Other

Adaptive Aerodynamic, LLC

Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Stemco Inc

Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Advanced Transit Dynamics, Inc.

Thomas Scott Breidenbach

Terry Dean Erickson

John N Lees

Terry B Berglin

Andrew J Dahl

Gregory A Reed

Michael Robertson

A truck may include an apparatus behind a passenger cab. The apparatus may provide access to an interior of a truck box, when retracted, and/or a cover, when deployed. The apparatus may include a plurality of moveable portions. The moveable portions may be linked together, and adjacent moveable portions may be linked together by one or more hinge. The apparatus, when deployed, may slope and may keep airflow attached to at least an exterior of the apparatus. The apparatus, when deployed, may significantly reduce aerodynamic drag on the truck. The apparatus, when deployed, may significantly increase driving range of the truck. Deployment and retraction of the apparatus may be motorized and may further be done remotely and/or automatically.

Truck with a retractable cover

An apparatus behind a passenger cab of a pickup truck may provide access to an interior of a pickup truck box, when retracted, and a cover, when extended. The apparatus, when extended, may produce an aerodynamic shape that significantly reduces drag on the pickup truck. The apparatus, at least when retracted, may allow rear visibility. Extension and retraction of the apparatus may be motorized and may further be done remotely and/or automatically. The apparatus may include a plurality of moveable panels linked together, and/or the panels may slope. Adjacent panels may be linked together by one or more hinges. A pickup truck may include such an apparatus.

Retractable cover apparatus for a pickup truck bed and a pickup truck with a retractable bed cover

A method of installing a tubular heat exchanger into soil includes providing the tubular heat exchanger and screwing the tubular heat exchanger into the soil with an installation apparatus. The installation apparatus may be removed from the soil without removing the tubular heat exchanger from the soil.

Installation apparatus/tool for tubular geothermal heat exchanger systems and methods

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adaptable for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus consists of a series of nesting shapes and/or frameworks that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.

Aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus

A drag reducing apparatus is provided for use with vehicles having surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus includes an exterior cover that forms a drag reducing shape when the apparatus is fully extended. The apparatus can be retracted to a space saving configuration. A scissors linkage extends and retracts the apparatus. The scissors linkage can be motorized, and the motor can extend the scissors linkage by turning in a first direction and can retract the apparatus by turning in a second direction. The scissors linkage can hold the exterior cover taut when the apparatus is fully extended. The scissors linkage can support the exterior cover at intermediate locations when the apparatus is not fully extended. The apparatus can include support linkages and intermediate moveable members that support the exterior cover and define the drag reducing shape.

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is provided for use with vehicles having surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus including an exterior cover supported by moveable frames which in turn are supported by sets of supporting linkages. The moveable frames extend rearward and together with the exterior cover form a drag reducing shape for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.

Screw-in geothermal heat exchanger systems and methods

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus for use with vehicles having downstream surfaces that are not streamlined. The apparatus includes folding panels that extend rearward for use in a drag reducing configuration and collapse for use in a space saving configuration.

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adapted for mounting behind a vehicle. The aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus includes a side panel, an actuator arrangement, a top panel, and an interconnecting member. The side panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The actuator is mounted between the side panel and the vehicle. The top panel is adapted to move between a deployed position and a stowed position. The interconnecting member is connected between the side panel and the top panel. The interconnecting member coordinates movement between the side and top panels such that they each move together between the deployed positions and the stowed positions, respectively. One or more of the panels may be mounted to a door of the vehicle via deformable hinges and/or deformably mounted hinges and thereby allow the door to open compactly against a side of the vehicle by deforming the panels, the hinges, and/or the mounts of the hinges.

An aerodynamic drag reducing device reduces drag on a vehicle when in an extended configuration. The aerodynamic drag reducing device includes a moveable frame, a set of linkages, and a linkage coordinator. The set of linkages supports the moveable frame in an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. A first linkage of the set of linkages defines a first axis, and a second linkage of the set of linkages defines a second axis. The linkage coordinator coordinates movement between the first linkage about the first axis and the second linkage about the second axis. The first and second axes may be non-parallel.

An aerodynamic drag reducing apparatus is adapted for mounting behind a vehicle. The apparatus includes a first actuator that may reside adjacent one or more lock-rods of a rear door of the vehicle. The first actuator is adapted to deploy a first aerodynamic panel and/or frame of an aerodynamic assembly. The first actuator may be retracted by a tension member. A second actuator is adapted to deploy a second aerodynamic panel and/or frame of the aerodynamic assembly. When an operator or other means moves the second aerodynamic panel to a stowed position of the second panel, tension is developed in the tension member, and the first actuator is thereby retracted. The retraction of the first actuator may move the first panel to a stowed position of the first panel.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Thomas Scott Breidenbach