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Aerodynamic drag reduction apparatus for gap-divided bluff bodies such as tractor-trailers

  • US 7,073,845 B2
  • Filed: 02/24/2004
  • Issued: 07/11/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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.

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