Smarttruck Systems, LLC

Aerion Corporation

Transtex LLC

Other

The Boeing Company

Henderson Industries, LLC

Michael Lorenzo Henderson

Stephen Alfred Wulff

James D Chase

Nathan David See

Semir Kapetanovic

Sturdza Peter

Peter Sturdza

Ralph B Owen

A multi-panel skirt system for a flatbed includes two pair of forward and aft skirt panels with each pair located on an opposite lateral sides of the flatbed. In each pair, the forward skirt panel extends along the lateral side edge generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, which is located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the lateral side edge of the flatbed. An aft skirt panel extends along the lateral side edge generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge aft of the forward skirt panel, which trailing edge is located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the lateral side edge. The leading edge of the aft skirt panel is positioned laterally inboard of the trailing edge of the forward skirt panel.

Segmented aerodynamic skirts for flatbed trailer

A preferred multi-panel skirt system for a cargo enclosure includes two pair of forward and aft skirt panels with each pair located on an opposite lateral sides of the enclosure. In each pair, the forward skirt panel extends along the bottom wall generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, which is located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of a lateral side edge of the enclosure. An aft skirt panel extends along the bottom wall generally in the lengthwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge aft of the forward skirt panel, which trailing edge is located adjacent to and aligned with or positioned laterally inboard of the lateral side edge of the enclosure. The leading edge of the aft skirt panel is positioned laterally inboard of the trailing edge of the forward skirt panel.

Multi-panel skirt system for cargo enclosures

A nose fairing for a cargo enclosure may generally include a nose body configured to extend outwardly from a front wall of the enclosure. The nose body may include an upper nose wall, a lower nose wall and a leading edge region extending between the upper and lower nose walls. The upper nose wall may include a concave region that terminates at the leading edge region such that the nose fairing transitions directly from the concave region of the upper nose wall to the leading edge region. The lower nose wall may include a convex region that terminates at the leading edge region such that the nose fairing transitions directly from the convex region of the lower nose wall to the leading edge region. The leading edge region may define a radius of curvature that differs from a radius of curvature of the convex region of the lower nose wall.

Aerodynamic fairings for cargo enclosures

A side-view mirror assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The mirror assembly may generally include a mirror housing configured to support a mirror. The mirror housing may define an airfoil shape have a first side surface and a second side surface extending between a forward edge and an aft edge. In addition, the mirror housing may be movable between a first position, wherein the mirror housing is aerodynamically aligned with an airflow flowing past the vehicle, and a second position, wherein the mirror reflects a rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle.

Drag reducing mirror assemblies for vehicles

Improved supersonic laminar flow wing structure, on a supersonic aircraft, having strake extending forwardly of the wing inboard extent, and reversed fillet at strake junction with the wing leading edge. Plain and split flap structures may also be provided at each laminar flow wing.

Highly efficient supersonic laminar flow wing structure

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle trailer is described that includes a shelf component that extends from the rear wall of the trailer and that defines a sloped surface.

Devices and methods for reducing vehicle drag

Improved supersonic laminar flow wing structure, on a supersonic aircraft, having strake extending forwardly of the wing inboard extent, and reversed fillet at strake junction with the wing leading edge.

Highly efficient transonic laminar flow wing

An apparatus for reducing the drag of a trailer is provided. The apparatus can further include a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer in front of wheels on the bottom of a trailer, a pair of fairings configured to be positioned on opposite sides of a trailer behind the wheels on the bottom of a trailer, with both pairs of fairings placed and shaped to direct the air smoothly around the wheels and tires and through the center of the trailer. The apparatus can also include a ramp in front of the suspension components, aerodynamically shaped wings on the axles, and a rear diffuser, such components configured to direct air smoothly between the trailer suspension and the ground. The directed high energy air from the apparatus results in a reduced trailer base drag.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a mirror assembly for a vehicle is described. The mirror assembly includes a housing defining an aerodynamic shape. The housing includes a first curved wall, a second curved wall, a bottom portion, and a top portion. The first and second curved walls extend from the bottom portion to the top portion and intersect one another to form a leading edge of the housing. The housing is dimensionally configured so that a thrust force is generated in a travel direction of the vehicle when a crossflow from the vehicle is directed around the housing.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle trailer is described that further includes a shelf component. The shelf component is separate from the rain gutter component. The shelf component extends from the rear wall of the trailer and includes a sloped surface.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a mirror assembly for a vehicle is described. The mirror assembly includes a first curved wall, a second curved wall, a bottom portion, and a top portion. The first curved wall and second curved wall each extend from the bottom portion to the top portion and are joined to one another along a respective first side of each of the first curved wall and the second curved wall. The first curved wall, second curved wall, bottom portion, and top portion define an area comprising a reflecting surface. Each respective second side of each of the first curved wall and the second curved wall extends beyond the plane defined by the area and assists in a reduction in drag when fluid flow contacts the mirror assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Piedmont, SC, United States of America

Michael Lorenzo Henderson