Lightweight high performance, high security vehicle

Claim 2

A lightweight high performance vehicle affording a great degree of security comprising a tapered cockpit with a well rounded forward portion both in the horizontal and in the vertical plane; a profiled transverse horizontal appendix extending from both sides of the rear of said cockpit; two front wheels at the front portion of said cockpit; two rear wheels detached from said cockpit and housed at the two extremities of said profiled transverse appendix and forming therewith a transverse horizontal stabilizer; three vertical stabilizers forming fins disposed respectively above said cockpit and at the two extremities of said transverse stabilizer; and an aerodynamic brake including a transverse pin located at the rear of said horizontal appendix, flaps capable of pivoting on said transverse pin, under control of the driver, when the speed of the vehicle is sufficient for aerodynamic brake action to be efficient, additional flaps contained inside said aerodynamic brake flaps and capable of pivoting laterally and automatically in proportion as said brake flaps pivot towards their fully open position so that, when the latter is reached, the space between said brake flaps and said central fin disposed above said cockpit is substantially completely blocked by said additional flaps.

Claim 3

Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization between the pivotal movements of said brake flaps around said rear transverse pin and the lateral pivoting movements of said additional flaps is ensured by a fixed length cable connection for the extension phase and by an elastic cable connection for the retraction phase.

Claim 4

A lightweight high preformance vehicle affording a great degree of security comprising a tapered cockpit with a well rounded forward portion both in the horizontal and in the vertical plane; a profiled transverse horizontal appendix extending from both sides of the rear of said cockpit; two front wheels at the front portion of said cockpit; two rear wheels detached from said cockpit and housed at the two extremities of said profiled transverse appendix and forming therewith a transverse horizontal stabilizer; three vertical stabilizers forming fins disposed respectively above said cockpit and at the two extremities of said transverse stabilizer; and an aerodynamic brake including a transverse pin located at the rear of said horizontal appendix, flaps capable of pivoting on said transverse pin, under control of the driver, when the speed of the vehicle is sufficient for aerodynamic brake action to be efficient, said flaps each being constituted by a wall of the upper surface of said transverse appendix located on each side of said cockpit and provided with a reinforcing frame which is articulated on said transverse pin so that said flaps can occupy a fully open substantially vertical position in the aerodynamic braking phase, said aerodynamic brake flaps being normally maintained in a closed position by a mechanical locking device having a two-position pivoting lever which, when actuated, causes the leading portion of the flaps to lift slightly and enables the relative wind to open the forward edge and pivot said flap about said transverse pin on its rear edge and bring said flap automatically to the fully open aerodynamic braking position.

Claim 5

A lightweight high preformance vehicle affording a great degree of security comprising a tapered cockpit with a well rounded forward portion both in the horizontal and in the vertical plane; a profiled transverse horizontal appendix extending from both sides of the rear of said cockpit; two front wheels at the front portion of said cockpit; two rear wheels detached from said cockpit and housed at the two extremities of said profiled transverse appendix and forming therewith a transverse horizontal stabilizer; three vertical stabilizers forming fins disposed respectively above said cockpit and at the two extremities of said transverse stabilizer; and an aerodynamic brake including a transverse pin located at the rear of said horizontal appendix, flaps capable of pivoting on said transverse pin, under control of the driver, when the speed of the vehicle is sufficient for aerodynamic brake action to be efficient, said flaps each being constituted by a wall of the upper surface of said transverse appendix located on each side of said cockpit and provided with a reinforcing frame which is articulated on said transverse pin so that said flaps can occupy a fully open substantially vertical position in the aerodynamic braking phase, said aerodynamic brake flaps being normally maintained in a closed position by a mechanical locking device having a two-position pivoting lever which, when actuated, causes the leading portion of the flaps to lift slightly and enables the relative wind to open the forward edge and pivot said flap about said transverse pin on its rear edge and bring said flap automatically to the fully open aerodynamic braking position.

Claim 6

Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the aerodynamic brake flaps are returned from their fully open position to their closed position by means of a mechanical rod and slide system subjected to the action of a control system which is motive in the flap closure direction and has a braking effect in the opening direction of said flaps.

Claim 7

Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the aerodynamic brake flaps comprise a lever which, at the end of the opening travel of said flaps, engages a rod type connection system actuating the conventional rear brakes of the vehicle.