Airstream deflection system for outdoor areas

Abstract

A shielding system that mitigates the effects of wind on an open-air venue by at least partially deflecting wind flow over the field. The shielding system includes shielding modules in abutment around the periphery of the field, each module including an upright member and a horizontal member. The upright member is curvilinear and projects inward toward the field, while the horizontal member is generally planar, mounted at the lower end of the upright member, and it also projects inward. The upright member and the horizontal member define a closed trap zone. An impinging airstream encounters the convex upwind side of the shielding system and is lifted over the field. At the downwind side of the shielding system, the airflow pressure against the closed trap zones produces a region of high pressure, deflecting the airflow over the downwind side of the shielding system.

1 . A shielding system for a field, the shielding system comprising:
 a plurality of upright members, mounted in mutual abutment adjacent to the field, each upright member being curvilinear in form and having a distal end projecting upwardly from and inwardly toward the field; and   a horizontal member associated with each upright member, the horizontal member being mounted at the lower end of the associated upright member and projecting inwardly toward the field.   
     
     
         2 . The shielding system of  claim 1 , wherein connections between the upright members and the horizontal members are configured for blocking airflow therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The shielding system of  claim 1 , wherein the upright members project at least partially over the horizontal members, defining a trap zone therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The shielding system of  claim 1 , the shielding system being subjected to an impinging airflow, wherein the shielding system extends at least partially around the field, defining at least an upwind portion and a downwind portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shielding system of  claim 3 , wherein the shielding system presents a convex surface at the upwind side of an impinging airflow and presents the trap zones at the downwind side of an impinging airflow. 
     
     
         6 . The shielding system of  claim 1 , wherein the convex surfaces of abutting upright members are configured to raise the altitude of and impart a substantial horizontal flow component to an impinging airflow. 
     
     
         7 . The shielding system of  claim 1 , wherein the upright members project at least partially over the horizontal members, defining a trap zone therebetween, the trap zone being configured to produce a zone of relatively higher pressure therein when subjected to an airflow into the trap zone. 
     
     
         8 . The shielding system of  claim 5 , wherein the shielding system extends around the field to block at least the upwind and downwind portions of the field, and wherein the upwind portion of the shielding system is configured to respond to the impinging airflow by raising the altitude of and imparting a substantial horizontal flow component to the airflow, and wherein the downwind side of the shielding system is configured to respond to the impinging airflow by producing a zone of high pressure in the trap zone of the downwind side of the shielding system for at least partially deflecting the airflow upward from the field. 
     
     
         9 . A shielding system for a field subjected to impinging airflows, the shielding system comprising:
 a plurality of upright members, mounted in mutual abutment adjacent to the field, each upright member being curvilinear in form and having a distal end projecting upwardly from and inwardly toward the field, having a horizontal member associated with each upright member, the horizontal member being mounted at the lower end of the associated upright member and projecting inwardly toward the field, the upright members projecting at least partially over the horizontal members, defining a trap zone therebetween;   the shielding system extending around the field sufficient to block at least the upwind and downwind portions of the field, wherein the upwind portion of the shielding system is configured to respond to the impinging airflow by raising the altitude of and imparting a substantial horizontal flow component to the airflow, and wherein the downwind portion of the shielding system is configured to respond to the impinging airflow by producing a zone of high pressure in the trap zone of the downwind portion of the shielding system for at least partially deflecting the airflow upward from the field.   
     
     
         10 . A shielding module for a field, the shielding module comprising:
 an upright member, mounted adjacent to the field, the upright member being curvilinear in form and projecting inwardly toward the field; and   a horizontal member associated with the upright member, the horizontal member being mounted at the lower end of the associated upright member and projecting inwardly toward the field.   
     
     
         11 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the upright member and the horizontal member are generally connected to define a closed end. 
     
     
         12 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal member lies at least partially beneath the upright member. 
     
     
         13 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the upright member has a convex surface facing outwardly from the field. 
     
     
         14 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , the upright member having a variable radius of curvature. 
     
     
         15 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal member is substantially flat. 
     
     
         16 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontal member lies substantially parallel to the field surface. 
     
     
         17 . The shielding module of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member is inclined above or below a horizontal level. 
     
     
         18 . A shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the convex surface of the upright member redirects an impinging airflow along the curved surface of the upright member to raise the airstream altitude. 
     
     
         19 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the upright member and the horizontal member define a trap zone located therebetween, for deflecting an impinging airstream. 
     
     
         20 . The shielding module of  claim 10 , wherein the field is any area for conducting an event.