Drag reducer for semi-trailer
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0624482
(2012-09-21)
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등록번호 |
US-8602485
(2013-12-10)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
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The invention is a drag reducer for use in commercial semitrailers, trucks, cargo containers, rail cars, and the like. The drag reducer takes the form of a hollow fluid conduit that collects fast moving air from under the trailer while the truck is moving at speed and forces it through vertical holl
The invention is a drag reducer for use in commercial semitrailers, trucks, cargo containers, rail cars, and the like. The drag reducer takes the form of a hollow fluid conduit that collects fast moving air from under the trailer while the truck is moving at speed and forces it through vertical hollow fluid conduit up and around the sides of the trailer's rear door. Small holes facing outward from the vertical hollow fluid conduit eject the air in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion, thereby reducing overall drag on the trailer. At least two hollow fluid conduits are contemplated, with at least one hollow fluid conduit being vertically placed, and at least one hollow fluid conduit being placed horizontally in each system.
대표청구항
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1. A system for reducing drag on an oblong vehicle comprising: (a) a pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits;(b) each of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits being affixed to the rear surface of an oblong vehicle along one of the two rear vertical edges of said oblong vehicle;(c) said pair of
1. A system for reducing drag on an oblong vehicle comprising: (a) a pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits;(b) each of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits being affixed to the rear surface of an oblong vehicle along one of the two rear vertical edges of said oblong vehicle;(c) said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits having a plurality of holes along its length in a direction perpendicular to and outward from the axial centerline of said oblong vehicle;(d) each of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits having a cap at its upper vertical end;(e) a pair of axial hollow fluid conduits;(f) each of said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits being affixed to the underside of said oblong vehicle;(g) each of said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits having an opening, said opening being near its first end;(h) said openings being oriented toward the front surface of said oblong vehicle; and(i) each of said pair of said axial hollow fluid conduits being connected at its second end in fluid communication with the lower vertical end of one of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits;whereby airflow from the forward motion of said oblong vehicle is forced into said openings and directed through said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits and into said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits and out of said plurality of holes in said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits in a direction perpendicular to and outward from the centerline of said oblong vehicle, thereby reducing drag on said oblong vehicle. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits is in fluid communication with one of said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, each via one of a pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits, and where each of said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits is affixed to the rear surface of said oblong vehicle along a portion of the bottom edge of said rear surface. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits is connected to said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits by a pair of right-angle fluid conduits that are oriented to connect vertical flow to horizontal flow at the lower outer corners of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle. 4. The system of claim 2 wherein said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits is connected to said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits by a pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits, the first of said right-angle fluid conduits of each of said pair of combined systems converting horizontal flow to vertical flow at a point along the lower edge of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle, and the second of said right-angle fluid conduits of each of said pair of combined systems converting vertical flow to axial flow around the bottom edge of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle. 5. The system of claim 4 wherein both of said pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits and said pair of axial fluid conduits are located horizontally along the bottom and rear surfaces of said oblong vehicle at a pair of positions about one third of the distance from the outer edges of said oblong vehicle to the axial centerline of said oblong vehicle. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein: (a) each of said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits is in fluid communication with one of said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, each via one of said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits, and where each of said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits is affixed to the rear surface of said oblong vehicle along a portion of the bottom edge of said rear surface;(b) said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits is connected to said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits by a pair of right-angle fluid conduits that are oriented to connect vertical flow to horizontal flow at the lower outer corners of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle;(c) said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits is connected to said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits by a pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits, the first of said right-angle fluid conduits of each of said pair of combined systems converting horizontal flow to vertical flow at a point along the lower edge of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle, and the second of said right-angle fluid conduits of each of said pair of combined systems converting vertical flow to axial flow around the bottom edge of the rear surface of said oblong vehicle; and(d) both of said pair of combined systems of two right-angle fluid conduits and said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits are located horizontally along the bottom and rear surfaces of said oblong vehicle at a pair of positions about one third of the distance from the outer edges to the centerline of said oblong vehicle. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said openings further comprises a plurality of branch fluid conduits; each of said plurality of branch fluid conduits being curved outward from said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits to open in a forward or forward-angled direction with respect to the direction of forward motion of said oblong vehicle. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein each set of said plurality of branch fluid conduits associated with each of said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits is affixed to and in fluid communication with two branch fluid conduits. 9. The system of claim 5 wherein each of said openings further comprises a plurality of branch fluid conduits; each of said plurality of branch fluid conduits being curved outward from the axial hollow fluid conduits to open in a forward or forward-angled direction with respect to the direction of forward motion of said oblong vehicle. 10. The system of claim 9 wherein each set of said plurality of branch fluid conduits associated with each axial hollow fluid conduit is affixed to and in fluid communication with two branch fluid conduits. 11. The system of claim 8 wherein said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits, said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, and said pluralities of branch fluid conduits are made of PVC and are joined or fastened by adhesives. 12. The system of claim 8 wherein said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits, said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, and said pluralities of branch fluid conduits are made of steel, aluminum, or other metal, and are joined or fastened by welding. 13. The system of claim 10 wherein said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits, said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits, said right-angle fluid conduits, and said pluralities of branch fluid conduits are made of PVC and are joined or fastened by adhesives. 14. The system of claim 10 wherein said pair of vertical hollow fluid conduits, said pair of axial hollow fluid conduits, said pair of horizontal hollow fluid conduits, said right-angle fluid conduits, and said pluralities of branch fluid conduits are made of steel, aluminum, or other metal, and are joined or fastened by welding.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
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Fairburn, Douglas S.; Fairburn, June M.; Jadlowski, Julian P., Air channeler for reducing wind resistance and method of use.
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Fitzgerald, James P., Cargo vehicle with drag reduction.
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Keller, Russell D., Drag reduction channel apparatus for roadway vehicles.
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Shahbazi,Khosrow, Methods for reducing the aerodynamic drag of vehicles.
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Breakfield, Kenneth R., Reduced wind resistant haulage vehicle apparatus.
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Otterstrom, Gary G., System and method to reduce the aerodynamic force on a vehicle.
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Moscoso Gómez, Joaquin, System for reducing fuel consumption in vehicles.
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Shermer, Carl L., Trailer drag reduction system.
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Campbell, Robert, Vehicle drag reducer.
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