Adjustable Tractor Fairings for Fifth-Wheel Height Variation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing commercial vehicle tractors face imbalances in aerodynamic performance due to fixed extensions that do not accommodate varying fifth-wheel heights, leading to increased upper gaps and potential damage for lower fifth-wheel configurations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing lateral fairings with adjustable mounting arrangements that allow the fairing height to be adjusted based on the fifth-wheel height, using discontinuous or continuous mounting systems to ensure proper gap filling and prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extensions are mounted on lateral fairings to fill the upper gap, then aerodynamic performance is improved for high fifth-wheel height, but aerodynamic performance becomes imbalanced and damage risk increases for low fifth-wheel height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidadaptability to different fifth-wheel heights

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral fairing extension is designed with a movable portion that can adjust its position vertically to match different fifth-wheel heights. The mounting arrangement allows the extension to move between a retracted position (for low fifth-wheel heights) and an extended position (for high fifth-wheel heights), enabling the same fairing to adapt to multiple configurations and maintain optimal aerodynamic performance across different tractor types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a single fairing height is used for all fifth-wheel heights, then device complexity is reduced, but aerodynamic performance becomes imbalanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefairing configurationVSAvoidaerodynamic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral fairing extension is divided into a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion remains stationary while the movable portion can adjust its height independently. This segmentation allows the fairing to maintain a simple base structure while adding adjustability only where needed, balancing complexity and performance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting arrangement is designed to accommodate multiple fifth-wheel heights with a single fairing design. By enabling the movable portion to assume different positions, the same fairing configuration can serve multiple functions across different tractor models, eliminating the need for multiple specialized fairing designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12466497B2Tractor, commercial vehicle, range of tractors and method for configuring a tractor

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

A tractor of a commercial vehicle comprising lateral fairings each having a fixed portion attached to a chassis, a movable portion, and a mounting arrangement to vary a fairing height of the movable portion in accordance with a fifth-wheel height of a fifth-wheel coupling, wherein the mounting arrangement is chosen between a discontinuous mounting arrangement 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, and a continuous mounting arrangement comprising a pinion and a rack configured to cooperate with each other to move the movable portion with respect to the fixed portion within a range of mounting heights when the pinion is driven in rotation.