IP Library Granted Patent US 10,981,609
Granted Patent B2
US 10,981,609 · App. 16/412,748 · Granted Apr 20, 2021

Systems, methods, and devices for an automobile door or window

Inventors: Trevor R. Milton (Phoenix, AZ); Stephen Jennes (Glendale, AZ); Markus Scholten (Phoenix, AZ)
Assignee: Nikola Corporation
B62D33/0612B60J5/0497B60J5/062B60K6/20B60K6/26B60N3/001B60N3/008B60N3/10B60N3/16B60R3/00B62D35/001B62D35/005E05D15/0604E05F15/41E05F15/60E05F15/632E05F15/70E05F15/73B60K6/28B60L58/26E05Y2900/516Y10S903/906Y10S903/907
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,981,609
App. No.
16/412,748
Granted
Apr 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trailer truck is the combination of a truck and one or more trailers used to haul freight. A trailer attaches to the truck via a trailer coupling (hitch), with much of its weight borne by the truck. The result is that both the truck and the trailer will have a distinctly different design than a rigid truck and trailer. Exemplary vehicles are provided, such as heavy duty trucks having truck bodies with improved aerodynamic characteristics, including improved drag coefficients.

Claims (95)

1. A truck comprising:

an outer body including a nose section, the nose section having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

a bisecting plane that bisects a width of the truck,

wherein the lower portion defines a first slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the first slope angle is between a range of about 0° and about 6°,

wherein the upper portion defines a second slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the second slope angle is between about 20° and about 30°, and

wherein the truck has a drag coefficient that is between about 0.36 and about 0.40.

2. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the drag coefficient, C d , is determined by

C

d

=

2

×

F

x

rho

×

v

2

×

A

ref

where F x is a force acting on the tractor unit, rho is a fluid density, v is a free stream velocity, and A ref is a frontal projected area of the tractor unit.

3. The truck of claim 2 , wherein the frontal projected area, A ref , is between about 9.6 m 2 and about 10.6 m 2 .

4. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the outer body further comprises a windshield defining a third slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane, and wherein the third slope angle is between about 31° and about 41°.

5. The truck of claim 4 , wherein the outer body further comprises a roof section, wherein the roof section defines a fourth slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane, and wherein the fourth slope angle is between about 42° and about 52°.

6. The truck of claim 5 , wherein:

the first slope angle is between about 2° and about 4°;

the second slope angle is between about 23° and about 27°;

a third slope angle is between about 34° and about 38°; and

the fourth slope angle is between about 45° and about 49°.

7. The truck of claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the first slope angle to the third slope angle is between about 0.7 and about 0.9.

8. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the outer body further comprises a roof section having an air scoop integrally formed therein.

9. The truck of claim 6 , wherein the windshield comprises a wrap-around windshield.

10. A truck comprising:

an outer body including a nose section, the nose section having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

a bisecting plane that bisects a width of the truck,

wherein the lower portion defines a first slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the first slope angle is between a range of about 0° and about 6°,

wherein the upper portion defines a second slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the second slope angle is between about 24° and about 34°, and

wherein the tractor unit has a drag coefficient that is between about 0.42 and about 0.48.

11. The truck of claim 10 , wherein the drag coefficient, C d , is determined by

C

d

=

2

×

F

x

rho

×

v

2

×

A

ref

where F x is a force acting on the tractor unit, rho is a fluid density, v is a free stream velocity, and A ref is a frontal projected area of the tractor unit.

12. The truck of claim 11 , wherein the frontal projected area, A ref , is between about 9.97 m 2 and about 11.0 m 2 .

13. The truck of claim 10 , wherein the outer body further comprises a windshield defining a third slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane, and wherein the third slope angle is between about 32° and about 42°.

14. The truck of claim 13 , wherein the outer body further comprises a roof section, wherein the roof section defines a fourth slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane, and wherein the fourth slope angle is between about 71° and about 81°.

15. The truck of claim 14 , wherein:

the first slope angle is between about 2° and about 4°;

the second slope angle is between about 27° and about 31°;

a third slope angle is between about 35° and about 39°; and

the fourth slope angle is between about 74° and about 78°.

16. The truck of claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the first slope angle to the third slope angle is between about 0.7 and about 0.9.

17. The truck of claim 10 , wherein the outer body further comprises a roof section having an air scoop integrally formed therein.

18. The tractor unit of claim 15 , wherein the windshield comprises a wrap-around windshield.

19. The tractor unit of claim 10 , wherein the outer body further comprises a driver side section and a passenger side section, wherein at least one of the driver side section and the passenger side section comprises a tapered surface, and wherein the tapered surface defines a taper angle, and wherein the taper angle is between about 1° and about 6°.

20. A truck comprising:

an outer body including a nose section, the nose section having an upper portion and a lower portion; and

a bisecting plane that bisects a width of the truck,

wherein the lower portion defines a first slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the first slope angle is between a range of about 2° and about 4°,

wherein the upper portion defines a second slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane,

wherein the second slope angle is between about 25° and about 29°, and

wherein the truck has a drag coefficient that is between about 0.36 and about 0.48, wherein the drag coefficient, C d , is determined by

C

d

=

2

×

F

x

rho

×

v

2

×

A

ref

where F x is a force acting on the tractor unit, rho is a fluid density, v is a free stream velocity, and A ref is a frontal projected area of the tractor unit, and

wherein the outer body further comprises a wrap-around windshield defining a third slope angle taken from vertical and that lies in the bisecting plane, and wherein the third slope angle is between about 36° and about 37°.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: NIKOLA CORPORATION
To: HYROAD NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 073706/0118 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2019
From: MILTON, TREVOR R.; JENNES, STEPHEN; SCHOLTEN, MARKUS
To: NIKOLA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 049360/0483 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 15410130 · Jan 19, 2017
Division 15396209 · Dec 30, 2016
Continuation In Part 15357350 · Nov 21, 2016
Provisional Application 62391745 · May 9, 2016
Provisional Application 62273256 · Dec 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62391745 · May 9, 2016
Related Publication 20190263455A1 · Aug 29, 2019