VEHICLE FAIRING STRUCTURE

• US 20090230726A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Composites North America Limited
• Original Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Inventors: Reiman, James, Heppel, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,837,254 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

Abstract

A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, a first side surface adapted to be attached to a first side of the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface, and a second side surface adapted to be attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface. Each of the top and first and second side surfaces has a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle, as well as a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge. The proximal edges of the top and side surfaces attach to the leading top and side edges, respectively, of the front surface of the trailer box, so that an approximately uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to top and sides of the rear vehicular component. The area bounded by the distal edges of the surfaces is smaller than an area bounded by the proximal edges. The top side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface are made of a resilient material in the regions distal from the regions where the first side surface joins the top side surface, and where the second side surface joins the top side surface, the top side surface including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surface, and the first and second side surfaces including a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface.

Claims

1. A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising:

a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component;

a first side surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

a second side surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

each of the top and first and second side surfaces having a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle;

each of the top and first and second side surfaces having a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge;

wherein the proximal edges of the top and side surfaces attach to the leading top and side edges, respectively, of the front surface of the trailer box, so that an approximately uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to top and sides of the rear vehicular component;

wherein an area bounded by the distal edges of the surfaces is smaller than an area bounded by the proximal edges; and

wherein the top side surface, the first side surface and the second side surface are made of a resilient material in the regions distal from the regions where the first side surface joins the top side surface, and where the second side surface joins the top side surface.

2. A fairing structure as in claim 1, wherein the top side surface comprises a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surfaces.

3. A fairing structure as in claim 2, wherein the first and second side surfaces comprise a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface.

4. A fairing structure as in claim 1, wherein the first and second side surfaces comprise a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface.

5. A fairing structure as in claim 4, wherein the top side surface comprises a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surfaces.

9. The fairing structure of claim 1, further including an access door in each of the first and second side surfaces.

6. A fairing structure for a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising:

a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component;

a first side surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

a second side surface adapted to be attached to the rear vehicular component, joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

each of the top and first and second side surfaces having a proximal edge adapted to be positioned adjacent a vehicle;

each of the top and first and second side surfaces having a distal edge adapted to be positioned away from the vehicle with respect to the respective proximal edge;

wherein the proximal edges of the top and side surfaces attach to the leading top and side edges, respectively, of the front surface of the trailer box, so that an approximately uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to top and sides of the rear vehicular component;

wherein an area bounded by the distal edges of the surfaces is smaller than an area bounded by the proximal edges; and

wherein the first and second side surfaces are adapted to be hingedly mounted to the rear vehicle component to permit such surfaces to bend away upon contact with the front vehicular component.

7. A fairing structure as in claim 6, wherein the top side surface comprises a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the first and second side surfaces.

8. A fairing structure as in claim 7, wherein the first and second side surfaces comprise a heat and fire resistant material in the regions proximate to the top side surface.

10. The fairing structure of claim 6, further including an access door in each of the first and second side surfaces.