Vehicle drag reduction device
First Claim
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1. An aerodynamic device for attachment to a fairing of a vehicle, comprising:
- a device body having an upright leg and a cross leg arranged so as to form an inverted T in cross section, wherein the cross leg of the inverted T is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the upright leg is adapted to be connected to a bottom of the fairing.
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Abstract
An aerodynamic component is provided in the form of one or more ground skirt sections attached to one or more underbody fairings (e.g., trailer side skirts, tractor side fairings, etc.) of a vehicle. In use, the ground effects skirt sections improve air flow underneath the vehicle, thereby reducing drag.
37 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An aerodynamic device for attachment to a fairing of a vehicle, comprising:
a device body having an upright leg and a cross leg arranged so as to form an inverted T in cross section, wherein the cross leg of the inverted T is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the upright leg is adapted to be connected to a bottom of the fairing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fairing assembly for reducing drag on an associated vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle fairing having a free end; and a skirt section coupled to the free end of the vehicle fairing, wherein the skirt section is configured as a generally inverted T in cross section, wherein a cross leg of the inverted T is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A fairing assembly for reducing drag on an associated vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle fairing having a free end; and a skirt section coupled to the free end of the vehicle fairing, wherein the skirt section is configured as a generally inverted T in cross section, wherein a cross leg of the inverted T includes an outer leg segment and an inner leg segment that are oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the skirt section is configured to flex between a stagnation position, wherein the cross leg is positioned generally parallel with the ground surface, and an air flow position, wherein the cross leg is tilted downwardly such that the outer leg segment is closer to the ground surface than the inner leg segment.
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Specification