# US 2013/0076067 A1 · Drag Reducer for Semi-Trailer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0076067 A1 - Document ID: US20130076067A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/624,482 - Filed: 2012-09-21 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-28 - Inventors: Scott Maertz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130076067A1 ## CPC - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - 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) ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for reducing drag on an oblong truck, trailer, cargo container, or the like comprising: (a) a pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits; (b) each of said vertical hollow fluid conduits being affixed to the rear face of an about oblong vehicle along one of its two rear vertical edges; (c) said vertical hollow fluid conduits being pierced by a plurality of holes along its length in a direction perpendicular to and outward from the direction of forward motion of said about oblong vehicle; (d) said vertical hollow fluid conduits being capped at their upper vertical ends; (e) a pair of axial hollow fluid conduits; (f) said axial hollow fluid conduits being fixedly attached to the underside of said about oblong vehicle; (g) said axial hollow fluid conduits each having an opening near their first ends; (h) said openings being oriented in the direction of motion of said oblong vehicle; and (i) said axial hollow fluid conduits being connected at their second ends in fluid communication with the lower vertical ends of said vertical hollow fluid conduits; whereby airflow from the forward motion of said vehicle is forced into said openings and directed through said axial fluid conduits and into said vertical fluid conduits and out of said holes in said vertical fluid conduits in a direction outward from said about oblong vehicle, thereby reducing drag on said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein each of said vertical fluid conduits is in fluid communication with one of said axial fluid conduits, each via one of a pair of horizontal fluid conduits, and where said horizontal fluid conduits are each fixedly attached to the rear face of said about oblong vehicle along a portion of the bottom edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said vertical fluid conduits are connected to said horizontal fluid conduits by a pair of right-angle fluid conduits that are oriented to connect vertical to horizontal at the lower outer corners of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said horizontal fluid conduits are connected to said axial fluid conduits by a pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits, the first of said right-angle fluid conduits of each combined system converting horizontal to vertical at a point along the lower edge of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle, and the second of said right-angle fluid conduits of each combined system converting vertical to axial around the bottom edge of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein both said combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits and said axial fluid conduits are located horizontally along the bottom and rear faces of said oblong vehicle at a pair of positions about one third of the distance from the outer edges to the center of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: (a) each of said vertical fluid conduits is in fluid communication with one of said axial fluid conduits, each via one of a pair of horizontal fluid conduits, and where said horizontal fluid conduits are each fixedly attached to the rear face of said about oblong vehicle along a portion of the bottom edge; (b) said vertical fluid conduits are connected to said horizontal fluid conduits by a pair of right-angle fluid conduits that are oriented to connect vertical to horizontal at the lower outer corners of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle; (c) said horizontal fluid conduits are connected to said axial fluid conduits by a pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits, the first of said right-angle fluid conduits of each combined system converting horizontal to vertical at a point along the lower edge of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle, and the second of said right-angle fluid conduits of each combined system converting vertical to axial around the bottom edge of the rear face of said about oblong vehicle; and (d) both said combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits and said axial fluid conduits are located horizontally along the bottom and rear faces of said oblong vehicle at a pair of positions about one third of the distance from the outer edges to the center of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said opening in the first end of each of said axial hollow fluid conduits further comprises a plurality of branch fluid conduits; said branch being curved outward from the axial fluid conduits to open in an about forward or forward-angled direction with respect to the direction of forward motion of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7 wherein each set of said branch fluid conduits associated with each axial fluid conduit contains two branch fluid conduits. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein said opening in the first end of each of said axial hollow fluid conduits further comprises a plurality of branch fluid conduits; said branch being curved outward from the axial fluid conduits to open in an about forward or forward-angled direction with respect to the direction of forward motion of said about oblong vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein each set of said branch fluid conduits associated with each axial fluid conduit contains two branch fluid conduits. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein all of the components of said fluid conduits are made of PVC and are joined or fastened by adhesives. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8 wherein all of said fluid conduits are made of steel, aluminum, or other metal, and are joined or fastened by welding. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein all of the components of said fluid conduits are made of PVC and are joined or fastened by adhesives. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein all of said fluid conduits are made of steel, aluminum, or other metal, and are joined or fastened by welding.