IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0044220
(2016-02-16)
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등록번호 |
US-9950752
(2018-04-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Baker, Leonard W.
- Haan, Brian N.
- Mullen, Brandon S.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
109 |
초록
▼
An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a top panel configured to be coupled to a top portion of the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally along
An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The drag reduction system includes a top panel configured to be coupled to a top portion of the rear swing door to extend generally horizontally along a top portion of the rear frame of the trailer. The drag reduction system also includes a folding mechanism coupled to the top panel to move the top panel between a fully-deployed position wherein the top panel is configured to extend rearwardly generally away from the rear end of the trailer and a collapsed position wherein the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer. The folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a door locking mechanism of the trailer.
대표청구항
▼
1. An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and the rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising: a top panel configured to be coupled to a top portion of a rear swing door of the trailer to extend genera
1. An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and the rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising: a top panel configured to be coupled to a top portion of a rear swing door of the trailer to extend generally horizontally along a top portion of a rear frame assembly of the trailer; anda folding mechanism coupled to the top panel to move the top panel between (i) a fully-deployed position wherein the top panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and (ii) a fully-folded position wherein a bottom surface of at least a portion of the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer,wherein the folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a door locking mechanism of the trailer, and wherein the folding mechanism is automatically actuated as a result of movement of the door locking mechanism. 2. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 1, wherein movement of a handle of the door locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position automatically moves the top panel from the fully-deployed position to the fully-folded position. 3. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 2, wherein movement of the handle of the door locking mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position automatically moves the top panel from the fully-folded position to the fully-deployed position. 4. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 1, wherein the folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a lock-rod of the door locking mechanism, and wherein rotational movement of the lock-rod automatically actuates the folding mechanism. 5. An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and the rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising: a top panel configured to be coupled to a top portion of a rear swing door of the trailer to extend generally horizontally along a top portion of a rear frame assembly of the trailer; anda folding mechanism coupled to the top panel to move the top panel between (i) a fully-deployed position wherein the top panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and (ii) a fully-folded position wherein a bottom surface of at least a portion of the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer,wherein the folding mechanism is configured to be coupled to a door locking mechanism of the trailer, and wherein the folding mechanism is automatically actuated as a result of movement of the door locking mechanism, andwherein the folding mechanism includes (i) a linkage assembly configured to be coupled to a vertical lock-rod of door locking mechanism, (ii) a vertically-extending deployment rod coupled to the linkage assembly of the trailer, and (ii) a support arm coupled to the deployment rod, wherein the top panel is supported by the support arm when the top panel is in the fully-deployed position. 6. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 5, wherein rotation of the vertical lock-rod moves the linkage assembly linearly, and wherein linear movement of the linkage assembly rotates the deployment rod. 7. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 6, wherein the support arm is rigidly coupled to the deployment rod at a first end, and wherein the support arm is movable between an extended position wherein the support arm extends rearwardly from the trailer to support the top panel thereon, and a stowed position wherein a distal end of the support arm is configured to be positioned generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer. 8. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 7, wherein rotation of the deployment rod causes the support arm to move between the extended position and the stowed position. 9. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 7, further comprising a roller coupled to the distal end of the support arm. 10. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 5, wherein the linkage assembly includes a manual release mechanism configured to be moved from (i) a locked position wherein the linkage assembly is configured to translate rotational movement of the lock-rod to rotational movement of the deployment rod to (ii) an unlocked position wherein the linkage assembly is not configured to translate rotational movement of the lock-rod to rotational movement of the deployment rod. 11. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 5, wherein the linkage assembly includes a first link coupled to the deployment rod, a second link coupled to the first link and configured to be coupled to the lock-rod of the door locking mechanism, and a manual release mechanism coupled to the first and second links, wherein the manual release mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the first and second links are not movable relative to each other and an unlocked position wherein the first and second links are configured to move relative to each other. 12. An aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door, the drag reduction system comprising: a top panel configured to be pivotably coupled to a top portion of the rear swing door of the trailer to extend generally horizontally along a top portion of the rear frame assembly of the trailer, wherein the top panel is movable between a fully-deployed position wherein the top panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and a fully-folded position wherein a bottom surface of at least a portion of the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer,wherein the top panel includes an upper portion having a forward edge positioned above a top edge of the rear swing door and generally aligned with a top edge of the rear frame assembly of the trailer and a lower portion having a forward edge positioned generally above the top edge of the rear swing door and generally below the top edge of the rear frame assembly of the trailer, wherein the upper portion of the top panel defines a first plane in the deployed position and the lower portion of the top panel defines a second plane in the deployed position that is spaced-apart from the first plane. 13. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are generally parallel to each other. 14. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein the forward edge of the lower portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to and below rear upper identification lights of the trailer. 15. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein the top panel further includes a step coupled to and positioned between each of the upper and lower portions. 16. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 15, wherein the step extends diagonally outwardly from a forward edge of the top panel to a rearward edge of the top panel. 17. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein the entire forward edge of the lower portion is adjacent to and positioned generally above the top edge of the rear swing door. 18. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein the top panel is configured to pivot between the fully-deployed position and the fully-folded positions about a pivot axis, and wherein the pivot axis is angled relative to the top edge of the rear frame assembly. 19. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 18, wherein the pivot axis is angled toward a rearward edge of the top panel as the pivot axis extends from the outer edge to the inner edge of the top panel. 20. A method of operating a top panel of an aerodynamic rear drag reduction system configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door, the steps comprising: automatically moving the top panel between a fully-deployed position wherein the top panel is configured to extend generally rearwardly away from the rear end of the trailer and a fully-folded position wherein the top panel is configured to lie generally adjacent the rear swing door of the trailer when a door locking mechanism of the trailer is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. 21. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 12, wherein upper portion is positioned outwardly from the lower portion. 22. The aerodynamic rear drag reduction system of claim 1, wherein the folding mechanism includes a support arm having a roller at a distal end thereof, and wherein the top panel is engaged with and supported on the top panel when the top panel is in the fully-deployed position.
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