# US 8,540,304 B2 · Rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,304 B2 - Document ID: US8540304B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/060,710 - Filed: 2008-09-04 - Published: 2011-06-23 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-04 - Assignees: Renault Trucks - Applicants: Laurent Kint - Inventors: Laurent Kint - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540304B2 ## CPC - B62D 35/001: {For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans} - Y02T 10/82: Elements for improving aerodynamics - Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses - 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) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device are provided. The aerodynamic device can be fastened under a rear end of a vehicle frame of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, behind the wheels. It includes a nozzle having an inlet positioned on a lateral external face of the device and capable of canalising air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerodynamic device at least partially located under a rear end of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, wherein the device comprises at least one nozzle having an inlet arranged along a side wall of the cargo body for receiving air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet at the rear end for ejecting air underneath a vehicle rear face, an inside of the nozzle comprising at least a lower wall, an upper wall, an inner wall, and an outer wall, wherein from the inlet toward the outlet, the lower wall converges upwardly such that a height between the lower wall and the upper wall decreases and such that an outlet distance between the lower wall and the upper wall at the outlet is less than an inlet distance between the lower wall and the upper wall at the inlet, and the inner wall diverges from the outer wall such that a cross-section of the nozzle at the outlet is greater than the cross-section of the nozzle at the inlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle inlet is located in the vicinity of the nozzle outlet, so that the device can be located on the vehicle frame rearward from an axle of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 An aerodynamic device suitable to be located under a rear end of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, wherein the device comprises a nozzle having an inlet positioned on a lateral external face of the device and capable of canalizing air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face, wherein it further comprises a ridge extending under the nozzle at the lower part of the device, the ridge extending roughly longitudinally and an external side wall thereof converging inwardly rearward, whereby the ridge is arranged to canalize residual air that did not enter the nozzle, and direct it rearward and inwardly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the ridge has an internal side wall diverging outwardly rearward. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, comprising a lower surface which converges upwardly rearward. ### Claim 6 An aerodynamic device suitable to be located under a rear end of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, wherein the device comprises at least one nozzle having an inlet formed in a side wall of the device that is adapted to be arranged substantially flush with a side wall of the cargo body and the nozzle is capable of canalizing air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face, wherein the device forms a substantially parallelepiped block having a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry, the at least one nozzle comprising only two nozzles, each nozzle of the two nozzles being located near a side of the block. ### Claim 7 An aerodynamic device suitable to be located under a rear end of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, wherein the device comprises at least one nozzle having an inlet formed in a side wall of the device that is adapted to be arranged substantially flush with a side wall of the cargo body and the nozzle is capable of canalizing air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face, and a ridge extending under the at least one nozzle at the lower part of the device, the ridge extending roughly longitudinally and an external side wall thereof converging inwardly rearward, whereby the ridge is arranged to canalize residual air that did not enter the at least one nozzle, and direct it rearward and inwardly, wherein the device forms a substantially parallelepiped block having a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry, the at least one nozzle comprising only two nozzles, each nozzle of the two nozzles being located near a side of the block, and wherein two ridges define a central diverging passageway below the device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7, wherein the central passageway comprises substantially longitudinally extending fins projecting downwards. ### Claim 9 A vehicle comprising a frame supported by wheels and a cargo body, wherein the vehicle comprises an aerodynamic device, the device being located under a rear end of the cargo body, rearward from rear wheels of the wheels, the aerodynamic device comprising at least one nozzle having an inlet formed in a side wall of the device, wherein the side wall is adapted to be arranged substantially flush with a side wall of the cargo body and the nozzle is capable of canalizing air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet at the rear end of the nozzle for ejecting air underneath a vehicle rear face, an inside of the nozzle comprising at least a lower wall, an upper wall, an inner wall, an an outer wall, wherein, in a direction from the inlet to the outlet, the inner wall diverges from the outer wall such that a cross-section of the nozzle at the outlet is greater than the cross-section of the nozzle at the inlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle comprises a side panel fastened to the frame, along and outside the wheels, the panel being arranged to form a substantially continuous and smooth surface with the nozzle inner wall. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle further comprises an underride guard extending in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the underride guard being integrated in the aerodynamic device, under the nozzle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, comprises at least one wing extending from a rear edge of the cargo body and substantially located in a plane converging towards a median longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle according to claim 12, comprising at least one side wing extending from a vertical rear edge of the cargo body, the wing extending downwards substantially as far as a nozzle lower wall, in the prolongation of a nozzle outer wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet of the nozzle, the outer wall curves toward the inner wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet of the nozzle, the upper wall converges upwardly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall is substantially horizontal. ### Claim 17 A vehicle comprising: a body having a longitudinal centerline, a side wall and a rear end; and an aerodynamic device comprising at least one nozzle disposed at a non-zero distance from a vertical plane through the longitudinal centerline and having an inlet arranged along the side wall of the body for receiving air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet at the rear end for ejecting air underneath a vehicle rear face an inside of the nozzle comprising at least a lower wall, an upper wall, an inner wall, and an outer wall, the inner wall being, relative to the vertical plane, straight or curved toward the vertical plane, in a direction from the inlet to the outlet, wherein from the inlet toward the outlet, the lower wall converges upwardly such that a height between the lower wall and the upper wall decreases and such that an outlet distance between the lower wall and the upper wall at the outlet is less than an inlet distance between the lower wall and the upper wall at the inlet, and the inner wall diverges from the outer wall such that a cross-section of the nozzle increases from the inlet toward the outlet, and the cross-section of the nozzle at the outlet is greater than the cross-section of the nozzle at the inlet.