Patent ID: 9506488
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: B62D,F16B,F16M,Y10S

Claim Text:
1. A trailer fairing clamping system comprising a plurality of clamp assemblies wherein each clamp assembly of said clamp assemblies is secured at the ends of a plurality of I-beams on the under surface of a cargo trailer to secure said trailer fairing in-place below the sides of said cargo trailer and improve aerodynamic properties of said cargo trailer and reduce fuel consumption when said cargo trailer is being towed by a road tractor, wherein each clamp assembly can be used to secure a panel to said I-beam so that the plane of the panel and the longitudinal axis of the I-beam will be substantially perpendicular one to the other, and wherein said clamp assembly can be secured to a freely accessible pair of opposed flanges of the I-beam above the bottom surface of said I-beam, wherein each of said clamp assemblies comprises: a pair of side blocks each having a lower clamping surface and an inclined wedge surface which wedge surface extends from an intersection with said lower clamping surface; a single clamping block having an upper surface, an outer surface perpendicular to said upper surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of sloping wedge surfaces along the sides of the said clamping block, each of which slopes along at least a portion of the length of the clamping block from a respective intersection with said upper surface of the clamping block to a respective intersection with the bottom surface thereof; and at least one bolt; wherein each side block has at least one opening formed through a side surface and the inclined wedge surface thereof; whereby upon attachment of said clamp assembly to said I-beam, the respective lower clamping surfaces of the pair of side blocks will face respective upper surfaces of the pair of opposed flanges at the bottom of said I-beam, and so that the respective inclined wedge surfaces of said side blocks will face respective sloping wedge surfaces of said clamping block, so that a tightening action of said at least one bolt passed through said openings of said side blocks will cause a sliding and wedging action of the sloping wedge surfaces of the clamping block relative to and in opposition to said inclined wedge surfaces of the respective side blocks, so as to thereby secure a clamping action therebetween and a clamping action will be induced between the upper surface of the clamping block and the bottom surface of the I-beam, and wherein, in operation, said clamping block is in a generally horizontal disposition, and said outer surface thereof is in a generally vertical disposition.