Trailer drag reduction system

• US 6,685,256 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl L. Shermer
• Original Assignee: Carl L. Shermer
• Inventors: Shermer, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KIRAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/324,258
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.4, 296/180.3, 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/91, 296/181, 296/180.5, 296/208, 105/1.2, 280/204, 280/851, 244/130, 244/3.3, 180/89.1, 180/68.1, 180/229, 165/44
• US Class Current: 296/180.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/108 for load transporting vehicles or public transport, e.g. lorries, trucks, buses
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A system for reducing the drag on a trailer comprises a series of air ducts mounted beneath the trailer which each have an intake located beneath the trailer. The duct is connected to a plurality of vertical pipes, each having vertically-spaced pipes air discharge holes. Movement of the trailer forces air to flow into the inlet, through the ducts and out the outlets. Preferably, the duct inlets face the front and the side of the trailer, and the ducting forces all inlet air into a common plenum, through a venturi and out through a series if outlets spaced about the rear surface of the trailer. A vortex generator may be used and a spoiler is fitted. The entire system is designed to be retrofitted to existing trailers without loss of cargo space.

Claims

1. A system for reducing the drag on a trailer having rear doors that provide a substantially flat rear surface, comprising a series of air ducts mounted beneath the trailer and each having an intake located beneath the trailer, laterally-spaced vertical pipes mounted on the doors, a plurality of outlet ports vertically spaced along to pipes, said outlet ports being sized to discharge approximately the same volume of air, and a manifold extending along the bottom of the trailer below the doors, said manifold receiving air from the intakes and distributing it to the vertical pipes, whereby movement of the trailer forces air to flow into the inlet, through the ducts and out the outlets.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ducts all interconnect between the inlets and outlets to force the inlet air into a common transit duct, said transit duct incorporating a venturi.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet ports are graduated in size, from the smallest at the bottom to the largest at the top of each pipe.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is configured to attach to any conventional trailer, with the ducting being attachable beneath the trailer and the pipes being attached to the rear doors of the trailer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is provided as original equipment for an otherwise conventional trailer, with the pipes being formed integrady with the rear doors of the trailer.