IP Library Granted Patent US 9,540,054
Granted Patent B2
US 9,540,054 · App. 14/741,994 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Aerodynamic and deflectable roof fairing attachment for tractor-trailer vehicles

Inventors: Joshua L. Butler (Austin, TX); Kyle H. Walker (Austin, TX); Nicholas Athey (Austin, TX)
Assignee: FlowBelow Aero, Inc.
B62D35/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,540,054
App. No.
14/741,994
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a system and/or method may include a fairing system for vehicles. The fairing system may include a roofing extender. The roofing extender may be couplable rearward of a roof of a vehicle. In some embodiments, a frontward portion of the roofing extender may be coupled to the roof of the vehicle such that the roofing extender pivots, at the frontward portion, relative to the roof of the vehicle. In some embodiments, a rearward portion of the roofing extender may be coupled to the vehicle with a resilient member which allows the roofing extender to pivot relative to the roof of the vehicle within a specified range as needed before returning to set start point. In some embodiments, the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of the vehicle.

Claims (26)

1. A fairing system for vehicles, comprising:

a roofing extender couplable rearward of a roof of a vehicle, wherein a frontward portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the roof of the vehicle such that the roofing extender pivots, at the frontward portion, relative to the roof of the vehicle, wherein a rearward portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the vehicle with one or more resilient members which allow the roofing extender to pivot relative to the roof of the vehicle within a specified range as needed before returning to set start point;

wherein the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of the vehicle.

2. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of the vehicle and an area between the vehicle and a trailer coupled to the vehicle.

3. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the roofing extender improves, during use, airflow between the vehicle and the trailer such that an efficiency of a temperature regulation mechanism associated with the trailer is improved by adjusting an airflow adjacent the temperature regulation mechanism.

4. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more resilient members comprise a spring.

5. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more resilient members comprise a damper.

6. The fairing system of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to the rearward portion of the roofing extender, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the rearward portion of the roofing extender and a plane within which the roof of the vehicle lies.

7. The fairing system of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to the roofing extender, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts an angle between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a power source and a control system such that the angle is adjusted in an automated fashion.

8. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the roofing extender comprises one or more bushings positioned between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle.

9. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein there is an opening between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle allowing air to flow through the opening during use.

10. The fairing system of claim 1 , wherein the roofing extender comprises two or more portions which move independently of one another.

11. A fairing system for vehicles, comprising:

a roofing extender couplable frontward of a roof of a vehicle, wherein a rearward portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the roof of the vehicle such that the roofing extender pivots, at the rearward portion, relative to the roof of the vehicle, wherein a frontward portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the vehicle with one or more resilient members which allows the roofing extender to pivot relative to the roof of the vehicle within a specified range as needed before returning to set start point;

wherein the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of the vehicle.

12. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of a first vehicle and an area between the first vehicle and a second vehicle connected thereto.

13. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the resilient members comprises a spring.

14. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the resilient members comprises a damper.

15. The fairing system of claim 11 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to the frontward portion of the roofing extender, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the frontward portion of the roofing extender and a plane within which the roof of the vehicle lies.

16. The fairing system of claim 11 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism coupled to the roofing extender, wherein the adjustment mechanism adjusts an angle between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a power source and a control system such that the angle is adjusted in an automated fashion.

17. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein the roofing extender comprises one or more bushings positioned between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle.

18. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein there is an opening between the roofing extender and the roof of the vehicle allowing air to flow through the opening during use.

19. The fairing system of claim 11 , wherein the roofing extender comprises two or more portions which move independently of one another.

20. A fairing system for vehicles, comprising:

a roofing extender couplable rearward of a roof of a vehicle, wherein a frontward portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the roof of the vehicle such that the roofing extender can be deflected relative to the roof of the vehicle, wherein a portion of the roofing extender is coupled to the vehicle with one or more resilient members which bias the roofing extender to a non-deflected position;

wherein the roofing extender functions to adjust airflow over the roof of the vehicle.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2023
From: PLEXUS FUND IV-A, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 065969/0733 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049799 FRAME: 0476. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded May 24, 2022
From: AMERICAN BANK, N.A.
To: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 060389/0245 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: CADENCE BANK, N.A.
To: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 056463/0650 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
To: CADENCE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050793/0016 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 30, 2019
From: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
To: PLEXUS FUND IV-A, L.P., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050237/0609 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2019
From: AMERICAN BANK, N. A.
To: FLOW BELOW AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 049799/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: BUTLER, JOSHUA L.; WALKER, KYLE H.; ATHEY, NICHOLAS
To: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
Reel/Frame 038207/0932 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
To: AMERICAN BANK
Reel/Frame 037644/0415 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62012979 · Jun 17, 2014
Related Publication 20150360735A1 · Dec 17, 2015