Device for reducing vehicle aerodynamic resistance

Abstract

An aerodynamic resistance reduction system for a vehicle is provided and includes a pair of vertical panels pivotally attached to a rear end adjacent to rear vertical edges of a vehicle, a first horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached to a top end to each of the pair of vertical panels and pivotally attached to the rear end adjacent to a top horizontal edge of the vehicle, and a second horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached adjacent to an inside surface of each of the pair of side panels, the second horizontal panel assembly being disposed between the first horizontal panel assembly and a lower edge of the rear end of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerodynamic resistance reduction system comprising:
 a pair of vertical panels pivotally attached to a rear end adjacent to rear vertical edges of a vehicle; and   a first horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached to a top end to each of the pair of vertical panels and pivotally attached to the rear end adjacent to a top horizontal edge of the vehicle, the first horizontal panel assembly having separate overlapping panels,   wherein the first horizontal panel assembly includes a plurality of panels that pivot with respect to each other to facilitate the folding and unfolding of the system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached adjacent to an inside surface of each of the pair of side panels, the second horizontal panel assembly being disposed between the first horizontal panel assembly and a lower edge of the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of vertical panels, the first horizontal panel assembly, and the second horizontal panel assembly include integrated hinges that facilitate pivoting of the pair of vertical panels, the first horizontal panel assembly, and the second horizontal panel assembly and wherein the first horizontal panel assembly and the second horizontal panel assembly pivot in a downward direction so as not to conflict with objects on the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of mounting hinges that mate with the integrated hinges on corresponding panels. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of compressible actuators attached to an underside of the first and/or second horizontal panel assembly and to the rear end of the vehicle that compress when the system is folded and expand when the system is unfolded. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a catch mechanism disposed on a distal edge on one half of both the first and second horizontal panel assemblies and being configured to receive the opposite half of both the first and second horizontal panel assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising and integral stiffener disposed along a distal edge of each of the pair of vertical panels that provides rigidity to minimize a bowing effect on each of the pair of side panels due to airflow during operation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of vertical side panels include an angled lower end that facilitates the folding of the pair of side panels against the rear end of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . An aerodynamic resistance reduction system configured to attach to a rear end of a tractor trailer comprising:
 a first vertical panel pivotally attached to a first rear swinging door adjacent to one rear vertical corner of the tractor trailer;   a second vertical panel pivotally attached to a second rear swinging door adjacent to an opposite rear vertical corner of the tractor trailer;   a first horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached to a top end of the first vertical panel and to a top end of the second vertical panel and pivotally attached to the first rear swinging door and the second rear swinging door;   wherein the first horizontal panel assembly includes a plurality of panels that pivot with respect to each other to facilitate the folding and unfolding of the system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a second horizontal panel assembly pivotally attached to an inside surface of the first vertical panel and an inside surface of the second vertical panel, the second horizontal panel assembly being vertically disposed between the first horizontal panel assembly and a lower edge of the rear end of the tractor trailer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first horizontal panel assembly includes a first upper outside panel pivotally attached to the first vertical panel, a second upper outside panel pivotally attached to the second vertical panel, a first upper center panel pivotally attached to the first upper outside panel and the first rear swinging door, and a second upper center panel pivotally attached to the second upper outside panel and the second rear swinging door. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second horizontal panel assembly includes a first lower outside panel pivotally attached to the first vertical panel, a second lower outside panel pivotally attached to the second vertical panel, a first lower center panel pivotally attached to the first lower outside panel and the first rear swinging door, and a second lower center panel pivotally attached to the second lower outside panel and the second rear swinging door. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first vertical panel, the second vertical panel, the first horizontal panel assembly, and the second horizontal panel assembly include integrated hinges that facilitate pivoting of the pair of vertical panels, the first horizontal panel assembly, and the second horizontal panel assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising release cords that facilitate the collapsing or folding of the system when the tractor trailer is not in motion. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the release cords have a first end attached to an underside of the first horizontal panel assembly and a second end attached to a top of the second horizontal panel assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A method reducing aerodynamic resistance on a vehicle comprising:
 pivoting a plurality of panels about a plurality of axes including:
 pivoting a first vertical side panel about an axis such that the first vertical side panel extends vertically outward from a rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a second vertical side panel about an axis such that the second vertical side panel extends vertically outward from a rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a first upper outside horizontal panel about an axis defined between a top end of the first vertical side panel and an outside edge of the first upper outside horizontal panel such that the first upper outside horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from a rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a second upper outside horizontal panel about an axis defined between a top end of the second vertical side panel and an outside edge of the second upper outside horizontal panel such that the second upper outside horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a first upper center horizontal panel about an axis defined between an angled edge on the first upper outside horizontal panel and an angled edge on the first upper center horizontal panel such that the first upper center horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle; and 
 pivoting a second upper center horizontal panel about an axis defined between an angled edge on the second upper outside horizontal panel and an angled edge on the second upper center horizontal panel such that the second upper center horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 pivoting a first lower outside horizontal panel about an axis defined adjacent to an inside surface of and between a top end and a lower end of the first vertical side panel such that the first lower outside horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a second lower outside horizontal panel about an axis defined adjacent to an inside surface of and between a top end and a lower end of the second vertical side panel such that the second lower outside horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle; 
 pivoting a first lower center horizontal panel about an axis defined between an angled edge on the first lower outside horizontal panel and an angled edge on the first lower center horizontal panel such that the first lower center horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle; and 
 pivoting a second lower center horizontal panel about an axis defined between an angled edge on the second lower outside horizontal panel and an angled edge on the second lower center horizontal panel such that the second lower center horizontal panel extends horizontally outward from the rear end of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 pivoting the first upper center horizontal panel about an axis defined between the rear end of the vehicle and the first upper center horizontal panel; and 
 pivoting the second upper center horizontal panel about an axis defined between the rear end of the vehicle and the second upper center horizontal panel. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 pivoting the first lower center horizontal panel about an axis defined between the rear end of the vehicle and the first lower center horizontal panel; and 
 pivoting the second lower center horizontal panel about an axis defined between the rear end of the vehicle and the second lower center horizontal panel. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of panels include integrated hinges that facilitate the pivoting between the plurality of axes.