Drag reducing rotatable fairing usable on poles, posts and other structures

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a rotatable fairing apparatus comprises a vertical support member anchored in a foundation and subjected to an aerodynamic drag force. The rotatable fairing apparatus further comprises a hollow elongate fairing sleeve that covers at least a portion of the vertical support member. The hollow elongate fairing sleeve is rotatably secured to the vertical support member. Additionally, the hollow elongate sleeve has a shape configured to reduce the aerodynamic drag force acting on the vertical support member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rotatable fairing apparatus comprising: 
 a vertical support member anchored in a foundation, wherein the vertical support member is subjected to an aerodynamic drag force; and    a hollow elongate fairing sleeve covering at least a portion of the vertical support member and rotatably secured to the vertical support member, the hollow elongate sleeve having a shape configured to reduce the aerodynamic drag force acting on the vertical support member.    
     
     
         2 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow elongate fairing sleeve is rotatably secured to the vertical support member by at least one bearing joint.  
     
     
         3 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow elongate fairing sleeve further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and bearing joints positioned at the first and second ends.  
     
     
         4 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a lateral support structure disposed on an interior side of the hollow elongate fairing sleeve, the lateral support structure comprising a plurality of bearings configured to facilitate rotation of the hollow elongate fairing sleeve around the vertical support structure during subjection of the aerodynamic drag force.  
     
     
         5 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the vertical support member further comprises a tapered end structure; and    the hollow elongate fairing sleeve further comprises a cupped support receptacle disposed within an interior side, the cupped support receptacle configured to receive the tapered end structure.    
     
     
         6 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an elongate support member; and    an elongate fairing sleeve having a first axis, the elongate fairing sleeve covering at least a portion of the elongate support member, configured to rotate around the elongate support member on the elongate fairing sleeve first axis, and substantially shaped to reduce an aerodynamic drag force acting on the elongate support member.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the elongate support member further comprises a tapered end structure; and    the elongate fairing sleeve further comprises a cupped support receptacle disposed within an interior side, the cupped support receptacle configured to receive the tapered end structure.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the covered portion of the elongate support member has an first aerodynamic drag coefficient that is greater than a second aerodynamic drag coefficient of the elongate fairing sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate support member is oriented vertically, and is anchored in a foundation structure.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate fairing sleeve has an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, such that the lower end is displaced from the foundation structure by a first height.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a safety shield attached to the elongate support member and displaced from the foundation structure by a second height, such that the second height is less than the first height.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate support member has a circular cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate support member has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the elongate support member has a square cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         15 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the hollow elongate fairing sleeve is rotatably secured to the vertical support member by at least one bearing joint.  
     
     
         16 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the hollow elongate fairing sleeve further comprises a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and bearing joints positioned at the first and second ends.  
     
     
         17 . The rotatable fairing apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a lateral support structure disposed on an interior side of the hollow elongate fairing sleeve, the lateral support structure comprising a plurality of bearings configured to facilitate rotation of the hollow elongate fairing sleeve around the vertical support structure during subjection of the aerodynamic drag force.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an elongate support member;    an elongate fairing sleeve having a longitudinal axis and covering at least a portion of the elongate support member; and    means for attaching the elongate support structure to the elongate fairing device, such that the elongate fairing device can rotate around the elongate support member on the elongate fairing sleeve longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the covered portion of the elongate support member has an first aerodynamic drag coefficient that is greater than a second aerodynamic drag coefficient of the elongate fairing sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate support member has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the elongate support member has a square cross-sectional profile.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the elongate support member is oriented vertically, and is anchored in a foundation structure.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the elongate fairing sleeve has an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, such that the lower end is displaced from the foundation structure by a first height.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a safety shield attached to the elongate support member and displaced from the foundation structure by a second height, such that the second height is less than the first height.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a first elongate support member;    a second elongate support member that is attached to the first elongate support member;    a first elongate fairing sleeve covering at least a portion of the first elongate support member, and configured to rotate around the first elongate support member; and    a second elongate fairing sleeve covering at least a portion of the second elongate support member, and configured to rotate around the second elongate support member.    
     
     
         26 . A method comprising: 
 providing an elongate object having a first aerodynamic drag coefficient; and    mounting a rotatable cover having a second aerodynamic drag coefficient on the elongate object, wherein the second aerodynamic drag coefficient is less than the first aerodynamic drag coefficient.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising orienting the elongate object vertically, and anchoring the elongate object in a foundation structure.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the elongate object has an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, such that the lower end is displaced from the foundation structure by a first height.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising attaching a safety shield to the elongate object such that the safety shield is displaced from the foundation structure by a second height, wherein the second height is less than the first height.