Device for improving the aerodynamics of a storage box and storage box

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for improving the aerodynamics of a storage box for a semi-trailer or trailer of a truck, characterized by a front guide element extending transversely to the direction of travel in its intended use and two side guide elements extending in the direction of travel, wherein the front guide element terminates at its bottom with a front edge of a floor of the storage box in its intended use and extends upwards and forwards against the direction of travel, and wherein the side guide elements are arranged laterally next to the front guide element transversely to the direction of travel, are connected flush to side surfaces of the storage box, and extend forwards and towards each other in the direction of travel.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for improving the aerodynamics of a storage box, in particular a pallet storage box, for a semi-trailer of a truck. The invention also relates to a storage box with such a device.

[0002] Storage boxes, in particular so-called pallet storage boxes, which are attached to the underside of a trailer or, in particular, a semi-trailer of a truck and can be used to hold various goods such as empty pallets, are known from the prior art. Application DE 103 58 243 A1 of the applicant describes such a pallet storage box and specifically addresses the mechanics of its lid. Another such storage box is known from DE 10 2010 045 488 A1.

[0003] It is generally known that European Union legislation requires manufacturers of semi-trailers to achieve a 10% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030.

[0004] The aerodynamics of the trailer always play a role here. Currently, highly complex aerodynamic fairings for the front and sides are known from the state of the art. These are extremely complex to install and correspondingly expensive, so that in many cases the economic viability of such fairings is questionable, because potential fines are significantly cheaper than manufacturing and installing such a full fairing.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a simple device for improving aerodynamics in order to save CO2 efficiently and cost-effectively.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a device for improving the aerodynamics of a storage box with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims. Furthermore, a storage box with such a device solves the problem.

[0007] The device for improving aerodynamics is designed for a storage box, in particular a pallet storage box, for a semi-trailer of a truck and, in its intended use, is therefore based on such a storage box on a truck in its dimensions and orientation. The device provides a front guide element extending transversely to the direction of travel in its intended use and two side guide elements extending in the direction of travel. According to the invention, the front guide element, in its intended use, terminates at its bottom edge with a leading edge of the floor of the storage box and extends upwards and forwards in the direction of travel. From the front and top, it extends downwards and backwards against the direction of travel, forming an inclined guide element over which the air is directed downwards, under the storage box.In addition, this bow guide element is supplemented by two side guide elements, which are arranged laterally to the bow guide element, perpendicular to the direction of travel. The two side guide elements are flush with the side surfaces of the storage box and extend forward in the direction of travel, at least partially converging towards each other. Thus, starting from the storage box, the side guide elements extend laterally forward and inwards in the direction of travel, at least partially, and enclose the bow guide element.

[0008] The nose guide element is thus shielded laterally by the side guide elements and is therefore very well protected in the event of an accident, preventing injuries to people or cyclists from the nose guide element. In addition to their aerodynamic function, the side guide elements also meet the requirements of a side impact protection device according to ECE-R73.

[0009] The entire assembly, consisting of the front guide element and the two side guide elements, can be attached to the front of an existing storage box in an exceptionally simple and efficient manner and then mounted together with it, or can in particular also be mounted on a storage box that is already attached to a semi-trailer.

[0010] By selecting appropriate dimensions and angles, significant efficiency gains can be achieved through the optimized front of the pallet storage box. Using the EU-mandated VECTO trailer as an example, the applicant's studies showed efficiency improvements of more than 1%. The costs for such a device can be kept very low, so that saving more than 1% on CO2 costs amounts to only a few hundred euros, which is very attractive economically in relation to the potential savings, especially since such devices can be retrofitted easily and efficiently.

[0011] The device extends over the entire or nearly the entire height of the storage box. A favorable embodiment of the device according to the invention therefore provides that at least the bow guide element, preferably the bow guide element and the side guide elements, extend vertically over at least 90% of the height of the storage box.

[0012] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that the side guide elements have a larger extension in the direction of travel than the bow guide element. Thus, the side guide elements completely cover the bow guide element when viewed from the side, so that the bow guide element disappears entirely behind the side guide elements, which is a decisive advantage, especially with regard to safety.

[0013] The angle at which the side guide elements are beveled relative to the direction of travel is preferably 10° to 25°, more preferably 15° to 20°. These values ​​have proven to be particularly aerodynamically efficient.

[0014] The side guide elements can extend from the side edge of the storage box, initially running against the direction of travel and then angled towards each other to achieve the most efficient possible transition of airflow from the inside to the outside along the side of the storage box. The length of the side guide elements, and therefore the angle, varies depending on the vehicle length and / or the trailer configuration. The length of the side guide elements is determined primarily by the requirements of ECE-R73, due to their additional function as lateral protective devices.

[0015] To improve rigidity and increase safety, a highly advantageous refinement allows the side guide elements to have a chamfer at their end facing away from the storage box, with the chamfered corners facing inwards, i.e., from the side of the superstructure. This reduces the risk of objects becoming entangled in the side guide elements in the event of an impact. The chamfer also increases stability, ensuring sufficient rigidity even with thin material and thus low weight.

[0016] Another very advantageous design option is to round off the bow guide element at the transition to the lower edge of the storage box. The bow guide element therefore does not transition into the bottom of the storage box with an edge, but is designed in this area in such a way that the rounding optimizes the flow.

[0017] The bow guide element, or at least its primary flat surface, extends at an angle of 45° to 75°, preferably 55° to 60°, relative to the horizontal, which runs parallel to the bottom of the storage box.

[0018] As mentioned above, the structure can also be designed for subsequent mounting on the storage box; in particular, the entire structure of the device can be connected in such a way that it only needs to be attached to the front of the storage box at a few fastening points, for example by screwing or riveting.

[0019] In principle, the device according to the invention can be made from various materials, which may include, for example, plastic sheets, fiber-reinforced plastic material, blow-molded plastic elements, injection-molded parts, or the like. However, the device is preferably made of sheet metal. Such a sheet metal device can be produced simply and efficiently by bending the corresponding materials. It can then be assembled from bent sheet metal elements. This has the decisive advantage that, on the one hand, production is easily possible even in small series, and on the other hand, individual adaptation to the storage boxes of different manufacturers is possible, which is particularly advantageous for retrofitting. The sheet metal can be cut and bent simply and efficiently to manufacture the device.The structure can then be protected, for example, by painting or, in particular, by powder coating, thus ensuring a high level of protection against environmental influences and achieving a long service life for the device.

[0020] As already mentioned several times, the device can be mounted on a storage box, so that a storage box equipped with such a device also fulfills the aforementioned task. The device can be subsequently attached to the storage box, or the storage box can be designed in such a way that the device is directly integrated into its structure, particularly into the design of its front panel.

[0021] Further advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention also result from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0022] This shows: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of a truck in the form of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer with a pallet storage box and the device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a three-dimensional view of a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention from an oblique front and bottom view; Fig. 3 a part of the device according to the invention in a sectional view along the direction of travel of the truck.

[0023] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a truck, designated as a whole by 1, which in the embodiment shown here consists of a tractor unit designated by 2 and a semi-trailer designated by 3. Below the cargo space of this semi-trailer 3 is a pallet storage box 4, which is known in principle from the prior art mentioned above. This pallet storage box 4 is arranged in the direction of travel F of the truck 1 in front of the rear axles 5 of the semi-trailer 3. Furthermore, in Fig. 1. A device 10 for improving aerodynamics is discernible, arranged in the direction of travel F in front of this pallet storage box 4. The terms in the direction of travel, transverse to the direction of travel, front and rear, as well as above and below, always refer to the normal operation and forward travel of the truck 1 with its semi-trailer 3.

[0024] The device 10, which is shown in the illustration of the Fig. 1, which is only roughly indicated, now includes several in the three-dimensional representation of the Fig. Two more easily recognizable elements. Centrally in the direction of travel F in front of the storage box 4, a bow guide element 11 extends, which terminates with a leading edge 6 of a base 8 of the storage box 4, and extends forward and upward from this leading edge 6 in the direction of travel F. Transversely to the direction of travel F, extending from two leading edges 7 of side surfaces 9 of the storage box 4, are two side guide elements 12, which each extend forward in the direction of travel F and transversely to each other in the direction of travel F.

[0025] In the embodiment shown here, these side guide elements 12, viewed in the direction of travel F, have a first section 13 running parallel to the direction of travel F, a second section 14 angled inwards, and a chamfer at the end designated 15. They serve, on the one hand, to improve aerodynamics by directing the air that collects in front of the storage box 4 laterally along the side of the storage box 4. At the same time, the ends of these side guide elements 12 located at the front in the direction of travel F do not touch each other, but are spaced relatively far apart, with a distance on the order of more than 80% of the width of the storage box 4 perpendicular to the direction of travel F. The ratio of the section 13 running parallel to the direction of travel F to the inwardly directed section 14 is approximately 1:3.The longer inwardly directed section 14 runs at an angle of 10° to 25°, preferably 15° to 20° and particularly preferably at an angle of approximately 18° to the direction of travel F.

[0026] Between these two side guide elements 12, the previously mentioned bow guide element 11 is now visible, extending forward and upward from the leading edge 6 of the floor 8. In the sectional view of the Fig.Figure 3 shows a section of the storage box 4 with its front edge 6, to which a possible embodiment of the bow guide element 11 is mounted. Preferably, this element is rounded in the transition area 16 to the front edge 6 and thus to the lower surface or the bottom 8 of the storage box 4, and then extends upwards in a largely flat section 18 at an angle of 45° to 75°, preferably 55° to 60°, and in particular approximately 57°, relative to a line 19 of the bottom 8 of the storage box 4, shown here with a dashed line. In the upper area below a floor plate 20 of the cargo space of the semi-trailer 3, the structure can also be rounded or implemented with a section 17 that is more or less perpendicular to line 19 and occupies only a small portion, less than 20%, of the total height of the bow guide element 11.This creates a certain dynamic pressure in the upper area, which is necessary for air to flow to the axles 5 of the semi-trailer 3 in order to ventilate and cool the brakes there.

[0027] Calculations of the structure described here have now resulted in savings of around 1.4% CO2 using the VECTO semi-trailer as an example, and, especially when the device 10 is made of bent sheet metal components, it can be manufactured extremely easily and efficiently and adapted individually or in small series to various models of storage boxes 4, in order to offer a retrofit solution at a very favorable price. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 103 58 243 A1

[0002] DE 10 2010 045 488 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Device (10) for improving the aerodynamics of a storage box (4) for a semi-trailer (3) or trailer of a truck (1), characterized by a bow guide element (11) extending transversely to the direction of travel (F) in its intended use and two side guide elements (12) extending in the direction of travel (F), wherein the bow guide element (11) terminates at its bottom with a front edge (6) of a floor (8) of the storage box (4) in its intended use and extends upwards and forwards in the direction of travel (F), and wherein the side guide elements (12) are arranged transversely to the direction of travel (F) laterally next to the bow guide element (11), are connected flush to side surfaces (9) of the storage box (4), and extend forwards in the direction of travel (F) and towards each other. [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that at least the bow guide element, preferably the bow guide element and the side guide elements, extend vertically over at least 90% of the height of the storage box. [3] Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the side guide elements (12) have a larger extent in the direction of travel (F) than the bow guide element (11). [4] Device (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by , that the side guide elements (12) extend from a front edge (7) of the side surface (9) of the storage box (4) first parallel to the direction of travel (F) and then converge at an angle to each other. [5] Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized by that the angle is 10° to 25°, preferably 15° to 20°, relative to the direction of travel (F). [6] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the side guide elements (12) have a chamfer (15) towards each other at their end facing away from the front edge (7) of the side surface (9) of the storage box (4). [7] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the bow guide element (11) has a rounding (16) at the transition to the front edge (6) of the bottom (8) of the storage box (4). [8] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the bow guide element (11) or at least a flat section (18) of the bow guide element (11) extends in itself at an angle of 45° to 75°, preferably 55° to 65° to an alignment (19) of the bottom (8) of the storage box (4). [9] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the bow guide element (11) has at its upper front end a straight section (17) running substantially perpendicular to an alignment (19) of the bottom (8) of the stowage box (4). [10] Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized by They are made from sheet metal. [11] Storage box (4) with an integrated or mounted device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Images