Patent ID: 8196993
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A side deflector assembly for selectively manipulating an aerodynamic drag of a vehicle having a lead body, a trailing body, and a gap formed therebetween, the side deflector assembly comprising: a first side deflector movable between a retracted position in which the first side deflector is substantially aligned with a first side of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the first side deflector extends outwardly from the first side of the vehicle at a selected angle; a second side deflector movable between a retracted position in which the second side deflector is substantially aligned with a second side of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the second deflector extends outwardly from the second side of the vehicle at a selected angle; and a control system associated with the first and second side deflectors and adapted to independently position the first and second side deflectors between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein the control system includes at least one cross wind sensor that senses the direction of a cross wind relative to the vehicle and a controller that selects a windward side deflector from the first and second side deflectors based on the sensed direction of the cross wind and articulates only the windward side deflector to the extended position.