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There are two major forces generated by a solid
object traveling at highway speed and displacing the mass of air in its path . . . Pressure and Vacuum – Pressure can be reduced by aerodynamically modifying
the object's shape however, Vacuum can cause multiple unintended consequences, all of
them detrimental !
The
most obvious force generated by vacuum is a “suction action” which,
at highway speed, is
strong enough to lift up road spray/dirt, exhaust fumes, and other contaminants, placing
those particles onto the truck cab, behind it and behind some aerodynamic fairing devices. On trucks with roof vents, these contaminants will infiltrate into the cab causing a discomfort to the occupants.
On van boxes with front air vents, these contaminants will infiltrate into the van space possibly contaminating the
goods carried (see pg #20 . . . Aerodynamics vs Corrosion Tech Bulletin).
New paints are adversely affected by any contamination
such as general road dust and spray, however more of a concern is acidy road spray caused by the use of Magnesium Chloride
during the winter months, which would be “sucked up” from the road and deposited on all painted surfaces
on top, rear and exposed engine/transmission parts of the truck – These contaminants will adhere
onto those surfaces and will quickly cause corrosion; the air filter inlet, mounted behind the truck cab, will also
“inhale” those contaminants reducing its expected service life dramatically. Also, any velocity
generated “self-cleaning” effect is eliminated, therefore trapped moist contaminants will continue their corrosive
process regardless if the truck is moving or standing still - TruckAid LLC’s Air
Deflectors are engineered to offset (defuse) any Vacuum behind their frontal surface with a “Ram
Air Effect” eliminating all unintended consequences produced by Vacuum. IN
SUMMARY: The air flow of the "Airglide" is based on "Ram Air" produced by the vehicle’s velocity speeding into the
wind and allowing a portion of the air impacted to rush underneath the unit,
through a specific gap between the air deflector and the truck/tractor roof into the gap behind; this air flow is of high velocity (approx. hurricane category #1 velocity
- because of the speed of the vehicle) but then changes to become a low velocity pressurized air mass because of the
“back pressure” created by the front wall of the van body or the trailer. This pressurized
zone will continuously regenerate itself as long as the vehicle is in motion and since this pressurized zone is stronger than
the atomized road spray in the vicinity, it will
resist the dirt particles trying to enter thereby eliminating a great percentage of dirty deposits, as well
as will assist our new Diesels, and their hot exhaust aftertreatment
equipment, to dissipate heat by providing a continuing (pressurized) air flow which the "built-up heat" can follow . . . TruckAid LLC's "Aero-Aids" also provide
an excellent surface to exhibit any company logo in addition to SAVING FUEL - Up to 15.6% depending upon truck size (ref. SAE Tech Paper #973275 “Improved
Fuel Economy and Handling of Light and Medium Duty Trucks”).
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