Rear-mounted retractable aerodynamic structure for cargo bodies

Abstract

An aerodynamic structure attached to the sides and top of a truck cargo body (either a stand-alone trailer or a “straight truck” with the cab and cargo area as a fixed vehicle) at the aftmost region, which rear typically contains a rolling door assembly, which rolls upwardly. An aerodynamic structure is permanently attached to the sides and top of the trailer in a manner that extend past the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body and retract to the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body when subjected to a force, allowing this device to be backed into structures. The retracted orientation allows for the rear of the trailer to be fully accessible for loading and unloading, and does not reduce the size of the opening of the trailer. The various embodiments of the invention allow for automated deployment once the force used to compress the structure is removed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 537,047, filed Sep. 20, 2011, entitled REAR-MOUNTED RETRACTABLE AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR CARGO BODIES, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 577,923, filed Dec. 20, 2011, entitled REAR-MOUNTED RETRACTABLE AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR CARGO BODIES, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 600,579, filed Feb. 17, 2012, entitled REAR-MOUNTED RETRACTABLE AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURE FOR CARGO BODIES, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to rear-mounted aerodynamic structures for cargo bodies having rolling rear access doors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Trucking is the primary mo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent addresses the aerodynamic drag and damage caused by air pressure when trucks back up to loading bays. The invention is a set of aerodynamic winglets that retract when the truck is backed up to a loading dock, allowing for better aerodynamic efficiency and preventing damage. The winglets are attached to panels that can be raised and lowered to allow for full access to the loading door of a rolling door trailer. When raised, the winglets create a tapered or straight-walled cavity at the rear of the cargo body to increase aerodynamic efficiency. The winglets are automatically bias-released when the cargo body is backed into engagement with a structure of a loading area to avoid damage and ensure that the winglets are moved to a non-obstructing position during loading and unloading. The patent also includes a rear fairing device that can be raised and lowered to allow for full access to the loading door of a rolling door trailer.

Problems solved by technology

The flat, projecting front face of a cargo body is a substantial source of drag, above the cab roof.

Nevertheless, most attempts to provide aerodynamic structures that integrate with the structure and function of the rear cargo doors of a truck have been unsuccessful and / or impractical to use and operate.

Such rear aerodynamic structures are typically large and difficult to remove from the rear so as to access the cargo doors when needed.

However, aerodynamic structures that swing upwardly require substantial strength or force to be moved away from the doors, and also require substantial height clearance above an already tall cargo body.

While this requires less force to move, it also requires substantial side clearance—which is generally absent from a closely packed, multi-truck loading dock.

To improve the aerodynamics of a truck or trailer cargo body by reducing drag, several solutions have been provided that focus on trucks having swinging doors, which are not always readily applicable to cargo bodies having rolling doors.

However, there are no devices designed particularly for a rolling-door cargo body (or other similarly configured trailer body) that allows for access to the full loading dimensions of the rolling door.

This reduces the efficacy of the design.

Also, there is a concern that the fairing can become damaged by an impact if it is not properly aligned with a loading dock when a vehicle backs into the dock to load or unload cargo.

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