초록 ▼

The exterior of a vehicle, e.g. the roof of a land vehicle such as a tractor trailer cab, trailer, truck, bus, auto, van, rail car or the like, is provided with exposed moving surface, which moves relatively rearwardly, relatively more quickly than the vehicle progresses. As a result the vehicle may

The exterior of a vehicle, e.g. the roof of a land vehicle such as a tractor trailer cab, trailer, truck, bus, auto, van, rail car or the like, is provided with exposed moving surface, which moves relatively rearwardly, relatively more quickly than the vehicle progresses. As a result the vehicle may be made to bear more lightly on the ground, so that more weight may be transported. In a preferred embodiment the moving surface is constituted by the exposed upper run of an endless band entrained about fore and aft rollers provided with a driving mechanism e.g. for rotating at least one of the rollers. The lower run of the band may be hidden. Controls are described.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for decreasing the apparent payload carried by a transport vehicle which has an outwardly presented external portion, comprising: superimposing upon said vehicle external portion a movable surface in spaced relation thereto, said movable surface being provided as the external side of the up

A method for decreasing the apparent payload carried by a transport vehicle which has an outwardly presented external portion, comprising: superimposing upon said vehicle external portion a movable surface in spaced relation thereto, said movable surface being provided as the external side of the upper run of substantial length, of an endless band entrained about two cylinders; and while said vehicle is advancing along a path, moving said surface rearwardly at a substantially greater velocity than said vehicle is advancing forwardly, while maintaining said superimposition; sensing the speed at which said vehicle is advancing along said path, and at least up to a preselected maximum, automatically, moving said movable surface in proportion to said sensed speed of vehicle advance according to a manaully variable ratio having a preselected maximum.