Undercarriage fairings for trailers

#The present invention relates generally to trailers, and includes the type of trailer that is utilized to transport particulate materials.

#Many particulate materials are conveniently transported by truck, although they may also be transported by railcar, barge or by other means. Trucks that are used to transport such materials commonly include a tractor and an attached trailer having a tank or other container mounted thereon. Such trailers may also be loaded on railcars or barges, or a container may be mounted directly on a railcar or barge.

#Frequently, these transport containers are referred to as pneumatic containers because of the pneumatic method, involving gas or air-entrainment, by which they may be loaded and unloaded. Particulate materials that are generally transported in pneumatic containers include agricultural products such as grain, corn kernels, beans, flour, sugar, peanuts and the like, light-weight aggregate products, and intermediate products for various industrial uses such as plastic pellets, powders, coke, lime, silica gel, powdered acid resins, rare earth powders, powdered alumina, and so forth.

#Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor and a pneumatic trailer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic, pictorial representation of a pneumatic container trailer with a gap fairing and an undercarriage fairing installed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;

#The illustrative embodiments provide a system, method, fairings, and components for improving the aerodynamic characteristics of a pneumatic container trailer, and thereby reducing dragging and improving the fuel efficiency of the trailer. Field testing shows that the described embodiments may result in fuel economy improvements as much as seven tenths of a mile per gallon. Other advantages and features of the illustrative embodiments are apparent from an examination of the drawings and the ensuing description.

#The illustrative embodiments provide a first and second fairing (“fairings” or “pair of fairings”) for improving the aerodynamic characteristics of trailers, such as a pneumatic container trailer. A gap fairing is provided for the front end of the pneumatic container trailer and an undercarriage fairing is provided for the wheel assembly. The gap fairing may be utilized to improve the aerodynamics of wind striking and being diverted around the front portion of the pneumatic container trailer. The undercarriage fairing may be placed proximate the wheel assembly with components on both sides of the pneumatic container trailer (just in front of the rear wheels) thereby reducing the drag of the wheel assembly and other portions of the pneumatic container trailer.

#The fairings may be positioned, adjusted, and customized to fit trailers of different types (e.g. Super Jet dry bulk and Super Jet trailers) and produced by different manufacturers (e.g. Heil, J&L Trailers, etc.). For example, during installation the fairings may be bent, trimmed, cut, adjusted, or otherwise modified to fit the selected trailer. A person installing the trailers may need to accommodate gauges, hoses, storage components, hoppers, suspension, or different frame sizes.