CPC B62D 35/001 (2013.01) | 34 Claims |
1. A wind-diverting apparatus for reducing drag on a terrestrial vehicle in substantial forward motion on a horizontal plane, said vehicle having a rearward cargo box connected or fixed thereto which extends across the lateral width of the body of the vehicle while also extending substantially above a roof of a driver's cab of the vehicle, with said apparatus being disposed on the vehicle above said cab in front of an upper portion of a forwardmost laterally extending wall of said cargo box wherein said upper cargo box wall portion disposed above said cab roof would otherwise be exposed to headwinds diverted by said apparatus from impinging thereon, wherein the apparatus comprises:
a wind-diverting fairing assembly comprising two laterally extending substantially non-horizontal sidewalls disposed substantially adjacent together at respective forwardmost portions thereof;
said laterally extending sidewalls extending substantially rearward on the vehicle in a laterally divergent manner wherein rearmost portions thereof are arranged substantially apart in lateral disposition; and
said laterally extending sidewalls each comprising an upper forwardly facing portion thereof arranged to be slanted vertically outwards wherein any normal vector projecting laterally outwards from the surface thereof points downwards below the horizon, said upper sidewall portions each comprising a major portion of the upper half of the respective said laterally extending sidewall,
whereby the apparatus is arranged to divert a portion of headwinds impinging thereon from otherwise being lifted substantially upwards over the top of the vehicle and to flow instead more laterally toward either side of the vehicle.
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