Aerodynamic drag reduction apparatus for gap-divided bluff bodies such as tractor-trailers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a bluff-bodied vehicle in a flowstream, the bluff-bodied vehicle of a type having a leading portion and a trailing portion connected to the leading portion with a gap therebetween defining a recirculation zone, comprising:
- a baffle assembly adapted to span a width of the gap between the leading and trailing portions so as to impede cross-flow through the gap, the baffle assembly comprising a first vertical panel adapted to be mounted to the leading portion and a second vertical panel adapted to be mounted to the trailing portion, so that said first and second vertical panels are parallel to each other with overlapping planar sections capable of sliding in parallel relative to each other for automatically adjusting the span of the baffle assembly for variations in the gap width when the leading and trailing portions pivot relative to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a bluff-bodied vehicle such as a tractor-trailer in a flowstream, the bluff-bodied vehicle of a type having a leading portion, a trailing portion connected to the leading portion, and a gap between the leading and trailing portions defining a recirculation zone. The apparatus is preferably a baffle assembly, such as a vertical panel, adapted to span a width of the gap between the leading and trailing portions so as to impede cross-flow through the gap, with the span of the baffle assembly automatically adjusting for variations in the gap width when the leading and trailing portions pivot relative to each other.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a bluff-bodied vehicle in a flowstream, the bluff-bodied vehicle of a type having a leading portion and a trailing portion connected to the leading portion with a gap therebetween defining a recirculation zone, comprising:
a baffle assembly adapted to span a width of the gap between the leading and trailing portions so as to impede cross-flow through the gap, the baffle assembly comprising a first vertical panel adapted to be mounted to the leading portion and a second vertical panel adapted to be mounted to the trailing portion, so that said first and second vertical panels are parallel to each other with overlapping planar sections capable of sliding in parallel relative to each other for automatically adjusting the span of the baffle assembly for variations in the gap width when the leading and trailing portions pivot relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An aerodynamic bluff-bodied vehicle comprising:
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a leading portion; a trailing portion connected to the leading portion with a gap therebetween defining a recirculation zone; and a baffle assembly spanning a width of the gap between the leading and trailing portions to impede cross-flow through the gap, the baffle assembly comprising a first vertical panel mounted to the leading portion and a second vertical panel mounted to the trailing portion, said first and second vertical panels are parallel to each other with overlapping planar sections capable of sliding in parallel relative to each other for automatically adjusting the span of the baffle assembly for variations in the gap width when the leading and trailing portions pivot relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification