Why are these making a comeback?

[RustyNuts]

They were popular in the 80s, pretty much every van had one. Maybe even in the 70s.. I wasn't around then to know though..

 

Then at the end of the 80s and definitely in the 90s the humble van air vent that spins round on the roof seemed to completely vanish.

 

Recently round my way I'm seeing a lot more of them though on new vans. Even the (ex?) missus one day asked me what they were and how new were they!

 

So whats with them vanishing and now making a reappearance?

 

 

[Junkman]

They are called Flettner ventilators and have been around since the early 1930s. Their advantage is that they ventilate the van even when it is stationary,

something an aircon can't do. And since they are powered by wind energy, they are Kyoto friendly, which should answer the question why they are back.

[AMC Rebel]

Audi A8 has solar panels to run the ventilation fans when stationary and unoccupied - but this is an easier and probably cheaper solution

[twosmoke300]

Ac works fine stationary on any car I've driven ! I presume you mean switched off ?

[I_am_Diesel]

I thought that they were so that any dogs in the back didn't suffocate. 

[Tamworthbay]

I thought that they were so that any dogs in the back didn't suffocate.

 

That's what my Dad told me when I was about five, a few days later I saw the local butchers van with one which freaked me out a bit at the time.

[Retro_Auto]

The Bearings in them do not last a lifetime,

when worn they set-up a noise like you have a Helicopter strapped to the roof that goes on long after you have stopped, resonating through the van.

 

Love em !

[danthecapriman]

My Sprinter work van has them, that's a 66 plate. So did the previous 60 plate one and the two Transits I had before that (52 plate, and R reg).

Mine has a little slider on the inside so you can close it completely or partially to change how much airflow you get. They do make a difference though, if I close mine it's amazing how much condensation you get inside the back of the van.

[MorrisItalSLX]

We call them whirlybirds here in Australia. You always used to see them on buses because HOT and NO A/C. Definitely still used on animal transport vans/trailers.

 

[Junkman]

They are a lot more engineered than the first glance suggests.

They create a slightly lower air pressure inside of whatever they are mounted to, thus an - although mild - cooling effect is achieved.

This has to do with thermodynamics, so don't ask me.

 

They were invented by Anton Flettner, a German aerodynamics and aviation pioneer, who used the Magnus effect to propel all kinds

of things, including ships. He also designed helicopters during WWII.

After WWII he was paperclipped to America and started the company a descendant of which still makes those ventilators.

[mk2_craig]

There were a few Metroriders on the local bus fleet when I was younger, these had prominent twin whirly vents on the back end of the roof.

 

[DSdriver]

I saw a ship with flettner rotors up the east coast, they apparently save a dollop of fuel.

not my pic.

[Junkman]

 

[Six-cylinder]

We found a boat with them on the Thames only yesterday.

[stormee]

They are called Flettner ventilators and have been around since the early 1930s. Their advantage is that they ventilate the van even when it is stationary,

something an aircon can't do. And since they are powered by wind energy, they are Kyoto friendly, which should answer the question why they are back.

Lifetime Warranty as well!

[stormee]

 

Schocker: Patienten erfroren bei Autobahntempo!

Shocker: Patients froze to death on M6!

[Kiltox]

I don't think they went away for vans - apart from maybe tight fleet managers not fitting them!

[Junkman]

They did for a while. Aircon, you know.

[Hendry]

That's what my Dad told me when I was about five, a few days later I saw the local butchers van with one which freaked me out a bit at the time.

 

I always thought they were only fitted to refrigerated vans and it was something to do with them being fridge vans and needing them for that, because thats the only time i ever saw them, and when i stopped seeing them I just assumed they had found a better way of doing it, like those metal box fan things you see on the roof of tesco and Asda delivery vans.

[Tamworthbay]

I always thought they were only fitted to refrigerated vans and it was something to do with them being fridge vans and needing them for that, because thats the only time i ever saw them, and when i stopped seeing them I just assumed they had found a better way of doing it, like those metal box fan things you see on the roof of tesco and Asda delivery vans.

That makes more sense and would explain the on the butchers van bit from the replies above it does seem they were also just vents.

[95 quid Peugeot]

Every glider trailer i've owned has had them already fitted or retro fitted by me to keep condensation levels down 

[Marshall]

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/719398899a2a4543b5bf5e0208a76a0e/british-gas-van-driving-along-motorway-with-advertising-panel-promoting-e8ed7m.jpg

[Marshall]

Sorry... having trouble posting on my mobile. The point I was making is that I used to work for British gas metering and our vans had these vents fitted. As the vans carried used gas meters in the back, the residual gas would rise and would then be vented out. You can always spot energy supplier vans that are involved in metering as they have these vents fitted, whereas service and repair vans largely don't.

[oldcars]

When i saw that photo i thought it was a massive fidget spinner.

[HH-R]

There were a few Metroriders on the local bus fleet when I was younger, these had prominent twin whirly vents on the back end of the roof.

 

4797465724_0ff85f2fae.jpg

 

That's where I remember them from most. Hated travelling on them - dark, almost black carpeted walls, no opening windows, no airflow and dual purpose seating = stuffy and claustrophobic.

[Kiltox]

They did for a while. Aircon, you know.

Has little effect in a panel van with a full bulkhead surely