Deployable fairing for use with vehicles
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a deployable fairing system to a tractor trailer. The deployable fairing system includes an actuator used to extend the deployable fairing from an unextended configuration to an extended configuration to occupy a portion of a gap area that exists between a tractor and an attached trailer. The deployable fairing includes deployable upper and/or lower horizontal assemblies that are pivotally coupled to a frame attached to the tractor/cab, and two side panels that are pivotally coupled to one or both of the upper and lower horizontal assemblies. The deployable upper and lower horizontal assemblies and the two side panels fold in on one another along multiple hinged axes in the unextended configuration, and extend rearward from the top and sides of the tractor in the extended configuration to cover a portion of the gap. The fairing may advantageously flair from front to the rear.
1. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel is tilted relatively downwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively below the leading edge of the deployable upper panel and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly of the horizontal axis and is tilted relatively upwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively above the leading edge of the deployable upper panel;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure; and
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure,
wherein the first deployable side panel is pivotable about an axis that extends parallel to the proximal edge of the first deployable side panel and the second deployable side panel is pivotable about an axis that extends parallel to the proximal edge of the second deployable side panel,
wherein the axis that the first deployable side panel is pivotable about is spaced from the proximal edge of the fist deployable side panel at least in the deployed configuration of the fairing structure and the axis that the second deployable side panel is pivotable about is spaced from the proximal edge of the second deployable side panel at least in the deployed configuration of the fairing structure.
2. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel is tilted relatively downwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively below the leading edge of the deployable upper panel and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly of the horizontal axis and is tilted relatively upwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively above the leading edge of the deployable upper panel;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure; and
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration a the fairing structure,
wherein the first deployable side panel is coupled to translate and pivot without any hinge extending along the proximal edge of the first deployable side panel and the second deployable side panel is coupled to translate and pivot without any hinge extending along the proximal edge of the second deployable side panel.
3. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel is tilted relatively downwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively below the leading edge of the deployable upper panel and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly of the horizontal axis and is tilted relatively upwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively above the leading edge of the deployable upper panel;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure;
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure;
a first hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the first deployable side panel attached to the arm of the first hinge for movement therewith; and
a second hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the second deployable side panel attached to the arm of the second hinge for movement therewith.
4. A fairing structure for use with vehicles the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel is tilted relatively downwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively below the leading edge of the deployable upper panel and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly of the horizontal axis and is tilted relatively upwards from the horizontal axis with the trailing edge of the deployable upper panel positioned relatively above the leading edge of the deployable upper panel;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure;
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure;
a first hinged comprising a base and an arm that is rotatable coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position the first deployable side panel attached to the arm of the first hinge for movement therewith;
a second hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the second deployable side panel attached to the arm of the second hinge for movement therewith; and
at least a third hinge having a horizontal axis of rotation that is perpendicular to vertical axes of rotation of the first and the second hinges, the third hinge coupled to the deployable upper panel.
5. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising at a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly from a front of the fairing structure towards a rear of the fairing structure;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the first deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the fairing structure; and
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the second deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the fairing structure,
wherein, an area enclosed by a first perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels distal to the front of the fairing structure is greater than an area enclosed by a second perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels proximate the front of the fairing structure,
wherein the first deployable side panel is coupled to translate and pivot without any hinge extending along the proximal edge of the first deployable side panel and the second deployable side panel is coupled to translate and pivot without any hinge extending parallel along the proximal edge of the second deployable side panel.
6. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising at a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly from a front of the fairing structure towards a rear of the fairing structure;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the first deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the fairing structure;
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the second deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the faring structure,
wherein, an area enclosed by a first perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels distal to the front of the fairing structure is greater than an area enclosed by a second perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels proximate the front of the fairing structure;
a first hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the first deployable side panel attached to the arm of the first hinge for movement therewith; and
a second hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the second deployable side panel attached to the arm of the second hinge for movement therewith.
7. A fairing structure for use with vehicles, the fairing structure comprising:
a deployable upper panel assembly comprising at a deployable upper panel, a first upper wing panel and at least a second upper wing panel, the first upper wing panel and the second upper wing panel each pivotally coupled to the deployable upper panel, the deployable upper panel pivotal about a horizontal axis to move between a retracted configuration of the fairing structure and a deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the deployable upper panel extends rearwardly from a front of the fairing structure towards a rear of the fairing structure;
at least a first deployable side panel, the first deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the first deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the fairing structure;
at least a second deployable side panel, the second deployable side panel coupled to translate and pivot in moving between the retracted configuration of the fairing structure and the deployed configuration of the fairing structure in which the second deployable side panel extends rearwardly from the front of the fairing structure,
wherein, an area enclosed by a fist perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels distal to the front of the fairing structure is greater than an area enclosed by a second perimeter defined by the deployable upper panel and the first and the second deployable side panels proximate the front of the fairing structure;
a first hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatabiy coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the first deployable side panel attached to the arm of the first hinge for movement therewith;
a second hinge comprising a base and an arm that is rotatably coupled to the base to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to the base between a retracted position and a deployed position, the second deployable side panel attached to the arm of the second hinge for movement therewith; and
at least a third hinge having a horizontal axis of rotation that is perpendicular to vertical axes of rotation of the first and the second hinges, the third hinge coupled to the deployable upper panel.