Support system for aerodynamic skirt assembly and method of installation thereof
First Claim
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1. A skirt securing connector securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer, the skirt securing connector comprising:
- an upper portion adapted to fixedly secure the skirt securing connector to the trailer and adapted to secure an upper portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel;
a lower portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; and
a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing the rigidity of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration and allowing the strut member to deform to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and returning back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aerodynamic skirt systems are used to reduce air drag of a vehicle. The present aerodynamic skirt system comprises a skirt panel, a plurality of struts, each strut comprising an upper portion for securing an upper portion of the skirt panel to the trailer, a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the strut, a lower portion for securing a lower portion of the skirt panel, the lower portion being connected to the strut member at a second end thereof, the strut member including a concave portion adapted to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration thereof, the strut member being adapted to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to move the aerodynamic skirt in an object avoidance configuration. A kit and a method of use thereof is also presented.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A skirt securing connector securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer, the skirt securing connector comprising:
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an upper portion adapted to fixedly secure the skirt securing connector to the trailer and adapted to secure an upper portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; a lower portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing the rigidity of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration and allowing the strut member to deform to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and returning back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An aerodynamic skirt assembly comprising:
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an aerodynamic skirt panel; a plurality of skirt securing connectors, each skirt securing connector comprising an upper portion adapted to fixedly secure the skirt securing connector to the trailer and adapted to secure an upper portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; a lower portion adapted to secure a lower portion of the aerodynamic skirt panel; and a strut member connected, at a first end thereof, to the upper portion of the skirt securing connector and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector, the strut member including a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end, the strut member including a concave portion extending along the longitudinal axis, the concave portion increasing the rigidity of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt in an aerodynamic configuration and allowing the strut member to deform to buckle and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and returning back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeTranstex, Inc. (Transtex Composite Incorporated)
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Original AssigneeTranstex LLC (Southwestern Energy Company)
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InventorsBoivin, Mathieu, Deir, Walid, Bassily, Georges, Kantharaju, Swaroop Mulenahalli, Tome, Elizabeth, Daoust, Sylvain, Jahromi, Ali Fellah
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Primary Examiner(s)Pape, Joseph D.
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Application NumberUS15/257,571Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,106 DaysField of Search2961804US Class CurrentCPC Class CodesB62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or ...Y02T 10/82 Elements for improving aero...
