# US 11,077,890 B2 · End of trailer fairing for improved aerodynamic performance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,890 B2 - Document ID: US11077890B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/488,510 - Filed: 2017-04-29 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-29 - Assignees: Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin - Applicants: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin - Inventors: Chinglin Pan; Calvin Rhett Bradley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077890B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - B62D 37/02: by aerodynamic means - B60Y 2200/145: Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks - Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A fairing for a back end of a trailer is provided that has a leading airflow surface oriented within an angular range from 5 degrees to 14 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is attached. The angular range is oriented so that its arms extend rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer. A tailing airflow surface is present that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location. The tailing airflow surface is curved, and a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location. A frame engages the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fairing for a back end of a trailer, comprising: a leading airflow surface that is configured to be oriented within an angular range from 5 degrees to 9 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached, wherein the surface to which the fairing is configured to be attached is a side surface of the trailer; wherein the angular range is oriented with respect to the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached such that arms of the angular range are located rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer; a tailing airflow surface that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location, wherein the tailing airflow surface is curved, wherein a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location; and a frame that is configured to engage the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tailing airflow surface has a constant radius from the meeting location to a tailing airflow surface terminal end such that the entire tailing airflow surface has a single radius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tailing airflow surface has different radii from the meeting location to a tailing airflow surface terminal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angular range is from 6.2 degrees to 8.2 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fairing as set forth in claim 3, wherein the radii are each from 550 millimeters to 1050 millimeters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fairing as set forth in claim 5, wherein the radii are each from 884 millimeters to 984 millimeters. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leading airflow surface is flat, wherein the flat leading airflow surface lies in a plane of the leading airflow surface, and wherein the common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface at the meeting location lies in the plane of the leading airflow surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leading airflow surface is curved and has a leading airflow surface radius, wherein the leading airflow surface radius is larger than 2000 millimeters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an anchoring flange that engages the leading airflow surface at a leading edge of the leading airflow surface, wherein the anchoring flange is forward of the leading edge of the leading airflow surface in a longitudinal direction of the trailer; double sided tape that engages the anchoring flange and is configured for engaging the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached, wherein a gap is formed between a leading edge of the leading airflow surface and the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached such that the leading edge of the leading airflow surface does not engage the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fairing as set forth in claim 1, wherein a terminal tailing end of the fairing is configured to be located at or forward from a terminal end of the trailer in the longitudinal direction of the trailer such that no portion of the fairing is configured to be located rearward to the terminal end of the trailer in the longitudinal direction of the trailer. ### Claim 11 A fairing for a back end of a trailer, comprising: a leading airflow surface that is configured to be oriented within an angular range from 8 degrees to 14 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached, wherein the surface to which the fairing is configured to be attached is a top surface of the trailer; wherein the angular range is oriented with respect to the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached such that arms of the angular range are located rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer; a tailing airflow surface that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location, wherein the tailing airflow surface is curved, wherein a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location; and a frame that is configured to engage the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The faring as set forth in claim 11, wherein the angular range is from 11 degrees to 13 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fairing as set forth in claim 11, wherein the tailing airflow surface has different radii from the meeting location to a tailing airflow surface terminal end, where the radii are each from 500 millimeters to 900 millimeters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fairing as set forth in claim 13, wherein the radii are each from 800 millimeters to 900 millimeters. ### Claim 15 A fairing for a back end of a trailer, comprising: a leading airflow surface that is configured to be oriented within an angular range from 5 degrees to 14 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached; wherein the angular range is oriented with respect to the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached such that arms of the angular range are located rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer; a tailing airflow surface that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location, wherein the tailing airflow surface is curved, wherein a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location; and a frame that is configured to engage the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached; wherein the leading airflow surface is flat, wherein the flat leading airflow surface lies in a plane of the leading airflow surface, and wherein the common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface at the meeting location lies in the plane of the leading airflow surface.