Nice job... good to see your thinking cap on. Have you tried it over the road yet.
When the bugs are gone so is the catchers mitt effect that the area between the cabover and truck has... your drag (cd) will be reduced.
The thread on the original airfoil is available in the tc university click here for those people that voice opinions without trying to understand how it works.
What opinion? I was simply asking what the goal and outcome was.
don't be such a curmudgeon!!!
you could have just said it was to help with (goal)bugs and (outcome) was less bugs and better fuel economy.
Please understand I have not seen this topic in the TC University.
curmudgeon – noun -
A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person. An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions. A crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas.
Sorry Sleepy, but that's funny!! The airfoil is a great idea though and F100jetmech, you sure did a nice job with it. Hopefully, someday soon I'll be able to make one for our camper. Dave.
silversand wrote: So you at least understand a little something about jet construction and aerodynamics
I do have a degree in aerodynamics (actually aerospace engineering) and I'm curious about the reason for the holes. I'll be interested to hear about what sound this will generate (or might not). We don't normally put windscreens with holes in them like this on aircraft, at least not the ones I've worked on!
I have the airfoil installed and I do not notice any whistling or other noises.
The front of the camper is almost bug free; a lot better than without the foil.
Bill
Question 1) Would it be better if it was solid instead of perforated? 2) If you made it abit thicker (cannot hit cab of truck of course... would that not make it more functional?
Please get back to us if you see any apreciable mpg gain...even 1 gpm it would be worth constructing.
silversand wrote: So you at least understand a little something about jet construction and aerodynamics
I do have a degree in aerodynamics (actually aerospace engineering) and I'm curious about the reason for the holes. I'll be interested to hear about what sound this will generate (or might not). We don't normally put windscreens with holes in them like this on aircraft, at least not the ones I've worked on!
When I built the original prototypes they were solid.... the negative pressure created behind them pulled road dirt up through the area between the trucks bed and the cab.... making a nasty mess.
Then I went to the holes to break up the low pressure areas.
The air that hits the foil slides off to the out side with a small amout leaking through the holes... no neg pressure (vacuum)... no dirt. As the on coming air and bugs get in the area of the air foil they slide to the outside also.
Now: lets play a mind experiment... remember when you hold your hand out the window with your hand/fingers like a cup... the air pushes hard (drag), open your fingers there is much less pressure (drag)
The area between the cabover and the cab of your truck is like a catchers mitt... a lot of drag... until you divert the oncoming air.
Neet thing... you can count the bugs... when you get the angle correct you won't have bugs... and eliminate much of the drag. It's like having the highway be your wind tunnel.
The reduction in CD (coefficient of drag) will reduce fuel use.
By the way... the bugs (and air) will hit the back of the camper as it sweeps back... making the side dirty... tweek the angle slightly.
I did not patent this on purpose so that TC owners can build these $20 devices for them selves.
I do understand the patent process. I have several US and foriegn patents for propellers and other things.
I know of more than 60 that have been built and are in use. Lance camper has had several people email me for instructions and info.
2003 Lance 1161 Camione Chateau,/slideout/solar cells/propane generator/Sat dish/2 Fantastic Fans model 6150/AC/winter package
AirFoil, Trimetric, LED lights
A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person. An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions. A crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas.
A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person. An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions. A crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas.
F100mech...Great looking job. I built an airfoil pretty much based on Sleepy's design. It keeps bugs off the camper bulk head and another advantage to me is on my truck rear sliding window, there was wind noise before I added the airfoil but none after I added the airfoil. I feel sure it is helping with my fuel mileage but I don't have firm numbers to prove that. I normally get in the high fourteens. I need to do some changes to mine. I have that on the list of things to do. I have built two but the first one did not help much so I had to redesign and build another. It was worth the effort.
* This post was
edited 04/30/08 08:50pm by j37642 *
Jerry 35J Bounder Diesel motorhome
2005 Lance 1181 Max with all options
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