Multi-panel skirt system for cargo enclosures

1. A cargo enclosure, comprising:

(a) a top wall;

(b) front and rear walls;

(c) first and second side walls extending between the front and rear walls in a lengthwise direction of the cargo enclosure;

(d) a bottom wall extending between the front and rear walls in the lengthwise direction and between the first and second side walls in a lateral direction of the cargo enclosure, the first side wall intersecting the bottom wall at a first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure, the second side wall intersecting the bottom wall at a second lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure, wherein the top wall, the front and rear walls, the side walls, and the bottom wall enclose a cargo space of the cargo enclosure; and

(e) a multi-panel skirt system installed or otherwise secured to the bottom wall, the multi-panel skirt system:

(i) a first forward skirt panel extending along the bottom wall generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel being located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure; and

(ii) a first aft skirt panel extending along the bottom wall generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge aft of the first forward skirt panel relative to a forward travel direction of the cargo enclosure, the trailing edge of the first aft skirt panel being located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure;

(iii) wherein the first aft skirt panel extends laterally inboard as the first aft skirt panel extends in the lengthwise direction from its trailing edge to its leading edge such that the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel is positioned laterally inboard of the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel.

2. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge of the first forward skirt panel is positioned further laterally inboard than the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel.

3. The cargo enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the cargo enclosure defines a lengthwise centerline extending in the lengthwise direction that is centered relative to the first and second lateral side edges in the lateral direction, the leading edge of the first forward skirt panel being positioned a lateral distance from the lengthwise centerline that is less than a lateral distance defined between the leading edge of first forward skirt panel and the first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure.

4. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel is positioned forward of the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel relative to the forward travel direction for the cargo enclosure such that a lengthwise gap is defined between the first forward and aft skirt panels in the lengthwise direction.

5. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel is positioned aft of the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel relative to the forward travel direction for the cargo enclosure such that the first aft skirt panel overlaps the first forward skirt panel in the lengthwise direction, and wherein a transverse gap extending between the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel and the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel defines an air vent.

6. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first forward skirt panel defines a compound lateral profile between its leading and trailing edges.

7. The cargo enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the first forward skirt panel includes a first lengthwise section and a second lengthwise section, a lateral profile of the first lengthwise section differing from a lateral profile of the second lengthwise section such that the first forward skirt panel extends further inboard along the second lengthwise section than along the first lengthwise section.

8. The cargo enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the cargo enclosure includes landing gear installed or otherwise secured to the bottom wall and wherein the first forward skirt panel defines a transition point at which the lateral profile of the first lengthwise section transitions to the lateral profile of the second lengthwise section, the first forward skirt panel being installed relative to the landing gear such that the transition point is located adjacent to an aft end of the landing gear.

9. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first aft skirt panel defines a compound lateral profile between its leading and trailing edges.

10. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the first aft skirt panel includes a first lengthwise section and a second lengthwise section, a lateral profile of the first lengthwise section differing from a lateral profile of the second lengthwise section such that the first aft skirt panel extends further inboard along the second lengthwise section than along the first lengthwise section.

11. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first forward and aft skirt panels defines a compound lateral profile between its leading and trailing edges.

12. The cargo enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a second forward skirt panel and a second aft skirt panel, the second forward skirt panel extending in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge and being installed along the bottom wall, the second aft skirt panel extending in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge and being installed along the bottom wall aft of the second forward skirt panel relative to the forward travel direction of the cargo enclosure.

13. The cargo enclosure of claim 12 , wherein a lateral gap is defined between the first and second forward skirt panels in the lateral direction of the cargo enclosure.

14. The cargo enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the first and second forward skirt panels create a converging lateral gap therebetween as the first and second forward skirt panels extend in the forward travel direction towards their respective leading edges.

15. The cargo enclosure of claim 14 , wherein the first forward skirt panel serves as an upwind forward panel and the second forward skirt panel serves as a downwind forward panel when the cargo enclosure is subjected to a cross-flow directed from its first lateral side edge towards its second lateral side edge, and wherein, when the cross-flow is directed through the lateral gap defined between the first and second forward skirt panels at their leading edges, the leading edge of the upwind forward panel is configured to generate a vortex in association with a first portion of the cross-flow directed through the lateral gap while a second portion of the cross-flow is configured to be captured along an inner surface of the downwind forward panel.

16. The cargo enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the cross-flow exits from underneath the cargo enclosure via an air vent defined between the downwind forward panel and the second aft skirt panel.

17. The cargo enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the trailing edge of the second forward skirt panel is spaced apart from the leading edge of the second aft skirt panel such that an air vent is defined between the second forward and aft skirt panels.

18. The cargo enclosure of claim 12 , wherein the multi-panel skit system consists of two pairs of skirt panels, each pair consisting of a forward skirt panel and an aft skirt panel.

19. The cargo enclosure of claim 12 , wherein each panel skirt is configured to create vortexes at its leading edge from a cross-wind passing thereby.

20. A cargo enclosure, comprising:

(a) walls defining a cargo space, including a bottom wall;

(b) a first forward skirt panel extending along the bottom wall of the cargo enclosure generally in the lengthwise direction of the cargo enclosure between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel, with the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of a first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure; and

(c) a first aft skirt panel extending along the bottom wall aft of the first forward skirt panel generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the first aft skirt panel relative to a forward travel direction of the cargo enclosure, with the trailing edge of the first aft skirt panel being located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the first lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure;

(d) wherein the first aft skirt panel extends laterally inboard as the first aft skirt panel extends in the lengthwise direction from its trailing edge to its leading edge such that the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel is positioned laterally inboard of the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel; and

further comprising,

(e) a second forward skirt panel extending along the bottom wall of the cargo enclosure generally in the lengthwise direction of the cargo enclosure between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the second forward skirt panel, with the trailing edge of the second forward skirt panel located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of a second lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure; and

(f) a second aft skirt panel extending along the bottom wall aft of the second forward skirt panel generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the second aft skirt panel relative to a forward travel direction of the cargo enclosure, with the trailing edge of the second aft skirt panel being located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the second lateral side edge of the cargo enclosure;

(g) wherein the second aft skirt panel extends laterally inboard as the second aft skirt panel extends in the lengthwise direction from its trailing edge to its leading edge such that the leading edge of the second aft skirt panel is positioned laterally inboard of the trailing edge of the second forward skirt panel;

(h) wherein the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel is positioned forward of the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel relative to the forward travel direction for the cargo enclosure such that a lengthwise gap is defined between the first forward and aft skirt panels in the lengthwise direction; and

(i) wherein the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel is positioned aft of the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel relative to the forward travel direction for the cargo enclosure such that the first aft skirt panel overlaps the first forward skirt panel in the lengthwise direction, and wherein a transverse gap extending between the trailing edge of the first forward skirt panel and the leading edge of the first aft skirt panel defines an air vent.