VEHICLE SIDE FAIRING SYSTEM

• US 20090212596A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Inventors: Gilbert, Kenneth, Reiman, James, Heppel, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/180.400
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/008 Side spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel slidably mounted to the first fairing panel. The second fairing panel is releasably secured to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

Claims

1. A side fairing mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable wheel set, the trailer when placed on a road surface defining a spatial gap forward of the wheel set between the bottom of the trailer and the road surface;

a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to such gap;

a second fairing panel fore and aft slidably mounted to the first fairing panel;

the second fairing panel being releasably secured to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

3. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 1, further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of the second fairing panel.

4. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 3, wherein at least one of the first fairing panel and the second fairing panel is made of a material having a low affinity for material adherence.

5. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 4, wherein the front fairing panel includes a bi-fold access door.

2. A side fairing mounted on a trailer, comprising:

a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable wheel set, the trailer when placed on a road surface defining a spatial gap forward of the wheel set between the bottom of the trailer and the road surface;

a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to such gap;

a second fairing panel fore and aft slidably mounted to the first fairing panel;

the second fairing panel being releasably secured to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set; and

a mechanical fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with or without an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

6. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 2, further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of the second fairing panel.

7. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first fairing panel and the second fairing panel is made of a material having a low affinity for material adherence.

8. The side fairing mounted on a trailer as in claim 7, wherein the front fairing panel includes a bi-fold access door.