Foldable Drag Reduction Panels for Roll-Up Doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drag reduction devices for land vehicles are cumbersome to access cargo doors and not suited for gap filling, limiting their application and efficiency, especially for vehicles under tight schedules.
Innovation Solution
A drag reduction apparatus comprising a foldable structure with semi-rigid panels and a keder-type attachment mechanism that can be securely attached to a roll-up door, allowing for self-deployment and retraction without obstructing cargo access, and can function as both a drag reducer and gap filler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a drag reduction device is attached to the frame of a truck cargo door, then drag reduction is achieved, but access to the cargo door becomes cumbersome requiring extra steps to pull the device aside or swing it open
Solution Approach 1:
The drag reduction device is nested within the cargo door structure itself, with panels that fold along with the door panels. The device is integrated into the door assembly rather than being a separate external attachment, allowing it to move with the door and eliminating the need to manually relocate it for access.
Solution Approach 2:
The drag reduction device incorporates foldable joints and hinges that allow it to dynamically change configuration. The panels can fold and unfold automatically as the cargo door opens and closes, adapting to the door's movement without requiring manual intervention to clear the access path.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a drag reduction device is designed to attach to the frame of a cargo door, then drag reduction is provided, but the device cannot be used as a gap filler for other applications
Solution Approach 1:
The drag reduction device is designed with universal attachment mechanisms that can be installed on various surfaces including cargo door frames, roll-up doors, and gap locations. The foldable panel structure and adjustable mounting system allow the same device to function both as a drag reduction apparatus and as a gap filler for different vehicle configurations and applications.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If panels are made rigid to maintain aerodynamic stability, then drag reduction effectiveness is improved, but the apparatus cannot flex to conform to door operation
Solution Approach 1:
The drag reduction device is divided into multiple discrete panels connected by foldable joints. Each panel can independently flex and rotate relative to its neighbors, allowing the overall structure to conform to the moving door surface while each individual panel maintains its aerodynamic shape for effective drag reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates flexible connections between panels that allow bending and rotation. These flexible joints enable the rigid aerodynamic panels to adapt their relative positions and angles as the door moves, maintaining both structural integrity for aerodynamics and flexibility for door conformity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus efficiently reduces drag while allowing unobstructed access to cargo doors and can be easily deployed and stowed, providing time and operational simplicity, especially for vehicles with tight schedules, and can adapt to various vehicle configurations.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the apparatus to automatically unfold in response to air pressure changes
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of drag reduction apparatuses and assemblies for land vehicles, and particularly for attachment to a roll-up door of a land vehicle, are described. A drag reduction apparatus may include a plurality of panels foldably coupled together and automatically deployable into an unfolded configuration in which the panels define a cavity therebetween. The panels may be made from a semi-rigid material so that the panels generally conform to a roll-up door when the door is rolled up and/or down. The apparatus may be attached to the roll-up door using any of a variety of attachment mechanisms, for example a slidable keder-type device and/or one or more spring-loaded members.