U.S. patent application number 10/465257 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for aerodynamic underbody device for trailer (and box-truck).
Invention is credited to Schwartz, Karl John.
Application Number | 20040256884 10/465257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33517480 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040256884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz, Karl John |
December 23, 2004 |
AERODYNAMIC UNDERBODY DEVICE FOR TRAILER (AND BOX-TRUCK)
Abstract
A belly pan, or membrane of rigid yet flexible material is of
elongated shaped outline to be mounted along the bottom of
tractor-trailer to improve the aerodynamic performance. The belly
pan is provided with a tapered front portion to be attached to the
frontal portion of the trailer to the approximate location of the
truck hitch. The belly pan extends rearwardly, under the trailer,
between the rear wheels in a rectangular portion and the rearward
edge is affixed to the ICC bumper of the trailer. An aerodynamic
shaped deflector is attached to the frontal portion of the landing
gear of the trailer and attaches to the belly pan for reducing drag
between the underside of the trailer and the support beams of the
landing gear. A similar aerodynamic shaped deflector is attached to
the frontal portion of the ICC bumper and attached to the belly pan
for reducing drag between the underside of the trailer and the
beams of the ICC bumper.
Inventors: |
Schwartz, Karl John; (Grove
City, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Neal T. Hauschild
8211 Chippenham Dr.
Dublin
OH
43016
US
|
Family ID: |
33517480 |
Appl. No.: |
10/465257 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/180.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/88 20130101;
Y02T 10/82 20130101; B62D 35/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/180.4 |
International
Class: |
B62D 035/02 |
Claims
1. A device to be connected to an underside of a trailer having a
landing gear assembly positioned at a front of said trailer and an
ICC bumper positioned at a rear of said trailer comprising: a belly
pan formed of a structural material having sufficient rigidity
removably aid to said underside, said pan being substantially
co-extensive in width and length of said trailer, having a
horizontal, main body; a pair of laterally-projecting, integral
flaps, each for covering and diverting air around said ICC bumper
and said landing gear; a connecting means for connecting said
device to said trailer underside.
2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said belly pan includes at least
one member plate.
3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said belly pan includes a
plurality of member plates with a leading edge and said plurality
of plates are connected by a fastener to each other.
4. A device to be connected to an exposed underside of a trailer,
said underside of said trailer having a series of lateral I-beams
between a truck hitch positioned at a front end of said trailer and
an ICC bumper having a fore side and an aft side at a rear end of
said trailer with a landing gear having a fore side and an aft side
attached to said underside at the front of said trailer and a front
pair of laterally-spaced drive wheels positioned behind said
landing gear and a rear pair of laterally-spaced drive wheels
positioned in front of said ICC bumper, said device comprising: a
belly pan formed of a structural material having sufficient
rigidity removably affixed to said underside, said pan being
substantially co-extensive in width of said trailer, having a
horizontal, main body extending from said buck hitch rearwardly to
said ICC bumper to cover said exposed underside; a pair of
laterally-projecting, removably affixed flaps, each for cove and
diverting air around said ICC bumper and said landing gear; wherein
said flaps include a base for mounting to said belly pan; an angled
front face downwardly and rearwardly extending from the base, a
lower face of said flaps rearwardly extending and with the angled
front face defining an angle less than 180 degrees; a connecting
means for connecting said lower face to a leading edge of said ICC
beer or said landing device.
5. A device as in claim 4, wherein said belly pan includes at least
one member plate.
6. A device as in claim 4, wherein said belly pan includes a
plurality of member plates with a leading edge and said plurality
of plates are connected by a fastener to each other.
7. A combination of a trailer and a device to be connected to an
exposed underside of said trailer, said underside of said trailer
having a series of lateral I-beams between a truck hitch positioned
at a front end of said trailer and an ICC bumper having a fore side
and an aft side at a rear end of said trailer with a landing gear
having a fore side and an aft side attached to said underside at
the front of said trailer and a front pair of laterally-spaced
drive wheels positioned behind said landing gear and a rear pair of
laterally-spaced drive wheels positioned in front of said ICC
bumper, said device comprising: a belly pan formed of a structural
material having sufficient rigidly removably affixed to said
underside, said pan being substantially co-extensive in width of
said trailer, having a horizontal, main body extending from said
truck hitch rearwardly to said ICC bumper to cover said exposed
underside; a landing gear deflector formed of a structural material
having sufficient rigidity removably affixed to said landing gear;
an ICC bumper deflector formed of a structure material having
sufficient rigidity removably affixed to said ICC bumper.
8. A device as in claim 7, wherein said belly pan includes at least
one member plate.
9. A device as in claim 7, wherein said belly pan includes a
plurality of member plates with a leading edge and said plurality
of plates are connected by a fastener to each other.
10. A device as in claim 7 wherein said landing gear deflector
includes a pair of laterally spaced V-channels extend downwardly
from an angled face plate including an upwardly extending mounting
flange for mounting thereof on said of landing gear.
11. A device as in claim 7 wherein said landing gear deflector
includes a pair of laterally spaced V-channels that extend
downwardly from an angled face plate including an upwardly
extending mourning flange for mounting thereof on said belly
pan.
12. A device as in claim 7 wherein said ICC bumper deflector
includes a pair of laterally spaced guards having an exterior end
and an interior end that extend downwardly and rearwardly from said
belly pan including an upwardly extending mounting flange for
mounting thereof on said fore side of ICC bumper.
13. A device as in claim 7 wherein said ICC bumper deflector
includes a pair of laterally spaced guards having an exterior end
and an interior end that extend downwardly and rearwardly from said
belly pan including an upwardly extending mounting flange for
mounting thereof on said belly pan.
14. A device as in claim 12 wherein each guard includes a pair of
triangular plates secured to the exterior end and the interior end
of said guard.
15. A device as in claim 13 wherein each guard includes a pair of
triangular plates secured to the exterior end and the interior end
of said guard.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates generally to the field of a
device for improving the aerodynamic performance of a
tractor-trailer thereby increasing fuel efficiency and more
particularly to an underbody device for reducing wind or air
resistance drag of the undercarriage of a trailer of a truck to
enhance fuel economy.
[0005] The problem of increased fuel consumption of a truck pulling
a tractor-trailer resulting from air resistance or drag at
increased speed is well known. The problem has been addressed in a
number of ways or approaches by the prior art in reference to the
combination of the truck and the trailer positioning, and the rear
of the trailer. None of the offered solutions has addressed the
wind resistance from the undercarriage of the trailer including the
coefficient of drag of the landing gear assembly and the ICC bumper
permanently affixed to the trailer.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 2,126,943 to Best is entitled "Motor Vehicle"
and discloses a conventional motor vehicle with improvements
tending to reduce wind resistance to movement of vehicle bodies.
The disclosed apparatus includes a flat, uninterrupted lower body
surface with steerable road wheels partially housed within the
body. The wheel pockets incorporating closure members or fairings
that are coplanar with the underbody panel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The device of the present invention provides an air drag
reducing belly pan and air deflecting attachments to structural
components of the underside of a trailer and box-trucks to enhance
fuel economy. The conventional underside of a trailer consists of a
series of equally spaced I-beams laterally spaced to support the
floor and cargo of the trailer. Attached to the structure of the
trailer include a landing gear assembly and an ICC bumper typically
formed of square-shaped structural components allowing for a large
frontal area exposed to oncoming air flow. The device of the
present invention minimizes the frontal area exposed to direct air
flow of the undercarriage I-beams and the structural attachments
such as the landing gear and the ICC bumper during trailer
movement. By reducing the fontal area of horizontal and vertical
surfaces of the underside of a trailer by attaching a device
consisting of a streamlined belly pan and air deflectors for the
landing gear and the ICC bumper, air drag resistance will be
reduced and fuel efficiency will be increased.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved air drag reducing device for the underside of a trailer
and box-trucks.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved air drag reducing device that may be conveniently
installed on existing trailers and box-trucks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a trailer cargo body
including an embodiment of the deflector and belly pan of the
present invention attached to the underside of the trailer and the
front landing gear and the ICC bumper;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a horizontal perspective view of the underside of
a trailer of FIG. 1 and the deflector attached to the landing gear
and ICC bumper;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a detailed front elevation perspective view of the
front of the landing gear deflector of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3A is an sectional view of the V-channel along the
center line A-A;
[0014] FIG. 3B is an sectional view of the V-channel along the
center line B-B;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a detailed front elevation perspective of the
front of the ICC bumper deflector of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4A is an sectional view of the V-channel along the
center line C-C;
[0017] FIG. 4B is an sectional view of the V-channel along the
center line D-D.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] A typical elongated, eight wheel, double axel trailer 10 is
shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trailer 10 having a
two pairs of laterally spaced, rear wheels 11 and 12, with radial
tires 13 and 14, the rear wheels having respective axles 15 and
16.
[0019] The trailer 10 is originally equipped with a metal front
edge 21 and a truck/tractor hitch 22, and laterally spaced I-beams
27 forming the elongated undercarriage 23 with parallel side edges
of a left side 25 and a right side 26, leaving the undercarriage 23
exposed to air traveling from the front edge 21 of the trailer 10
to the rear edge 31. The trailer 10 is equipped with a landing gear
30 located to the rear of the truck hitch 22 which is attached to
the I-beams 27 and centered between left side 25 and right side 26.
The trailer 10 is equipped with an ICC bumper 32 located in front
of the rear edge 31 centered between left side 25 and right side
26.
[0020] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B,
landing gear 30 is formed by a horizontal C-channel beam 71 affixed
to an I-beam 27. Vertical C-channel beams 72 and 73 are affixed to
the horizontal C-channel beam 71. A pair of angle support brackets
74 and 75 are affixed to the vertical C-channel beams 72, 73 and
protrude upwardly and rearwardly at a predetermined angle to an I
beam 27.
[0021] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B,
ICC bumper 32 is formed by a horizontal square beam 81 affixed to
an I-beam 27 at the rear edge 31. Vertical square beams 82 and 83
are affixed to the horizontal square beam 81. A pair of angle
support brackets 84 and 55 are affixed to the outer sides of
vertical square beams 82, 83 and support the tail light casings 17
and 18 of the trailer 10.
[0022] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the elongated,
removable, belly pan 40 of the invention is formed of relatively
light in weight material 49, with minimal thickness 46 capable of
diverting air from the undercarriage 23 and exposed I-beams 27 as
well as resisting impact, shock, and cuts to a high degree. Belly
pan 40 comprises an elongated body 41 of uniform thickness, and
adapted to underlie the undercarriage 23 from the front edge 21 and
truck hitch 22 to the rear edge 31 and ICC bumper 32 to
substantially be co-extensive in length with the length of the
exposed undercarriage 23, and from the left side 25 and the right
side 26 so as to substantially fill the space 28 between the left
side 25 and right side 26 and substantially coextensive in width
with the space 29 between the laterally spaced wheels. Space 29 is
formed by a pair of oppositely disposed, identical, arcuate,
cut-outs 46 and 47, forming a neck, 45, of reduced lateral
dimension, the cut-outs providing space for left and right pairs of
rear wheels 11 and 12. The belly pan 40 thus comprises a rearward,
horizontal, portion of rectangular configuration extending from the
ICC bumper 32 forwardly to beyond the landing gear 30 to the truck
hitch 22 and of predetermined, substantially uniform, width, with
parallel side edges 25 and 26, to cover the major part of the
exposed undercarriage 23.
[0023] The belly pan 40 is removably affixed by threaded fasteners
51 to the I-beams 27. Two longitudinally extending rows 53 and 54
of screw holes such as 52 are provided for the threaded fasteners
51 being removably affixed to the I-beams 27, the rows of holes
permitting adjustment in case am portion of the belly pan 40 is
damaged and misaligned.
[0024] A landing gear deflection plate 60 includes a top horizontal
V-channel 61 having holes 69 through which suitable threaded
fasteners provide mounting thereof on the horizontal C-channel beam
70 and a pair of vertical V-channels. The top end of the vertical
V-channels are connected by threaded fasteners to the horizontal
V-channel and are connected to the vertical C-channel beams to
cover the concave channel allowing air to be deflected from the
interior portion of the channel to around the channel and to the
rear of the trailer 10.
[0025] An ICC bumper deflection plate 80 includes a downwardly
rearwardly extending plate 88 affixed by a flange 82 to the belly
pan 40 with threaded fasteners. Triangular side panels 83 and 84
are affixed to the tail light casings 17 and 18 along the leading
edge 85, affixed to the extending plate 81 along the hypotenuse 86
and the top-most edge 87 to the belly pan 40 to reduce the direct
surface area of the tail light casings 17 and 18 and deflect the
air flow from ICC bumper 32.
[0026] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0027] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *