Trailer sail
A flexible trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over the road trailer is disclosed. A fourfold flexible fairing system may be used to reduce drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. Numerous systems for keeping the flexible fairing taught while in continued use are also disclosed.
1. An over-the-road trailer comprising:
a frame adapted for carrying cargo, the frame having a lengthwise center axis bisecting the frame;
a wheel assembly and a landing gear assembly with a gear width, each connecting to the frame;
a fairing system connected to and located below the frame,
the fairing system including:
a first and second forward flexible fairing, each of the forward flexible fairings having
a fairing surface with
a forward end located near the landing gear assembly,
a horizontal top edge extending, adjacent to the frame, from the forward end towards a rear end near the wheel assembly,
a bottom edge extending below the horizontal top edge from the forward end to the rear end,
the front ends of the first and second forward flexible fairings separated by a distance substantially equal to the gear width; and
a tensioner near the wheel assembly, the tensioner
secured to the first forward flexible fairing and
pulling the rear end of the first forward flexible fairing towards the wheel assembly.
2. The over-the-road trailer of claim 1 wherein
the first forward flexible fairing is symmetrical to the second forward flexible fairing about the lengthwise center axis.
3. The over-the-road trailer of claim 2 wherein the bottom edge of the first forward flexible fairing extends away from the lengthwise center axis at a first angle towards a side of the frame.
4. The over-the-road trailer of claim 1 further comprising
a plurality of C-shaped clamps secured below the frame, and
the fairing surface of each of the fairings including an edge secured in one of the plurality of C-shaped clamps.
5. The over-the-road trailer of claim 4 wherein the edge secured in one of the plurality of C-shaped clamps is a bulbous edge.
6. The over-the-road trailer of claim 1 wherein
the tensioner includes a roller rolling the first forward flexible fairing.
7. The over-the-road trailer of claim 6 wherein
the tensioner includes a ratcheting structure directly below the roller.
8. An over-the-road trailer comprising:
a frame adapted for carrying cargo, the frame a lengthwise center axis bisecting the frame;
a wheel assembly and a landing gear assembly with a gear width, each connecting to the frame;
a fairing system connected to and located below the frame,
the fairing system including:
a first and second forward flexible fairing, each of the forward flexible fairings having
a fairing surface with
a forward end located near the landing gear assembly,
a horizontal top edge extending, adjacent to the frame, from the forward end towards a rear end near the wheel assembly,
a bottom edge extending below the horizontal top edge from the forward end to the rear end,
the front ends of the first and second forward flexible fairings separated by a distance substantially equal to the gear width; and
a first roller tensioner secured below the frame near the landing gear assembly, and
a portion of the fairing surface of the first forward flexible fairing rolled around the
first roller tensioner.
9. The over-the-road trailer of claim 8 wherein
the forward end of the first forward flexible fairing is secured directly to the landing gear assembly.
10. The over-the-road trailer of claim 8 wherein
the landing gear assembly includes
a rigid frame for supporting the trailer, and
a fastener moveable relative to the rigid frame; and
the forward end of the first forward flexible fairing is secured to the landing gear via the fastener.
11. The over-the-road trailer of claim 8 comprising
the first roller tensioner including a top portion adjacent to the frame;
the first roller tensioner including a bottom distant from the frame; and
a tensioner support adapted to reduce movement of the bottom relative to the top portion of the first roller tensioner, the tensioner support
secured to the bottom, and
extending away from the bottom to a first location distant from the top portion of the first roller tensioner.
12. The over-the-road trailer of claim 11 further comprising
a flexible batten secured to the fairing surface of the first forward flexible fairing.
13. The over-the-road trailer of claim 8 further comprising
a second roller tensioner secured to the frame near the landing gear assembly, and
a portion of the fairing surface of the second forward flexible fairing rolled around the second roller tensioner
wherein
the first roller tensioner rolls the first forward flexible fairing clockwise and
the second roller tensioner rolls the second forward flexible fairing counter-clockwise.
14. The over-the-road trailer of claim 13 further comprising
a ratcheting structure directly below a center of the first roller tensioner.
15. The over-the-road trailer of claim 14 wherein
a non-rotating housing surrounds a portion of the first roller tensioner.
16. The over-the-road trailer of claim 8 wherein
the first forward flexible fairing is symmetrical to the second forward flexible fairing about the lengthwise center axis.
17. The over-the-road trailer of claim 16 wherein the bottom edge of the first forward flexible fairing extends away from the lengthwise center axis at a first angle towards a side of the frame.
18. An over-the-road trailer comprising:
a frame adapted for carrying cargo, the frame a lengthwise center axis bisecting the frame;
a wheel assembly and a landing gear assembly with a gear width, each connecting to the frame;
a fairing system connected to and located below the frame,
the fairing system including:
a first and second forward flexible fairing, each of the forward flexible fairings having
a fairing surface with
a forward end located near the landing gear assembly,
a horizontal top edge extending, adjacent to the frame, from the forward end towards a rear end near the wheel assembly,
a bottom edge extending below the horizontal top edge from the forward end to the rear end,
the front ends of the first and second forward flexible fairings separated by a distance substantially equal to the gear width; and
a track rigidly secured to the frame,
the first forward flexible fairing having a first bulbous edge
extending adjacent to fairing surface of the first forward flexible fairing, and
located within the track.
19. The over-the-road trailer of claim 18 wherein
the bottom edge of the first forward flexible fairing is a second bulbous edge.
20. The over-the-road trailer of claim 18 wherein
the first forward flexible fairing is symmetrical to the second forward flexible fairing about the lengthwise center axis; and
the bottom edge of the first forward flexible fairing extends away from the lengthwise center axis at a first angle towards a side of the frame.