Aerodynamic Skirt Bottom Protrusions to Cut Trailer Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerodynamic skirts for vehicles, particularly trailers, suffer from air wrapping around the bottom edge, creating vortices that increase drag and pressure on the chassis and wheels, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and increased emissions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating transverse protrusions, such as plates or segments, at the bottom edge of the aerodynamic skirt to disrupt airflow and reduce vortex formation, thereby minimizing airflow beneath the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If aerodynamic skirts are made straight and simple in form, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but air wraps around the bottom edge creating vortices that increase drag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a transverse dimension to the bottom edge of the aerodynamic skirt by incorporating protrusions that extend perpendicular to the main panel. This dimensional change disrupts the airflow wrapping around the edge, reducing vortex formation and aerodynamic drag while maintaining the overall simplicity of the skirt structure
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom edge of the aerodynamic skirt is segmented into multiple protrusions rather than being a continuous straight edge. These segmented protrusions are spaced apart to create gaps that allow controlled airflow passage, preventing the formation of large-scale vortices while remaining simple to manufacture
2Productivity
If aerodynamic skirts extend downward to create smooth surfaces, then airflow is directed more efficiently and drag is reduced, but air still wraps around the bottom edge creating pressure on chassis and wheels
Solution Approach 1:
By adding transverse protrusions at the bottom edge, the patent creates a three-dimensional airflow control structure that prevents air from wrapping around and reaching the chassis and wheels, reducing pressure on these components while maintaining the drag-reducing smooth surface effect
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions act as intermediary structures between the main aerodynamic skirt panel and the ground/chassis area. They serve as flow control elements that mediate the airflow path, preventing it from reaching the chassis and wheels while maintaining the overall aerodynamic efficiency
3Object-affected harmful factors
If protrusions are added to the bottom edge to reduce vortex formation, then aerodynamic drag is reduced and fuel efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom edge is segmented into discrete protrusions that can be manufactured as separate components or formed through simple bending processes. This segmentation reduces the complexity compared to a continuous complex shape while achieving the same aerodynamic effect of vortex reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions have specific geometric parameters (height, width, spacing) that can be optimized to achieve the desired aerodynamic effect. By controlling these parameters, the patent achieves drag reduction with minimal structural complexity, as the same basic geometric form can be repeated
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 protrusions effectively reduce airflow under the vehicle, lowering drag and pressure on the chassis and wheels, enhancing fuel efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations.
Implementation Method 1
air tends to wrap around the bottom edge of the aerodynamic skirt, which increases the amount of air that flows under the vehicle and adds pressure to the vehicle chassis and wheels. The effect is similar to the situation at a wingtip of a plane, which creates a vortex of flowing air.
Implementation Method 2
reducing the turbulence created by air hitting the underside of the trailer and the gap between the trailer and the road, aerodynamic skirts help to decrease the drag force acting on the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an aerodynamic skirt for a vehicle, in particular for a trailer or a tractor-trailer-combination. The aerodynamic skirt includes a mounting orientation defining an orientation of the aerodynamic skirt with respect to a driving direction of the vehicle. The aerodynamic skirt includes a panel, which is arranged at least essentially vertically when the aerodynamic skirt is mounted in the mounting orientation. The panel includes a bottom end with respect to the mounting orientation. The aerodynamic skirt includes a protrusion at the bottom end of the aerodynamic skirt. The protrusion is arranged transversely with respect to the panel.