| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080217957 | AERODYNAMIC FOREBODY SHAPE FOR VAN TRAILER - An aerodynamic forebody device is provided for use with a tractor-trailer combination vehicle to be installed on the front of the semi-trailer. By optimizing the inclination angle of the top surface of the aerodynamic forebody device, aerodynamic drag is minimized. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080238139 | FAIRING FOR A TRAILER - The present invention relates to a fairing for a trailer having a wheel assembly. The fairing is positioned on the underside of the trailer to cover a frontal area of the wheel assembly. More specifically, the fairing includes a shell and an anchoring mechanism. First, the shell is designed to cover the frontal part of the wheel assembly. Secondly, the anchoring mechanism allows attaching the shell to the wheel assembly. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080296930 | Trailer keel - A trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag from trailer landing gear and/or wheel assembly is disclosed. The fairing may be directly connected to the forward facing structural supports of the landing gear, and an air tank may be located between the fairing and the cargo storage area. A single fairing may be used to reduce the drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. The fairing may include a tapered front section and/or a rear section. The fairing may have rounded, oval, angled, and/or tapered sections. A plurality of fairings may also be used. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080303311 | Crash attenuating underride guard - An aerodynamic underride guard comprising an angled front section located ahead of the trailer landing gear, a crash attenuating middle section located between the trailer landing gear and the trailer wheel assembly, and an angled rear section located in proximity to the trailer wheel assembly. The front angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer landing gear. The rear angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer wheel assembly, and the crash attenuating middle section can prevent vehicles from under riding the trailer. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090096250 | Aerodynamic Device And Method Of Use - An aerodynamic device is disclosed for limiting aerodynamic drag on the rear surface of various types of trucks with trailers. The aerodynamic device includes a plurality of rigid members and a flexible sheet designed to create a pyramid-shaped projection pointing away from the rear surface of the trailer. The device members can be quickly disassembled and the flexible sheet collapses so that the aerodynamic device lies flat against the rear surface of the trailer. The aerodynamic device can be attached directly to doors on the rear surface of a trailer or to a mounting frame that may rotate around to the side of the trailer where a roll-up style door is present. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090146453 | Vehicle Underbody Fairing - A vehicle underbody fairing apparatus for reducing aerodynamic drag caused by a vehicle wheel assembly, by reducing the size of a recirculation zone formed under the vehicle body immediately downstream of the vehicle wheel assembly. The fairing body has a tapered aerodynamic surface that extends from a front end to a rear end of the fairing body with a substantially U-shaped cross-section that tapers in both height and width. Fasteners or other mounting devices secure the fairing body to an underside surface of the vehicle body, so that the front end is immediately downstream of the vehicle wheel assembly and a bottom section of the tapered aerodynamic surface rises towards the underside surface as it extends in a downstream direction. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090179456 | Air Drag Reduction Apparatus for Tractor-Trailers - An air drag reduction apparatus includes left and right panels and top and bottom panels for mounting to the rear doors of a tractor trailer along the top, bottom and side edges thereof. Hinges are interposed between the panels and the doors so that the panels can pivot about the hinges between an extended drag-reducing position and a collapsed position generally adjacent the rear doors. Stop devices releasably secure the panels in the extended position, and biasing devices such as tensioning springs are operative to bias the panels outwardly and rearwardly to the extended position and are further operative to permit the panels to pivot between the extended position towards and to the collapsed position upon impact and contact from an external object occurring and then return to the extended position substantially immediately upon contact ceasing thereby significantly reducing the impact damage. The apparatus also includes a ramp and wheel arrangement to facilitate opening and collapsing of the panels. The apparatus of the invention also includes an outwardly extending panel protection member projecting from the lower corner of the panel in a position for being contacted by external objects during movement of the vehicle to thereby prevent direct contact between an external object and the panel and cause the panel to move toward its collapsed position | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090189414 | AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRTS - A resilient skirt assembly is provided, the assembly comprising a skirt panel adapted to connect to a trailer to direct at least a portion of the amount of air on the side of the trailer; and a skirt support adapted to connect the skirt to a trailer, the skirt support having a resilient strut providing lateral support to the skirt panel, the resilient strut allowing substantial lateral pivotal movement of the skirt panel between a skirt panel unloaded position and a skirt panel loaded position. A method of assembling a skirt assembly and a skirt kit are also provided. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090195017 | Mini skirt aerodynamic fairing device for reducing the aerodynamic drag of ground vehicles - A device for the reduction of aerodynamic drag and for improved performance and stability of ground vehicles by reducing the mass and velocity of the flow passing under a vehicle is described. The device is particularly suited for a tractor-trailer truck system that includes a motorized lead vehicle pulling one or more non-motorized vehicles. The device is designed to control the flow from entering the undercarriage region from the side of a trailer of a tractor-trailer truck system. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090212595 | VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM - A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel slidable mounted to plural cylindrical bars mounted on the underside of the trailer box in a fore and aft orientation. The second fairing panel is secured to the wheel set with a mechanical fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090212596 | VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM - A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel slidably mounted to the first fairing panel. The second fairing panel is releasably secured to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090218848 | RESILIENT AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRTS - A resilient aerodynamic skirt assembly is provided, the aerodynamic skirt assembly comprising a skirt panel adapted to connect to a trailer to route airflow along the trailer, skirt supports adapted to connect the skirt to a trailer are also provided with a plurality of resilient struts providing lateral support to the skirt panel, the resilient struts allowing substantial lateral deflection of the skirt panel away from an aerodynamic configuration. A method of assembling an aerodynamic skirt assembly and an aerodynamic skirt kit are also provided. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090230725 | Systems for reducing form drag on vehicles through a dimpled surface - A drag reducing system is disclosed for reducing drag on a motor vehicle. For some embodiments, the drag reducing apparatus comprises one or more dimpled panels each comprising a sheet with dimples distributed on the surface of the sheet. For such embodiments, the one or more dimpled panels are coupled to one or more sides of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the one or more dimpled panels are positioned in a contiguous manner on the one or more sides of the motor vehicle. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090230726 | VEHICLE FAIRING STRUCTURE - A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, a first side surface adapted to be attached to a first side of the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface, and a second side surface adapted to be attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface. Each of the top and first and second side surfaces has a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle, as well as a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge. The proximal edges of the top and side surfaces attach to the leading top and side edges, respectively, of the front surface of the trailer box, so that an approximately uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to top and sides of the rear vehicular component. The area bounded by the distal edges of the surfaces is smaller than an area bounded by the proximal edges. The top side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface are made of a resilient material in the regions distal from the regions where the first side surface joins the top side surface, and where the second side surface joins the top side surface, the top side surface including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surface, and the first and second side surfaces including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20090278381 | DRAG REDUCING DEVICES FOR STACKED INTERMODAL RAIL CARS - Disclosed is a series of stacked intermodal containers, being pulled by a locomotive of a train, with aerodynamic drag reducing devices. The series includes at least a first, leading set of containers and a second, trailing set of containers. The first, leading set of containers has an aerodynamic drag reducing device with a drag reducing fairing and an attachment frame attached thereto facing a forward direction. The attachment frame includes at least one mounting device configured to be removably mounted in the tunnel of the top container of the first, leading set of containers. Additionally, the second, trailing set of containers may include a second, aerodynamic drag reducing device. Curtains may also be attached between a plurality of intermediate or adjacent sets of stacked containers to assist in reducing drag on the train when moving. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090278382 | MOUNTING OF DRAG REDUCING DEVICES FOR STACKED INTERMODAL RAIL CARS - Disclosed is a series of stacked intermodal containers, being pulled by a locomotive of a train, with aerodynamic drag reducing devices. A first set of containers has an aerodynamic drag reducing device with a drag reducing fairing and an attachment frame attached thereto. The attachment frame includes first and second mounting devices configured to be removably mounted to connection openings of the corner fittings of the top container of the first set of containers. The first mounting device(s) may be rotatably locked within the top connection openings, while the second mounting device(s) may be hooks for latching into the bottom connection openings. A method of attaching the aerodynamic drag reducing device is also disclosed. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100066123 | TRAILER WHEEL FAIRINGS - A wheel fairing and preferably a set of wheel fairings for reducing aerodynamic drag caused by the left-side and right side wheel sets of a rear wheel assembly supporting a trailer body at its rear end. The fairing body includes a tapered aerodynamic surface with a substantially U-shaped cross-section that tapers from a second end to a first end, and a base surface at the second end with a substantially same dimensional profile as one of the left-side or right-side wheel sets. Fasteners or other mounting devices secure each fairing body to an underside of the trailer body either upstream (as a nose fairing) or downstream (as a tail fairing) of the rear wheel assembly so that the second end is adjacent to an exposed rolling surface of the left-side or right side wheel set. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100096880 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT PANEL - An aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a surface adapted to direct airflow around the trailer is provided, the skirt panel being made of a single part of sheet material. A method of manufacturing a skirt panel and a kit thereof are also provided. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096881 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT WHEEL INTERFACE - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be installed on a trailer for managing airflow is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a substantially curved shape adapted to be positioned adjacent to a rear wheel of the trailer, the curved shape substantially mirroring the shape of the wheel to reduce the gap between the skirt panel and the wheel. A method of installing an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer to manage airflow around the trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and positioning the curved shape of the skirt panel adjacent to the rear wheel of the trailer to reduce the air gap therebetween. An aerodynamic skirt kit comprising a skirt panel having a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and a plurality of struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to a trailer is equally provided. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096882 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT OPENING - A skirt assembly kit comprising a skirt panel adapted to be disposed on a trailer to route air about the road trailer is provided, a plurality of upper supports adapted to secure the skirt panel to the road trailer and a plurality of struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to the road trailer. A method of installing an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel, installing the skirt panel on the trailer; and performing an opening in the skirt panel. An aerodynamic skirt kit adapted to mounted to a trailer is equally provided, the aerodynamic skirt kit comprising a skirt panel adapted to define an opening therein adapted to give access through the skirt panel, and an opening closing element adapted to close the opening. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100096883 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT SHAPE - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted on a trailer is provided, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height. A method of mounting an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height, positioning the forward portion toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion toward a rear portion of the trailer, and securing the skirt panel to the trailer. A kit comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion is equally provided, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being smaller than the rear height; and at least one strut adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100164249 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position in which the air deflection elements intersect with the air flowing around the top and sides, and preferably also the bottom, of the vehicle, and in which they divert that airflow in a manner that enhances the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle and thereby improves its fuel economy, resulting in a reduction in fuel cost. The air deflection elements may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control, with the latter allowing for optimal positioning of the air deflection elements based either on pre-stored values, or on values derived, utilizing an optional feedback mechanism, from real-time vehicular speed and fuel consumption data. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100181799 | DRAG REDUCING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE - The disclosure comprises a pair of inflatable substantially inelastic lobes. A single lobe can be mounted on each of the rear trailer doors of a standard tractor-trailer unit. Each lobe can be inflated or deployed to provide an aerodynamic substantially planar contour extending rearwardly of the rear end of the vehicle. The aerodynamic shape of the lobes with stable and substantially planar external surfaces for air to pass over can be created by a series of internal cords and flag sets extending substantially horizontally and vertically in an array from one side of the lobe to the other side of each lobe. When the lobes are deflated, the trailer doors can be opened and latched to the side of the trailer in a conventional manner. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100187856 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT SUPPORT MEMBER - A support member adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the support member comprising a trailer connecting portion; a skirt connecting portion; and an intermediate portion interconnecting the trailer connecting portion to the skirt connecting portion. A kit of resilient struts adapted to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is also provided, the kit comprising at least two resilient struts. A method of using a resilient strut to resiliently secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is equally provided, the method comprising providing at least one resilient strut; securing the resilient strut to the trailer; securing the resilient strut to the aerodynamic skirt; and applying a load on the aerodynamic skirt to resiliently bend the at least one resilient strut. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100201153 | AIR DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM - A drag reduction system [ | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100231000 | Inflatable trailer skirt - The invention comprises a set of tubular inflatable bags mounted to the underside of a transport trailer along its lower edge in front of the rear wheel assembly. The bags are pressurized by ram air inflation upon forward motion of the trailer, such that they prevent air from entering the rear wheel assembly and thereby reduce aerodynamic drag. The outer exposed sides of the bags are vertically and horizontally straightened and stiffened by horizontal ribs which are anchored by cords to the trailer. The apparatus gives way without stress when unpressurized at slow speed and when docking to avoid damage. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100231001 | INFLATABLE SHAPING SYSTEM REDUCING THE AERODYNAMIC DRAG UPON THE REAR OF A VEHICLE - An inflatable shaping system has a frame, rectangular with four sides, similar to the rear of a trailer or truck. The frame has a hinged connection and swings from an over-the-road configuration and to a deflated stowed position against the side of the trailer. Upon the frame, the system has an inflatable body and a durable skin covering the frame and the inflatable body. The inflatable body has a continuous attachment to the frame. The inflatable body has at least one inflatable element connected by a flexible adhesive or device. The inflatable elements remain contained between the frame and the durable skin, generally outwardly from the trailer. In communication with the inflatable elements, a pump system supplies air for their inflation and removes air for their deflation. The pump system operates remotely in the vicinity of the truck. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100264690 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100264691 | SIDE UNDERRIDE CABLE SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side underride cable system configured to be coupled to a trailer includes a front mounting bracket assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer, a rear mounting bracket assembly configured to be coupled to the trailer at a location spaced-apart from the front mounting racket assembly, and a plurality of cables configured to extend at least partially along a length of each side of the trailer between the front mounting bracket assembly and the rear mounting bracket assembly. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110025092 | VEHICLE FAIRING STRUCTURE - A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, a first side surface adapted to be attached to a first side of the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface, and a second side surface adapted to be attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface. Each of the top and first and second side surfaces has a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle, as well as a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge. The proximal edges of the top and side surfaces attach to the leading top and side edges, respectively, of the front surface of the trailer box, so that an approximately uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to top and sides of the rear vehicular component. The area bounded by the distal edges of the surfaces is smaller than an area bounded by the proximal edges. The top side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface are made of a resilient material in the regions distal from the regions where the first side surface joins the top side surface, and where the second side surface joins the top side surface, the top side surface including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surface, and the first and second side surfaces including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110037291 | DEVICE FOR IMPROVING A TRACTOR-TRAILER COMBINATION TRUCK AERODYNAMICS AT THE REAR OF THE TRAILER - A device for reducing drag caused by a rear wake of a trailer. The device includes an enclosure supported by support assemblies. The support assemblies include a first corner support extending along a first junction between top and first side portions of the enclosure, a second corner support extending along a second junction between the top portion and a second side portion of the enclosure, a third corner support extending along a third junction between a bottom portion and the second side portion of the enclosure, a fourth corner support extending along a fourth junction between the bottom and first side portions of the enclosure, a first diagonal support extending from the first junction to the third junction, and a second diagonal support extending from the second junction to the fourth junction. The enclosure and support assemblies are coupled to the trailer by a coupling assembly. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110042999 | SYSTEM REDUCING AERODYNAMIC DRAG ON VEHICLES - An apparatus for reducing aerodynamic resistance in an over the road vehicle is provided. The apparatus can include a frame assembly and first and second airfoils to be coupled to the vehicle by the frame assembly ahead of first and second tires of an axle assembly provided to the vehicle. The first and second airfoils each include an air deflecting surface with a convex outward portion that extends away from a leading edge that is to be directed into the airflow to transition the portions of the airflow directed toward the first and second tires outward beyond the externally exposed sides of the first and second tires. The first and second airfoils are also spaced laterally apart from each other when coupled to the vehicle by the frame assembly to define an aperture between the first and second airfoils through which at least a portion of the airflow directed toward the axle assembly is to pass while the vehicle is underway. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110062749 | DEVICE FOR REDUCING VEHICLE AERODYNAMIC RESISTANCE - A device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance for vehicles having a generally rectangular body disposed above rear wheels, comprising a plurality of flexible opposing flat sheets and a plurality flexible load bearing struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body, that bend to resist damage when struck by the ground, and guide airflow around the rear wheels of the vehicle to reduce its aerodynamic resistance when moving. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110068605 | UNDERCARRIAGE FAIRING - The present disclosure provides an airstream deflector fairing comprising a front or fore end having a leading edge attached to an undercarriage of a wheeled vehicle. The fairing further includes a rear or aft end and a lower bottom portion of the fairing includes a panel facing the ground at an angle which in turn directs an airstream passing thereunder downwardly and outwardly relative to the undercarriage and substantially at an area below a trailing axle downstream from the fairing. The lower bottom panel includes an angle of declination relative to the undercarriage from about 12 degrees to about 24 degrees. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110084516 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered aerodynamic assembly for use on the rear trailer bodies and other vehicles that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half mounted on the right hand door and a left half mounted on a left hand door. Each half is constructed with a side panel, top panel and bottom panel, which each form half of an overall tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of overlapping weather seals along the centerline. The panels are relatively thin, but durable, and are joined to each other by resilient strip hinges. The top and bottom panels are also hinged to form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a relatively low-profile stacked orientation. This low profile allows the doors to be swung through approximately 270 degrees to be secured to the sides of the body in a manner that does not interfere with adjacent doors or bodies in, for example a multi-bay loading dock. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded by grasping the side panel and rotating it inward toward the door surface. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly. This ensures that the panels fold readily when desired without the two sections of the panels “locking up”. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110084517 | SELF-DEPLOYING DRAG REDUCING DEVICE - A drag reducing apparatus is hingedly mounted to the rear of a truck or trailer vehicle so that the apparatus can be pivoted clear of the rear doors of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a hinge assembly that allows the apparatus to open substantially flat against the side of the vehicle so as not to impede the full movement of the doors. The apparatus includes an arrangement of connected panels that are initially folded flat against the back of the vehicle but automatically open to a drag reducing configuration at a sufficient vehicle speed. The connected panels are further configured so that the force of gravity automatically returns the panels to their initial folded configuration when the vehicle speed falls below a threshold. The apparatus incorporates a modular construction that allows replacement of individual panel sections. The mounting frame is constructed to augment the drag reduction characteristics of the apparatus. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110095564 | NOZZLE-TYPED DRAG-REDUCING STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE - A nozzle-typed drag-reducing structure for vehicle is arranged at the tail end of a vehicle, including a frame body comprised of a combination of a plurality of deflectors, between two of which an airflow channel is formed; and an air inlet and an air outlet respectively formed at two sides of the frame body, and the area comprised by surrounding the air outlet is larger than the area comprised by surrounding the air inlet. Thereby, whenever the vehicle is driven in high speed or low speed, it is all possible to boost the running efficiency and increase the driving stability. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110095565 | ROTATIONALLY SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF VEHICLE'S DRAG-REDUCING APPARATUS - A vehicle's drag-reducing apparatus, adapted to be arranged at the tail end of a vehicle, includes a diversion body positioned at the lateral surface of the vehicle and a rotary piece. The airflow flowing across the lateral surface of the vehicle body is guided to the tail end of the vehicle by the diversion body. One end of the rotary piece is pivoted to the vehicle body, while another end is fixed to the diversion body. Rotating the rotary piece will bring along the diversion body to be abutted against the tail end of the vehicle body or to be moved to the position far away the tail end of the vehicle body. Thereby, the open of the rear door at the tail end of the vehicle won't be hindered, even where there is an arrangement of the diversion body. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110095566 | SLIPPAGE-TYPED DIVERSION APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DRAG OF VEHICLE - A diversion apparatus, adapted to be arranged at the tail end of a vehicle, includes a diversion assembly and a slide mechanism. The inside of the diversion assembly is hollow and formed an airflow channel. The slide mechanism is arranged fixedly at the tail end of the vehicle body and has slot tracks extended along the lengthwise direction of the tail end of the vehicle body. The diversion assembly arranged on the slot tracks can be activated and slipped thereon. Therefore, the diversion assembly can be slipped on the slot tracks and activated toward the front of the vehicle body to prevent the opening of the door leaf of the vehicle from being hindered by the diversion assembly. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110101730 | Inflatable drag reduction device for vehicles - Inflatable drag reduction device ( | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110148142 | REAR AERODYNAMIC DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE - A rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device are provided. The aerodynamic device can be fastened under a rear end of a vehicle frame of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, behind the wheels. It includes a nozzle having an inlet positioned on a lateral external face of the device and capable of canalising air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110175396 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT - An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted on a trailer is provided, the resilient aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height. A method of mounting an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being shorter than the rear height, positioning the forward portion toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion toward a rear portion of the trailer, and securing the skirt panel to the trailer. A kit comprising a skirt panel defining a forward portion and a rear portion is equally provided, the forward portion being adapted to be mounted toward a forward portion of the trailer and the rear portion being adapted to be mounted toward a rear portion of the trailer, the forward portion having a front height and the rear portion having a rear height, the forward height being smaller than the rear height; and at least one strut adapted to secure the skirt panel to the trailer. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110221231 | Sealed aft cavity drag reducer - A drag reducing device utilizing sealed aft cavities designed to limit interference with existing truck and trailer designs is described. The invention comprises one or more sealed aft cavities affixed to the rear of a traditional commercial straight truck or trailer, or any other blunt (or mostly blunt) aft faced vehicle. A means is provided by which the device is stowed to allow normal operation of the straight truck, trailer or vehicle. Drag is reduced by the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle, postponing and narrowing the flow separation downstream of the trailing edge as well as increasing the pressure on the back of the vehicle with the open to the rear, sealed aft cavity. The concept described focuses on the utilization of (a) sealed aft cavity(ies) to limit the effects of blunt body drag and the means for attachment and stowage for loading and unloading cargo. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110233960 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRTS FOR TRUCK TRAILERS - A skirt or fairing system is provided that is attachable to a lower, longitudinal edge of a trailer, such as a commercial freight trailer, in a manner that alters the airflow beneath and around the trailer to produce increased fuel efficiency and greater driving safety. The skirt fairing is formed from a deformable skin material stretched tautly over a deflectable frame is provided that is attachable to the lower edge of a trailer. The installation of the skirt fairing deflects and alters the airflow beneath the trailer by creating smooth and cohesive airflow along the side and underneath the trailer of a tractor trailer rig in a manner that improves safety and decreases fuel consumption. Further, the fairing is formed using a deformable skin and deflectable frame that prevents damage or permanent displacement of the fairing should it impact an obstruction. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110272963 | Devices and Methods for Reducing Vehicle Drag - In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for reducing the drag of a trailer is provided. The apparatus can include an aerodynamic rain gutter component having a front edge and rear edge which is positioned on the roof adjacent to the rear edge of the roof such that the front edge of the rain gutter component contacts the roof and the rear edge of the rain gutter component does not contact the roof. The apparatus can further include a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer in front of wheels on the bottom of a trailer, a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer behind the wheels on the bottom of a trailer, with both pairs of fairings placed and shaped to direct the air smoothly around the wheels and tires and through the center of the trailer. The apparatus can also include a ramp in front of the suspension components, aerodynamically shaped wings on the axles, and a rear diffuser, such components configured to direct air smoothly between the trailer suspension and the ground. The directed high energy air from the apparatus results in a reduced trailer base drag. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110272964 | Devices and Methods for Reducing Vehicle Drag - In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a vehicle trailer is provided. The vehicle trailer includes a roof and a floor separated from each other by a pair of opposing walls that extend along the length of the floor. The roof, floor, and walls define a space accessible by a trailer door with each of the walls having a front edge and a rear edge and having a height that extends from the floor to the roof. The height is substantially the same along at least a portion of the length of the walls. The vehicle trailer further includes a pair of side wall fairings having a leading edge and trailing edge. Each side wall fairing is positioned on a different wall from the other adjacent to the rear edges of each of the walls such that the leading edge of each side wall fairing contacts the wall and the trailing edge of each side wall fairing does not contact the wall. Each side wall fairing has an upward incline and downward incline. The side wall fairings can be utilized with one or more other components that are described herein. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110272965 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR REDUCING VEHICLE DRAG - In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a vehicle trailer is described that further includes a shelf component. The shelf component is separate from the rain gutter component. The shelf component extends from the rear wall of the trailer and includes a sloped surface. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120025565 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle or, in other embodiments, at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. Each air deflection element comprises a housing member and an elongating member, and the elongating members are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position. The elongating members may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120032475 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT ASSEMBLY - A resilient or flexible skirt panel assembly having an integral bracing system is disclosed. In operation, the bracing system need not attach to a trailer base rail. The innovation discloses straight, straight-angled and curved skirt panel orientations. Additionally, angled braces, ‘v-braces,’ ‘v-wings,’ and integral rib bracing mechanisms are disclosed. In aspects, the skirt panel and bracing mechanisms can absorb (or bend) under force while effectively having a ‘memory’ to return to their original shape upon removal of the force. The skirt assembly can include a hem along the bottom edge of the skirt panel thereby enhancing performance and longevity of the assembly. Additionally, an “anti-skid” clamping assembly can be employed to connect the skirt assemblies to the trailer I-beam, base rail or cross-members. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120074728 | Aerodynamic Trucking Systems - A system of aerodynamic skirt fairings designed to minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over highway-operated long-haul tractor-trailer vehicles. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120080905 | INFLATABLE TRAILER SKIRT - The invention comprises a set of tubular inflatable bags mounted to the underside of a transport trailer along its lower edge in front of the rear wheel assembly. The bags are pressurized by ram air inflation upon forward motion of the trailer, such that they prevent air from entering the rear wheel assembly and thereby reduce aerodynamic drag. The outer exposed sides of the bags are vertically and horizontally straightened and stiffened by horizontal ribs which are anchored by cords to the trailer. The apparatus gives way without stress when unpressurized at slow speed and when docking to avoid damage. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120086233 | SEALED AFT CAVITY DRAG REDUCER - A drag reducing device utilizing sealed aft cavities designed to limit interference with existing truck and trailer designs is described. The invention comprises one or more sealed aft cavities affixed to the rear of a traditional commercial straight truck or trailer, or any other blunt (or mostly blunt) aft faced vehicle. A means is provided by which the device is stowed to allow normal operation of the straight truck, trailer or vehicle. Drag is reduced by the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle, postponing and narrowing the flow separation downstream of the trailing edge as well as increasing the pressure on the back of the vehicle with the open to the rear, sealed aft cavity. The concept described focuses on the utilization of (a) sealed aft cavity(ies) to limit the effects of blunt body drag and the means for attachment and stowage for loading and unloading cargo. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120091754 | VEHICLE AIR DEFLECTION SYSTEM - An air deflection system has a first skirt assembly mounted to a vehicle at a first side of a cargo container thereon. The first skirt assembly has at least one upper panel and at least one lower panel each extending in a front-to-rear direction and having laterally facing air deflecting surfaces. The at least one lower panel is constructed to be more readily bendable than the at least one upper panel. The air deflection system further has a plurality of support braces extending angularly between: a) the underside of a vehicle to which the skirt assembly is operatively mounted; and b) the at least one upper panel to support the skit assembly on an associated vehicle and reinforce the at least one upper panel. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120104792 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear cargo body, having doors that swing open, or a single, full-width door, which rolls upwardly. The embodiments provide an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear in a manner that would obscure access to the door(s) in a deployed position, in which the structure reduces drag, yet enables access to the door(s) in a folded position. The folded position allows access to the rear for loading and unloading, and in the case of swinging, hinged doors, allows the doors to be folded through a 270-degree arc, with a minimal sideways projection. The various embodiments also enable relatively rapid and easy transition between the folded position and the deployed position using actuators and/or linkages that tie the folding and deployment of panels of the structure together. This allows selective folding and deployment of the structure without undue effort or strength. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120139291 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle but not to any rear door which the vehicle may have. The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. Each air deflection element is coupled to a respective portion of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle that is arranged above, below or on either side of the rear door, and each air deflection element is associated with a frame in which it is substantially disposed when in the retracted position. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120153668 | Side Skirt for a Pulled Vehicle - The present invention relates to a device for minimizing the aerodynamic drag that results when tractors, trailers, rigid trucks, lorries, and other vehicles are moving through air. In particular the invention relates to a plate-shaped flow conductor having a front edge, a lower edge, a rear edge and an upper edge. The flow conductor is mountable along the upper edge in a substantially vertical position to a body portion of a pulled vehicle of a vehicle combination of at least two pivotally connected vehicles. When mounted the flow conductor extends at least partially under the body portion in a longitudinal direction of the pulled vehicle. Characteristic for the flow conductor according to the invention is that the flow conductor comprises locally in conjunction with the front edge a thickened portion, which has a streamlined outer contour in a cross section transversally to the front edge. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120200113 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120235441 | AERODYNAMIC COMPONENT MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR TRACTOR TRAILER - A mounting assembly is provided for coupling an air drag reduction system to a trailer to be transported by an over-the-road tractor. The mounting assembly includes a frame to be suspended adjacent to an underside of the trailer, and a receiver supported adjacent to a first end of the frame. The receiver is adapted to cooperate with a portion of a structural member of the trailer when installed. An adjustable fastening mechanism is separated a suitable distance from the receiver along the frame to be positioned adjacent to a second portion of the structural member opposite the portion that cooperates with the receiver. The adjustable fastening mechanism includes a cam that is adjustable to make contact with the second portion of the structural member of the trailer, thereby interfering with separation of the receiver from the portion of the structural member of the trailer with which the receiver cooperates. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120261945 | APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DRAG ON A VEHICLE - The present invention is directed to a device for reducing drag on a vehicle. The device comprises a sheet of material and a plurality of depressions/elevations. The sheet of material having a base portion and an apex extending from the base portion. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120292945 | RETRACTABLE AIR DEFLECTION APPARATUS FOR REDUCTION OF VEHICULAR AIR DRAG - An air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag comprises at least one air deflection element coupled to a rear portion of the vehicle but not to the rear-facing surface of the vehicle, the vehicle having no rear-facing door(s). The air deflection elements are displaceable, preferably in unison, between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, and may be deployed and retracted manually, or remotely with powered assistance, or under microprocessor control. The air deflection elements are preferably arranged above, below and on either side of the rear-facing surface of the vehicle. Vehicles equipped with the apparatus, and methods of reducing vehicular air drag using the apparatus, are also disclosed. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120319428 | Segmented Skirt Aerodynamic Fairing Device for Reducing the Aerodynamic Drag of Ground Vehicles - A method and device for reducing aerodynamic drag and improving performance and stability of ground vehicles by reducing the mass and velocity of the flow passing under a vehicle is described. The device is suitable for use with a truck and trailer system but may also be applied to a single unit truck system or any combination vehicle that includes a motorized lead vehicle pulling one or more non-motorized vehicles. The device includes right forward and aft panels configured to attach to a lower right portion of the vehicle such that they extend downward from the undercarriage region. The device further includes left forward and aft panels configured to attach to a lower left portion of the vehicle such that they extend downward from the undercarriage region. The device minimizes and controls airflow entering the undercarriage region from the front and sides of the ground vehicle. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130001980 | AERODYNAMIC SKIRT RESILIENT MEMBER - A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is presented, the aerodynamic skirt being adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the resilient strut being adapted to sustain an elastic deformation when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the configuration improving air routing about the trailer and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed, the resilient strut including an uneven longitudinal shape adapted to change a stiffness of the resilient strut. An aerodynamic skirt assembly including resilient struts and a kit thereof are also contemplated in the present invention. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130062908 | Devices and Methods for Reducing Vehicle Drag - A vehicle trailer is provided. The vehicle trailer includes one or more side wall fairings having a a front edge and a rear edge and having a height that extends from the floor to the roof. leading edge and trailing edge. Each side wall fairing has an upward incline and downward incline. The side wall fairings can be utilized with one or more other components that are described herein. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130076066 | TIRES FLOW CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - A system for managing airflow around the wheels of a vehicle, and in particular, around dual wheels of trailers typically pulled by Class 8 trucks, is provided. In certain embodiments, a wedge-shaped airflow diverter is provided that reduces drag on the wheels of a trailer pulled by a truck, and thereby improves the overall efficiency of the truck-trailer combination with regard to aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130076067 | Drag Reducer for Semi-Trailer - The invention is a drag reducer for use in commercial semitrailers, trucks, cargo containers, rail cars, and the like. The drag reducer takes the form of tubing that collects fast moving air from under the trailer while the truck is at speed and forces it through tubing up and around the sides of the trailer's rear door. Small holes facing outward from the vertical tubing eject the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion, thereby reducing overall drag on the trailer. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130076068 | VEHICLE DRAG REDUCTION ASSEMBLY - A drag reduction assembly is mountable on a vehicle or other object experiencing relative motion in a fluid environment. The assembly comprises at least one shell of flexible web material movable between non-deployed and deployed positions. In addition, the shell is configured to provide at least an outer flow surface in the deployed position (e.g., a curved surface) to reduce the effects of aerodynamic drag. In many embodiments, intake apertures such as NACA ducts may be provided to allow a portion of the flowing fluid into the shell. The flowing fluid will cause the shell to assume automatically the deployed position. In cases where fluid enters the shell, an exit location is provided in the shell to permit such fluid to exit and rejoin fluid on the outside. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130088040 | DRAG REDUCTION APPARATUS FOR A TRAILER - A drag reduction device secured to each of the top rails of a wheeled cargo van body or container which covers the recess formed in the outer side of the top rail. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130106136 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURES FOR CARGO BODIES | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130113235 | Devices and Methods for Reducing Vehicle Drag - An apparatus for reducing the drag of a trailer is provided. The apparatus can further include a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer in front of wheels on the bottom of a trailer, a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer behind the wheels on the bottom of a trailer, with both pairs of fairings placed and shaped to direct the air smoothly around the wheels and tires and through the center of the trailer. The apparatus can also include a ramp in front of the suspension components, aerodynamically shaped wings on the axles, and a rear diffuser, such components configured to direct air smoothly between the trailer suspension and the ground. The directed high energy air from the apparatus results in a reduced trailer base drag. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130119701 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM - Provided is an aerodynamic drag reduction apparatus for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over-the-road vehicle while underway. The aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a frame assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a cargo-carrying portion of the over-the-road vehicle to couple the drag reduction apparatus to the over-the-road vehicle. First and second skirts are adapted to be supported beneath opposite lateral sides of the cargo-carrying portion of the over-the-road vehicle by arcuate rails. The first and second skirts are coupled to the frame assembly in a manner that allows thermal expansion and contraction of the first and second skirts relative to the frame assembly without warping of material forming an air-deflecting surface of the first and second skirts to an extent that would otherwise occur if the first and second skirts were fixedly connected to the frame assembly. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130127203 | AERODYNAMIC FAIRINGS FOR TRAILERS - A system and method aerodynamic fairings including a gap fairing. The gap fairing includes multiple panels. The multiple panels are interconnected utilizing connectors to form a half conical shape extending from a front portion of a trailer. The gap fairing also includes supports connected to the multiple panels through support structure of the trailer. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130127204 | UNDERCARRIAGE FAIRINGS FOR TRAILERS - A system and method for aerodynamic fairings including an undercarriage fairing. The undercarriage fairing includes multiple panels including at least two front panels and at least two rear panels. The at least two front panels are connected in a front portion under the trailer. The at least two rear panels are positioned in front of a wheel undercarriage at sides of the trailer. One of the at least two front panels and one of the at least two rear panels are interconnected on both sides of the trailer. The undercarriage fairing further includes supports connected to the frame of the trailer. The supports are connected to the at least two rear panels. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130169000 | CRASH BAR AERODYNAMIC DEVICE - An aerodynamic device for the crash bar of a tractor trailer and support structures is easily installed on the front and optionally on the rear of the crash bar forming a rounded fairing surface or “bull nose.” A device may optionally be attached to the crash bar support structures. Using a flexible material, such as EPDM extrusion, or forming a molded part in polyurethane elastomer, ensures that the fairing surface recovers its shape after being crushed so that the device may be used repeatedly with a retaining device at a docking bay during loading and unloading, for example. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130175824 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered assembly for vehicle bodies that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half and a left half mounted on respective doors. Each half is constructed with a series of panels that form half of a tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of weather seals along the centerline. The panels are joined by hinges and the top and bottom panels form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a low-profile stacked orientation. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly that prevents the panels from “locking up”. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130181477 | VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM - A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel coupled to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel moves with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130181478 | APPARATUS FOR REDUCING DRAG ON A VEHICLE - The present invention is directed to a device for reducing drag on a vehicle. The device comprises a sheet of material and a plurality of depressions/elevations. The sheet of material having a base portion and an apex extending from the base portion. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130187405 | VEHICLE HAVING A DEFORMABLE ROOF FOR AERODYNAMICS IMPROVEMENT - A vehicle includes a cargo body having a roof that is deformable. The deformable roof can be placed in a neutral position, where the deformable roof forms substantially a flat surface parallel to a floor of the cargo body, or in at least one aerodynamic position, where at least a rear portion of the deformable roof is lowered with respect to the neutral position. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130214557 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear cargo body, having doors that swing open, or a single, full-width door, which rolls upwardly. The embodiments provide an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear in a manner that would obscure access to the door(s) in a deployed position, in which the structure reduces drag, yet enables access to the door(s) in a folded position. The folded position allows access to the rear for loading and unloading, and in the case of swinging, hinged doors, allows the doors to be folded through a 270-degree arc, with a minimal sideways projection. The various embodiments also enable relatively rapid and easy transition between the folded position and the deployed position using actuators and/or linkages that tie the folding and deployment of panels of the structure together. This allows selective folding and deployment of the structure without undue effort or strength. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130241232 | DRAG REDUCING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE - The disclosure comprises a pair of inflatable substantially inelastic lobes. A single lobe can be mounted on each of the rear trailer doors of a standard tractor-trailer unit. Each lobe can be inflated or deployed to provide an aerodynamic substantially planar contour extending rearwardly of the rear end of the vehicle. The aerodynamic shape of the lobes with stable and substantially planar external surfaces for air to pass over can be created by a series of internal cords and flag sets extending substantially horizontally and vertically in an array from one side of the lobe to the other side of each lobe. When the lobes are deflated, the trailer doors can be opened and latched to the side of the trailer in a conventional manner. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130249241 | FOLDING SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The side skirt wall includes (i) a first wall panel having a first end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear wheel assembly of the trailer and (ii) a second wall panel having a first end pivotably coupled to a second end of the first wall panel and a second end configured to be pivotably coupled to a rear portion of the trailer. The side skirt wall is movable between a fully-extended position wherein the first and second wall panels cooperate to define a generally planar side skirt wall and a fully-retracted position wherein the first and second wall panels are angled relative to each other. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130270857 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130285411 | Drag Reduction Plate and Structure For Trailers - A drag reduction plate is provided for trailers that are towed by vehicles along a roadway or highway, where the trailer typically has a box-like construction having a bottom, top, front, back, and sides, and at least one wheel set near the back end and below the bottom thereof. The drag reduction plate is a rigid or semi-rigid plate secured to and depending vertically downwardly from the bottom of the trailer and being disposed along a portion of the length of the trailer forwardly of the at least one wheel set. A drag reduction structure comprises a drag reduction plate and a pair of deflector plates also depending vertically downwardly from the bottom of a trailer; and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the rigid or semi-rigid plate in a region which is forward of the at least one wheel set. The outer edges of the deflector plates are located at positions which are wider than the outer width of the wheel set. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130313856 | INTERMODAL CHASSIS SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM - A trailer or intermodal trailer chassis having a vehicle side fairing that accommodates, without being damaged, a container or other object lowered onto the trailer or intermodal chassis in a misaligned orientation. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20140028050 | TRAILER SKIRT - The present invention pertains to a trailer skirt panel comprising: (a) a sheet having a top section and a bottom section; (b) at least one L-bracket attached to the top section of the sheet; (c) at least one rib extending downwardly from the top section and the L-bracket to provide rigidity to the panel during use; and wherein the sheet, the L-bracket, and the rib comprise a polymer material and are integrally formed together in a unitary construction. The polymer material of the trailer skirt panel can comprise thermoplastic polyolefin. The bottom section of the sheet can include an angled edge to provide rigidity to the panel during use. Furthermore, two or more of the trailer skirt panels can be positioned next to each other to form a trailer skirt assembly for attachment to the bottom of a trailer. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140035316 | VEHICLE CENTERLINE FAIRING SYSTEM - A van trailer or intermodal chassis having a centerline fairing. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140035317 | Inflatable aerodynamic drag reducer for a vehicle - An apparatus for converting a substantially flat vehicular surface on the rear of a vehicle so as to create at least one surface which operates to reduce aerodynamic drag, comprising: at least one support adapted to be moveably attached to the rear surface of a vehicle; at least one surface supported by the at least one support; the at least one surface movably position so as to move from deployed position extending from the rear of a vehicle to a retracted position; whereby the apparatus operates to reduce aerodynamic drag in the deployed position and does not interfere with vehicle loading in the retracted position. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140035318 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140054924 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCER FOR A TRAILER - An aerodynamic reducer for a trailer comprising one or more sheet members which are secured to the lower ends of at least some of the cross-members positioned beneath the floor of the trailer. The sheet members enclose the space between at least some of the cross-members. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140062126 | COMPOSITE SHEET MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE SAME - A composite sheet material and method for forming the same is provided that includes a substrate, a matrix, and a cover sheet. The substrate has a first face surface, a second face surface, and a plurality of edges, and includes a thermoplastic material. The matrix is attached to the substrate. The matrix includes a support component having a first melting point, and a thermoplastic component having a second melting point. The second melting point is less than the first melting point. The cover sheet imparts one or more surface characteristics to the composite sheet material during thermo-pressure formation of the composite sheet material. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140070565 | SELF-REPOSITIONING AERODYNAMIC SKIRT - A resilient strut adapted to secure an aerodynamic skirt to a trailer is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel including a front portion and a rear portion adapted to be substantially longitudinally mounted to the trailer, the skirt panel being adapted to move away from the aerodynamic configuration when contacting a foreign object and to recover its aerodynamic configuration thereafter, the resilient strut includes a shape variation adapted to change the mechanical strength thereof and also adapted to sustain an elastic deformation allowing the resilient strut to bend when a load is applied to the resilient strut when the skirt panel moves away from the aerodynamic configuration and to self-recover its original shape when the load is removed. A kit of resilient struts, a method thereof and a trailer equipped with same are also provided. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140077526 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCING APPARATUS - An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus includes folding panels that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140110968 | AERODYNAMIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TRAILERS - An aerodynamic system that may have forward mounted airflow directional panels and an airfoil device mounted either in a firm or movable manner to the underneath side of a truck trailer just forward of the trailer tires and axles to better manage airflow around the trailer tire and axle assembly. In operation, the device collects and routs impinging air to exit between the trailer tires and well past the end of the trailer for controlled road spray and splash while keeping tires and brakes running cooler and decreasing parasitic drag of the trailer as it moves along the highway while reducing driver fatigue due to the improved handling characteristics. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140110969 | AERODYNAMIC DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE - An aerodynamic device is arranged for mounting to a vehicle or a trailer for reducing its wind resistance. The aerodynamic device includes at least one sheet material arranged to be mounted to the vehicle/trailer and associated with a corresponding wall portion of the vehicle/trailer. Each wall portion has an outer surface and an inner surface and extends towards the rear of the vehicle/trailer. In a deployed first state, each sheet material is arranged to at least partly extend beyond a rearmost position of the wall portion. In a stored second state, each sheet material is arranged to be inserted such that is faces towards the inner surface. A vehicle or a trailer including the aerodynamic device is also provided. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140117713 | AERODYNAMIC REAR DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear swing door and a rear frame. The drag reduction system includes a main wall panel configured to be coupled to a vertical member of the rear frame to extend generally rearwardly of the trailer at least partially along a height of the trailer. The main wall panel is pivotable relative to the rear frame between a deployed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is spaced-apart from the outer surface of the rear swing door, and a stowed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is adjacent to and engaged with the outer surface of the rear swing door. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140125088 | VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY SYSTEM - A fairing assembly for a trailer having a wheel set and a hitch, the fairing assembly comprising a fairing connected to an underside of the trailer intermediate the hitch and the wheel set, the fairing including (i) a pair of opposing lateral surfaces separated by a distance, (ii) a bottom surface spaced from the underside of the trailer, and (ii) a leading surface, the leading surface substantially spanning the distance, wherein the leading surface includes an intake opening, wherein at least one of the bottom surface or the lateral surfaces includes an exit opening, and a flow path fluidly connects the intake opening and the exit opening. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140145467 | AERODYNAMIC TRAILER SKIRT - A mechanism comprising of a trailer skirt for attachment beneath a lower, outer longitudinally extending edge of a trailer, containing a plurality dimples disposed upon a planar surface of the skirt, thereby improving aerodynamic efficiency. The plurality of dimples may have any number of shapes, including a variety of multi-sided polygonally shaped depressions. In one embodiment, the depressions have a plurality of frusto-spherical shaped depressions. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140159419 | FLEXIBLE PANEL MEMBER FOR A TRAILER SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM - A flexible panel member coupled to and along a bottom end of a side skirt panel of a trailer side skirt system includes (i) a first panel section defining a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the second panel section and an inner surface therebetween and (ii) a second panel section defining a first side, a second side opposite the first side of the second panel section and an inner surface therebetween. A connector of the flexible panel member is engaged with the first and second panel sections. The first and second panel sections are configured to move relative to each other and the connector is configured to slide relative to at least one of the first and second the second panel sections when the first and second panel sections move relative to each other. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140167447 | AIRFLOW BAFFLE FOR COMMERICAL TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS - An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along a rear edge of the vehicle body, extending from a respective fixed end secured to the vehicle body rearward in a flow-wise direction beyond the rear edge of the vehicle body to a respective free end. Each prong is separated from an adjacent prong in the plurality, and each is flexible to permit deflection, under the influence of airflow over the vehicle at a predetermined speed, above and below a first plane defined by the surface of the vehicle to which the plurality of prongs is secured. Each prong is further resistant to deflecting in a direction parallel to the first plane. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140217776 | Aerodynamic Trucking Systems - A system of aerodynamic skirt fairings designed to minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over highway-operated long-haul tractor-trailer vehicles. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140239669 | Devices and Methods for Reducing Vehicle Drag - In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle trailer is described that includes a shelf component that extends from the rear wall of the trailer and that defines a sloped surface. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140252799 | SEGMENTED TRAILER SIDE SKIRTS - To improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a vehicle trailer, one or more aerodynamic components are positioned on the trailer. In some examples described herein, the one or more aerodynamic components are in the form of side skirt fairing segments, which are positioned underneath the trailer and forward of the wheel assembles. In use, the one or more side skirt fairing segments improve air flow underneath the trailer and in the vicinity of the wheel assemblies, thereby reducing drag. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140265436 | WIND DEFLECTOR FOR A TANK TRAILER - A wind deflector assembly formed about or part of a hatch assembly surrounding an access port of a tank trailer to control wind flow about the hatch assembly to reduce wind drag on the tank trailer. The wind deflector assembly includes a first downwardly forwardly directed smooth surface extending from the hatch assembly toward the front end of the tank trailer and preferably includes a second smooth surface extending downwardly rearwardly from the hatch assembly toward the rear end of the tank trailer. An intervening opening is formed between the spaced wind deflecting surfaces for receiving the access port therein and maybe covered by a smooth closure member. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140265437 | TRAILER WITH IMPROVED AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS - Aerodynamically configured trailers are provided with a downwardly slanted top surface section positioned at the rear of the trailer. In use, the rearward cant or slope reduces the low-pressure region that trails the end of the trailer, thereby reducing pressure drag. Aerodynamically configured trailers are also provided that maintain standard cargo capacity in a first configuration, and can convert to a reduced cargo capacity in a second configuration. In some examples, a rear roll-up door of one or more configurations is provided to facilitate loading/unloading, etc. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140265438 | MODULAR TRAILER SKIRT - A trailer skirt includes a plurality of panel modules attached under and along sides of a trailer. Each panel module comprises an outwardly angled flat panel with upper edge attached to a trailer undercarriage frame and a forward edge tabbed to slots in an inward-stepped rear edge of an adjacent identical panel module. The stair-stepped surface and leak-free connection provides excellent low air drag, and also provides good orientation of reflectors for lights when passing another vehicle. A modularity of the panel modules and their low weight allows them to be molded in an efficient and low cost manufacturing operation, shipped in a very compact and dense arrangement, quickly installed, and allows individual panel modules to be replaced without total disassembly of the skirt. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140265439 | FLEXIBLE SKIRT ASSEMBLY - A flexible skirt assembly for a trailer, such as a trailer, is provided. The flexible assembly includes a first bracket and a first arm attachable to an underside of a vehicle, and a second bracket and a second arm attachable to the underside of the vehicle. A skirt body may include a first side and a second side. The first side of the skirt body attaches to the first arm and the second side of the skirt body attaches to the second arm. The first arm, second arm, and skirt body may be made of a flexible material. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140284963 | AERODYNAMIC FAIRINGS FOR TRAILERS - A system and method aerodynamic fairings including a gap fairing. The gap fairing includes multiple panels. The multiple panels are interconnected utilizing connectors to form a half conical shape extending from a front portion of a trailer. The gap fairing also includes supports connected to the multiple panels through support structure of the trailer. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140292023 | Drag Reduction of a Tractor Trailer Using Guide Vanes - The present invention relates to a vehicle having an apparatus mounted thereon for reducing aerodynamic drag and, more particularly, to a guide vane apparatus with an airfoil cross-section mounted to the aft portion of a tractor trailer. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140292024 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered aerodynamic assembly for use on the rear trailer bodies and other vehicles that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half mounted on the right hand door and a left half mounted on a left hand door. Each half is constructed with a side panel, top panel and bottom panel, which each form half of an overall tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of overlapping weather seals along the centerline. The panels are relatively thin, but durable, and are joined to each other by resilient strip hinges. The top and bottom panels are also hinged to form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a relatively low-profile stacked orientation. This low profile allows the doors to be swung through approximately 270 degrees to be secured to the sides of the body in a manner that does not interfere with adjacent doors or bodies in, for example a multi-bay loading dock. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded by grasping the side panel and rotating it inward toward the door surface. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly. This ensures that the panels fold readily when desired without the two sections of the panels “locking up”. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140292025 | AIRFLOW BAFFLE FOR COMMERICAL TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS - An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along a rear edge of the vehicle body, extending from a respective fixed end secured to the vehicle body rearward in a flow-wise direction beyond the rear edge of the vehicle body to a respective free end. Each prong is separated from an adjacent prong in the plurality, and each is flexible to permit deflection, under the influence of airflow over the vehicle at a predetermined speed, above and below a first plane defined by the surface of the vehicle to which the plurality of prongs is secured. Each prong is further resistant to deflecting in a direction parallel to the first plane. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140300134 | TRAILER SIDE SKIRT ASSEMBLY - A side skirt assembly for a trailer of a tractor-trailer includes a skirt panel and a plurality of skirt mounts that couple the skirt panel to the frame of the trailer. The skirt panel can be formed by a layered composite formed of alternating layers of fiberglass and layers containing recycled fiberglass. The position of the skirt mount can be laterally adjusted along the trailer frame whereby the skirt panel can be mounted to the trailer in more than one lateral position. Additionally, the skirt panel can include a track extending along at least a portion of the skirt panel length, and the track can slide relative to the skirt mount to adjust the longitudinal position of the skirt panel on the trailer during assembly. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140319872 | AERODYNAMIC REAR FAIRING SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A rear fairing system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a plurality of fairings coupled to a rear, vertical door post of the trailer. Each fairing includes (i) a mounting member adjacent to and engaged with a rearward, outer surface of the vertical door post and (ii) an air deflection member coupled to the mounting member and including a vertical portion and a curved portion which curves inwardly toward a centerline of the trailer. Each fairing is mounted to the door post at a location between hinges of a rear swing door of the trailer. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140333089 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140339854 | Drag Reducing Device - A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. Vortex generators are provided on one or more surfaces of the drag reducing device to improve the drag reduction characteristics of the device. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140346808 | Rear Spoiler Device for a Vehicle - A rear spoiler device for a vehicle that has a rear door includes an air guiding element configured to attach to a lateral rear zone of the vehicle. The air guiding element can be pivoted between a travel position for contour extension and aerodynamic air guidance with the rear door of the vehicle closed, and a position in which it is hinged inwards with the rear door open. To this end, the air guiding element can be received in a hinge of the rear door, and the rear spoiler device has a spring device that presses the air guiding element in the travel position against a counter-stop formed on the hinge, preferably, on a hinge plate fastened to the rear door. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140367993 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCING APPARATUS - An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adapted for mounting behind a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus includes a side panel, an actuator arrangement, a top panel, and an interconnecting member. The side panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The actuator is mounted between the side panel and the vehicle. The top panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The interconnecting member is connected between the side panel and the top panel. The interconnecting member coordinates movement between the side and top panels such that they each move together between the deployed positions and the stowed positions, respectively. One or more of the panels may be mounted to a door of the vehicle via deformable hinges and/or deformably mounted hinges and thereby allow the door to open compactly against a side of the vehicle by deforming the panels, the hinges, and/or the mounts of the hinges. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150015029 | VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY SYSTEM - A fairing assembly for a trailer having a wheel set and a hitch, the fairing assembly comprising a fairing connected to an underside of the trailer intermediate the hitch and the wheel set, the fairing including (i) a pair of opposing lateral surfaces separated by a distance, (ii) a bottom surface spaced from the underside of the trailer, and (ii) a leading surface, the leading surface substantially spanning the distance, wherein the leading surface includes an intake opening, wherein at least one of the bottom surface or the lateral surfaces includes an exit opening, and a flow path fluidly connects the intake opening and the exit opening. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150035312 | DEVICE FOR REDUCING VEHICLE AERODYNAMIC RESISTANCE - An aerodynamic resistance reduction system for a vehicle is provided and includes a pair of vertical panels pivotally attached to a rear end adjacent to rear vertical edges of a vehicle, a first horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached to a top end to each of the pair of vertical panels and pivotally attached to the rear end adjacent to a top horizontal edge of the vehicle, and a second horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached adjacent to an inside surface of each of the pair of side panels, the second horizontal panel assembly being disposed between the first horizontal panel assembly and a lower edge of the rear end of the vehicle. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150035313 | VEHICLE DRAG REDUCTION ASSEMBLY - A drag reduction assembly is mountable on a vehicle or other object experiencing relative motion in a fluid environment. The assembly comprises at least one shell of flexible web material movable between non-deployed and deployed positions. In addition, the shell is configured to provide at least an outer flow surface in the deployed position (e.g., a curved surface) to reduce the effects of aerodynamic drag. In many embodiments, intake apertures such as NACA ducts may be provided to allow a portion of the flowing fluid into the shell. The flowing fluid will cause the shell to assume automatically the deployed position. In cases where fluid enters the shell, an exit location is provided in the shell to permit such fluid to exit and rejoin fluid on the outside. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150061318 | AIR FAIRING FOR FRAMELESS TRAILER - An air fairing device is connected below the bottom a frameless trailer to improve aerodynamic efficiency and improve fuel economy. One embodiment of the air fairing device provides an air deflector positioned forward of a trolley which supports the frameless trailer at a rear end. A second embodiment of the air fairing device provides two deflectors mounted below the frameless trailer. The first deflector is attached and extends downward from an articulating arm, said arm connecting the trailer to a semi-tractor or truck. The second deflector connected to below the bottom of the frameless trailer and positioned rear of the first deflector and forward of the trolley. A third embodiment is similar to the second but further includes a third deflector positioned between two axles of the trolley. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150097393 | REAR SPOILER SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A rear spoiler device ( | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150115652 | Trailer Fender with Storage - A series of fender systems for vehicles is disclosed. Each embodiment utilizes a separate mounting assembly by which a fender assembly may be attached to a vehicle. The fender assemblies in each system reduce drag and buffeting caused by current fenders in the art. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150291231 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear cargo body, having doors that swing open, or a single, full-width door, which rolls upwardly. The embodiments provide an aerodynamic structure attached to the rear in a manner that would obscure access to the door(s) in a deployed position, in which the structure reduces drag, yet enables access to the door(s) in a folded position. The folded position allows access to the rear for loading and unloading, and in the case of swinging, hinged doors, allows the doors to be folded through a 270-degree arc, with a minimal sideways projection. The various embodiments also enable relatively rapid and easy transition between the folded position and the deployed position using actuators and/or linkages that tie the folding and deployment of panels of the structure together. This allows selective folding and deployment of the structure without undue effort or strength. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150329152 | AERODYNAMIC REAR DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A rear aerodynamic drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The rear drag reduction system includes a main wall panel configured to be coupled to the rear frame assembly to extend generally rearwardly of the trailer at least partially along a height of the trailer, and a secondary wall panel configured to be movably coupled to the rear swing door of the trailer to extend along a width of the trailer. The main wall panel and the secondary wall panel are each movable relative to the rear frame assembly between a deployed position and a stowed position. A locking mechanism of the drag reduction system is configured to releasably couple the main wall panel and the secondary wall panel to each other to prevent relative movement between the main wall panel and the secondary wall panel when the main and secondary wall panels are in their deployed positions. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150367900 | Flow Control Device for Truck and Truck Comprising Such Flow Control Device - The present invention concerns an improved flow control device for a vehicle ( | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150375810 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM - Provided is an aerodynamic drag reduction apparatus for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over-the-road vehicle while underway. The aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a frame assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a cargo-carrying portion of the over-the-road vehicle to couple the drag reduction apparatus to the over-the-road vehicle. First and second skirts are adapted to be supported beneath opposite lateral sides of the cargo-carrying portion of the over-the-road vehicle by arcuate rails. The first and second skirts are coupled to the frame assembly in a manner that allows thermal expansion and contraction of the first and second skirts relative to the frame assembly without warping of material forming an air-deflecting surface of the first and second skirts to an extent that would otherwise occur if the first and second skirts were fixedly connected to the frame assembly. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160001827 | VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM - A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel coupled to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel moves with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160009322 | SELF-DEPLOYING APPARATUSES, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR DRAG REDUCTION OF LAND VEHICLES | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160016616 | IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUEL EFFICIENCY OF ROAD VEHICLES - An aerodynamic unit is attached onto a roof of a road vehicle so that air passes over the unit during forward movement of the road vehicle. The unit has a first end for positioning distal to a rear end of a vehicle roof and a second end for positioning proximal a rear end of a vehicle roof. The unit includes an inclined guide portion which decreases in height in a direction towards the trailing end of the unit. The unit also includes a flow director, which directs air flow to the guide portion, disposed at or near the leading end of the aerodynamic unit. The flow director has a height increasing in a direction from the leading end towards the trailing end. The unit may include vortex generators protruding from the guide portion. A fin may extend along each side of the unit in a direction between the trailing end and the leading end. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160046333 | AERODYNAMIC REAR DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - A drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear swing door and a rear frame. The drag reduction system includes a main wall panel configured to be coupled to a vertical member of the rear frame to extend generally rearwardly of the trailer at least partially along a height of the trailer. The main wall panel is pivotable relative to the rear frame between a deployed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is spaced-apart from the outer surface of the rear swing door, and a stowed position wherein the inner surface of the wall panel is adjacent to and engaged with the outer surface of the rear swing door. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160052566 | IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FUEL EFFICIENCY OF ROAD VEHICLES - A road haulage trailer ( | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160059910 | AERODYNAMICALLY EFFICIENT FREIGHT TRUCK AND TRAILER - Apparatus for improving aerodynamics of a freight tractor-trailer combination, having at least one of the following:
| 03-03-2016 |
| 20160068200 | Rear Spoiler Device for a Vehicle - The invention relates to a rear spoiler device ( | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160068201 | Aerodynamic Drag Reducing Apparatus - An aerodynamic drag reducing device reduces drag on a vehicle when in an extended configuration. The aerodynamic drag reducing device includes a moveable frame, a set of linkages, and a linkage coordinator. The set of linkages supports the moveable frame in an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. A first linkage of the set of linkages defines a first axis, and a second linkage of the set of linkages defines a second axis. The linkage coordinator coordinates movement between the first linkage about the first axis and the second linkage about the second axis. The first and second axes may be non-parallel. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160068202 | Aerodynamic Trucking Systems - A system of aerodynamic skirt fairings configured to minimize aerodynamic drag and maintain smoother air flow over highway-operated long-haul tractor-trailer vehicles. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160083023 | AIR FAIRING FOR FRAMELESS TRAILER - An air fairing device is connected below the bottom a frameless trailer to improve aerodynamic efficiency and improve fuel economy. One embodiment of the air fairing device provides an air deflector positioned forward of a trolley which supports the frameless trailer at a rear end. A second embodiment of the air fairing device provides two deflectors mounted below the frameless trailer. The first deflector is attached and extends downward from an articulating arm, said arm connecting the trailer to a semi-tractor or truck. The second deflector connected to below the bottom of the frameless trailer and positioned rear of the first deflector and forward of the trolley. A third embodiment is similar to the second but further includes a third deflector positioned between two axles of the trolley. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160096555 | AERODYNAMIC TRACTOR-TRAILER GAP REDUCER AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF - This invention relates to a gap-reducer for reducing a gap between a road tractor and a trailer attached thereto, the gap-reducer comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion being located further forward than the top portion when the gap-reducer is secured on the trailer in an operating position. The gap-reducer extending over the width of the trailer to reduce the drag of the trailer. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160096556 | AERODYNAMIC TRACTOR-TRAILER GAP REDUCER AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF - This invention relates to a gap-reducer for reducing a gap between a road tractor and a trailer attached thereto, the gap-reducer comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion including a flange sized and designed to match and secure an uneven front trailer surface. The gap-reducer can also be equipped of matching corners adapted to match corresponding corners of the trailer. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160096557 | MODULAR AERODYNAMIC SKIRT ASSEMBLY - This invention relates to aerodynamic trailer skirts adapted to be mounted on trailers to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the trailer. The present invention more precisely relates to a modular self-repositioning aerodynamic skirt assembly with reduced size skirt panel portions and improved shock transmission properties. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160096558 | MODULAR AERODYNAMIC SKIRT ASSEMBLY - This invention relates to packaging of a modular aerodynamic trailer skirts that is adapted to minimize the size of a shipment thereof. The packaging further protects the skirt portions by stacking skirt portions and using interconnecting edges thereof to secure a skirt portion therebetween. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160096559 | RETRACTABLE FAIRING FOR REDUCING AERODYNAMIC DRAG AT THE REAR END OF A COMMERICAL MOTOR VEHICLE - A retractable fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag at a rear end of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) may comprise a streamlining element having a medial plane and an airflow surface for streamlining air flow. A suspension frame may have an element end for hingedly supporting the streamlining element at approximately the medial plane and may have a trailer end for hingedly mounting the suspension frame to approximately an outer vertical corner of the rear end and may include a trailer hinge allowing the streamlining element to move in a horizontal plane into a folded position adjacent to the rear end. A pair of streamlining elements of complementary shape may be each mounted by a suspension frame to respective left and right halves of the rear end and placed in the folded position, the medial planes of each element facing one another and the streamlining elements collectively forming the retractable fairing. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160121940 | SIDE SKIRT SYSTEM FOR A TRAILER - An aerodynamic skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a first side skirt wall and a second side skirt wall each configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend generally below a storage container of the trailer at least partially along a length of the trailer. The first side skirt wall defines a first length and the second side skirt wall defines a second length smaller than the first length. The second side skirt wall is positioned generally rearward of the first side skirt wall and is side skirt wall is angled relative to the side wall of the trailer. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160152285 | MULTICOMPONENT IMPROVED VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY SYSTEM | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160152286 | AIRFLOW BAFFLE FOR COMMERCIAL TRUCK FUEL EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160185399 | REAR-MOUNTED AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR TRUCK CARGO BODIES - This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered aerodynamic assembly for use on the rear trailer bodies and other vehicles that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half mounted on the right hand door and a left half mounted on a left hand door. Each half is constructed with a side panel, top panel and bottom panel, which each form half of an overall tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of overlapping weather seals along the centerline. The panels are relatively thin, but durable, and are joined to each other by resilient strip hinges. The top and bottom panels are also hinged to form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a relatively low-profile stacked orientation. This low profile allows the doors to be swung through approximately 270 degrees to be secured to the sides of the body in a manner that does not interfere with adjacent doors or bodies in, for example a multi-bay loading dock. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded by grasping the side panel and rotating it inward toward the door surface. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly. This ensures that the panels fold readily when desired without the two sections of the panels “locking up”. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160185401 | AERODYNAMIC DRAG REDUCING APPARATUS - An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adapted for mounting behind a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus includes a side panel, an actuator arrangement, a top panel, and an interconnecting member. The side panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The actuator is mounted between the side panel and the vehicle. The top panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The interconnecting member is connected between the side panel and the top panel. The interconnecting member coordinates movement between the side and top panels such that they each move together between the deployed positions and the stowed positions, respectively. One or more of the panels may be mounted to a door of the vehicle via deformable hinges and/or deformably mounted hinges and thereby allow the door to open compactly against a side of the vehicle by deforming the panels, the hinges, and/or the mounts of the hinges. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160200377 | DEVICE FOR REDUCING VEHICLE AERODYNAMIC RESISTANCE | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160251040 | DRAG REDUCING DEVICE | 09-01-2016 |
