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US 9,809,260 B2Granted
Segmented trailer side skirt fairing
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorJeffrey P. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a vehicle trailer, one or more aerodynamic components are positioned on the trailer. In some examples described herein, the one or more aerodynamic components are in the form of side skirt fairing segments, which are positioned underneath the trailer and forward of the wheel assembles. In use, the one or more side skirt fairing segments improve air flow underneath the trailer and in the vicinity of the wheel assemblies, thereby reducing drag.
Claims18
A vehicle trailer having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a trailer body having a bottom wall;
- rear wheel assemblies disposed below the trailer body;
- and
- two or more side skirt fairing segments spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction in order to allow air to flow therebetween, the two or more side skirt fairing segments being associated with the trailer body and positioned underneath the bottom wall of the trailer body and forward of the rear wheel assemblies,
- wherein each of the two or more side skirt fairing segments includes inner and outer side surfaces, a leading edge, and a trailing edge arranged in the form of an air foil such that the outer side surface and the inner side surface converge at each of the leading edge and the trailing edge, and
- wherein each of the two or more side skirt fairing segments is positioned such that the leading edge and the trailing edge extend vertically underneath the bottom wall of the trailer body and such that a chord line from the leading edge to the trailing edge is at an angle of approximately 1-10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle trailer.
3 more elements
A vehicle trailer having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a trailer body having a bottom wall;
- rear wheel assemblies disposed below the trailer body;
- and
- two or more spaced apart side skirt fairing segments associated with the trailer body and positioned underneath the bottom wall of the trailer body and forward of the rear wheel assemblies, wherein each of the two or more side skirt fairing segments includes inner and outer side surfaces, a leading edge, and a trailing edge;
- wherein the inner and outer side surfaces, the leading edge, and the trailing edge of the two or more side skirt fairing segments are in the form of an air foil,
- wherein the outer side surface includes a pressure surface of the air foil and the inner side surface includes a suction surface of the air foil such that the pressure surface and the suction surface converge at each of the leading edge and the trailing edge, and
- wherein each of the two or more spaced apart side skirt fairing segments is positioned such that the leading edge and the trailing edge extend vertically underneath the bottom wall of the trailer body and such that a chord line from the leading edge to the trailing edge is at an angle of approximately 1-10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle trailer.
4 more elements
A vehicle trailer, comprising:
- a trailer body having a bottom wall, first and second longitudinally extending sides, and an aft section;
- rear wheel assemblies disposed below the aft section of the trailer body;
- a first set of longitudinally, spaced apart side skirt fairing segments associated with the first longitudinally extending side of the trailer body and positioned forward of the rear wheel assemblies, wherein air gaps are between respective longitudinally, spaced apart side skirt fairing segments, and wherein each of the side skirt fairing segments of the first set of spaced apart side skirt fairing segments includes first and second side surfaces, a leading edge, and a trailing edge;
- and
- a second set of longitudinally, spaced apart side skirt fairing segments associated with the second longitudinally extending side of the trailer body and positioned forward the rear wheel assemblies, wherein air gaps are between respective longitudinally, spaced apart side skirt fairing segments, and wherein each of the side skirt fairing segments of the second set of spaced apart side skirt fairing segments includes first and second side surfaces, a leading edge, and a trailing edge;
- wherein, for each of the side skirt fairing segments, the first and second side surfaces, the leading edge, and the trailing edge are in the form of an air foil such that the first side surface and the second side surface converge at each of the leading edge and the trailing edge;
- and
- wherein each of the side skirt fairing segments is positioned such that the leading edge and the trailing edge extend vertically underneath the bottom wall of the trailer body and such that a chord line from the leading edge to the trailing edge is at an angle of approximately 1-10 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle trailer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.