Devices and methods for reducing vehicle drag
View Patent ↗An apparatus for reducing the drag of a trailer is provided. The apparatus can further include a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer in front of wheels on the bottom of a trailer, a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer behind the wheels on the bottom of a trailer, with both pairs of fairings placed and shaped to direct the air smoothly around the wheels and tires and through the center of the trailer. The apparatus can also include a ramp in front of the suspension components, aerodynamically shaped wings on the axles, and a rear diffuser, such components configured to direct air smoothly between the trailer suspension and the ground. The directed high energy air from the apparatus results in a reduced trailer base drag.
1. A vehicle trailer, the vehicle trailer comprising a roof and a floor separated from each other by a pair of opposing walls that extend at least partially along the length of the floor, the roof, floor, and walls defining a space accessible by a trailer door, the roof having a front edge and a rear edge, the vehicle trailer further comprising:
a rain gutter component defining a sloped surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing free edge, the rain gutter component being positioned adjacent to the roof such that a portion of the rain gutter component proximate to or including the leading edge contacts the roof and the trailing free edge of the rain gutter component extends beyond the rear edge of the roof, the rain gutter component configured such that a distance of the sloped surface from the roof increases as the rain gutter component extends from the leading edge across a first portion of the roof and then decreases as the rain gutter extends towards the trailing free edge along a second portion of the roof,
wherein the rain gutter component is non-movably attached to the trailer such that the portion of the rain gutter component contacting the roof is maintained in a fixed position relative to the roof.
2. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom fairing positioned on a bottom portion of the vehicle trailer, the bottom fairing being positioned forward of a rear edge of the vehicle trailer.
3. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 , wherein the rain gutter component is inclined at an angle from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees.
4. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 , wherein the rain gutter component is inclined downwardly at an angle from about 12 degrees to about 16 degrees.
5. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 , wherein the rain gutter component has a length from about 10 inches to about 40 inches.
6. The vehicle trailer of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser configured to be positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the trailer, wherein the diffuser includes at least one sloped surface configured to direct airflow away from a center line of the trailer.
7. The vehicle trailer of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser further comprises a bumper.
8. The vehicle trailer of claim 7 , wherein the bumper is integrally formed with the diffuser.
9. A kit for retrofitting an existing vehicle trailer, a roof and a floor separated from each other by a pair of opposing walls that extend at least partially along the length of the floor, the roof, floor, and walls defining a space accessible by a trailer door, the roof having a front edge and a rear edge, the kit comprising:
a rain gutter component defining a sloped surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing free edge, the rain gutter component configured to be positioned adjacent to the roof such that a portion of the rain gutter component proximate to or including the leading edge contacts the roof and the trailing free edge of the rain gutter component extends beyond the rear edge of the roof, the rain gutter component configured such that a distance of the sloped surface from the roof increases as the rain gutter component extends from the leading edge across a first portion of the roof and then decreases as the rain gutter extends towards the trailing free edge along a second portion of the roof,
wherein the rain gutter component is configured to be non-movably attached to the trailer such that the portion of the rain gutter component contacting the roof is maintained in a fixed position relative to the roof.
10. The kit for retrofitting an existing vehicle trailer of claim 9 , further comprising:
a bottom fairing configured to be positioned on a bottom portion of the vehicle trailer, the bottom fairing being configured to be positioned forward of a rear edge of the vehicle trailer.
11. The kit for retrofitting an existing vehicle trailer of claim 9 , further comprising:
a diffuser configured to be positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the trailer, wherein the diffuser includes at least one sloped surface configured to direct airflow away from a center line of the trailer.
12. A method of retrofitting a vehicle trailer, a roof and a floor separated from each other by a pair of opposing walls that extend at least partially along the length of the floor, the roof, floor, and walls defining a space accessible by a trailer door, the roof having a front edge and a rear edge, the method comprising:
installing a rain gutter component on the vehicle trailer, the rain gutter component defining a sloped surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing free edge, the rain gutter component configured to be positioned adjacent to the roof such that a portion of the rain gutter component proximate to or including the leading edge contacts the roof and the trailing free edge of the rain gutter component extends beyond the rear edge of the roof, the rain gutter component configured such that a distance of the sloped surface from the roof increases as the rain gutter component extends from the leading edge across a first portion of the roof and then decreases as the rain gutter extends towards the trailing free edge along a second portion of the roof,
wherein the rain gutter component is non-movably attached to the trailer such that the portion of the rain gutter component contacting the roof is maintained in a fixed position relative to the roof.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising installing a bottom fairing on the vehicle trailer, the bottom fairing positioned on a bottom portion of the vehicle trailer forward of a rear edge of the vehicle trailer.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising installing a diffuser on the vehicle trailer, the diffuser positioned adjacent to a rear edge of the trailer, wherein the diffuser includes at least one sloped surface configured to direct airflow away from a center line of the trailer.