Retractable air deflection apparatus for reduction of vehicular air drag

A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a cargo-carrying compartment of a cargo-hauling ground vehicle, said cargo-carrying compartment being characterized by a substantially planar rear wall formed substantially in its entirety by at least one rear door, the drag reduction apparatus comprising at least one non-planar air deflection element, and a plurality of associated support members coupling said at least one air deflection element to an associated portion of the exterior surface of said cargo-carrying compartment that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, said at least one air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plurality of associated support members allowing selective displacement of said at least one air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least a first deployed position and a second deployed position, and wherein in said retracted position the leading edge of said at least one air deflection element is substantially flush with said associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of said at least one air deflection element substantially abuts said associated portion of said exterior surface.

A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a trailer unit of a tractor-trailer combination, said trailer unit being characterized by a substantially planar rear wall formed substantially in its entirety by a pair of rear doors, the drag reduction apparatus comprising at least one non-planar air deflection element, and a plurality of associated support members coupling said at least one air deflection element to an associated portion of the exterior surface of said trailer unit that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, said at least one air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plurality of associated support members allowing selective displacement of said at least one air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least a first deployed position and a second deployed position, and wherein in said retracted position the leading edge of said at least one air deflection element is substantially flush with said associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of said at least one air deflection element substantially abuts said associated portion of said exterior surface.

A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a cargo-carrying compartment of a cargo-hauling ground vehicle, said cargo-carrying compartment being characterized by a substantially planar rear wall formed substantially in its entirety by at least one rear door, the drag reduction apparatus comprising at least two non-planar air deflection elements, and a plurality of support members associated with each said air deflection element and coupling each said air deflection element to a respective associated portion of the exterior surface of said cargo-carrying compartment that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, each said air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plurality of associated support members allowing selective displacement of each said air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least a first deployed position and a second deployed position, and wherein in said retracted position the leading edge of each said air deflection element is substantially flush with said respective associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of each said air deflection element substantially abuts said respective associated portion of said exterior surface.

A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a trailer unit of a tractor-trailer combination, said trailer unit being characterized by a rear wall formed substantially in its entirety by a pair of rear doors, the drag reduction apparatus comprising at least two non-planar air deflection elements, and a plurality of support members associated with each said air deflection element and coupling each said air deflection element to a respective associated portion of the exterior surface of said trailer unit that is adjacent and substantially orthogonal to said rear wall, each said air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said plurality of associated support members allowing selective displacement of each said air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least a first deployed position and a second deployed position, and wherein in said retracted position the leading edge of each said air deflection element is substantially flush with said respective associated portion of said exterior surface and the trailing edge of each said air deflection element substantially abuts said respective associated portion of said exterior surface.