Vehicle fairing structure

• US 7,604,284 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Composites North America Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Aerofficient, LLC
• Inventors: Reiman, James, Heppel, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/684,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.1, 296/180.2, 296/180.4, 296/181.5, 296/186.1, 180/903, 105/1.1
• US Class Current: 296/180.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Abstract

A vehicle fairing structure has a top fairing surface adapted to be attached to a trailer box, and first and second side fairing surfaces adapted to be attached to the sides of the trailer box, in the gap between a tractor cab and a trailer box in a tractor-trailer combination. The fairing structure directs air flow away from the gap, and is positioned in the gap to lessen aerodynamic drag, thereby reducing fuel consumption.

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 a first side of the rear vehicular component, the first side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the first side of the rear vehicle component, and joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

a second side surface adapted to be attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, the second side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the second side of the rear vehicle component, and 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 rear vehicle component so that an 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 distal and proximal edges of the surfaces are positioned relative to each other such that the fairing structure, when positioned adjacent the rear vehicular component of the vehicle in the gap between said rear vehicular component and the front vehicular component of the vehicle impedes outward transverse and vertical flow in the gap, thus creating a region of increased pressure which effectively fills and thereby closes the gap.

2. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first and second side surfaces is curved so that the distal edges of the horizontal and first and second side surfaces form a continuous line in a substantially vertical plane;

and wherein

the proximal edges of the top and first and second side surfaces form a continuous line in a single plane.

3. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 1, wherein

the distal edge of the top surface is below the top surface of the front vehicular component.

4. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 3, wherein the front vehicular component is a tractor cab having a front profile, and the area bounded by the distal edges of the horizontal and first and second vertical surfaces is inboard of the tractor cab front profile.

5. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 1, wherein the distal edges bound an area positioned completely within a volume bounded by a shear layer formed in the gap when the vehicle is in motion.

6. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 1, adapted to be positioned in the gap between a tractor and a trailer in a tractor-trailer combination, wherein

the top and first and second side surfaces are curved so that the distal edges bound an area inboard of the top and sides of the trailer box and inboard of a profile made by the tractor cab, viewed head-on.

7. The vehicle fairing structure according to claim 1, further comprising horizontal and first and second vertical support walls having respective first edges joining the distal edges of the top and first and second side surfaces and opposed edges attaching to a surface of the vehicle.

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

a rear vehicular component;

a top fairing surface attached to the rear vehicular component;

a first side surface attached to a first side of the rear vehicular component, the first side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the first side of the rear vehicle component, and joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

a second side surface attached to a second side of the rear vehicular component, the second side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the second side of the rear vehicle component, and 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 vertical surfaces having a distal edge positioned away from the rear vehicular component with respect to the respective proximal edge;

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

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 rear vehicle component, so that an uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to the top and sides of the rear vehicular component; and

wherein

the distal and proximal edges of the surfaces are positioned relative to each other such that when the rear vehicular component is operated in tandem with the front vehicular component, the fairing structure is positioned in the gap between said rear vehicular component and the front vehicular component and impedes outward transverse and vertical flow in the gap, thus creating a region of increased pressure which effectively fills and thereby closes the gap.

9. A tractor-trailer compound vehicle comprising

a front tractor cab;

a rear trailer box, separated from the front tractor cab by a gap; and

a fairing structure on the front end of the rear trailer, said fairing structure comprising

a top surface having a proximal edge attached at a top front edge of the trailer box;

a first side surface joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface, the first side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the first side of the trailer box, and having a proximal edge attached at a first side front edge of the trailer box;

a second side surface joining a second end of the top surface opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface, the second side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the second side of the trailer box, and having a proximal edge attached at a second side front edge of the trailer box;

such that the fairing structure forms a continuous surface at the edge of the rear vehicular component and such that

each of said top and first and second side surfaces having a respective distal edge opposite the proximal edges, wherein said distal edges are inboard of the top and sides of the trailer box, and positioned generally inside the volume bounded by the shear layer of the cab;

the distal and proximal edges of the surfaces are positioned relative to each other such that the fairing structure, when positioned adjacent the trailer box of the tractor-trailer compound vehicle in the gap between said trailer box and the front tractor cab impedes outward transverse and vertical flow in the gap, thus creating a region of increased pressure which effectively fills and thereby closes the gap.

10. A process for manufacturing a rear vehicle component of a vehicle having a front vehicular component and a rear vehicular component in tandem and separated by a gap, comprising:

positioning a top fairing surface adjacent to a forward upper end of the rear vehicle component;

positioning a proximal edge of a first side surface adjacent to a first side of the rear vehicular component, the first side surface the first side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the first side of the rear vehicle component, and joining a first end of the top surface and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

positioning a proximal edge of a second side surface adjacent to a second side of the rear vehicular component, the second side surface the second side surface being approximately equidistant in length to the second side of the rear vehicle component, and joining a second end of the top surface and being opposite the first end and generally perpendicular to the top surface;

each of the top and first and second vertical surfaces having a distal edge positioned away from the rear vehicle component with respect to the respective proximal edge;

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

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 rear vehicle component, so that an uninterrupted surface is formed from the fairing structure to the top and sides of the rear vehicular component; and

wherein the distal and proximal edges of the surfaces are positioned relative to each other such that the fairing structure, during operation of the vehicle, impedes outward transverse and vertical flow in the gap between said rear vehicular component and the front vehicular component of the vehicle, thus creating a region of increased pressure which effectively fills and thereby closes the gap.