DEVICE FOR REDUCING VEHICLE AERODYNAMIC RESISTANCE

• US 20060152038A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freight Wing, Inc. (Ridge Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Freight Wing, Inc. (Ridge Corporation)
• Inventors: Graham, Sean C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/180.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/565 on vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance for vehicles having a generally rectangular body disposed above rear wheels, comprising a plurality of load bearing struts attached to the bottom of the rectangular body adjacent its sides, a plurality of opposing flat sheets attached to the load bearing struts, and angled flaps attached to the lower edge of the opposing sheets defining an obtuse angle with the opposing flat sheets extending inwardly with respect to the sides of the rectangular body to a predetermined height above the ground, which, stiffen the opposing flat sheets, bend to resist damage when struck by the ground, and guide airflow around the rear wheels of the vehicle to reduce its aerodynamic resistance when moving.

Claims

1. A device for reducing aerodynamic resistance of a vehicle, having a generally rectangular body with a front, a rear, a bottom, and sides disposed above rear wheels, which positions the rectangular body a predetermined position above a ground surface, the device comprising:

a plurality of load bearing struts of a predetermined size attached to the bottom of the rectangular body adjacent the sides thereof;

a plurality of opposed flat sheets, front opposed flat sheets disposed toward the front of the rectangular body, intermediate opposed flat sheets disposed behind the front opposed flat sheets, and rear opposed flat sheets disposed toward the rear of the rectangular body, each having a top edge disposed adjacent the bottom and side of the rectangular body, a lower edge disposed at a predetermined height above the ground surface and below the bottom of the rectangular body, and fastened to the load bearing struts; and

a plurality of angled flaps fastened adjacent the lower edges of the intermediate opposed flat sheets and rear opposed flat sheets, each angled flap forming an obtuse angle with respect to each attached opposed flat sheet, extending inwardly with respect to the sides of the rectangular body, and extending to a predetermined height above the ground surface;

whereby the intermediate opposed flat sheets and rear opposed flat sheets are stiffened by the angled flaps, which flex toward the generally rectangular body if struck by protrusions on the ground surface to resist damage;

so that airflow is directed around the rear wheels reducing the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle when moving.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the number and length of intermediate opposed flat sheets can be varied to adjust the overall length of the devise to accommodate vehicles of different lengths.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein two opposed flat sheets are attached to each load bearing strut.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the opposed flat sheets overlap the load bearing struts and are attached thereto by the same fastening means.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the overlap of the intermediate opposed flat sheets varies to adjust the length of the devise to accommodate vehicles of different lengths.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top edges of the opposed flat sheets are stiffened.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the top edges of the opposed flat sheets are stiffened by bending the top edges of the opposed flat sheets approximately 90 degrees towards each other.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angled flaps are removably attached to the intermediate opposed flat sheets and rear opposed flat sheets.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front opposed flat sheets have front edges forming an acute angle with respect to the bottom of the rectangular body and rear rectangular portions fastened to the load bearing struts.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein the front edges of the front opposed flat sheets are stiffened.

11. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angled flaps disposed toward the front of the rectangular body have forward edges forming an acute angle with respect to the lower edges of the respective intermediate opposed flat sheets.

12. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rear opposing flat sheets have rear edges forming an acute angle with respect to the bottom of the rectangular body and forward rectangular portions fastened to the load bearing struts.

13. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the load bearing struts are generally triangularly shaped.

14. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the load bearing struts are generally triangularly shaped and are removably attached to the bottom of the rectangular body.

15. A device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the load bearing struts are removably attached to the rectangular body by clamping means comprising a pair of opposing clamping plates that are fastened to each load bearing strut by bolts.

16. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein impact absorbing members extend between adjacent load bearing struts and are fastened thereto to absorb impact in event of a side collision.

17. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein impact absorbing members extend between adjacent load bearing struts and are fastened thereto to absorb impact in event of a side collision.

18. A device as set forth in claim 14, wherein impact absorbing members extend between adjacent load bearing struts and are fastened thereto to absorb impact in event of a side collision.

19. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the opposed flat sheets are attached to the load bearing struts by rivets.

20. A device for reducing aerodynamic resistance of a vehicle, having a generally rectangular body with a front, rear, bottom and opposing sides disposed above rear wheels, which positions the rectangular body a predetermined position above a ground surface, the device comprising:

a plurality of load bearing struts of a predetermined size attached to the bottom of the rectangular body adjacent the sides thereof;

a plurality of opposed flat sheets, front opposed flat sheets disposed adjacent the bottom and sides of the rectangular body and toward the front thereof and having front edges that form an acute angle with respect to the bottom of the rectangular body and rectangular rearward portions fastened to the load bearing struts;

a plurality of rectangular intermediate opposed flat sheets disposed adjacent the bottom and sides of the rectangular body and the front opposed flat sheets and fastened to the load bearing struts;

rear opposed flat sheets disposed adjacent the bottom and sides of the rectangular body and towards the rear thereof and having rear edges forming acute angles with respect to the bottom of the rectangular body and rectangular forward portions fastened to the load bearing struts and adjacent the intermediate opposed flat sheets;

each opposed flat sheet having a top portion disposed adjacent the bottom and sides of the rectangular body bent generally at right angles to form flanges extending toward the opposing flat sheet, a lower edge disposed a predetermined height above the ground surface and below the bottom of the rectangular body, and overlapping adjacent opposed flat sheets attached to common load bearing struts;

a plurality of angled flaps attached to the lower edges of the intermediate opposing flat sheets and rear opposing flat sheets, each angled flap forming an obtuse angle with respect to the attached flat sheet and extending inwardly with respect to the sides of the rectangular body, and extending to a predetermined height above the ground surface;

whereby the opposing flat sheets are stiffened by the angled flaps, which flex toward the bottom of rectangular body, if struck by protrusions on the ground surface to resist damage, and airflow is directed around the rear wheels to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle when moving and the flanges and angled flaps cooperate to stiffen the opposed intermediate flat sheets to prevent wind induced oscillations.