Hinged Trailer Fairing Panels for Drag Reduction and Door Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear trailer fairings that aim to reduce drag often obstruct the rear doors, requiring users to manually operate and dismount to load or unload cargo, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system comprising side and top panels that are hingedly coupled to the rear swing door, allowing them to pivot and fold automatically when the door is opened, thereby maintaining access while minimizing drag during travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional rear trailer fairings are used to reduce drag, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but access to the cargo area deteriorates due to obstruction of rear doors
Solution Approach 1:
The fairing is designed with movable panels that can dynamically change position between a deployed configuration during travel to reduce drag and a retracted configuration during loading/unloading to allow door access. The panels are hinged to the door assembly and can pivot independently of the door movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The fairing is divided into multiple segmented panels including top panels and side panels that can move independently. This segmentation allows different portions of the fairing to perform different functions - some panels maintain aerodynamic shape while others clear the door path during operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fixed fairings are used to maintain aerodynamic shape, then drag reduction is improved, but device complexity increases due to manual operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The fairing panels are automatically deployed and retracted through linkage mechanisms that are integral to the door assembly. When the door is opened or closed, the linkage automatically moves the panels between positions without requiring separate manual operation, making the system self-servicing based on door state.
Solution Approach 2:
The fairing operation is merged with the door operation through shared linkages and mounting mechanisms. The same mechanical motion that opens or closes the door also deploys or retracts the fairing panels, combining two functions into one coordinated action.
3Shape
If fairings extend vertically along the trailer height, then aerodynamic streamlining is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to interference with door opening
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical side panels are hinged and can pivot outward or forward when the door is opened, clearing the door path while maintaining vertical extent for aerodynamic purposes when closed. This dynamic repositioning allows the panels to serve dual purposes at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are designed to move in multiple dimensions - vertically to maintain streamlined shape during travel, and horizontally or forward during door operation. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the same structure to satisfy conflicting spatial requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
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.