Aerodynamically contoured sleeper apparatus

Sleeper apparatus adapted to be removably disposed on a truck chassis behind the truck cab comprising a sleeper base compartment, a sleeper top installed on the base compartment, the base compartment comprising an enclosure having front, side and rear walls, and the top comprising a rigid hollow shell which is aerodynamically contoured so as to form an air fairing, the top having a front portion which extends forwardly of the front wall of the enclosure as to overhang the cab roof and to be free floating with respect to the cab roof, the front portion having a bottom wall which connects to the front wall to enclose the sleeper top, the entire bottom wall being spaced from the cab roof by an air space so as to permit air flow over the cab roof between the bottom wall and the cab roof, and vertically extending transition panels connected to the front wall of the enclosure adjacent to the side walls of the enclosure, the transition panels extending from the sides of the enclosure to corresponding sides of the truck cab and having a leading edge shaped to match the shape of the sides of the truck cab so that the transition panels blend into the sides of the truck cab, the leading edge being free floating at and spaced from the sides of the truck cab, and the transition panels being smoothly curved from the sides of the truck cab to the sides of the enclosure for smoothing air flow from the sides of the truck cab to the sides of the enclosure.

Sleeper apparatus adapted to be removably disposed on a truck chassis behind the truck cab comprising a sleeper base compartment, the base compartment comprising an enclosure having front, side and rear walls, the front wall having a smaller width than the rear wall and the side walls being extended outwardly to the rear to impart a front-to-back wedge shape to said enclosure;

• a sleeper top installed on the base compartment, the top comprising a rigid hollow shell which is aerodynamically contoured so as to impart to the top an aerodynamically efficient shape which reduces wind resistance and drag, the top having a height such that it extends above the height of the cab roof, and having a front portion which extends forwardly of the front wall of the enclosure so as to overhang the cab roof and to be free floating with respect to the cab roof, the front portion having a bottom wall which connects to the front wall to enclose the sleeper top, the entire bottom wall being spaced from the cab roof by an air space so as to permit air flow over the cab roof between the bottom wall and the cab roof;
• vertically extending flexible transition panels connected to the front wall at opposite sides thereof, the transition panels extending from the sides of the enclosure to corresponding sides of the truck cab and having a leading edge shaped to match the shape of the sides of the truck cab so that the transition panels blend into the sides of the truck cab, the leading edges of the transition panels being connected to the sides of the truck cab and the transition panels being smoothly curved from the sides of the truck cab to the sides of the enclosure for smoothing air flowing thereover.

Sleeper apparatus adapted to be removably disposed on a truck chassis behind the truck cab comprising a sleeper base compartment, the base compartment comprising an enclosure having front, side and rear walls, the front wall having a smaller width than the rear wall and the side walls being extended outwardly to the rear to impart a front-to-back wedge shape to the enclosure;

• and a sleeper top installed on the base compartment, the top comprising a rigid hollow shell which is aerodynamically contoured as to impart to the top an aerodynamically efficient shape which reduces wind resistance and drag, the top having a height such that it extends above the height of the cab roof, and having a front portion which extends forwardly of the front wall of the enclosure so as to overhang the cab roof and to be spaced therefrom, the sleeper top further having an upper surface which curves smoothly rearwardly from said front portion to a rear wall of the sleeper top, the rear wall of the sleeper top being in substantially the same plane as the rear wall of said enclosure, a rear portion of said upper surface adjacent to the rear wall of the top flattening out to become substantially horizontal for smoothly conveying air flowing rearwardly over the upper surface, and an upper central portion of the rear wall of said top being angled forwardly to form a reverse cutout for facilitating air impinging on said rear wall to flow over said upper surface upon the truck cab being moved in a reverse direction.

Sleeper apparatus adapted to be removably disposed on a truck chassis behind the truck cab comprising a sleeper base compartment;

• a sleeper top installed in the base compartment;
• the base compartment comprising an enclosure having front, side and rear walls, and the top comprising a rigid hollow shell which is aerodynamically contoured so as to form an air fairing, the top having a front portion which extends forwardly of the front wall of the enclosure so as to overhang the cab roof and to be free floating with respect to the cab roof, the front portion having a bottom wall which connects to the front wall to enclose the sleeper top, the entire bottom wall being spaced from the cab roof by an air space so as to permit air flow over the cab roof between the bottom wall and the cab roof;
• transition panels connected to the front wall of the enclosure adjacent to the side walls of the enclosure, the transition panels extending forwardly from the sides of the enclosure to corresponding sides of the truck cab and having a leading edge shaped to match the shape of the sides of the truck cab so that the transition panels blend into the sides of the truck cab;
• adjustable side fairings comprising vertically oriented side panels pivotally connected to the rear wall of the enclosure adjacent to the side walls so as to enable the side panels to be positioned at an angle relative to the side walls;
• and means connected to the side panels and to the rear wall for fixing the positions of the side panels at predetermined angles relative to the side walls.