Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
  • B62D35/001—For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans

Definitions

• This application pertains to a trailer fairing for improving fuel economy in long distance haulage of trail ⁇ ers.
• the fairing which has at least two longitudinally disposed sections, hingedly attaches beneath the trailer's lower, outer longitudinal edges.
• the rearward section can be longitudinally adjusted to maintain it in close proxim ⁇ ity to the trailer wheel assembly.
• the hinge allows pivotal displacement of each fairing section between lowered and raised positions.
• This invention overcomes the foregoing problems by providing a fairing which can quickly and easily be moved between a lowered long distance haulage position and a raised manoeuvring/maintenance position.
• a fairing which can quickly and easily be moved between a lowered long distance haulage position and a raised manoeuvring/maintenance position.
• the fairing auto ⁇ matically repositions longitudinally whenever the trailer wheel assembly is repositioned, thus maintaining a minimal gap between the fairing and the wheel assembly.
• the invention provides a fairing which can be attached beneath the trailer's lower, outer longitudinal edge.
• the fairing has longitudinally extending forward and rearward sections.
• the rearward section can be moved longitudinally to adjust ⁇ ably locate its rearward edge in a selected position for ⁇ ward of and in close proximity to the trailer's wheel assembly.
• Such adjustable positioning occurs automatically if the rearward section is coupled to and longitudinally movable with the support frame for the trailer's wheel assembly, thus maintaining the rearward edge of the fair ⁇ ing's rearward section in the selected position whenever the trailer's wheel assembly is longitudinally adjusted relative to the trailer.
• a hinge mechanism coupled between the trailer and the fairing allows pivotal displacement of each fairing section between a lowered position and a raised position.
• the lowered position is for long distance haulage of the trailer in order to achieve fuel economy.
• the raised position is for situations in which the trailer must be manoeuvred over ramps, uneven terrain, etc. which might contact the underside of or otherwise interfere with the fairing.
• Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a tractor unit hauling a main trailer and a pup trailer, both trailers having fairings in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a tractor unit hauling a single trailer having a fairing in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 3 is a partially fragmented top plan view of the Figure 2 fairing.
• Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the Figure 3 assembly.
• Figure 5 is a section view taken with respect to line 5-5 of Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a section view taken with respect to line 6-6 of Figure 2.
• Figure 7 is an enlarged illustration of the lower portion of the Figure 5 assembly.
• Figure 8 is a pictorial illustration of a hinge for pivotally attaching a fairing section to a trailer in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 9 is a top plan view of the forward portion of the Figure 2 fairing and shows a portion of the trailer landing gear.
• Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the Figure 9 assembly.
• Figure 11 is a front elevation view of the Figure 9 assembly.
• Figure 1 shows a main trailer 10 coupled to tractor unit 12 via fifth wheel assembly 14, and a pup trailer 16 coupled to main trailer 10 via coupling 18.
• Fifth wheel assembly 14 is longitudinally adjustable relative to rear wheel assembly 20 of tractor unit 12 to achieve proper for ⁇ ward load distribution by longitudinally repositioning the forward end of trailer 10 relative to wheel assembly 20.
• Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1, but shows only a main trailer 10 coupled to tractor unit 12.
• Wheel assembly 22 is longitudinally adjustable beneath the rear end of trail ⁇ er 10 between the positions shown in dashed and solid out- line in Figure 2, as indicated by arrow 23. This enables proper rearward load distribution by repositioning the rearward end of trailer 10 relative to wheel assembly 22.
• Fairings 24 having a rearward air deflector section 26 and one or more forward air deflector sections 28, 29 are mounted beneath the lower, outer longitudinal edges 30 of trailers 10, 16. In practice, two fairings are provided, one on either side of each trailer. Fairings 24 can be raised or lowered as hereinafter explained; and, fairing rearward section 26 can be longitudinally repositioned relative to fairing forward sections 28, 29 to accommodate longitudinal repositioning of wheel assembly 22 or to accommodate pup trailers having different wheelbases.
• fairing forward section 28 is generally "C" shaped in cross-section. This allows the upper and lower portions of forward section 28 to act as channels which receive and guide longitudinally slidable movement of rearward section 26 during longitudinal re ⁇ positioning thereof.
• a protective splash guard panel 33 may be releasably attached over the inward, open portion of forward section 28 to prevent debris, etc. from accumulat ⁇ ing within the channel portions of forward section 28 and thereby impeding smooth sliding movement of rearward section 26 with respect to forward section 28.
• Fairing sections 26, 28, 29 can be made of a poly- ethylene plastic material filled with polyurethane foam, as depicted in Figure 7 for section 26.
• the outer polyethy ⁇ lene sheath provides high impact resistance and resists shape distortion over a wide temperature range.
• the poly ⁇ urethane filler improves structural integrity.
• Hinges 32 ( Figures 6, 7 and 8) connect fairings 24 to trailers 10, 16 to permit movement of fairings 24 between raised and lowered positions.
• the lowered position (shown in solid outline in Figures 1, 2 and 6) is used for long distance haulage of trailers 10, 16 in order to achieve fuel economy.
• the raised position (shown in dashed outline in Figures l, 2 and 6 and denoted by appending the letter 'A' to reference numerals applied to raised parts) is used in situations where trailers 10, 16 must be manoeuvred over ramps, uneven terrain, etc. which might contact the under ⁇ side of or otherwise interfere with fairings 24; or, to allow access beneath the trailers for inspection or main- tenance procedures.
• Fairings 24 are of sufficient height to extend vertically, when in their lowered position, from the trailer's lower edge 30 to about thirteen inches above the road surface.
• fairing rearward section 26 is flared to deflect air away from trailer wheel assembly 22 during highway speed haulage of trailer 10 over long distances with fairing 24 in the lowered position.
• fairing sections 26, 28, 29 together constitute a substantially continuous air deflecting surface which extends below the trailer's lower edge 30, and between tractor rear wheel assembly 20 and trailer wheel assembly 22.
• rearmost hinge 32 pivotally connects between flange 34 and trailer wheel assembly support member 38.
• Flange 34 is fixed to the inward face of fairing rearward section 26 by bolts 36.
• Trailer wheel assembly support member 38 moves longitudinally relative to trailer 10 during longitudinal adjustment of wheel assembly 22 as aforesaid. More particularly, longitudinal adjust- ment of wheel assembly 22 longitudinally displaces support member 38, to which hinge 32 is fixed. Such displacement in turn displaces hinge 32.
• longitudinal adjustment of trailer wheel assembly 22 automatically longitudinally repositions fairing rearward section 26 relative to fairing section 28, thus maintaining rearward edge 44 (Figure 4) of fairing rearward section 26 in a selected position in front of trailer wheel assembly 22.
• rearward edge 44 is maintained in a position in front of trailer wheel assembly 22 which leaves only a narrow gap of about three inches therebetween.
• Figure 6 also shows flange 37 fixed to the inward face of fairing forward section 28.
• Flange 37 serves as a hinge connector for forward section 28, and is fragmented in Figure 6 to avoid obscuring depiction of flange 34.
• Flange 37 must be fixed suffi ⁇ ciently forwardly on forward section 28 to prevent inter- ference with slidable movement of rearward section 26 during longitudinal repositioning thereof.
• similar hinges 32 pivotally connect between fairing forward sections 28, 29 and support channel 40 which is fixed to and extends longitudinally along the underside of trailer 10. Unlike rearward section 26, forward sections 28, 29 do not move longitudinally with respect to trailer 10.
• Hinges 32 are constructed as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8.
• Rod 46 has an aperture 48 at one end through which pin 50 is inserted to pivotally couple the outward end of rod 46 to flange 34 (in the case of rearward section 26, as shown in Figures 6 and 7) .
• Flange 34 is bolted to the fairing section's inward surface as aforesaid.
• Another pin 54 pivotally couples the inward end of rod 46 between plates 56, 58 which are fixed at their upper ends within support channel 40 in the case of forward sections 28, 29 as shown in Figure 8.
• plates 56, 58 are fixed at their upper ends within wheel assembly support member 38.
• Blocks 60, 62 are fixed between the upper and lower ends of plates 56, 58 respectively to maintain spacing and structural integrity thereof.
• Bolt 65 passes through apertures 41 in support channel 40 (in the case of forward sections 28, 29; or, through corresponding apertures in wheel assembly support member 38 in the case of rearward section 26) and through block 60, and is secured by cotter pin 67. This prevents further longitudinal displacement of each fairing section, once the respective sections are in their desired longitudinal positions.
• Bracket 64 is fixed to a central portion of rod 46.
• Springs 66, 68 are mounted on opposite sides of rod 46 by connecting one end of each spring to bracket 64 via eye bolts 69, and connecting the opposite spring ends to plate 70 which extends through plates 56, 58.
• Springs 66, 68 assist in biasing fairing sections 26, 28 toward their respective raised positions (shown in dashed outline in Figure 6) during operator manipulation thereof as herein ⁇ after explained.
• Bolt 71 is threadably adjustable within block 62 to limit inward travel of rod 46 and thereby assist in aligning fairing 24 beneath the trailer's lower edge 30. Longitudinally extending bracing members (not shown) may be inserted between longitudinally adjacent pairs of brackets 64 to improve the structural integrity of each fairing section.
• the gap size also depends upon the turning clearance required between tractor rear wheel assembly 20 (including any mud flaps mounted thereon) and fairing forward edge 72.
• the forwardmost portion of fairing 24 is configured to provide an access panel 74.
• An operator may manually grasp panel 74 and pivot it outwardly away from fairing 24 in the direction of arrow 90 to gain access to crank handle 76 which is used to raise or lower trailer landing gear 78.
• Access panel 74 is pivotally connected to landing gear support structure 79 by hinge 91, 92 adjacent landing gear gusset plate 77.
• Mount- ing plate 93 couples hinge portion 91 to plate 95 which forms the front underside of trailer 10.
• Hinge portion 92 is fixed to the inward surface of access panel 74.
• fairing forward sec ⁇ tions 28, 29 are equipped with latches 80, 84 and 86 (only some of the latches on section 29 are visible, due to frag ⁇ mentation of the drawings) .
• Latch 80 and another identical latch are respectively located in the upper, outer corners of fairing forward section 29. After moving forward section 29 into its lowered position, the operator presses against forward section 29 near the two upper corner latches to engage those latches with cooperating mechanisms 89 mounted in support channel 85 by brackets 83.
• Latch 84 is located centrally between the upper corner latches, in the upper portion of fairing forward section 29.
• Handle 90 actuates lever arm 88 of latch 84.
• Handle 90 is also coupled by rods 92, 94 to the respective upper corner latches. After engaging the upper corner latches as aforesaid, the operator rotates handle 90 approximately 90° to move lever arm 88 into locking engagement within receiver 96 which is mounted in support channel 85 by an ⁇ other bracket 83. Rotation of handle 90 simultaneously extends rods 92, 94 to lock the upper corner latches.
• Latch 86 which is similar to latch 84, is located near the lower forward corner of fairing forward section 29.
• the lever arm 88 of latch 86 engages a cooperating receiver 96 on the adjacent portion of access panel 74.
• Fairing rearward sec ⁇ tion 26, forward section 28 and access panel 74 are equip- ped with similar latches 87, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10.
• Figure 5 shows, in dashed outline, an alternative means 43 for connecting latch bracket 83 of fairing rearward section 26 to trailer wheel assembly support member 38 to allow bracket 83 to move during longitudinal repositioning of trailer wheel assembly 22 and fairing rearward section 26 as aforesaid.
• fixed wheelbase trailers such as pup trailer 16 may not require a fairing having longi ⁇ tudinally movable sections, but may only require a fairing having a single air deflecting section hinged to the trailer to allow displacement of the fairing between lowered and raised positions, without any capability for longitudinal movement of the fairing.
• a vent may be provided in the rearward portion of the fairing to direct air toward the trailer brakes for cooling purposes. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=27170236

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (17)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 1997
  • 1997-06-11 BR BR9709843-4A patent/BR9709843A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-11 AU AU30213/97A patent/AU713579B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-06-11 WO PCT/CA1997/000409 patent/WO1997048590A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-11 EP EP97924833A patent/EP0906213A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

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