Rear-mounted aerodynamic structure for truck cargo bodies

• US 8,708,399 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stemco Products, Inc. (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Transit Dynamics Incorporated (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew F., Horrell, Charles M., Grossmann, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US13/752,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130175824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 296/180.4, 296/180.5, 296/181.5
• US Class Current: 296/180.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/001 For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/004 Inflatable nose or rear cones
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/007 Rear spoilers B62D35/001 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention provides a foldable/retractable and unfoldable/deployable, rearwardly tapered assembly for vehicle bodies that accommodate dual swing-out doors. The aerodynamic assembly includes a right half and a left half mounted on respective doors. Each half is constructed with a series of panels that form half of a tapered box when deployed on the rear of the vehicle, the bottom panels and top panels being sealed together at a pair of weather seals along the centerline. The panels are joined by hinges and the top and bottom panels form two sections along diagonal lines to facilitate folding of all panels in a low-profile stacked orientation. A swing arm assembly and gas spring biases the panels into a deployed position that can be refolded. The top and bottom panels are partly inwardly folded when deployed to define external valleys using a stop assembly that prevents the panels from “locking up”.

Claims

1. An aerodynamic structure for a cargo body comprising:

a side panel hingedly mounted on a door of the cargo body;

an upper panel hingedly mounted on the door of the cargo body that, together with the side panel, defines an internal cavity when the aerodynamic structure is in a deployed position, the upper panel including a diagonal hinge line that defines a first foldable section and a second foldable section, the upper panel being directly hingedly connected to the side panel;

wherein the upper panel and the side panel are constructed and arranged to automatically collapse into a folded position when the door is opened and moved toward an outer side of the cargo body and the side panel engages the outer side of the cargo body, causing the aerodynamic structure to collapse automatically; and

a linkage assembly mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel, the linkage assembly being secured at a first end to the upper panel and at a second end to the door, so as to provide rigidity for the upper panel, the linkage assembly biasing the upper panel open when the aerodynamic structure is in the deployed position, and the biasing of the upper panel is overcome when the side panel engages the outer side of the cargo body.

2. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the upper panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position such that, in the folded position, the linkage assembly confronts the door with the side panel overlying the upper panel.

3. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the side panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the side panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position such that, in the folded position, the linkage assembly confronts the door with the side panel overlying the upper panel.

4. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel and the side panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the upper panel and the side panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position such that, in the folded position, the linkage assembly confronts the door with the side panel overlying the upper panel.

5. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly is interconnected between the upper panel and the side panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the upper panel and the side panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position, such that, in the folded position, the linkage assembly confronts the door with the side panel overlying the upper panel.

6. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper panel and the side panel are constructed of a material that biases the aerodynamic structure into the deployed position and is foldable into the folded position.

7. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 6 further comprising stiffener members that assist in maintaining the aerodynamic structure in the deployed position.

8. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly includes a biasing member to bias at least one of the upper panel and the side panel into the deployed position.

9. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the biasing member comprises a gas spring.

10. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the biasing member is constructed and arranged to provide automatic deployment of the aerodynamic structure when a latch is manually or automatically released.

11. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a lower panel that includes a diagonal hinge line thereon that defines a first foldable section and a second foldable section.

12. An aerodynamic structure for a cargo body comprising:

an upper panel hingedly mounted on a door of the cargo body;

a side panel hingedly mounted on the door of the cargo body that, together with the upper panel, defines an internal cavity when the aerodynamic structure is in a deployed position, and in which the aerodynamic structure lies flat against the door when in a folded position to allow the door to be opened, the upper panel being directly hingedly connected to the side panel;

wherein the upper panel and the side panel are constructed and arranged to automatically collapse when the side panel engages an outer side of the cargo body as the door is opened and moved toward the outer side of the cargo body; and

a linkage assembly mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel, the linkage assembly being secured at a first end to the upper panel and at a second end to the door, so as to provide rigidity for the upper panel, the linkage assembly biasing the upper panel open when the aerodynamic structure is in the deployed position, and the biasing of the upper panel is overcome when the side panel engages the outer side of the cargo body.

13. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the upper panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position.

14. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the side panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the side panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position.

15. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the linkage assembly is mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel and the side panel so that movement of the linkage assembly causes the upper panel and the side panel to move between the deployed position and the folded position.

16. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 12 wherein the linkage assembly includes a biasing member that exerts a biasing force to maintain the aerodynamic assembly in a deployed position, the biasing force of the biasing member being overcome by rotating the side panel toward the door surface to induce the assembly to automatically collapse as the side panel engages the outer side of the cargo body.

17. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a lower panel that includes a diagonal hinge line thereon that defines a first foldable section and a second foldable section.

18. An aerodynamic structure for a cargo body comprising:

hingedly mounted on a door of the cargo body, a side panel and an upper panel that together define an internal cavity when in a deployed position and automatically deploy to the deployed position and automatically collapse to a folded position, the upper panel being directly hingedly connected to the side panel; and

a linkage assembly mounted on the door and interconnected to the upper panel, the linkage assembly being secured at a first end to the upper panel and at a second end to the door, so as to provide rigidity for the upper panel, the linkage assembly biasing the upper panel open when the aerodynamic structure is in the deployed position, and the biasing of the upper panel is overcome when the side panel engages the outer side of the cargo body;

wherein the upper panel and the side panel are constructed and arranged to automatically collapse when the side panel engages an outer side of the cargo body as the door is opened and moved toward the outer side of the cargo body;

wherein the upper panel and the side panel are constructed and arranged to automatically deploy when the side panel is in non-engagement with the outer side of the cargo body as the door is moved away from the outer side of the cargo body.

19. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 18 wherein the linkage assembly includes a biasing member to bias at least one of the upper panel and the side panel into the deployed position.

20. The aerodynamic structure as set forth in claim 18 wherein the biasing member is constructed and arranged to provide automatic deployment of the aerodynamic structure when a latch is manually or automatically released.