Abstract A vehicle traction-increasing apparatus for creating subambient pressure beneath the vehicle to place a load on the vehicle and increase the traction between the driving wheels of the vehicle and the road surface. The air induction system of the vehicle driving engine is connected to a housing located beneath the vehicle. The bottom portion of the housing is open and applied to the road surface. A flexible curtain is connected to the housing about its open side and is urged downwardly toward the road surface. The resiliency and configuration of the curtain is sufficient to allow only a small opening between the road surface and bottom edge of the curtain so that a significant pressure reduction must be created to flex the curtain, yet once the curtain is flexed away from the road surface, it forms a virtually friction-free bearing with the road surface and is movable across the road surface without appreciable drag.
An automotive vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine connected in driving relationship with the vehicle for propelling the vehicle along a road surface, housing means carried by said vehicle and defining an open side normally applied in close proximity to the road surface, said housing means including an upper frame member, a lower frame member positioned below said upper frame member, a bellows member connected between said upper and lower frame members, spring means connected to said lower frame member to urge said lower frame in a downward direction toward the road surface, flexible curtain means connected to said lower frame member, means connected to said lower frame member for lifting said lower frame member in an upward direction away from the road surface against the force of said spring means, and conduit means extending between said housing means and the air intake of said internal combustion engine to create a subambient pressure within said housing means and above the road surface to which the open side of said housing means is applied and simulate an increased weight applied to said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
An automotive vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine connected in driving relationship with the vehicle for propelling the vehicle along a road surface, housing means carried by said vehicle and defining an open side normally applied in close proximity to the road surface, said housing means including an upper frame member, a lower frame member positioned below said upper frame member, a bellows member connected between said upper and lower frame members, spring means connected to said lower frame member to urge said lower frame in a downward direction toward the road surface, flexible curtain means connected to said lower frame member, means connected to said lower frame member for lifting said lower frame member in an upward direction away from the road surface against the force of said spring means, and conduit means extending between said housing means and the air intake of said internal combustion engine to create a subambient pressure within said housing means and above the road surface to which the open side of said housing means is applied and simulate an increased weight applied to said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 and further including a pressure responsive control valve in communication between the atmosphere and said housing means for regulating the pressure within said housing means.