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US 8,075,046 B2Granted
Truck-trailer air dam
AssigneeAeromotive Innovations
InventorDaniel W. Pursley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air dam which provides at least one panel which operates between an open condition and a closed condition in the open space established between a truck coupled to a trailer to alter a part of an air stream generated about the truck-trailer during travel.
Claims16
An air dam for a truck-trailer, comprising:
- a) a truck;
- b) a trailer coupled to said truck, wherein said truck coupled to said trailer defines an open space between said truck and said trailer having a first side access and a second side access at opposed sides of said open space;
- and
- c) a pair of air dam panels mounted in each of said first side access and said second side access, wherein a first one of said pair of air dam panels has a first edge and a second edge, said first edge pivotally coupled in relation to said external surface of said truck, said second edge pivotally coupled to a first edge of a second one of said pair of air dam panels, whereby said first one of said pair of air dam panels and said second one of said pair of air dam panels pivotally fold inwardly to dispose a pair of panel surfaces in opposed relation within said open space to open the corresponding said first side access or said second side access and said pair of air dam panels pivotally unfold outwardly to close the corresponding said first side access or said second side access of said open space.
1 more element
A method of providing an air dam for a truck-trailer, comprising the steps of:
- a) coupling a truck to a trailer, wherein said truck coupled to said trailer defines an open space between said truck and said trailer having a first side access and a second side access at opposed sides of said open space and a top access at the top of said open space;
- b) mounting a pair of air dam panels in each of said first side access and said second side access, wherein a first of said pair of air dam panels has a first edge and a second edge, said first edge pivotally couples in relation to said external surface of said truck and said second edge pivotally couples to a first edge of a second of said pair of air dam panels to pivotally fold inwardly to dispose a pair of external panel surfaces in opposed relation within said open space;
- and
- c) unflolding said first and said second of said pair of air dam panels mounted in each of said first side access and said second side access between an external surface of said truck and the external surface of said trailer to close the corresponding said first side access and said second side access at opposed sides of said open space.
1 more element
A method altering an air stream about a truck coupled to a trailer, comprising the steps of:
- a) closing at least one of a first side access and a second side access of an open space between a truck coupled to a trailer by operation of at least one air dam panel, said air dam panel having an air diversion element;
- b) locating said air diversion element in operable relation with said at least one of said first side access and said second side access by operation of said at least one air dam panel;
- c) engaging a part of said air stream about said truck coupled to said trailer with said air diversion element;
- d) diverting said part of said air stream about said truck coupled to said trailer into an open space between said truck coupled to said trailer;
- e) generating a flow of said part of said air stream diverted into said open space proximate a bottom of said open space toward a top access of said open space to alter said air stream about said truck coupled to said trailer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.