Sealed aft cavity drag reducer

Abstract

A drag reducing device utilizing sealed aft cavities designed to limit interference with existing truck and trailer designs is described. The invention comprises one or more sealed aft cavities affixed to the rear of a traditional commercial straight truck or trailer, or any other blunt (or mostly blunt) aft faced vehicle. A means is provided by which the device is stowed to allow normal operation of the straight truck, trailer or vehicle. Drag is reduced by the streamlining of the rear of the vehicle, postponing and narrowing the flow separation downstream of the trailing edge as well as increasing the pressure on the back of the vehicle with the open to the rear, sealed aft cavity. The concept described focuses on the utilization of (a) sealed aft cavity(ies) to limit the effects of blunt body drag and the means for attachment and stowage for loading and unloading cargo.

1 . An aerodynamic structure for the rear of a truck body comprising:
 hingedly mounted on each of a pair of doors, a side panel, an upper panel and a lower panel that hinge between a folded position on the door to a deployed position in which the side panel, the upper panel and the lower panel together define an aerodynamic structure with an internal cavity, wherein the upper panel includes a pair of upper foldable sections joined along an upper hinge line that extends across the upper panel from a corner of the upper panel to a diagonally opposed corner of the upper panel such that the upper foldable sections confront each other when the upper panel is in the folded position, and the lower panel includes a pair of lower foldable sections joined along a lower hinge line that extends across the lower panel from a corner of the lower panel to a diagonally opposed corner of the lower panel such that the lower foldable sections confront each other when the lower panel is in the folded position, and wherein the upper panel, the side panel and the lower panel are fully interconnected to move together between the deployed position and the folded position such that the side panel overlies both the upper panel and the lower panel when in the folded position to thereby reduce interference between the aerodynamic structure and locking rod handles; and   a recessed well in each of the pair of doors facing into a cargo compartment of the truck body, the recessed well receiving each of the side panel, the upper panel and the lower panel therein so that each of the pair of doors can be opened to the position substantially flush against the side of the truck body with the side panel, the upper panel and the lower panel in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . An aerodynamic assembly that moves between a folded orientation and an
 unfolded orientation for the rear of a vehicle body having a right hand door and a left hand door comprising:   a right aerodynamic assembly half having a right top panel including a top door-hinged section hingedly attached adjacent a top of the right hand door to fold downwardly, a right bottom panel including a bottom door-hinged section hingedly attached adjacent a bottom of the right hand door to fold upwardly and a right side panel hingedly attached adjacent an outboard edge of the right hand door to fold inwardly toward a center line between the right hand door and the left hand door, the top panel further including a top side panel-hinged section hingedly attached to each of the top door hinged section and a top region of the side panel and the bottom panel further including a bottom side panel-hinged section hingedly attached to each of the bottom door hinged section and a bottom region of the side panel;   a left aerodynamic assembly half having a left top panel including a top door-hinged section hingedly attached adjacent a top of the left hand door to fold downwardly, a left bottom panel including a bottom door-hinged section hingedly attached adjacent a bottom of the left hand door to fold upwardly and a side panel hingedly attached adjacent an outboard edge of the left hand door to fold inwardly toward a center line between the right and door and the left hand door, the top panel further including a top side panel-hinged section hingedly attached to each of the top door hinged section and a top region of the side panel and the bottom panel further including a bottom side panel-hinged section hingedly attached to each of the bottom door hinged section and a bottom region of the side panel;   a right swing arm assembly hingedly attached to the right hand door, and through a respective tie rod, to each of the right top panel and the right bottom panel; and   a left swing arm assembly hingedly attached to the left hand door, and through a respective tie rod, to each of the left top panel and the left bottom panel.