim 22 and 27, wherein the locking member is adapted to prevent actuation of the actuation bar.
29. A deflector according to claim 28, wherein the locking member comprises two locking members each having a hole near its free end, the locking members being spaced apart and adapted to receive the actuation bar therebetween.
30. A deflector according to claim 29, wherein the holes of the locking members allow the same to be locked together.
31. A deflector according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means further comprises a reinforcement plate.
32. A deflector according to claim 31, wherein the reinforcement plate engages with at least two sides of the vehicular structure.
33. A vehicular structure comprising a deflector according to any one of claims 1 to 32.
34. A method of mounting a deflector to a vehicular structure, the method comprising the steps of: -providing a deflector element; -providing one or more mounting means having a first end attached to the deflector element and a second end attachable to a vehicular structure; and -inserting the second end into an aperture of the vehicular structure, thereby to mount the deflector at or near a trailing edge of the vehicular structure, the deflector element being adapted to direct airflow inwardly relative to trailing edges of the vehicular structure.
35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising one or more of the following steps: -providing actuation means to rotate the second end in the aperture; and -providing locking means to lock the actuation means thereby to prevent accidental or malicious removal of the deflector from the vehicular structure.
36. Use of a deflector according to any one of claims 1 to 32 to reduce the induced drag of a vehicular structure.