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US 8,608,228 B2Granted
Drag-reducing device
OwnerFrank Visentininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing drag on a transport vehicle, which comprises retractable aerodynamic panels for deployment at the rear of the vehicle, behind the cabin, or both. When these panels are deployed, they provide an aerodynamic design, thereby reducing drag and turbulence as the vehicle travels, for example, down a highway, which in turn, reduces energy costs associated with transportation. When not in use, the panels retract adjacent to the planar surfaces of the vehicle (for example, the sides, top and bottom surfaces). The retracted panels are housed either on the outside surface of the vehicle; the inside surface of the vehicle, or within the walls of the vehicle. The retracted position of the panels allows for easy unloading of cargo from the rear of the vehicle when it is docked.
Claims17
An apparatus for reducing drag on a transport vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a) aerodynamic panels for deployment in a direction opposite of travel of the transport vehicle comprising:
- a first set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a left side of the transport vehicle;
- a second set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a right side of the transport vehicle;
- and a third set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a top side of the transport vehicle, with:
- i. each aerodynamic panel sliding in a plane parallel to an adjacent side of the transport vehicle between a retracted position and a deployed position;
- and
- ii. the aerodynamic panels shaped and dimensioned to assemble into a continuous aerodynamic structure upon full deployment;
- b) a first housing located adjacent the left side of the transport vehicle for receiving the first set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- a second housing located adjacent the right side of the transport vehicle for receiving the second set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- and a third housing located adjacent the top side of the transport vehicle for receiving the third set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- c) guide means connecting each housing to the corresponding set of one or more aerodynamic panels, for guiding each set of one or more aerodynamic panels between the retracted position and the deployed position;
- d) interconnecting means between the aerodynamic panels for providing coordinated deployment and retraction thereof;
- and
- e) activation means for deployment and retraction of the aerodynamic panels;
- wherein during deployment, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels assemble to provide the continuous aerodynamic structure;
- and during retraction, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels separate in a coordinated manner.
13 more elements
An apparatus for reducing drag at the rear of a moving transport vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- aerodynamic panels for deployment in a direction opposite of travel of the transport vehicle comprising a first set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a left side of the transport vehicle;
- a second set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a right side of the transport vehicle;
- and a third set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a top side of the transport vehicle, with:
- i. each aerodynamic panel sliding in a plane parallel to an adjacent side of the transport vehicle between a retracted position and a deployed position;
- and
- ii. the aerodynamic panels shaped and dimensioned to assemble into a continuous aerodynamic structure upon full deployment;
- b) a first housing located adjacent the left side of the transport vehicle for receiving the first set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- a second housing located adjacent the right side of the transport vehicle for receiving the second set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- and a third housing located adjacent the top side of the transport vehicle for receiving the third set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- c) guide means connecting each housing to the corresponding set of one or more aerodynamic panels, for guiding each set of one or more aerodynamic panels between the retracted position and the deployed position;
- d) interconnecting means between the aerodynamic panels for providing coordinated deployment and retraction thereof;
- and
- e) activation means for deployment and retraction of the aerodynamic panels;
- wherein during deployment, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels assemble to provide the continuous aerodynamic structure;
- and during retraction, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels separate in a coordinated manner.
12 more elements
An apparatus for reducing drag behind a cabin of a transport vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a) aerodynamic panels for deployment in a direction opposite of travel of the transport vehicle comprising:
- a first set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a left side of the transport vehicle;
- a second set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a right side of the transport vehicle;
- and a third set of one or more aerodynamic panels adjacent a top side of the transport vehicle, with:
- i. each aerodynamic panel sliding in a plane parallel to an adjacent side of the transport vehicle between a retracted position and a deployed position;
- and
- ii. the aerodynamic panels shaped and dimensioned to assemble into a continuous aerodynamic structure upon full deployment;
- b) a first housing located adjacent the left side of the cabin for receiving the first set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- a second housing located adjacent the right side of the cabin for receiving the second set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- and a third housing located adjacent the top side of the cabin for receiving the third set of one or more aerodynamic panels in the retracted position;
- c) guide means connecting each housing to the corresponding set of one or more aerodynamic panels, for guiding each set of one or more aerodynamic panels between the retracted position and the deployed position;
- d) interconnecting means between the aerodynamic panels for providing coordinated deployment and retraction thereof;
- and
- e) activation means for deployment and retraction of the aerodynamic panels;
- wherein during deployment, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels assemble to provide the continuous aerodynamic structure;
- and during retraction, the first, second and third sets of one or more aerodynamic panels separate in a coordinated manner.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.