Adjustable Tractor Side Fairings for Variable Fifth-Wheel Heights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial vehicle tractors face imbalances in aerodynamic performance due to fixed extensions that are not adaptable to varying fifth-wheel heights, leading to increased gaps and potential damage for lower fifth-wheel configurations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing lateral fairings with a movable portion and adjustable mounting arrangements, such as discontinuous or continuous mounting systems, to adjust the fairing height based on the fifth-wheel height, ensuring optimal gap filling and improved aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extensions are mounted on lateral fairings with a fixed fairing height optimized for the highest fifth-wheel coupling, then aerodynamic performance is improved for high fifth-wheel configurations, but aerodynamic performance becomes unbalanced and potential damage occurs for lower fifth-wheel heights
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral fairing is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can be adjusted vertically. The movable portion is connected through a mounting arrangement allowing it to change position relative to the fixed portion, enabling the fairing height to adapt to different fifth-wheel coupling heights while maintaining optimal aerodynamic performance for each configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The fairing height parameter is made variable through the mounting arrangement that allows the movable portion to be positioned at different heights. This enables the fairing to change its vertical dimension according to the fifth-wheel coupling height, transforming a fixed parameter into an adjustable one to resolve the contradiction between optimization for specific configurations and adaptability to varying configurations
2Reliability
If a single fairing height is used for all fifth-wheel coupling heights, then device complexity is reduced, but aerodynamic performance becomes unbalanced and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral fairing is segmented into a fixed portion attached to the chassis and a movable portion that can be adjusted. This segmentation allows the fairing to have adjustable height capability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple, as only the mounting arrangement connecting the two portions adds complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement serves multiple functions: it connects the movable portion to the fixed portion, enables height adjustment, and provides adaptability to different fifth-wheel coupling heights. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate fairing designs for different configurations, balancing enhanced reliability with controlled device complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
Tractor (2) of a commercial vehicle (1) comprising lateral fairings (20) each having a fixed portion (21) attached to a chassis (5), a movable portion (22), and a mounting arrangement (25) to vary a fairing height of the movable portion (22) in accordance with a fifth-wheel height (Hfw) of a fifth-wheel coupling (15), wherein the mounting arrangement (25) is chosen between: - a discontinuous mounting arrangement (25) comprising a first mounting member and a series of second mounting members, the series of second mounting members comprising separate second members aligned at different mounting heights, - a continuous mounting arrangement (25) comprising a pinion and a rack configured to cooperate with each other to move the movable portion (22) with respect to the fixed portion (21) within a range of mounting heights when the pinion (30) is driven in rotation.