BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

VORTEX BASED TRUCK FUEL SAVINGS, by Donald R. Parker (Engineer/Inventor)

On Sep 21, 2011, I drove in the U.S. From Binghampton, NY to Bristol,Tn. via Interstate 81. During
that trip I observed approximately 3 times as many long haul trucks as autos and small trucks. Most
of the time the highway appeared to be a convoy of vehicles. Under these conditions, the long haul
trucks are constantly in the aerodynamic wake of another. The average truck speed was 68 mph .
During 1994, I participated in a series of tests conducted by Digital Control Corp., Largo Fl. which
attempted to characterize and quantify the characteristics of truck wakes.
The findings were:
1. A vortex street: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_vortex_street
exists behind a typical truck
2. Vorticies can reduce or increase the apparent headwind of a following vehicle.
3. These vortices vary in strength and size depending on following distance.
4. Different truck types create different vortex streets
5. A following vehicle can reduce it's fuel consumption by up to 15% by following in a vortex at a
safe distance from the lead vehicle.
6. It is very difficult without instrumentation, for a driver to find a headwind reducing (helpful) vortex
at a safe following distance or know when he is being impacted by a vortex induced headwind.

Based on this preliminary testing, an instrument was designed and built which helped the driver of
the following vehicle locate and quantify a mileage boosting vortex.
In 1996, US utility patent no.5546799 was issued to me for this device and it was assigned to
Digital Control Corp
To the best of my knowledge, this device has languished with no attempt to further it's deployment.
The patent has expired and entered the public domain in the U.S.
In the ensuing years much technical innovation has been performed by vehicle engineers in the
auto and truck industry. In particular the advent of adaptive cruise control has spawned a new
generation of devices which measure distance between vehicles using radar technology. One of
these devices is the Delphi Electronically scanning radar:
http://delphi.com/manufacturers/auto/safety/active/electronically-scanning-radar/ . Another
is the Continental ARS 300 in Europe.
A combination with the the data from either of these or similar devices could allow the safe
deployment of a vortex locating and measuring system. Such a system could be perfected to
increase fuel economy, safety, and driver awareness and involvement.
Significant fuel savings can be achieved by truck aerodynamic management. New federal fuel
standards enacted into U.S. Law require difficult-to-achieve efficiencies in heavy, over the road
trucks.

The EPA has implemented a SmartWay program to encourage truck manufacturers to improve
their aerodynamics. They estimate fuel savings between 3 and 15% can be achieved through the
use of better aerodynamic techniques.
The new law addresses aerodynamic drag coefficients on an individual truck basis which are
technically feasible to measure in wind tunnel or controlled road test.
However, real world efficiency will be influenced significantly by multi-truck convoying and
driver behavior on the interstate highway, not just by individual truck aerodynamics.
Following distances and vortex encounter may have a greater influence on mileage and
emissions than added aerodynamic devices.
The new law does encourage smarter driving as a way to conserve fuel.
To accomplish this, an instrument that assists and directly involves the driver in conservation would
be a useful tool. Our early road testing showed that the original Vortex instrument did involve the
driver and did not distract him due to it's design features:
The instrument computes vehicle groundspeed vs. airspeed and:
1. Displays instantaneous tailwind on green graph ( the higher the bargraph the better the vortex)
2. Displays any instantaneous headwind on red graph
3. Displays average of the two over a given time period
4. Displays peak tailwind or headwind (vortex) encountered
The new and improved design would include these features plus radar input which would warn
driver he is following too closely and disable the display.
Please contact Parkereng for more info.
1-828-387-4138 or
Donald.parker22@gmail.com