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Home made wind-deflectors cut fuel bills

8th November 1974
Page 29
Page 29, 8th November 1974 — Home made wind-deflectors cut fuel bills
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A MEANS of improving air circulation around the engine on the Dodge tractive units operated by Harrison and Jones (Flexible Foam) Ltd has proved to be an effective winddrag reducer. Preliminary fuel consumption records indicate that mpg figures have been improved by around 6 per cent on predominantly motorway running on M62, M6 and MI between H and J's Oldham factory and the company's depot at Faversham, Kent. The half-conical deflector was designed by Harrison and Jones' fleet engineer Mr Tom Hartley, who explained that overheating problems on the Perkins 6.354 engines in the company's K700 tractive units led to investigations which pointed to the need for a deflector which would prevent the pressure build-up behind the cab which hindered the airflow over the top of the engine.

A local metalworking shop in Oldham produced the deflectors, which are rolled from aluminium sheet to form a conical fairing about I m (39 in) wide and 500 mm (20 in) high. Each deflector is attached to the cab roof by seven bolts, one anchoring a vertical rear support strut. Total cost is about £15, says Mr Hartley.

Because H and J run at such low weights — maximum payload is about 3 tons — the benefits of reducing wind resistance in terms of fuel consumption are more marked. The V8powered 24-ton plated Dodges, which run at an actual gcw of only about 13 tons, are returning about 2.83km/I (8mpg) in standard trim whereas with the deflectors . fitted their consumption is expected to improve to about 3.2 km/1(9 mpg).

To date, four tractive units have been fitted with the devices. Ten more are being fitted when the vehicles come in for routine service attention. The "chamferred" front bulkheads specified for some years by H and J on the Buckst one-bodied Crane Fruehauf van semi-trailers are being retained, the airflow from the new cab roof deflectors being intended to blend in with that around the angled faces of the trailers.

According to one of H and J's drivers, cruising speed on level and downhill stretches of motorway has increased markedly since a deflector was fitted to his Dodge.

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