# US 11,352,075 B2 · Aerodynamic trucking systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,352,075 B2 - Document ID: US11352075B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/072,886 - Filed: 2020-10-16 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-06-07 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-27 - Assignees: Strehl, LLC; Great Dane LLC - Applicants: Strehl, LLC; Great Dane LLC - Inventors: Richard Senatro; Daniel J. McCormack; Christian Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11352075B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - B62D 35/005: {Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/007: {Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/008: {Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence)} - B62D 35/02: Streamlining the undersurfaces {(B62D35/005, B62D35/007, B62D35/008 take precedence)} - B62D 37/02: by aerodynamic means - Y10S 180/903: Airstream reactive vehicle or vehicle structure - 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) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An aerodynamic fairing assembly for attachment to a trailer of a tractor-trailer. The aerodynamic fairing assembly may comprise a front skirt fairing and a rear skirt comprising a transition. The transition may extend outwardly of the side skirt fairing at a distance from the centerline of the trailer. The side skirt faring and rear skirt fairing are coupled to the trailer by one or more struts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerodynamic fairing assembly for attachment to a trailer of a tractor-trailer having a top, bottom, front, rear, a pair of sides, a trailer frame having a centerline, transverse structural support members extending between sides of the trailer defining a trailer envelope, and longitudinal members extending along a length of the trailer, and having at least one rear wheel assembly situated below the trailer frame, the aerodynamic fairing assembly comprising: a side skirt fairing comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a rear skirt fairing located aft of the side skirt fairing and comprising a transition extending outwardly of a side of the trailer envelope at a distance from the centerline of the trailer; and one or more struts configured to couple the side skirt fairing and the transition to one or more of the transverse structural support members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the struts rotatably couple the side skirt fairing and the rear skirt fairing to one or more or of the transverse structural support members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the side skirt fairing is substantially straight and runs parallel to the centerline of the trailer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the side skirt fairing is substantially straight and is angled outwardly from the centerline of the trailer along the longitudinal axis from a front edge to a rear edge of the side skirt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the side skirt fairing is generally planar and formed by a plurality of sections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic fairing assembly is constructed from an injection molded material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 6, wherein the injection molded material comprises an injection molded mixture of polycarbonate and ABS plastic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a front fairing located forward of the side skirt fairing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, wherein the transition is angled outwardly with respect to the centerline of the trailer to cause misdirection of the air prior to reaching the rear of the trailer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a forward panel coupled to the sides of the trailer adjacent the rear of the trailer, a transition located aft of the forward panel, and a rear panel located aft of the transition and coupled to the rear door frame, wherein the transition is angled outwardly to cause misdirection of the air prior to reaching the rear door frame. ### Claim 11 An aerodynamic fairing assembly for attachment to a trailer of a tractor-trailer having a top, bottom, front, rear, a pair of sides, a rear door frame, and a trailer frame having a centerline, transverse structural support members extending between sides of the trailer defining a trailer envelope, and longitudinal members extending along a length of the trailer, the aerodynamic fairing assembly comprising: a side skirt fairing comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; a rear skirt fairing comprising a transition located aft of the side skirt fairing and extending outwardly of the side of the trailer envelope; one or more struts configured to couple the side skirt fairing and the rear skirt fairing to one or more or of the transverse structural support members; and an exit skirt fairing comprising: a forward panel coupled to the side of the trailer adjacent the rear of the trailer, a transition located aft of the forward panel, and a rear panel located aft of the transition and coupled to the rear door frame, wherein the transition is angled outwardly to cause misdirection of the air prior to reaching the rear door frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, further comprising a front fairing located forward of the side skirt fairing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 12, wherein the one or more struts are configured to couple the front skirt fairing to one or more or of the transverse structural support members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, wherein each side skirt fairing is substantially straight and is angled outwardly from the centerline of the trailer along a longitudinal axis from a front edge to a rear edge of the side skirt. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, wherein the side skirt fairing is generally planar and formed by a plurality of sections. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, wherein the aerodynamic fairing assembly is constructed from an injection molded material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 16, wherein the injection molded material comprises an injection molded mixture of polycarbonate and ABS plastic. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, further comprising a front fairing located forward of the side skirt fairing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The aerodynamic fairing assembly of claim 11, wherein the transition is angled outwardly with respect to the centerline of the trailer to cause misdirection of the air prior to reaching the rear of the trailer.