초록 ▼

Systems and methods for reducing drag in vehicles, typically trucks, such as tractor-trailers, have moveable moving drag reducing apparatus. This movable drag reducing apparatus is for movement into and out of various positions, in accordance with the location of the vehicle with respect to its dist

Systems and methods for reducing drag in vehicles, typically trucks, such as tractor-trailers, have moveable moving drag reducing apparatus. This movable drag reducing apparatus is for movement into and out of various positions, in accordance with the location of the vehicle with respect to its distance from an obstacle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle drag reduction system comprising; at least one drag reducing apparatus for placement on a vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle drag reduction system comprising; at least one drag reducing apparatus for placement on a vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position above the height of the vehicle, and a second position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in a retracted position below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position; a mechanism in communication with the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first position and the second position; a navigation management system for providing the location of the vehicle and the location of overhead obstacles along the path of the vehicle; and, a processor, electronically coupled to the navigation management system, the processor programmed to: analyze the location of the vehicle with respect to location of an overhead obstacle along the path of the vehicle; and, signal the movement mechanism for moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions in accordance with the location of the vehicle with respect to the location of the overhead obstacle along the path of the vehicle. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation management system includes at least a portion of a global positioning system (GPS). 3. A drag reducing apparatus comprising: a first sheet including a first curved portion and a second curved portion; a second sheet including a first curved portion, substantially in alignment with the first curved portion of the first sheet, and a second curved portion, substantially in alignment with the second curved portion of the first sheet; and, the first curved portions of the first sheet and the second sheet defining a first end of the apparatus, the first end including an opening for initial air ingress for drag reduction, and the second curved portions of the first sheet and the second sheet defining a second end of the apparatus for air egress, and the first sheet and the second sheet arranged to define an airflow pathway between the first sheet and the second sheet for causing drag reduction. 4. The drag reducing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first sheet is spaced apart from the second sheet at a first distance at the first and, and a second distance at the second end, the first distance greater than the second distance. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first sheet includes openings therein. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: at least one member for joining the first sheet to the second sheet. 7. A vehicle drag reducing system comprising: at least one drag reducing apparatus configured for placement on a vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position at least partially above the height of the vehicle, and a second position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in a retracted position, below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position; a mechanism in communication with the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first position and the second position; an apparatus for providing the location of the vehicle; at least one storage medium for storing a location of at least one overhead obstacle; and, a processor in electronic communication with the apparatus for providing the location of the vehicle, and in electronic communication with the at least one storage medium, the processor programmed to: analyze the location of the vehicle with respect to location of the at least one overhead obstacle; and, signal the movement mechanism for moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions in accordance with the location of the vehicle with respect to the location of at least one overhead obstacle. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the apparatus for providing the location of the vehicle includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one storage medium includes a database for maintaining the location of the at least one overhead obstacle. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor programmed to provide the at least one signal includes the processor programmed to send at least one signal to cause the movement mechanism to move the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is at or within a predetermined distance toward the at least one overhead obstacle. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor programmed to provide the at least one signal includes the processor programmed to send at least one signal to cause the movement mechanism to move the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the second position to the first position when the vehicle is at or outside of a predetermined distance away from the at least one overhead obstacle. 12. A vehicle drag reducing system comprising: at least one drag reducing apparatus configured for placement on a vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position at least partially above the height of the vehicle, and a second position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in a retracted position below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position; a mechanism in communication with the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first position and the second position; a Global Positioning System (GPS) apparatus for providing the location of the vehicle; at least one storage medium for storing a location of at least one overhead obstacle, and at least a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance; and, a processor in electronic communication with the apparatus for providing the location of the vehicle, and in electronic communication with the storage medium, the processor programmed to: analyze the distance between the location of the vehicle and the at the location of the at least one overhead obstacle, and at least one predetermined distance; and, provide at least one signal that will cause the movement mechanism to move the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions depending on the analyzed distance. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the Global Positioning System (GPS) includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one storage medium includes a database for maintaining the location of the at least one overhead obstacle and a database for maintaining the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor programmed to analyze the distance between the location of the vehicle and the at the location of the at least one overhead obstacle, and at least one predetermined distance, includes the processor being programmed to compare the distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the at least one overhead obstacle and at least one predetermined distance. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor programmed to provide the at least one signal includes the processor programmed to send at least one signal to cause the movement mechanism to move the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is at or within the first one predetermined distance. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor programmed to provide the at least one signal includes the processor programmed to send at least one signal to cause the movement mechanism to move the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the second position to the first position when the vehicle is at or outside of the second predetermined distance. 18. A method for controlling vehicle drag comprising: providing at least one drag reducing apparatus on a vehicle, the vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position at least partially above the height of the vehicle, and a second position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in a retracted position below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position; maintaining at least one database for storing a location of at least one overhead obstacle; obtaining the location of the vehicle; analyzing the location of the vehicle with respect to the location of the at least one overhead obstacle; and, moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions in accordance with the location of the vehicle with respect to the location of at least one overhead obstacle. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining the location of the vehicle is by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus includes moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is at or within a predetermined distance toward the at least one overhead obstacle. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus includes moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the second position to the first position when the vehicle is at or outside of a predetermined distance away from the at least one overhead obstacle. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the second position includes the at least one drag reducing apparatus on the vehicle being at a height at least proximate to the height of the vehicle. 23. A method for controlling vehicle drag comprising: providing at least one drag reducing apparatus configured for placement on a vehicle having a height, the at least one drag reducing apparatus for moving between a first position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in an extended position at least partially above the height of the vehicle, and a second position, where the at least one drag reducing apparatus is in a retracted position at a height below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position; maintaining at least one database for storing a location of at least one overhead obstacle, and at least a first predetermined distance and a second predetermined distance; determining the location of the vehicle by using a computer programmed with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology; analyzing the distance between the location of the vehicle and the at the location of the at least one overhead obstacle, and at least one of the first or the second predetermined distances and, moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions depending on the analyzed distance. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein analyzing the distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the at least one overhead obstacle, and at least one of the first or second predetermined distances, includes comparing the distance between the location of the vehicle and the location of the at least one overhead obstacle, and at least one of the first or second predetermined distances. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions depending on the analyzed distance, includes moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the first position to the second position when the vehicle is at or within the first predetermined distance. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus between the first and second positions depending on the analyzed distance, includes moving the at least one drag reducing apparatus from the second position to the first position when the vehicle is at or outside of the second predetermined distance. 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the second position includes the at least one drag reducing apparatus being at a height at least proximate to the height of the vehicle. 28. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a tractor-trailer. 29. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a trailer. 30. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a tractor. 31. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a self-propelled vehicle. 32. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the second position is at a height proximate to the height of the vehicle. 33. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the second position is at a height at or below the height of the vehicle. 34. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus, in the retracted position, below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position, is at a height proximate to the height of the vehicle. 35. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus, in the retracted position, below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position, is at a height at or below the height of the vehicle. 36. The system of claim 7, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a trailer, a tractor, a tractor-trailer, and a self propelled vehicle. 37. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus, in the retracted position, below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position, is at a height proximate to the height of the vehicle. 38. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one drag reducing apparatus, in the retracted position, below the height of the at least one drag reducing apparatus in the first position, is at a height at or below the height of the vehicle. 39. The system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a trailer, a tractor, a tractor-trailer, and a self propelled vehicle. 40. The method of claim 18, wherein the second position includes the at least one drag reducing apparatus on the vehicle being at a height at or below the height of the vehicle. 41. The method of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a trailer, a tractor, a tractor-trailer, and a self propelled vehicle. 42. The method of claim 23, wherein the second position includes the at least one drag reducing apparatus on the vehicle being at a height at or below the height of the vehicle. 43. The method of claim 23, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a trailer, a tractor, a tractor-trailer, and a self propelled vehicle.