Rear-mounted aerodynamic structures for cargo bodies

Abstract

A rear-mounted aerodynamic structure for securing to a cargo body includes a three- or four-sided structure having a deployed position for assisting in improving aerodynamic efficiency of the cargo body. The cargo body can be the body of a trailer of a tractor-trailer vehicle or trailer towed behind a vehicle such as a truck. It can comprise a trailer body or other cargo body well-known in the art. A spoiler “flow keeper” mounted to a top surface of the rear of the cargo body, as additional aerodynamic structures or as a standalone spoiler for cargo bodies. The three- or four-sided rear-mounted aerodynamic structure can comprise any of a variety of illustrative embodiments shown and described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rear-mounted aerodynamic structure for a cargo body comprising:
 an upper panel and a side panel each hingedly mounted on a door of the cargo body, that hinge between a folded position on the door to a deployed position in which the upper panel and the side panel together define an aerodynamic structure with an internal cavity; and   a swingarm or linkage assembly operatively connected between the upper panel and the side panel and to the door, so that hinged movement of the side panel causes hinged movement of the swingarm or linkage assembly in response thereto and movement of the upper panel in response to the hinged movement of the swingarm or linkage assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 1  further comprising a cantilevered top panel hinge having an axis of rotation cantilevered up above the door of the cargo body such that the top panel is located flush with a top of the cargo body in the deployed position, and the top panel can be moved around a side of the cargo body with the door when in the folded position. 
     
     
         3 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 1  further comprising a dual-axis hinge having a first hinge with a rotation axis disposed rearwardly away from a rear end of the cargo body, and a diagonal link to a second hinge on the door of the cargo body, such that the door can be disposed away from a side of the cargo body to allow room for the folded upper panel and the side panel when folded on the door and when the trailer door is in an open position, with the door folded against the side of the trailer. 
     
     
         4 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 1  further comprising an upper panel crash bar secured to the upper panel that improves contact angle in collision and assists folding of the top panel to avoid damage to the upper panel. 
     
     
         5 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 4  wherein the upper panel crash bar defines a most rearwardly protruding structure from the cargo body when the aerodynamic structure is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 1  further comprising an automatically opening latch including a top or side drag tab operatively connected to the automatically opening latch via a cable assembly that causes the upper panel and the side panel to open automatically in response to a sufficient speed of the cargo body. 
     
     
         7 . A rear-mounted aerodynamic structure for a cargo body, the rear-mounted aerodynamic structure comprising:
 an upper panel and a side panel each hingedly mounted on a door of the cargo body, that hinge between a folded position on the door to a deployed position in which the upper panel and the side panel together define an aerodynamic structure with an internal cavity; and   a plurality of bi-directional spring-loaded hinges that are biased to hold the upper panel and the side panel in the deployed position, but permit inward-folding of the upper panel and the side panel when the door of the cargo body is opened and the side panel contacts a side of the trailer and pushes the side panel inward.   
     
     
         8 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 7  further comprising a counter-weight assembly comprising a two member linkage including a weight operatively connected to a vertex of the two member linkage such that the vertex moves downward as the upper panel moves upward, and the vertex moves upward as the upper panel moves downward, and wherein the weight of the counter-weight assembly is substantially similar to weight of the upper panel to offset the weight of the upper panel. 
     
     
         9 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 7  further comprising a cable assembly secured between the side panel and the door to provide rigidity for the aerodynamic structure when in the deployed position. 
     
     
         10 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 7  wherein the side panel is folded on the door when the aerodynamic structure is in the folded position, and the upper panel is folded upwardly away from the door when in the aerodynamic structure is in the folded position. 
     
     
         11 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 7  further comprising a cantilevered upper panel hinge having an axis of rotation cantilevered up above the door of the cargo body such that the upper panel is located flush with a top of the trailer in the deployed position, and the top panel is moved around a side of the trailer coaxially with the trailer door when in the folded position. 
     
     
         12 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 7  further comprising a dual-axis hinge having a first hinge with a rotation axis disposed rearwardly away from a rear end of the cargo body, and a diagonal link to a second hinge on the door of the cargo body, such that, when the upper panel and the side panel are folded on the door and the door is in an open position, the door is disposed away from a side of the cargo body to allow room for the folded upper panel and the side panel when folded on the door with the door folded against the side of the trailer. 
     
     
         13 . A rear-mounted aerodynamic structure for a cargo body, the rear-mounted aerodynamic structure comprising:
 an upper vane secured at a first pivot point on the upper vane to a first end of a first upper actuator, the first upper actuator being pivotally connected to the cargo body at a second end of the first upper actuator;   a side vane secured at a first pivot point on the side vane to a first end of a first side actuator, the first side actuator being pivotally connected to the cargo body at a second end of the first side actuator;   wherein the first upper actuator and the first side actuator are constructed and arranged to control the shape of the vane based upon actuation of the first upper actuator ii and the first side actuator.   
     
     
         14 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 13  wherein the upper vane is secured at a second pivot point on the upper vane to a first end of a second upper actuator, the second upper actuator being pivotally connected to the cargo body at a second end of the second upper actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The rear-mounted aerodynamic structure of  claim 14  wherein the side vane is secured at a second pivot point on the side vane to a first end of a second side actuator, the second side actuator being pivotally connected to the cargo body at a second end of the second side actuator.