IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0305642
(2014-06-16)
|
등록번호 |
US-9283996
(2016-03-15)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Meredith, Sheldon Kent
- Kosseifi, Mario
- Pastore, John
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along
An aerodynamic drag reduction device for use on an over-the-road cargo vehicle. The vehicle has a prismatically shaped cargo area, which includes a rear face of the cargo area substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The device comprises a plurality of resilient prongs arranged along a rear edge of the vehicle body, extending from a respective fixed end secured to the vehicle body rearward in a flow-wise direction beyond the rear edge of the vehicle body to a respective free end. Each prong is separated from an adjacent prong in the plurality, and each is flexible to permit deflection, under the influence of airflow over the vehicle at a predetermined speed, above and below a first plane defined by the surface of the vehicle to which the plurality of prongs is secured. Each prong is further resistant to deflecting in a direction parallel to the first plane.
대표청구항
▼
1. An aerodynamic drag reduction device, the aerodynamic drag reduction device comprising: a fixed portion;a free portion; anda plurality of prongs, the plurality of prongs configured to be mounted to a rear portion of a cargo transporter, the plurality of prongs being resilient, the plurality of pr
1. An aerodynamic drag reduction device, the aerodynamic drag reduction device comprising: a fixed portion;a free portion; anda plurality of prongs, the plurality of prongs configured to be mounted to a rear portion of a cargo transporter, the plurality of prongs being resilient, the plurality of prongs extending from the fixed portion rearward beyond the rear portion of the cargo transporter when mounted to the cargo transporter and in a deployed position, a portion of each of the plurality of prongs being separated from each other. 2. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein a shaft of one of the plurality of prongs comprises a perpendicular cross-section, a first neutral axis associated with the perpendicular cross-section being parallel to a first plane, the first plane being defined by a surface of the vehicle adjacent to which the plurality of prongs is held, the plurality of prongs being resistant to deflection in a direction parallel to the first plane, an area moment of inertia associated with the perpendicular cross-section being a minimum around the first neutral axis. 3. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a plurality of materials, each of the plurality of materials having a different modulus of elasticity. 4. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a uniform cross-section. 5. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a tapered cross-section. 6. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in width. 7. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in height. 8. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs has a radiused corner. 9. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is secured to the cargo transporter to enable repositioning from the deployed position in which the free portion extends beyond the rear portion of the cargo transporter to a retracted position in which the free portion is nearer to the rear portion of the cargo transporter than in the deployed position. 10. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is slideable in a flow-wise direction associated with the cargo transporter, thereby enabling the plurality of prongs to be repositioned. 11. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is secured to a rotating frame member, the rotating frame member enabling the aerodynamic drag reduction device to be rotated between the deployed position and a retracted position. 12. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is secured to a rotating frame member, the rotating frame member enabling the aerodynamic drag reduction device to be rotated such that the plurality of prongs extend in a rearward direction from the cargo transporter. 13. An aerodynamic drag reduction device, comprising: a spine;a plurality of prongs, the plurality of prongs being resilient, each of the plurality of prongs comprising a fixed portion, an elongated shaft, and a free portion, the fixed portion being attached to the spine, the free portion opposing the fixed portion on the elongated shaft, a portion of each of the plurality of prongs being separated from each other. 14. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a perpendicular cross-section, a first neutral axis associated with the perpendicular cross-section being parallel to a first plane, the spine being disposed in the first plane, the plurality of prongs being resistant to deflection in a direction parallel to the first plane, an area moment of inertia associated with the perpendicular cross-section being a minimum around the first neutral axis. 15. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a plurality of materials, each of the plurality of materials having a different modulus of elasticity. 16. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a uniform cross-section. 17. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a tapered cross-section. 18. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in width. 19. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in height. 20. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs has a radiused corner. 21. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises vulcanized rubber. 22. A cargo transporter comprising: a cargo area, the cargo area comprising a rear portion, the rear portion being disposed rearward of the cargo transporter with respect to a forward direction of travel associated with the cargo transporter; andan aerodynamic drag reduction device mounted to the rear portion of the cargo area, the aerodynamic drag reduction device comprising a plurality of prongs, each of the plurality of prongs having a fixed portion, an elongated shaft, and a free portion, the fixed portion being configured to be mounted to the rear portion of the cargo area, the free portion opposing the fixed portion on the elongated shaft, the fixed portion extending rearward beyond the rear portion of the cargo area when mounted to the cargo transporter and in a deployed position, a portion of each of the plurality of prongs being separated from each other, the plurality of prongs being flexible. 23. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is secured to the cargo transporter to enable repositioning of the aerodynamic drag reduction device from the deployed position in which the free portion extends beyond the cargo area to a retracted position in which the free portion is nearer to the rear portion of the cargo area than in the deployed position. 24. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is slideable in a flow-wise direction associated with the cargo transporter, thereby enabling the aerodynamic drag reduction device to be repositioned. 25. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is secured to a rotating frame member, the rotating frame member enabling the aerodynamic drag reduction device to be rotated between the deployed position and a retracted position. 26. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the aerodynamic drag reduction device is secured to a rotating frame member, the rotating frame member enabling the aerodynamic drag reduction device to be rotated such that the plurality of prongs extends in a rearward direction from the cargo transporter. 27. The cargo transporter according to claim 23, wherein a rotating frame member is securable with the aerodynamic drag reduction device in the deployed position. 28. The cargo transporter according to claim 23, wherein a rotating frame member is securable with the aerodynamic drag reduction device in the retracted position. 29. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a perpendicular cross-section, a first neutral axis associated with the perpendicular cross-section being parallel to a first plane, the first plane being defined by a surface of the vehicle at the rear portion, the plurality of prongs being resistant to deflection in a direction parallel to the first plane, an area moment of inertia associated with the perpendicular cross-section being a minimum around the first neutral axis. 30. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a plurality of materials, each of the plurality of materials having a different modulus of elasticity. 31. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a uniform cross-section. 32. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs comprises a tapered cross-section. 33. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in width. 34. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs is tapered in height. 35. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of prongs has a radiused corner. 36. The aerodynamic drag reduction device according to claim 1, wherein the cargo transporter comprises one of a vehicle, truck, trailer, tractor-trailer, cargo vehicle. 37. The cargo transporter according to claim 22, wherein the cargo transporter comprises one of a vehicle, truck, trailer, tractor-trailer, cargo vehicle.
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