Trailer underbody fairing system
AssigneeWindyne Fairing Co. Ltd.
InventorsDuane Edwin Hein, Alec Costerus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure pertains to fairings for use on a trailer having a movable bogie. In one implementation, panels of the fairing extend at least to a rear termination point of the movable bogie and include a slim hinge to prevent interference with a pair of wheels coupled to the bogie. Accordingly, implementations of the present disclosure include a fairing that allows for translation of the movable bogie, while also providing panel coverage up to and beyond a pair of wheels coupled to the bogie regardless of the bogie position relative to the trailer.
Claims20
A fairing for use on a trailer having an underbody extending between a front portion and a rear portion of the trailer and a wheel bogie assembly mounted on the underbody and having a forward termination point and a rear termination point, the fairing comprising:
- a first frame member coupled to the trailer and extending a majority of a length of the fairing;
- a second frame member coupled to the trailer and spaced from the first frame member;
- and
- a plurality of panels coupled to the first and second frame members, the plurality of panels having a longitudinal length that extends to at least the rear termination point of the wheel bogie assembly, and
- wherein the entire fairing is movable as a single piece via the first frame member between an open position that provides access to the underbody of the trailer and a closed position in which the fairing overlies the wheel bogie assembly.
A trailer to be pulled by a tractor having a rear set of wheels, the trailer comprising:
- an underbody;
- a bogie assembly mounted on the underbody and movable between a forward position and a rear position relative to the rear set of wheels of the tractor, the bogie assembly including a rear outermost longitudinal edge;
- a set of rear wheels coupled to the bogie assembly, the rear wheels having an outermost radial edge;
- a first stanchion coupled to the trailer;
- a second stanchion coupled to the trailer behind the rear outermost longitudinal edge of the bogie assembly when the bogie assembly is in the rear position;
- a hinge coupled to the trailer between the first stanchion and the second stanchion, the hinge having a size and a shape to provide a space between an outermost edge of the hinge and the outermost radial edge of the rear wheels of the bogie assembly;
- a fairing coupled to the first stanchion, the second stanchion, and the hinge, the fairing having a longitudinal length that extends from at least the first portion of the trailer to the second stanchion;
- and
- a lift support coupled between each of the first and second stanchions and the fairing.
A device, comprising:
- a fairing configured to be coupled to a trailer, the fairing including a plurality of panels with a first panel of the plurality of panels configured to slide to be at least partially telescopically received behind a second panel of the plurality of panels,
- wherein the entire fairing is rotatable relative to the trailer as a single piece between an open position that provides access to an underbody of the trailer and a closed position in which the fairing overlies a wheel bogie assembly of the trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.