Strut portion with buckling capability for aerodynamic skirt
First Claim
1. A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising:
- an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer;
a lower attachment 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 assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, 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 an inertia moment 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 in a buckled configuration and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold of the strut member is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and moving back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold of the strut member is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer is provided, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer, a lower attachment 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 assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, 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 an inertia moment of the strut member to sustain a force applied by air routing on the aerodynamic skirt.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A skirt securing connector assembly for securing an aerodynamic skirt panel to a trailer, the skirt securing connector assembly comprising:
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an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer; a lower attachment 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 assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, 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 an inertia moment 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 in a buckled configuration and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold of the strut member is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and moving back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold of the strut member 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 assemblies, each skirt securing connector assembly comprising an upper attachment portion adapted to secure the skirt securing connector assembly to the trailer; a lower attachment 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 assembly and connected, at a second end thereof, to the lower portion of the skirt securing connector assembly, 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 an inertia moment 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 in a buckled configuration and bend when a force exceeding a buckling threshold of the strut member is applied on the aerodynamic skirt to momentarily move the aerodynamic skirt from the aerodynamic configuration to an object avoidance configuration and moving back by itself to the aerodynamic configuration when the force exceeding the buckling threshold of the strut member is not applied on the aerodynamic skirt. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification