초록

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus includes folding panels that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A drag reducing device for use in reducing drag on a vehicle with a substantially vertical rear end, the drag reducing device comprising: a drag reducing assembly that is movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the drag reducing assembly inclu

What is claimed is: 1. A drag reducing device for use in reducing drag on a vehicle with a substantially vertical rear end, the drag reducing device comprising: a drag reducing assembly that is movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the drag reducing assembly including a first end adapted for connection to the substantially vertical rear end of the vehicle and a second end that is moved outwardly from the first end when the drag reducing assembly is moved from the retracted configuration toward the extended configuration; the drag reducing assembly at least partially defining an extended volume when the drag reducing assembly is in the extended configuration, at least a top, a bottom, and a side of the extended volume tapering inwardly as the drag reducing assembly extends in a direction from the first end to the second end of the drag reducing assembly; the drag reducing assembly including at least a top panel rotatably connected to the vehicle at a first connection including a first horizontal fold-line and a bottom panel rotatably connected to the vehicle at a second connection including a second horizontal fold-line, the top panel substantially defining the top and the bottom panel substantially defining the bottom of the extended volume of the drag reducing assembly; and the drag reducing assembly including a linkage assembly rotatably connected to the top panel at a third connection, rotatably connected to the bottom panel at a fourth connection, and hingedly connected to the vehicle at a fifth connection; wherein the linkage assembly is configured to enable the top and the bottom panels of the drag reducing assembly to be folded inwardly together and unfolded outwardly together in a coordinated manner such that the top and the bottom panels are both folded inwardly toward each other and toward the first end of the drag reducing assembly when the drag reducing assembly is moved toward the retracted configuration from the extended configuration and the top and the bottom panels are both folded outwardly away from each other when the drag reducing assembly is moved toward the extended configuration from the retracted configuration. 2. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly includes a central member that is connected to the vehicle at a vertical hinge line of the fifth connection, an upper member rotatably connected to the central member at a sixth connection and rotatably connected to the top panel at a spherical joint of the third connection, and a lower member rotatably connected to the central member at a seventh connection and rotatably connected to the bottom panel at another spherical joint of the fourth connection. 3. The drag reducing device of claim 2, wherein each of the spherical joints includes a rod eye. 4. The drag reducing device of claim 2, wherein the central member of the linkage assembly includes a frame having a first vertical frame member spaced from a second vertical frame member, the frame including an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper and the lower frame members extending between the first and the second vertical frame members. 5. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the drag reducing assembly includes a rearwardly opening cavity when the drag reducing assembly is in the extended configuration. 6. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the top panel is a substantially planar panel. 7. The drag reducing device of claim 6 wherein a forward edge of the top panel is substantially at an elevation of a top of the vehicle when the drag reducing assembly is in the extended configuration. 8. The drag reducing device of claim 6, wherein the top panel includes a panel frame and a flexible covering substantially covers the panel frame. 9. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the drag reducing assembly is biased toward the extended configuration. 10. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the drag reducing assembly is biased toward the retracted configuration. 11. The drag reducing device of claim 1, wherein the top of the extended volume is substantially contiguous with a top of the vehicle and the side of the extended volume is substantially contiguous with a side of the vehicle. 12. The drag reducing device of claim 1, further comprising a left drag reducing assembly, wherein the drag reducing assembly is a right drag reducing assembly and the first end of the drag reducing assembly is the first end of the right drag reducing assembly, wherein the left drag reducing assembly is substantially a mirror image of the right drag reducing assembly, and wherein the left drag reducing assembly includes a first end. 13. The drag reducing device of claim 12, wherein the vehicle includes a right and a left door at the substantially vertical rear end of the vehicle, wherein the first end of the right drag reducing assembly is adapted for connection to the right door, and wherein the first end of the left drag reducing assembly is adapted for connection to the left door. 14. A vehicle that can be converted between a configuration for reducing drag and a configuration for accessing cargo, the vehicle comprising: a cargo holding area including a horizontal top, a vertical side, and a vertical rear end, the rear end including a cargo access opening; a door that covers at least a portion of the cargo access opening when the door is in a closed position; a substantially planar upper panel rotatably connected to the door at a first substantially horizontal hinge-line, the upper panel extending substantially parallel to the door in a downward direction from the first horizontal hinge-line when the upper panel is at a stowed upper panel position, the upper panel rotatable between the stowed upper panel position and a deployed upper panel position, and the deployed upper panel position defining an angle between the upper panel and the horizontal top of the cargo holding area; a substantially planar lower panel position rotatably connected to the door at a second substantially horizontal hinge-line, the lower panel extending substantially parallel to the door in an upward direction from the second horizontal hinge-line when the lower panel is at a stowed lower panel position, the lower panel extending rearwardly from the second horizontal hinge-line when the lower panel is at a deployed lower panel position, and the lower panel rotatable between the stowed lower panel position and the deployed lower panel position; and a linkage rotatably connected to the upper panel, rotatably connected to the lower panel, and hingedly connected to the door; wherein the upper panel is at the deployed upper panel position and the lower panel is at the deployed lower panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for reducing drag and the upper panel is at the stowed upper panel position and the lower panel is at the stowed lower panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for accessing cargo; and wherein the linkage coordinates simultaneous movement between the upper and the lower panels when the upper and the lower panels are moved between the deployed upper and lower panel positions and the stowed upper and lower panel positions. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the linkage includes a central member rotatably connected to an upper member and also rotatably connected to a lower member, wherein the linkage is hingedly connected to the door via the central member at a substantially vertical hinge-line, line wherein the linkage is rotatably connected to the upper panel via the upper member, and wherein the linkage is rotatably connected to the lower panel via the lower member. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the central member of the linkage includes a frame having a first vertical frame member spaced from a second vertical frame member, the frame including an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the upper and the lower frame members extending between the first and the second vertical frame members. 17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein a forward edge of the upper panel is substantially at an elevation of the horizontal top of the cargo holding area when the upper panel is at the deployed upper panel position. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the angle between the upper panel and the horizontal top of the cargo holding area is less than eighteen degrees. 19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the angle between the upper panel and the horizontal top of the cargo holding area is in the range often degrees to eighteen degrees. 20. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the upper panel includes a panel frame and a flexible covering substantially covers the panel frame. 21. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the door is openable from the closed position to an open position when the upper and the lower panels are at the stowed upper and lower panel positions and wherein the upper and the lower panels are near the vertical side of the cargo holding area when the door is at the open position. 22. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the upper panel includes a forward edge and a parallel rearward edge when the upper panel is at the deployed upper panel position. 23. A vehicle that can be converted between a configuration for reducing drag and a configuration for accessing cargo, the vehicle comprising: a cargo holding area including a horizontal top, vertical sides, and a vertical rear end, the rear end including a cargo access opening; a right door and a left door that cover at least a portion of the cargo access opening when the doors are closed; an upper right panel rotatably connected to the right door at a first hinge-line, the upper right panel extending substantially parallel to the right door in a downward direction from the first hinge-line when the upper right panel is at a stowed the upper right panel position, the upper right panel rotatable between the stowed upper right panel position and a deployed upper right panel position, and the upper right panel sloping downwardly and rearwardly from the first hinge-line when the upper right panel is at the deployed upper right panel position; an upper left panel rotatably connected to the left door at second hinge-line, the upper left panel extending substantially parallel to the left door in the downward direction from the second hinge-line when the upper left panel is at a stowed upper left panel position, the upper left panel rotatable between the stowed upper left panel position and a deployed upper left panel position, and the upper left panel sloping downwardly and rearwardly from the second hinge-line when the upper left panel is at the deployed upper left panel position; a lower right panel rotatably connected to the right door at a third hinge-line, the lower right panel extending substantially parallel to the right door in an upward direction from the third hinge-line when the lower right panel is a stowed lower right panel position, the lower right panel extending rearwardly from the third hinge-line when the lower right panel is at deployed lower right panel position, and the lower right panel rotatable between the stowed lower right panel position and the deployed lower right panel position; a lower left panel rotatably connected to the left door at a forth hinge-line, the lower left panel extending substantially parallel to the left door in the upward direction from the fourth hinge-line when the lower left panel is at a stowed lower left panel position, the lower left panel extending rearwardly from the forth hinge-line when the lower left panel is at a deployed lower left panel position, and the lower left panel rotatable between the stowed lower left panel position and the deployed lower left panel position; a right linkage rotatably connected to the upper right panel, rotatably connected to the lower right panel, and hingedly connected to the right door; and a left linkage rotatably connected to the upper left panel, rotatably connected to the lower left panel, and hingedly connected to the left door; wherein the upper right panel is at the deployed upper right panel position and the lower right panel is at the deployed lower right panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for reducing drag and the upper right panel is at the stowed upper right panel position and the lower right panel is at the stowed lower right panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for accessing cargo; wherein the upper left panel is at the deployed upper left panel position and the lower left panel is at the deployed lower left panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for reducing drag and the upper left panel is at the stowed upper left panel position and the lower left panel is at the stowed lower A panel position when the vehicle is in the configuration for accessing cargo; wherein the right linkage coordinates simultaneous movement between the upper and the lower right panels when the upper and the lower panels are moved between the deployed upper and lower right panel positions and the stowed upper and lower right panel positions; and wherein the left linkage coordinates simultaneous movement between the upper and the lower left panels when the upper and the lower left panels are moved between the deployed upper and lower left panel positions and the stowed upper and lower left panel positions.