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US 4,702,509 AGranted
Long-haul vehicle streamline apparatus
OwnerMorris C. Elliott, Srinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for streamlining a tractor-trailer truckcomprises an inflatable balloon bag member at an end of the trailer. Supporting attachments for the bag automatically lock when the bag member is inflated but may be easily disconnected once the bag is deflated. The attachments are hinged for loading door clearance, a top attachment being hinged forwardly of the end for swinging the deflated bag to one side of the trailer. A belt timber reenforces the bag between the attachments, the bag being otherwise self-supporting. Both front and rear bag members cooperate to significantly reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption on long hauls.
Claims20
Apparatus for streamlining a vehicle body having at least one end member having a face area comprising a substantially plane surface perpendicular to a travel axis of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) attachment means ona perimeter of the face area of the end member of the vehicle, the attachment means comprising a plurality of plate members spaced along the perimeter of the face area;
- (b) inflatable bag means located against the face area, the bag means having a smooth aerodynamic convex portion facing away from the face area, the bag means comprising:
- (i) mounting means for supporting the bag means by the attachment means, the plate members of the attachment means extending toward the convex portion of the bag means the mounting means comprising a plurality of engagement members extending from the convex portion of the bag means, the engagement members being supported by the corresponding plate members;
- (ii) fill means for admitting a pressurized gas into the bag means;
- and
- (iii) blowdown means for deflating the bag means;
- and
- (c) coupling means for connecting the mounting means to the attachment means, the coupling means being locked when the bag means is inflated and releasable when the bag means is deflated, the coupling means comprising a hook member on each plate member and a pin member on each engagement member, the hook member preventing the pin member from moving away from the face area beyond a predetermined distance when the bag means is inflated, the hook member releasing the pin member when the bag means is deflated and the pin member is moved toward the face area.
5 more elements
Apparatus for streamlining a vehicle body having at least one end member having a face area comprising a substantially plane surface perpendicular to a travel axis of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) attachment means on a perimeter of the face area of the end member of the vehicle;
- (b) inflatable bag means located against the face area, the bag means having a smooth aerodynamic convex portion facing away from the face area, the bag means comprising:
- (i) a flexible sheet material joined at a plurality of curved seams, comprising face side, top, and bottom sheet portions, the face sheet portion substantially covering the face area, the side portions curving outwardly and longitudinally away from proximate the sides of the face area at a radius of curvature of up to approximately one tenth of the width of the face area, then curving on each side inwardly and away from the face area to a respective side seam, each side seam extending from proximate a top corner of the face area on a curved path longitudinally away from the face area, inwardly and downwardly to a seam point located vertically between the top corner and a corresponding bottom corner of the face area below the top corner, away from the face area a distance of from one-third to two-thirds the width of the face area, and inwardly from one-fifth to one-third the width of the face area, the seam extending downwardly, outwardly, and toward the face area from the seam point to proximate the bottom corner, the top sheet portion curving upwardly and longitudinally away from proximate the top of the face area at a radius of curvature of up to about one tenth of the width of the face area and extending longitudinally away from the face area and downwardly along the side seams to the seam points, the bottom portion extending from proximate the bottom of the face area along the side seams to the seam points and joining the top sheet portion along a line connecting the seam points, the line extending longitudinally away from the face area beyond the side seam points by from about 1/16 to about 1/4 of the width of the face area;
- (ii) mounting means for supporting the bag means by the attachment means;
- (iii) fill means for admitting a pressurized gas into the bag means;
- and
- (iv) blowdown means for deflating the bag means;
- and
- (c) coupling means for connecting the mounting means to the attachment means, the coupling means being locked when the bag means is inflated and releasable when the bag means is deflated.
6 more elements
Apparatus for streamlining a vehicle body having at least one end member having a face area comprising a substantially plane surface perpendicular to a travel axis of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) attachment means on a perimeter of the face area of the end member of the vehicle, the attachment means comprising a plurality of plate members spaced along the perimeter of the face area, the plate members extending toward the convex portion of the bag means;
- and
- (b) inflatable bag means located against the face area, the bag means having a smooth aerodynamic convex portion facing away from the face area, the bag means comprising
- (i) a flexible sheet member;
- (ii) a belt member for shaping and reinforcing the sheet member proximate the perimeter of the face area, the belt member being fastened to the engagement members, the belt member comprising a molded plastic strip having a convex surface for shaping the inside of the sheet member proximate the perimeter of the face area;
- (iii) mounting means for supporting the bag means by the attachment means, the mounting means comprising a plurality of engagment members extending from the convex portion of the bag means, the engagement members being supported by the corresponding plate members;
- (iv) fill means for admitting a pressurized gas into the bag means;
- and
- (v) blowdown means for deflating the bag means;
- and
- (c) coupling means for connecting the mounting means to the attachment means, the coupling means being locked when the bag means is inflated and releasable when the bag means is deflated.
8 more elements
Apparatus for streamlining a vehicle body having at least one end member having a face area comprising a substantially plane surface perpendicular to a travel axis of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) attachment means on a perimeter of the face area of the end member of the vehicle, the attachment means comprising a plurality of plate members spaced along the perimeter of the face area, the plate members extending toward the convex portion of the bag means;
- (b) inflatable bag means located against the face area, the bag means having a smooth aerodynamic convex portion facing away from the face area, the bag means comprising:
- (i) mounting means for supporting the bag means by the attachment means, the mounting means comprising a plurality of engagement members extending from the convex portion of the bag means, the engagement members being supported by the corresponding plate members;
- (ii) fill means for admitting a pressurized gas into the bag means;
- and
- (iii) blowdown means for deflating the bag means;
- and
- (c) coupling means for connecting the mounting means to the attachment means, the coupling means being locked when the bag means is inflated and releasable when the bag means is deflated, the coupling means comprising:
- (i) a pin member on each engagement member;
- (ii) a hook member on each plate member, the hook member preventing the pin member from moving away from the face area beyond a predetermined distance when the bag means is inflated, the hook member releasing the pin member when the bag means is deflated and the pin member is moved toward the face area, the hook member comprising a horizontally extending rail portion joining the lower leg of an upwardly extending C-shaped member, an upwardly slanting rail portion joined to the upper leg of the C-shaped member, the slanting rail portion extending over a portion of the horizontally extending rail portion and joining a downwardly extending J-shaped member, the lowermost part of the J-shaped member being spaced above the horizontally extending rail portion for permitting the pin member to be lowered onto the horizontally extending rail member and passed beneath the J-shaped member into engagement with the C-shaped member,
- wherein the pin member is retained within the C-shaped member when the bag is inflated, and the J-shaped member prevents inadvertent disengagement of the pin member from the hook member when the pin member is simultaneously lifted from the horizontally extending rail portion and moved away from the C-shaped member.
8 more elements
Apparatus for streamlining a vehicle body having front and rear end members, each end member having a face area comprising a substantially plane surface perpendicular to a travel axis of the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) attachment means on a perimeter of the face area of each end member of the vehicle;
- (b) front and rear inflatable bag means located against the corresponding face areas, the bag means having a smooth aerodynamic convex portion facing away from the respective face area, each bag means comprising:
- (i) a flexible sheet material joined at a plurality of curved seams and having face side, top, and bottom sheet portions, the face sheet portion substantially covering the face area, the side portions curving outwardly and longitudinally away from proximate the sides of the face area at a radius of curvature of up to approximately one tenth of the width of the face area, then curving on each side inwardly and away from the face area to a respective side seam, each side seam extending from proximate a top corner of the face area on a curved path longitudinally away from the face area, inwardly and downwardly to a seam point located vertically between the top corner and a corresponding bottom corner of the face area below the top corner, away from the face area a distance of from one-third to two-thirds the width of the face area, and inwardly from one-fifth to one-third the width of the face area, the seam extending downwardly, outwardly, and toward the face area from the seam point to proximate the bottom corner, the top sheet portion curving upwardly and longitudinally away from proximate the tip of the face area at a radius of curvature of up to about one tenth of the width of the face area and extending longitudinally away from the face area and downwardly along the side seams to the seam points, the bottom portion extending from proximate the bottom of the face area along the side seams to the seam points and joining the top sheet portion along a line connecting the seam points, the line extending longitudinally away from the face area beyond the side seam points by from about 1/16 to about 1/4 of the width of the face area;
- (ii) mounting means for supporting the bag means by the attachment means;
- (iii) fill means for admitting a pressurized gas into the bag means;
- and
- (iv) blowdown means for deflating the bag means;
- and
- (c) coupling means for connecting the mounting means to the attachment means, the coupling means being locked when the bag means is inflated and releasable when the bag means is deflated.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.