U.S. patent application number 13/828679 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for wind deflector for a tank trailer.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mac LTT, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is MAC LTT, INC.. Invention is credited to James A. Maiorana, Edward D. Mansell.
Application Number | 20140265436 13/828679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51524304 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140265436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maiorana; James A. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
WIND DEFLECTOR FOR A TANK TRAILER
Abstract
A wind deflector assembly formed about or part of a hatch
assembly surrounding an access port of a tank trailer to control
wind flow about the hatch assembly to reduce wind drag on the tank
trailer. The wind deflector assembly includes a first downwardly
forwardly directed smooth surface extending from the hatch assembly
toward the front end of the tank trailer and preferably includes a
second smooth surface extending downwardly rearwardly from the
hatch assembly toward the rear end of the tank trailer. An
intervening opening is formed between the spaced wind deflecting
surfaces for receiving the access port therein and maybe covered by
a smooth closure member.
Inventors: |
Maiorana; James A.;
(Hartville, OH) ; Mansell; Edward D.; (Ravenna,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAC LTT, INC. |
Kent |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mac LTT, Inc.
Kent
OH
|
Family ID: |
51524304 |
Appl. No.: |
13/828679 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/180.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 35/001
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/180.4 |
International
Class: |
B62D 35/00 20060101
B62D035/00 |
Claims
1. In combination a tank trailer and a wind deflector therefor
comprising: a tank having walls defining an interior chamber and an
upper access port located between front and rear ends of the tank;
a hatch assembly provided on one of the tank walls adjacent the
access port and extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the
one of the tank walls; and a first wind deflector mounted on the
tank adjacent the hatch assembly and sloping downwardly and
forwardly from the hatch assembly toward the front end of the tank
for controlling air flow around the hatch assembly.
2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the first wind
deflector has a generally semi-conical configuration with a
continuous smooth curved outer surface.
3. The combination defined in claim 1 including a plurality of tabs
for attaching the wind deflector to the tank.
4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the hatch assembly
includes a pair of spaced front and rear end walls defining a space
therebetween; wherein the access port is located in the space
between the spaced end walls; and wherein the first wind deflector
is attached to the front end wall of the hatch assembly and tapers
downwardly forwardly therefrom toward the front end of the
tank.
5. The combination defined in claim 4 including a sealant extending
along edges of the first wind deflector which mates with the tank
and the hatch assembly front end wall.
6. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein a second wind
deflector is attached to the rear end wall of the hatch assembly
and tapers downwardly rearwardly therefrom toward the rear end of
the tank.
7. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein at least the front
end wall of the hatch assembly has a generally semi-circular top
edge; and wherein an end periphery of the first wind deflector is
complementary to the shape and size of the top edge of said front
end wall of the hatch assembly.
8. In combination a tank trailer and a wind deflector therefor
comprising: a tank having walls defining an interior chamber and an
upper access port located between front and rear ends of the tank;
a hatch assembly adjacent the access port and extending upwardly
from the tank; and a first wind deflector mounted on the tank
adjacent the hatch assembly and sloping downwardly forwardly from
the hatch assembly toward the front end of the tank for controlling
air flow around the hatch assembly; wherein the first wind
deflector is formed as part of a wind deflector assembly which
includes a second wind deflector connected to the first wind
deflector by spaced side members which define an intervening
opening between the first and second wind deflectors; wherein the
access port is located in the intervening opening; and wherein said
first and second wind deflectors each have a substantially smooth
surface tapered downwardly toward the tank in opposite directions
from each other to provide aerodynamic surfaces for the hatch
assembly.
9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the first and second
wind deflectors of the wind deflector assembly each has a generally
smooth semi conical configuration terminating in a substantially
rounded nose attached to the tank.
10. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the wind deflector
assembly includes a pair of spaced upstanding end walls defining
the intervening space; and in which each of the first and second
wind deflectors is attached to a respective one of said end
walls.
11. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the wind deflector
assembly includes a moveable cover member for selectively covering
the intervening opening between the first and second wind
deflectors.
12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein the cover member is
pivotably attached to the wind deflector assembly.
13. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the tank has a pair
of access ports spaced along an upper portion of the tank between
the front and rear ends of the tank; and in which the wind
deflector assembly includes a pair of spaced intervening openings
for receiving a respective one of the pair of hatch assemblies
therein; and in which a generally smooth curved surface extends
over the pair of intermediate openings.
14. In combination a tank trailer and a wind deflector therefor
comprising: a tank having walls defining an interior chamber and an
upper access port located between front and rear ends of the tank;
a hatch assembly adjacent the access port and extending upwardly
from the tank; and wherein the hatch assembly includes a pair of
spaced front and rear end walls defining a space therebetween;
wherein the access port is located in the space between the spaced
end walls; a first wind deflector mounted on the tank adjacent the
hatch assembly and sloping downwardly forwardly from the hatch
assembly toward the front end of the tank for controlling air flow
around the hatch assembly; and wherein the first wind deflector is
attached to the front end wall of the hatch assembly and tapers
downwardly forwardly therefrom toward the front end of the tank;
and wherein the first wind deflector has a substantially planar
rear edge which conforms to a front face of the front end wall of
the hatch assembly, a bottom edge which conforms to a top wall of
the tank, and a smooth curved front surface having a substantially
semi-conical configuration.
15. In combination a tank trailer and a wind deflector therefor
comprising: a tank having walls defining an interior chamber and an
upper access port located between front and rear ends of the tank;
a hatch assembly adjacent the access port and extending upwardly
from the tank; and a first wind deflector mounted on the tank
adjacent the hatch assembly and sloping downwardly forwardly from
the hatch assembly toward the front end of the tank for controlling
air flow around the hatch assembly; wherein the first wind
deflector has a generally truncated configuration with a generally
triangular-shaped central section, a pair of generally
triangular-shaped side sections and a pair of generally
triangular-shaped intervening sections.
16. A wind deflector assembly for mounting on an upper surface of a
tank of a tank trailer of the type having an access port on the
tank communicating with an interior storage chamber of the tank;
said wind deflector assembly comprising a pair of wind deflectors
connected by side members and separated by an intervening opening
adapted to receive the access port therein; and wherein each of the
wind deflectors have a smooth downwardly tapered surface extending
in opposite directions from each other for controlling wind flown
around the access port when the wind deflector assembly is mounted
on the tank.
17. The wind deflector assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the
wind deflector assembly includes a pair of spaced upstanding end
walls defining the intervening opening; and in which each of the
first and second wind deflectors is attached to a respective one of
said end walls.
18. The wind deflector assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein the
wind deflector assembly includes a moveable cover member for
selectively covering the intervening opening between the first and
second wind deflectors.
19. The wind deflector assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein the
cover member is pivotably attached to the wind deflector
assembly.
20. A wind deflector assembly for mounting on an upper surface of a
tank of a tank trailer having a pair of access ports spaced along
an upper portion of the tank between front and rear ends of the
tank; said wind deflector assembly includes a pair of hatch
assemblies adapted to be located adjacent the pair of access ports,
each hatch assembly having an opening for receiving a respective
one of the pair of hatch assemblies therein, each of said openings
being defined by a pair of spaced walls; a generally smooth surface
extending between the pair of openings; and a wind deflector
attached to one of the spaced walls of each of the hatch
assemblies, said wind deflectors extending in opposite directions
from each other.
21. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the first wind
deflector has a first end and a terminal nose remote therefrom; and
wherein the first end of the first wind deflector is disposed
adjacent the hatch assembly and the nose is disposed remote from
the hatch assembly; and the nose is further disposed adjacent the
exterior surface of the one of the tank walls to which the first
wind deflector is mounted.
22. The combination as defined in claim 21, wherein the terminal
nose is rounded.
23. The combination as defined in claim 21, wherein the first wind
deflector includes a bottom edge which extends between the first
wind deflector's first end and the nose; and the bottom edge is
disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the one of the tank walls
to which the first wind deflector is mounted.
24. The combination as defined in claim 23, wherein the one of the
tank walls is an upper wall of the tank and the bottom edge of the
first wind deflector and the nose thereof are secured to the upper
wall of the tank.
25. The combination as defined in claim 21, wherein the first wind
deflector includes a sloped surface that is adapted to be inclined
at an angle of less than 90.degree. relative to the one of the tank
walls to which the first wind deflector is mounted.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to tank trailers and in particular to
aerodynamic air deflectors mounted about a hatch assembly which
surrounds one or more access ports on the top of the tank body to
reduce air drag and increase fuel efficiency.
[0003] 2. Background Information
[0004] It has become increasingly important to increase fuel
efficiency of all vehicles including tank trailers to reduce the
operating costs of trucking companies. One way of increasing fuel
efficiency is to make the vehicles, including the cab and trailers
pulled thereby, more aerodynamic thereby reducing wind drag and
increasing fuel efficiency.
[0005] A considerable number of attachments have been made and used
on the cabs and trailers to provide more aerodynamic surfaces, many
of which have proved highly effective. However, one area that has
yet to be addressed is the reduction of air drag caused by hatch
assemblies which surround the access ports located on top of the
tank body to provide access into the interior of the tank body.
These hatch assemblies usually will have some type of upstanding
walls or structure which are adjacent to and surround the access
port openings to protect the hatch opening and to facilitate the
loading of the material through the access port into the tank
storage chamber. Although these hatch assemblies do not provide the
large surface areas as do other portions of the tank body or cab
such as the front blunt areas thereof, they do provide another area
which causes wind drag thereby reducing fuel efficiency. Therefore,
if the wind drag caused by these hatch assemblies can be reduced or
nearly eliminated, it adds to the efficiency of the tank trailer in
reducing fuel consumption.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The wind deflector of the present invention provides a
simple yet effective structure for reducing the wind drag caused by
the hatch assemblies on the top of tank trailers thereby increasing
fuel efficiency.
[0007] One aspect of the present invention is to provide an
aerodynamic wind deflector having a smooth downwardly tapered
surface which is mounted adjacent the front area of a hatch
assembly, and which also can be located adjacent the rear portion
of the hatch assembly to reduce the formation of eddy currents,
which wind deflectors in combination, reduce drag caused by the
upstanding members of the hatch assemblies.
[0008] Another feature of the present invention is to form the wind
deflectors as an integral member providing the protective end walls
of a hatch assembly in combination with front and rear aerodynamic
wind deflector surfaces connected by side members which form an
intermediate opening between the end walls in which is received the
access port of a tank trailer.
[0009] A further feature of the invention is to provide a wind
deflector having front and rear aerodynamic surfaces which is
adaptable for tank bodies having one or more access ports by
providing corresponding one or more intermediate openings between
the front and rear aerodynamic wind deflector surfaces in
combination with a smooth continuous surface extending between
spaced pairs of intermediate openings to provide for a continuous
smooth aerodynamic surface extending from the front deflector
surface to the rear deflector surface.
[0010] Still another feature of the present invention is to form
the air deflector of a rigid preferably metallic material, which
can be easily attached to the skin of the tank body or directly to
the tank body by rivets or other fasteners afterwhich a sealant is
installed around the edges of the wind deflectors to provide for a
smooth continuous surface around the deflectors when merging with
the existing structure of the hatch assembly and tank body.
[0011] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide
coverings pivotably or slideably mounted on the wind deflector
assembly for covering the access port or ports during transit
further reducing the effects of wind drag.
[0012] Still another feature of the present invention is to form
the wind deflector of a single sheet of rigid material, which has a
rear planar edge configured to be complementary to an existing end
wall of a hatch assembly for securing to the end wall and to the
tank body providing an easy retrofit to the existing hatch
assemblies of tank trailers.
[0013] These features and aspects of the present invention are
achieved by providing a wind deflector assembly which is mounted on
or formed as part of the upper surface of a tank trailer, the
general nature of which may also be stated as including one or a
pair of wind deflectors mounted on the end members of a hatch
assembly which are separated by an intervening opening which
provides access to an access port therein. These wind deflectors
have downwardly tapered surfaces to reduce air drag thereby
increasing fuel efficiency during the transport of the tank
trailer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated of the
best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles,
are set forth in the following description and are shown in the
drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set
forth in the appended claims.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a tank
trailer showing a usual prior art hatch assembly mounted on the top
thereof.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
prior art hatch assembly shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to
FIG. 2 showing another type of prior art hatch assembly.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a tank
trailer having a first embodiment of the wind deflector of the
present invention mounted thereon.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the wind
deflector of FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the
wind deflector of FIG. 5 attached to the top of a tank trailer.
[0021] FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the wind
deflector of FIG. 6 with a closure member shown in full closed
position and in dot dash open position.
[0022] FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view with
portions broken away of another type of mounting arrangement for
the wind deflectors of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of
another type of hatch assembly with a pair of modified wind
deflectors mounted thereon.
[0024] FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view
showing a second embodiment of the wind deflector of the present
invention prior to being mounted on the top of a tank trailer.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing
another embodiment of the wind deflector assembly of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the wind
deflector assembly shown in FIG. 11 with a pair of closure members
in open position.
[0027] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art tank trailer and cab having
one type of hatch assembly mounted thereon on which the wind
deflector assembly of the present invention will be retrofitted.
This prior art tank trailer is indicated generally at 1, and is of
a usual construction consisting of an elongated, usually
cylindrical tank body 3, which is supported by one or more pairs of
wheel assemblies 5 and will be equipped with various front support
legs 7, and will have various valves and other controls indicated
generally at 9. The types of controls 9 and shape of body 3 will be
dependent upon the particular fluid or fluidized material to be
transported within a hollow interior of tank body 3. A usual cab 8
provides the pulling force for the tank trailer.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows one type of prior art access port 11 formed in
the top wall portion 13 of cylindrical wall 15 which forms tank
body 3 to provide access to an interior chamber of the tank body.
Access port 11 is protected on many tank bodies by various hatch
assemblies, one type of which is indicated at 17 and is shown in
FIG. 2. Another type of protective hatch assembly is shown in FIG.
3 and is indicated generally at 19. These are just two examples of
prior art hatch assemblies present on many tank trailers which can
be retrofitted with the wind deflector assembly of the present
invention.
[0030] Prior art hatch assembly 17 includes spaced parallel side
members 21 which extend between a pair of end walls 23. End walls
23 have a generally rectangular configuration with a flat top edge
24 and straight side edges 26 connected by an angled edge 28. End
walls 23 define an intervening opening 27 which provides access to
a hatch covering 29 which removably covers access port 11.
[0031] Prior art hatch assembly 19 (FIG. 3) has a pair of side
walls 31, which extend between a pair of generally semi-circular
shaped end walls or plates 33 which define an intervening opening
35 therebetween. End walls 33 each have a smooth semi-circular top
edge 34 which may merge into ribs 36 that are present on many types
of tank trailer bodies. End walls 33 and side walls 31 provide
protection to hatch covering 29.
[0032] A first embodiment of the wind deflector assembly of the
present invention is indicated generally at 37, and is shown as
part of hatch assembly 19 (FIG. 4). Wind deflector assembly 37 is
best illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. Wind deflector assembly 37 includes
a smooth, continuous sheet of material 39 preferably formed of
metal, which is shaped into a semi-conical configuration as best
shown in FIG. 5. Sheet 39 of deflector assembly 37 is secured to
the skin of tank body 3 (FIG. 6) by a plurality of tabs 41 and
fasteners, such as rivets 43 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Tabs 41 preferably
are formed integrally with sheet material 39 of deflector assembly
37. The semi-conical sheet 39 has a generally semi-circular planar
inner edge 45 and a bottom edge 47 which mate against front end
wall 33 of hatch assembly 19 and the upper top wall portion 13 of
cylindrical wall 15 of tank body 3 and conforms with top edge 34 of
end wall 33. A sealant 49 (FIG. 6) preferably is placed about the
junction of sheet 39 and front end wall 33 and tank body 3 to
provide a wind tight seal therebetween.
[0033] Preferably a similar second wind deflector indicated as 37A
is secured to hatch assembly rear end plate 33A in a similar manner
as is the first deflector sheet 39 and is sealed against the end
plate and tank body 3 by sealant 49 in a similar manner as that
described above with respect to sheet 39. This forms a second air
deflector assembly which extends in a rearward downwardly sloped
direction opposite from that of forward directed downwardly sloped
wind deflector 37. This rearward sloped configuration of rear
deflector 37A reduces the formation of eddy currents which form
behind an upstanding wall of a vehicle when moving in a forward
direction.
[0034] Preferably sheets 39 of wind deflectors 37 and 37A each
terminate in a generally rounded nose 46 and 46A which provide for
the smooth merger into tank body 3. Wind deflectors 37 and 37A
discussed above can be easily added on or retrofitted to an
existing tank body having an existing type of prior art hatch
assembly 19 which has the particular semicircular-shaped end walls
33 and 33A described above.
[0035] Another feature of wind deflector assembly 37 is providing a
closure member or door 50 (FIG. 7) which extends between end walls
33 to provide a covering over opening 27 to further reduce wind
drag. Closure member 50 may be pivotally mounted by a hinge 51 on
one of the side walls 31 as shown in FIG. 7, or could be slidably
mounted thereon (not shown). Closure member 50 has a smooth
semi-circular shape that when in the closed position provides a
smooth surface which together with wind deflectors assemblies 37
and 37A considerably reduces air drag heretofore caused by the
hatch assembly. A latch 52 or other device will ensure closure
member 50 remains in a closed position during transit.
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a modified wind deflector having tabs 53 which
are welded directly to the tank body and then connected to the
curved deflector sheet 39 instead of being formed as part of sheet
39. This fastening arrangement preferably will be used with tank
bodies void of an outer skin whereas the fastening arrangement
shown on FIGS. 6 and 7 and discussed above will be used with tank
bodies having an outer skin. The tank body shown in FIG. 8 is a
variation from that discussed above and may be provided with
circumferentially extending spaced ribs 36 showing how the wind
deflector of the present invention is adaptable to a variety of
tank bodies.
[0037] It is also understood that deflectors somewhat similar to
deflectors 37 and 37A can be constructed having a generally smooth
tapered outer surfaces as that of sheet material 39 and formed with
an inner edge configuration complementary to that of one or both
end walls 23 of a prior art hatch assembly 17 as shown in FIG. 2.
This is accomplished by merely changing the shape of the end edge
of a sheet of rigid material for conforming it to the size and
shape of end walls 23. When attached to the end wall 23, it will
have the sealant applied thereto as well as the use of tabs 41 and
suitable fasteners such a rivets 43, for securing the bottom edges
to the tank body with a sealant 49 applied thereto.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 9, a sheet of material 57 preferably
generally rigid metal, will be bent into a generally truncated
configuration to form a front wind deflector indicated generally at
60. Deflector 60 will have an inner edge 58 which matches the
contour of edges 24, 26 and 28 of end wall 23 and will have a
downwardly sloped generally triangular-shaped front section 59,
outwardly flared generally triangular-shaped side sections 59A and
intervening generally triangular-shaped connecting sections 59B.
All of these sections taper downwardly forwardly from front end
wall 23. Again, a sealant 49 preferably will be applied between
sheet 60 and end wall 23 and the tank body.
[0039] A similarly shaped rear deflector shield 57 will be attached
to the rear end wall 23 and slope downwardly rearwardly therefrom
to reduce the formation of drag producing eddy currents.
[0040] Another embodiment of the wind deflector of the present
invention is indicated generally at 61, and is shown particularly
in FIG. 10. Wind deflector assembly 61 is an integral member
preferably formed of metal, which includes a pair of side members
63, which extend generally parallel to each other between a pair of
spaced end walls 64. A pair of wind deflectors 65 and 65A, each
having a generally semi-conical configuration similar to that of
wind deflectors 37 and 37A described above, are attached to end
walls 64 and extend outwardly in opposite directions. End walls 64
are similar in construction and configuration to end walls 33
discussed above. An intervening opening 69 is defined by side
members 63 and end walls 64 which provides access to hatch cover 29
of access port 11.
[0041] Wind deflector assembly 61 will be mounted on tank body 3 at
the time of its fabrication or can easily be placed on and secured
to the top surface of an existing tank body by welding or by the
use of tabs and fasteners such as tabs 41 and rivets 43 discussed
above, when such a tank body does not have an existing hatch
assembly such as hatch assemblies 17 and 19 discussed above. When
secured to the tank body and properly sealed therewith, deflector
assembly 61 provides the aerodynamic configuration around the hatch
assembly as that described above for deflector assembly 37.
[0042] An enclosure member or door (not shown) such as member 50 as
shown in FIG. 7, preferably is attached to one of the side walls 63
of wind deflector assembly 61, and will have a curved configuration
so that when in a closed position, provides for a smooth continuous
air flow surface over and around the wind deflector assembly.
[0043] Still another embodiment of the present invention is a wind
deflector assembly indicated generally at 81, and shown
particularly in FIGS. 11 and 12. Wind deflector assembly 81 is
generally similar to that of deflector assemblies 37 and 61
described above except it is for use on a tank trailer having a
spaced pair of access ports 11 formed in the top of a tank body 3
surrounded by hatch assemblies 17 or 19.
[0044] The forward hatch assembly 19 will have a wind deflector
assembly 37 attached thereto with a wind deflector sheet 39 secured
by tabs 41 and rivets 43 or other attachments to the tank body and
to the forward end plate 33 as discussed above, and preferably will
have a closure member 50 mounted thereon. A rearwardly facing wind
deflector assembly 37A will have a wind deflector sheet 39A
attached to end plate 33A of the rear hatch assembly 19 in a
similar manner and preferably includes a closure member 50 (not
shown) mounted thereon. A smooth curved member 90 is secured to
spaced end walls 33B and 33 C of the spaced hatch assemblies and
secured to tank body 3 by various fasteners such as tabs 92 and
rivets 93. Member 90 together with front and rear wind deflectors
assemblies 37 and 37A and closure members 50 provide a continuous
smooth aerodynamic surface extending along the top surface of the
tank body covering two or more access ports provided thereon. It is
also understood that deflector assembly 81 could be a single
integral member mounted on top of the tank for new tank bodies or
attached to existing tank bodies without protective hatch
assemblies adjacent the pair of access ports.
[0045] Thus in accordance with the invention, the tank body of a
tank trailer can be fabricated with various wind deflectors
adjacent a hatch assembly associated with one or more access ports
along the top of the tank or can be provided as a retrofit add-on
to existing tank bodies having various configured hatch assemblies
extending upwardly from the top of the tank. These wind deflector
assemblies, either in a new tank construction or as an add-on, will
assist in reducing drag on the tank body by providing for a smooth
continuous airflow surface along the top of the tank eliminating
the heretofore upstanding flat wall surfaces provided by prior
hatch assembly constructions. These wind deflector arrangements
assist to reduce drag thereby increasing fuel efficiency during the
transport of the tank trailer.
[0046] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used
for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary
limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of
the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes
and are intended to be broadly construed.
[0047] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention
is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details
shown or described.
* * * * *