Rear-mounted retractable aerodynamic structure for cargo bodies

Abstract

An aerodynamic structure attached to the sides and top of a truck cargo body (either a stand-alone trailer or a “straight truck” with the cab and cargo area as a fixed vehicle) at the aftmost region, which rear typically contains a rolling door assembly, which rolls upwardly. An aerodynamic structure is permanently attached to the sides and top of the trailer in a manner that extend past the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body and retract to the aftmost plane of the truck cargo body when subjected to a force, allowing this device to be backed into structures. The retracted orientation allows for the rear of the trailer to be fully accessible for loading and unloading, and does not reduce the size of the opening of the trailer. The various embodiments of the invention allow for automated deployment once the force used to compress the structure is removed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerodynamic structure mounted to the rear of a cargo body comprising:
 a multi-sided aerodynamic panel assembly mounted with respect to the rear of the cargo body constructed and arranged to deploy automatically according to predetermined parameters when the cargo body is located remote from a loading area,   wherein, when deployed the panel assembly defines at least one of an at least partially tapered, tapered and a straight-walled cavity at the rear of the cargo body.   
     
     
         2 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly is constructed along at least three sides of the cargo body. 
     
     
         3 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising an actuator assembly that automatically biases the panel assembly into a deployed orientation, wherein a biasing force thereof is overcome by movable engagement between the panel assembly and the structure. 
     
     
         4 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the actuator comprise at least one of a spring and a powered actuator assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the actuator assembly is biased by at least one of pneumatic force, spring force, fluid force, electrical power and wind resistance. 
     
     
         6 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the panel assembly is attached to one of (a) a movable body-adjacent panel portion to define a one-piece panel and (b) a body-affixed panel to define a two-piece panel. 
     
     
         7 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein, the panels reside within a regulated width of the cargo body and are constructed and arranged to guide airflow off sides of the rear cargo body and to taper the airflow behind the cargo body. 
     
     
         8 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being biased into the deployed position by spring force and being hingedly fixed along a surface of the vehicle body at a location forwardly spaced apart from a rear edge of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         9 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising a retaining assembly that engages a portion of the at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel to maintain a predetermined aerodynamic shape against airflow thereover. 
     
     
         10 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel are constructed and arranged to move outwardly along an approximate central region between a rear edge and a hinge line on the surface when moving from the deployed position to the retracted position. 
     
     
         11 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprises a flexible panel in which the central region defines an elastic outward bend in the retracted position. 
     
     
         12 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, and wherein the at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprises a flexible panel in which the central region defines a central hinge line. 
     
     
         13 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, and wherein at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel extends to at least one of (a) a position above taillights of the vehicle body, (b) a position approximately in line with a bottom edge of the vehicle body and (c) a position extending below the bottom edge of the vehicle body. 
     
     
         14 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, and wherein the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel is at least in part transparent in a region at least adjacent to an adjacent one of the taillights. 
     
     
         15 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel being biased into the deployed position by spring force and being hingedly fixed along a surface of the vehicle body at a location forwardly spaced apart from a rear edge of the vehicle body, and wherein the spring force is provided at least in part by at least one of a gas spring assembly, a linear compression spring and a torsion spring. 
     
     
         16 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the retaining assembly comprises at least one cable mounted respectively between a portion of the vehicle body and a portion of the at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         17 . The rear aerodynamic panel as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, and wherein at least one of the top panel, and the retaining assembly comprises a framework hingedly mounted to the rear of the vehicle body and adjacent to an edge of at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         18 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the panel assembly is originally located into the deployed position and is composed of a material that elastically deforms when engaging a confronting surface during rear motion of the vehicle into the surface. 
     
     
         19 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 18  whereon the material comprises at least one of foam, polyurethane, thermoplastic polymer, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and elastomeric material. 
     
     
         20 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, at least one of the top panel, and wherein each of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel are permanently joined at adjacent corners thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the panel assembly includes a top panel and a first side panel and an opposing second side panel that each respectively move between a retracted position substantially free of interference with a rear edge of the vehicle body and a deployed position extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge to define at least a partial aerodynamic cavity, and wherein the exterior surface of at least one of the top panel, the first side panel and the second side panel define a convex shape constructed and arranged to direct airflow thereover in a manner of an airfoil. 
     
     
         22 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 21  wherein at least one of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel include an internal framework to maintain the convex shape. 
     
     
         23 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the internal framework of at least one of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel is slidably interconnected with the cargo body by a plurality of parallel tracks and rollers moving with respect to the tracks. 
     
     
         24 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising elastomeric isolation dampers between the framework and the cargo body. 
     
     
         25 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising a flexible material located within the track that provides a loose air seal as the rollers move with respect thereto. 
     
     
         26 . The aerodynamic structure a set forth in  claim 23  further comprising a nacelle assembly attached to a front end of at least one of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel. 
     
     
         27 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising, on the top panel, a deployable extension member constructed and arranged to move to a location that engages a fixed location of a loading dock. 
     
     
         28 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising springs that interconnected between the framework and the cargo body, constructed and arranged to apply a biasing force that reduces initial resistance to retraction from the deployed position. 
     
     
         29 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising a spring linkage that maintains the top panel in the convex shape against speed induced wind resistance. 
     
     
         30 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the top panel comprises a collapsible member including a spring-damper assembly attached between a rear of the cargo body and a location adjacent to a rear edge of the top panel that selectively resists motion through engagement by a rear surface up to a predetermined threshold and allows motion beyond the predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         31 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  wherein a front edge of at least one of the top panel first side panel and second side panel includes a flexible seal that engages the cargo body. 
     
     
         32 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 31  wherein the flexible seal engages the cargo body in a deployed position and is remote from the cargo body in a retracted position. 
     
     
         33 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the cargo body includes a flexible seal constructed and arranged to engage at least one of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel when the at least one of the top panel, first side panel and second side panel is in a deployed position. 
     
     
         34 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one panel of the panel assembly moves between a deployed position and a refracted position based upon motion of the panel with respect to a roller located adjacent to a corner of the cargo body. 
     
     
         35 . The aerodynamic structure as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one panel of the panel assembly includes a linkage constructed and arranged to enable movement of at least one panel between a deployed position and a retracted position based upon a plurality of arms mounted on a surface of the cargo body that pivot along respective axes substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the surface of the cargo body.