Aerodynamic rain-hat for vehicle air intake

摘要

A rain-hat is mounted over the fresh air intake opening of an automotive vehicle to restrict the passage of free water into the fresh air intake opening. The rain-hat is formed with a sloped front wall have the top edge leading into the direction of air flow from the air intake cowling toward the fresh air inlet opening. The front wall can be formed in a linear configuration or in a curvilinear configuration to reduce the separation bubble commonly associated with the passage of air over the raised leading edge of the rain-hat. The smooth flow of fresh air into the intake opening reduces the power requirements of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for which the vehicle which draws the air into the intake opening. The reduction of the separated flow region also results in a reduction in vehicle noise during the operation of the vehicle.