Drag reduction fairing for a trailer converter dolly
AssigneeLaydon Composites Ltd.
InventorsBrian P. Layfield, James D. Haws
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A converter dolly is provided for use with a tractor-trailer wherein the converter dolly additionally comprises dolly fairings which are located in front of the wheels of the converter dolly. The dolly fairings are preferably made of fibreglass, and improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the converter dolly, and thus reduce fuel consumption.
Claims9
A converter dolly comprising a support frame, a wheel assembly comprising at least one axle having a first set of at least two wheels, with at least one wheel located on each side of said dolly, a fifth wheel assembly, and a pintle eye for use as a hitching apparatus, and additionally comprising drag reducing, aerodynamic dolly fairings on each side of said converter dolly, which dolly fairings are positioned in front of the wheels on each side of said wheel assembly, and
- wherein each dolly fairing on each side of said converter dolly has a front section of a curved, hollow, frusto-conical section having a base open towards, or around, said at least one wheel on each side of said wheel assembly, an angled inner surface on the inner part of each fairing, a more curved outer surface on the outer part of each fairing, and having a leading edge on said front section which leading edge is located inside of a middle of said fairing in front of the at least one wheel on each side of the dolly, and
- wherein said dolly fairings on each side of said converter dolly are mirror images of each other, and are essentially symmetrical when installed on said converter dolly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.