Aerodynamic rear drag reduction system for a trailer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017361881-A1
Application number	US-201715690891-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	Apr 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aerodynamic drag reduction system includes a side panel configured to be coupled to a rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of a trailer and a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer. The drag system includes a cable system configured to connect the side and top panels to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position. The cable system includes a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel. A second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable is coupled together at a juncture.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising:
a side panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of the trailer; a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer; and a cable system configured to connect the side panel and the top panel to prevent upward movement of the top panel beyond its generally horizontal position, the cable system including a first cable with a first end coupled to an inner surface of the side panel, and a second cable and a third cable each with a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel, and a second end of each of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable coupled together at a juncture.

2 . The drag reduction system of claim 1 , wherein, the side panel is pivotable between (i) a fully-deployed position wherein the side panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear frame assembly of the trailer and (ii) a fully-stowed position wherein the inner surface of at least a portion of the side panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door; and the top panel is pivotable between (i) a fully-deployed position where the top panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear frame assembly, and (ii) a fully-stowed position where a bottom surface of the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door.

3 . The drag reduction system of claim 2 , wherein the side and top panels are pivoted to the fully-stowed position by unlocking of a door locking mechanism.

4 . The drag reduction system of claim 2 and further comprising a folding mechanism coupled to the side panel to move the side panel and the top panel between the fully-deployed position and the fully-stowed position.

5 . The drag reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first cable is coupled to a bracket of a linkage mechanism coupled to the inner surface of the side panel, the linkage mechanism comprising a portion of a folding mechanism configured to pivot the drag reduction system between fully-deployed and full-stowed positions.

6 . The drag reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third cables are separate cables.

7 . The drag reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third cables are one single, integral cable.

8 . The drag reduction system of claim 1 , wherein the second cable is coupled to the bottom surface adjacent but spaced apart from an inner edge of the top panel and the third cable is coupled to the bottom surface rearwardly and outwardly from a center of the top panel.

9 . An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising:
a side panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally vertically at least partially along a height of the trailer; a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer; a first hinge coupled at a first end to the rear swing door and at a second end to the top panel, the first hinge pivoting about a pivot axis; and a second hinge coupled at a first end to the rear swing door and at a second end to the top panel, the second hinge pivoting about the pivot axis, the second hinge being spaced inwardly of the first hinge and the pivot axis angling downwardly from the first hinge to the second hinge.

10 . The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 9 , wherein the first hinge includes a first bracket coupled to an outer surface of the rear swing door adjacent a top edge thereof, a first L-shaped bracket coupled to a bottom surface of the top panel, and a first hinge joint connecting the first bracket and the first L-shaped bracket.

11 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 10 , wherein the second hinge includes a second bracket coupled to the outer surface of the rear swing door adjacent a top edge thereof, a second L-shaped bracket coupled to the bottom surface of the top panel, and a second hinge joint connecting the second bracket and the second L-shaped bracket.

12 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 11 , wherein the first L-shaped bracket includes a first vertical portion and a first horizontal portion and the second L-shaped bracket includes a second vertical portion and a second horizontal portion and the second vertical portion has a length that is greater than the first vertical portion.

13 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 11 , wherein the second hinge joint is coupled to the second L-shaped bracket at a point that is below the first hinge joint.

14 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 9 , wherein the pivot axis is substantially parallel to an upper rear edge of the rear frame assembly of the trailer when viewed from above.

15 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 9 , wherein an outer edge of the top panel is angled, curved, or cut inward such that the top panel does not extend beyond an edge of a sidewall of the trailer when stowed.

16 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 9 , further including a second top panel comprising:
a third hinge coupled at a first end to a second rear swing door and at a second end to the second top panel, the third hinge pivoting about a second pivot axis; and a fourth hinge coupled at a first end to the second rear swing door and at a second end to the second top panel, the fourth hinge pivoting about the second pivot axis, the fourth hinge being spaced inwardly of the third hinge and the pivot axis angling downwardly between the third hinge and the fourth hinge.

17 . An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising:
a top panel configured to be coupled to the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer; a first hinge coupled at a first end to the rear swing door and at a second end to the top panel, the first hinge pivoting about a pivot axis; and a second hinge coupled at a first end to the rear swing door and at a second end to the top panel, the second hinge pivoting about the pivot axis, the pivot axis angling downwardly from the first hinge to the second hinge.

18 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 17 , wherein the first hinge is spaced outwardly of the second hinge.

19 . The aerodynamic drag reduction system of claim 18 , further including:
a second top panel configured to be coupled to a second rear swing door to extend generally horizontally at least partially along a width of the trailer; a third hinge coupled at a first end to the second rear swing door and at a second end to the second top panel, the third hinge pivoting about a second pivot axis; and a fourth hinge coupled at a first end to the second rear swing door and at a second end to the second top panel, the fourth hinge pivoting about the second pivot axis, the second pivot axis angling downwardly from the third hinge to the fourth hinge.

20 . The aerodyna

Assignees

• Wabash National Lp

Inventors

• Baker Leonard W
• Courtney Michael J
• Sweet James Andrew
• Haan Brian N

Classifications

• B62D35/001 Primary

  For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans · CPC title

• B62D35/007

  Rear spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title