Mini skirt aerodynamic fairing device for reducing the aerodynamic drag of ground vehicles

• US 7,497,502 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solus Solutions and Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Solus Solutions and Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/811,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20080093887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/180.3, 296/180.4, 296/180.5
• US Class Current: 296/180.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A device for the reduction of aerodynamic drag and for improved performance and stability of ground vehicles by reducing the mass and velocity of the flow passing under a vehicle is described. The device is particularly suited for a tractor-trailer truck system that includes a motorized lead vehicle pulling one or more non-motorized vehicles. The device is designed to control the flow from entering the undercarriage region from the side of a trailer of a tractor-trailer truck system.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic device for reducing drag on a ground vehicle, comprising:

a first pair of rigid panels attached to the left side of the bottom surface of the vehicle and extending downward from the vehicle, including an outer panel substantially coplanar with the left surface of the vehicle and an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel and separated from the outer panel by a horizontal distance;

a second pair of rigid panels attached to the right side of the bottom surface of the vehicle and extending downward from the vehicle, including an outer panel substantially coplanar with the right surface of the vehicle and an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel and separated from the outer panel by a horizontal distance;

wherein the first and second pairs of rigid panels are configured with each panel extending downward from the vehicle a desired vertical distance and having a lower edge that is aerodynamically sharp; and

wherein each of the horizontal and vertical distances are configured so as to form a first and second inverted U-shaped channel open to the downward direction, with the panels configured to generate a vortex within the channel when the ground vehicle is in motion, wherein the vortex has an axis of rotation aligned with the direction of motion of the ground vehicle.

2. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the panels on the left or right side of the vehicle is comprised of multiple longitudinal segments.

3. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein each panel extends downward from the vehicle a distance of less than about 90% of the distance from the bottom surface of the vehicle to the surface that the vehicle is moving over.

4. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein each panel of at least one of the first pair or second pair extends downward a substantially equal distance from the bottom surface of the vehicle.

5. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one panel extends downward a distance that varies along its length.

6. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels are integrally connected to each other by a horizontal panel.

7. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is an integral extension of the side surface of the vehicle.

8. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels further comprises a horizontal panel located between the outer and inner panels and that is separate from the pair of panels.

9. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one panel has a swept leading edge.

10. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is connected to the vehicle such that the panels may be folded so as to be substantially adjacent and proximate the bottom surface of the vehicle when not in use.

11. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is slidably connected to the vehicle such that the panels slide longitudinally along the vehicle.

12. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein the distance between at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is adjustable.

13. The aerodynamic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels further comprises one or more additional panels inboard of the pair of panels.

14. An aerodynamic device for reducing drag on a ground vehicle comprising:

a first pair of rigid panels comprised of one or more longitudinal segments attached to the left side of the bottom surface of the vehicle and extending downward from the vehicle, including an outer panel substantially coplanar with the left surface of the vehicle, an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel, and a horizontal panel between the outer and inner panels with the horizontal panel separating the outer and inner panels by a horizontal distance;

a second pair of rigid panels comprised of one or more longitudinal segments attached to the right side of the bottom surface of the vehicle and extending downward from the vehicle, including an outer panel substantially coplanar with the left surface of the vehicle, an inner panel located inboard of the outer panel, and a horizontal panel between the outer and inner panels with the horizontal panel separating the outer and inner panels by a horizontal distance; and

wherein the first and second pairs of rigid panels are configured with each panel extending downward from the vehicle a vertical distance and with each horizontal distance so as to form a first and second channel open to the downward direction with the panels configured to generate a vortex within the channel when the ground vehicle is in motion, wherein the vortex has an axis of rotation aligned with the direction of motion of the ground vehicle.

15. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein each panel extends downward from the vehicle a distance of less than about 90% of the distance from the bottom surface of the vehicle to the surface that the vehicle is moving over.

16. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein each panel of at least one of the first pair or second pair extends downward a substantially equal distance from the bottom surface of the vehicle.

17. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein at least one panel extends downward a distance that varies along its length.

18. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels are integrally connected to each other by a horizontal panel.

19. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is connected to the vehicle such that the panels may be folded so as to be substantially adjacent and proximate the bottom surface of the vehicle when not in use.

20. The aerodynamic device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second pairs of panels is slidably connected to the vehicle such that the panels slide longitudinally along the vehicle.