Air-gap aerodynamically sealing apparatus for a motorized vehicle, and motorized vehicle, in particular a truck, comprising such an apparatus

Inventors: Akarsh Kumar (Telangana, IN); Muthukumar Venkitachalam (Thiruvananthapuram, IN); Johan Torsholm (Gothenburg, SE)

Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation

B62D35/001 B60R3/002

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12709336
App. No.: 18/398,338
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An apparatus for aerodynamically sealing at least part of an air gap formed between at least a first part and a second part of a motorized vehicle, comprising a sealing device having a shaped body comprising a connecting portion which is suitable to be connected, to the first part of the motorized vehicle or to an additional part which is connected to the first part of the motorized vehicle; an air-gap sealing portion which protrudes from the first portion and is suitable to aerodynamically seal, at least partially, the air gap; and at least one mechanical connector which is suitable to connect the connecting portion of the sealing device to the first part of the motorized vehicle or to the additional part connected to the first part of the motorized vehicle in a releasable, tamper-proof, manner.

Claims (25)

1 . An apparatus for aerodynamically sealing at least a portion of an air gap between at least a first front panel and a second front panel of a motorized vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a sealing device having a shaped body comprising:

a connecting portion which is suitable to be connected to an interior of the first front panel of the motorized vehicle; and

an air-gap sealing portion which integrally protrudes from the first-connecting portion and is configured, when the connecting portion is connected to the interior of the first front panel, to extend downward from the interior of the first front panel across the air gap to contact the second front panel to aerodynamically seal at least a portion of partially, the air gap; and

at least one mechanical connector which is suitable to connect the connecting portion of the sealing device to the interior of the first front panel of the motorized vehicle in a releasable, tamper-proof manner.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure which is suitable to be connected to the first front panel of the motorized vehicle, and wherein the at least one mechanical connector connects the connecting portion of the sealing device to the mounting structure.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical connector comprises a plurality of mechanical connectors.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical connector comprises a plastic rivet having an axially movable plunger.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air-gap sealing portion comprises at least two adjacent sections which form a predefined angle between them.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the air-gap sealing portion comprises at least one edge part which is suitable to overlap with an associated portion of the second front panel of the motorized vehicle.

7 . A motorized vehicle comprising the apparatus of claim 1 .

8 . A truck comprising:

a first front panel and a second front panel, wherein an air gap is formed between the first front panel and the second front panel; and

at least one apparatus for aerodynamically sealing at least part-a portion of the air gap, the apparatus comprising:

a sealing device having a shaped body comprising:

a connecting portion which is suitable to be connected to an interior of the first front panel; and

an air-gap sealing portion which integrally protrudes from the connecting portion and is suitable to aerodynamically seal at least a portion of the air gap when the sealing device is connected to the interior of the first front panel by extending downward from the interior of the first front panel across the air gap to contact the second front panel; and

at least one mechanical connector which is suitable to connect the connecting portion of the sealing device to the first front panel in a releasable, tamper-proof manner.

9 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a mounting structure which is suitable to be connected to the first front panel of the motorized vehicle, and wherein the at least one mechanical connector connects the connecting portion of the sealing device to the mounting structure.

10 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the first front panel is a substantially fixed part, and the second front panel is a movable part, with respect to the first front panel, between a first position, where the second front panel is spaced apart from the first front panel, and a second position, where the second front panel is positioned close to and forms the air gap with the first front panel.

11 . The truck of claim 10 , wherein the substantially first fixed part comprises or is constituted by the first front panel of the truck and the second front panel comprises or is constituted by a step of the truck.

12 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the at least one mechanical connector comprises a plurality of mechanical connectors.

13 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the at least one mechanical connector comprises a plastic rivet having an axially movable plunger.

14 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the air-gap sealing portion comprises at least two adjacent sections which form a predefined angle between them.

15 . The truck of claim 8 , wherein the air-gap sealing portion comprises at least one edge part which is suitable to overlap with an associated portion of the second front panel of the truck.