The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 18, 1990
Robert J Selzer, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
David D Bubb, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Navistar International Transportation Corp., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An aerodynamic-gap sealing structure for a tractor-trailer combination includes rigid multipiece articulating shields at rear corners of the tractor and extending rearwardly to engage a side of a front face of the trailer. Similarly, a cab of the tractor is provided with a roof extension pivotally mounted on a top corner of a roof, or roof fairing, of the cab and extends rearwardly and upwardly to a roof of the trailer disposed thereabove. The side shields include a plurality of panels, preferably three, between the cab and the trailer which are pivotally connected to each other by centering springs to allow for varying distances between the cab and the trailer corners as a turn is negotiated while normally maintaining the panels as a straight extension from the cab to the trailer. A cam-operated linkage near the fifth wheel is connected to automatically raise the roof extension on the tractor to allow the trailer to move under the roof extension when the tractor and the trailer are being connected, the roof extension lowering onto the top of the trailer when the connection is completed. The device encloses the gap between the tractor cab and the trailer to provide streamlined airflow around the over the vehicle.