Vehicle side fairing system

Abstract

A vehicle side fairing having a first fairing panel fixedly secured to the underside of a trailer box, and a second fairing panel coupled to the wheel set so that the second fairing panel moves with an adjustment in the position of the wheel set.

1 . A trailer with a side fairing, comprising:
 a trailer having a trailer box and a wheel set, the trailer when placed on a road surface defining a spatial gap forward of the wheel set between the bottom of the trailer and the road surface;   a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box proximate to such gap; the first fairing panel comprising an upper segment rotatably secured to a lower segment to be rotatable in an inward direction and an outward direction.   
     
     
         2 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 1 , further comprising means for urging the upper segment into a generally planar relationship with the lower segment. 
     
     
         3 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 1 , wherein the first fairing panel is secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to such gap; and further comprising a second fairing panel secured to at least one of the trailer box and the wheel set generally rearward of the first fairing panel, wherein the second fairing panel comprises an upper segment rotatably secured to a lower segment to be rotatable in an inward direction and an outward direction. 
     
     
         4 . A trailer with a side fairing, comprising:
 a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable bogie assembly comprising a plurality of wheels, the trailer when placed on a road surface defining a spatial gap forward of the bogie assembly between the bottom of the trailer and the road surface;   the trailer box further including a floor;   the bogie assembly being mounted below the floor of the trailer box;   a first fairing panel located proximate to such gap;   a second fairing panel located proximate to such gap generally rearward of the first fairing panel;   the second fairing panel being slidably coupled to the bogie assembly and not attached to the first fairing panel.   
     
     
         5 . The trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 4 , further comprising a frame slidably suspended below the floor of the trailer and joining the second fairing panel to a slider structure slidably coupled to the bogie assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A trailer with a side fairing, comprising:
 a trailer having a trailer box and a fore and aft positionally adjustable bogie assembly comprising a plurality of wheels, the trailer when placed on a road surface defining a spatial gap forward of the bogie assembly between the bottom of the trailer and the road surface;   a first fairing panel secured to the trailer box at a fixed position proximate to such gap;   a second fairing panel located proximate to such gap generally rearward of the first fairing panel and secured to the trailer in a cantilevered manner;   the second fairing panel slidably coupled to the bogie assembly to move fore or aft with a corresponding fore or aft adjustment in the position of the bogie assembly.   
     
     
         7 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 1 , the first fairing panel further comprising
 a side fairing subpanel; and   a plurality of clamping assemblies that secure the side fairing subpanel to a corresponding plurality of I-section floor beams.   
     
     
         8 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 1 , wherein the first fairing panel is secured to the trailer box with a plurality of clamp assemblies, each clamp assembly clamped to a respective transverse floor beam of the trailer. 
     
     
         9 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 1 , wherein the first fairing panel is secured to the trailer box proximate to the spatial gap and fabricated from at least one subpanel of single piece construction, with a plurality of stiffening ribs symmetrically disposed about the vertical and horizontal centerlines of the subpanel. 
     
     
         12 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 6 , further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of at least one of the first fairing panel and the second fairing panel. 
     
     
         13 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 3 , further including an impact amelioration section secured to the lower edge of at least one of the first fairing panel and the second fairing panel. 
     
     
         14 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 6 , further comprising a fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with or without an adjustment in the position of the wheel set. 
     
     
         15 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 3 , wherein the second fairing panel is fore and aft movably secured to the trailer box in a cantilevered manner and further comprising a fastener that selectively joins and releases the second fairing panel and the wheel set so that the second fairing panel can be moved with or without an adjustment in the position of the wheel set. 
     
     
         16 . A trailer with a side fairing as in  claim 7 , wherein the subpanel is of single piece construction and includes a plurality of stiffening ribs symmetrically disposed about the vertical and horizontal centerlines of the subpanel.