Streamlined truck with semitrailer

Highway truck with semitrailer, with or without a second trailer, with spaces between tractor and semitrailer, and between semitrailer and second trailer covered to provide streamlining and with skirts on both sides extending to immediately above ground level between wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Moving freight by highway trucks has been increasing in volume for several 
years, and it appears that it will continue to increase in the future. 
This method of freight handling has proved to be more efficient and 
quicker than any other means in a large majority of situations. 
Nevertheless, this method has need of further improvement. A large problem 
is the energy needed to overcome wind resistance. It has been recognized 
that by streamlining vehicles they can accomplish great savings in fuel 
expenses and can travel faster. A recent attempt to help solve this 
problem is the use of a wind deflector attached to the top of the cab of 
the tractor which provides some streamlining of air flow from the cab to 
the broad flat or rounded front surface of the semitrailer. Usually, the 
top of the cab is lower than the top of the semitrailer and this makes the 
front of the semitrailer react almost like a sail catching the full force 
of the wind. Eddy currents form behind the cab and behind the semitrailer, 
and such currents are known to provide great wind resistance to the truck. 
Furthermore, such eddy currents are produced underneath the truck and its 
trailers which add to the wind resistance. There is a great need to 
provide a maximum streamlining effect in order to speed up freight 
shipments and to reduce shipping costs. 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved streamlined 
highway truck. It is another object to provide a streamlined highway truck 
which incorporates a tractor, a semitrailer, and, if desired, a second 
trailer. Still other objects will become apparent from the more detailed 
description which follows. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a streamlined highway truck including a tractor 
with a cab having a roof and two side sections and a semitrailer having a 
front, a top and two side sections and being pivotally joined by a fifth 
wheel to said tractor said tractor having a top panel extending from said 
roof to adjacent the front edge of the top of said semitrailer and two 
side panels extending from the side sections of said tractor to the front 
edges of the respective side sections of said semitrailer, said side 
panels extending vertically from adjacently above ground level to a 
juncture with said top panel, each of said side panels including a rigid 
portion connected to the side section of said cab and a vertical strip 
portion hingedly connected to said rigid portions and adapted to swing 
outwardly to accommodate an angular relationship of less than 180.degree. 
between the side panel of the tractor and the adjacent side section of the 
semitrailer, said strip portions being spring biased to remain aligned 
with their respective rigid portions, said semitrailer having side panels 
extending downwardly from the bottom of the side sections to adjacently 
above ground level from adjacent the tractor wheels under the front of the 
semitrailer to adjacent the semitrailer wheels adjacent the rear of the 
semitrailer. 
In specific embodiments of this invention the truck includes a trailer 
towed behind the semitrailer and connector panels between the semitrailer 
and trailer; and with skirts extending downwardly on both sides to 
immediately above the ground level between adjacent wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The overall appearance of the invention may best be seen in FIG. 1. The 
truck of this invention may comprise a tractor 20 and a semitrailer 23 or 
it may comprise a tractor 20, a semitrailer 23, and a second trailer 38. 
Generally, no highway truck has more than two trailers as shown, but if 
more were permitted this invention would be applicable by merely adding 
behind second trailer 38 tne same features to be described here between 
semitrailer 23 and second trailer 38. 
The streamlining features of this invention involve panels joining tractor 
20 to semitrailer 23 and semitrailer 23 to second trailer 38 so as to 
provide a minimum of sharp corners, flat surfaces, and open pockets to 
catch the stream of air flowing over a moving vehicle and produce energy 
consuming wind resistance. In general, except for the wheels, the entire 
tractor, semitrailer, and second trailer are provided with a smooth 
continuous outer surface from top to bottom (immediately above ground 
level). 
Tractor 20 comprises a cab for the driver which has a roof or top 21 and 
two vertical side sections 22. Semitrailer 23 is a rectangular box-shaped 
vehicle having a flat vertical front 24, a flat horizontal top 25, and two 
flat vertical sides 26. Front edge 27 of top 25 normally is higher than 
top 21 of the cab of tractor 20 and, therefore, front 24 forms a large 
flat surface catching the full force of all wind blowing over top 21. In 
this invention the space between tractor 20 and semitrailer front 24 is 
covered with air flow panels to minimize the wind resistance. Top panel 30 
extends from tractor top 21 to front edge 27 of top 25 of semitrailer 23. 
Side panels 31 connect side sections 22 of tractor 20 to the respective 
front edges 28 of sides 26 of semitrailer 23. If it were not for the 
joining of tractor 20 and semitrailer 23 by a fifth wheel 79 over the rear 
wheels 80 of tractor 20 so as to provide a turning facility, panels 30 and 
31 could be rigidly fastened both to tractor 20 and semitrailer 23. 
Because of the jointed turning action provided by fifth wheel 79, panels 
30 and 31 are fastened rigidly to tractor 20 but not to semitrailer 23. 
Side panels 31 are divided into a rigid immovable portion 32 and a 
pivotable strip portion 33 joined to each other by an elongated piano 
hinge 34 extending the entire length of strip portion 33. Skirt portions 
35 extend from the bottoms of panel portions 32 and 33 to closely adjacent 
to ground level 29. The structure and functioning of skirt portions 35 are 
described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 
Between semitrailer 23 and second trailer 38 are vertical connector panels 
49 aerodynamically joining sides 26 of semitrailer 23 to sides 40 of 
second trailer 38. Panels 49 are attached to rear edges 81 of sides 26 by 
hinges 50 so as to provide a swinging action to panels 49 to accommodate 
the angular relationship between semitrailer 23 and second trailer 38 when 
the truck is turning. 
In FIGS. 2-4 there are shown the features of the panels connecting tractor 
20 to semitrailer 23. Side panels 31 and top panel 30 are affixed to 
appropriate and convenient locations on side sections 22 and roof 21 of 
tractor 20 by welding, riveting, or the like with each juncture being 
smoothed to provide the smoothest connection possible. Panels 30 and 31 
are then directed smoothly toward edges 27 an 28 respectively to provide 
the optimum in streamlining. Generally, this can be achieved by making top 
panel 30 incline upward to the higher elevation of front edge 27 and side 
panels 31 to extend rearwardly in a planar fashion to front edges 28. 
Panel 30 is joined at each side respectively to panels 31 along straight 
or gently curved lines to make a three-sided enclosure extending 
rearwardly from the cab of tractor 20 to the front wall 24 of semitrailer 
23. Top panel 30 may take either of two form which differ only in the 
positional relationship of the rear edge of panel 30 to front edge 27. It 
is advantageous in some instances to leave an open space between rear edge 
75 of panel 30 and front edge 27 to provide ventilation therein. This is 
particularly important if the exhaust is in this area. If, however, the 
exhaust does not discharge in this area, panel 30 may extend to edge 76 
(in dotted lines) slightly overlapping front edge 27. This latter 
alternative is preferred in order to achieve maximum streamlining. Panel 
30 is supported on any convenient framework projecting outwardly from the 
surfaces of the cab of tractor 20. Such framework is not shown here 
because it is considered to be conventional. 
When the truck must turn it pivots around fifth wheel 79 (FIG. 1) which 
would cause the side panel 31 on the inside of the turn to be damaged if 
it were not for making that panel in two hinged portions. Rigid portion 32 
is joined to strip portion 33 by hinge 34. Portion 33 has affixed to its 
inside surfaces stop bracket means 47 which prevent it from swinging 
inwardly beyond its normal position when tractor 20 is aligned with 
semitrailer 23 as shown in FIG. 2. Springs 48 or other equivalent biasing 
means urge portion 33 toward its stop position against bracket 47. At the 
outer extremities of strip portion 33 is a plurality of rollers 46 affixed 
on the inside surface of portions 33 and spaced inwardly therefrom by any 
suitable bracket support means. Cooperating with rollers 46 are roller 
tracks 57 rigidly attached to front wall 24 of semitrailer 23, one track 
57 for each roller 46. Tracks 57 are plates set at an inclined angle 
sloping away from wall 24 as the track extends inwardly away from front 
edge 28. Front edge 28 meets track 57 smoothly so that roller 46 may roll 
on track 57 and around front edge 28 to side section 26 smoothly. It will 
be seen in FIG. 4 how portion 33 on the inside of the turn pivots 
outwardly as roller 46 rolls off track 57 around edge 28 and onto side 
section 26. On the outside of the turn the respective portion 33 remains 
in line by reason of stop bracket 47 and roller 46 is removed completely 
from contact with track 57 or any part of semitrailer 23. However, when 
tractor 20 returns to the aligned position roller 46 will return to track 
57 as shown in FIG. 2. And, of course, if tractor 20 turns in the opposite 
direction from that shown in FIG. 4, the portions 33, rollers 46 and 
tracks 57 will function in reverse to that shown in FIG. 4. Portions 33 
are capable of handling the sharpest turns possible. FIG. 3 shows four 
sets of rollers 46 and tracks 57 positioned generally at the four corners 
of frong wall 24. It is preferable to have at least these four sets, and 
it may be desirable in some embodiments of this invention to employ more 
than four sets. It is, of course, possible to employ only one set per 
portion 33 if all components are made sufficiently stiff, but that is not 
preferred since it would probably require added weight to provide the 
necessary stiffness. 
In FIGS. 5-7 there are shown the features required when the truck includes 
a second trailer 38 towed behind semitrailer 23 as is popular for many 
long hauls. The space between semitrailer 23 and second trai-er 38 is 
enclosed by two side connector panels 49, and, if desired, a top connector 
panel extending from rear edge 77 of top 25 of semitrailer to front edge 
42 of top 40 of second trailer 38, or slightly overlapping front edge 42. 
The rear edge of such a top panel is shown in dotted lines at 78. Side 
connector panels 49 are attached to the rear of semitrailer 23 in the same 
fashion as strip portions 33 are attached to rigid portions 32 as 
described above for the space between tractor 20 and semitrailer 23. 
Connector panels 49 extend from tops 24 and 41 to adjacently above ground 
level 29. Each panel 49 has an upper portion 51 and a lower portion 52 
joined along a horizontal hinge 53 which permits lower portion 52 to be 
folded upwardly over the outside of upper portion 51 such that the lower 
edge of lower portion 52 would be along line 74 (dotted lines in FIG. 6) 
when folded upwardly. Upper portion 51 is connected to rear edges 81 of 
side sections 26 by hinges 50. Stop brackets 55 and springs 56 keep panel 
49 from swinging inwardly and do not permit panel to swing freely 
outwardly, but do permit outward pivoting when necessitated by the truck 
negotiating a curve. It will be seen in FIGS. 5-7 that the normal 
alignment between side section 26 and panel 49 is 180.degree. alignment 
but that when a turn is made (as shown in FIG. 7) panel 49 on the inside 
of the turn assumes an angle of less than 180.degree. by pivoting and 
overlapping side section 40 of second trailer 38. On the outside of the 
turn the respective panel 49 maintains its alignment with side section 26 
by reason of spring 56 and stop bracket 55. Rollers 54 cooperate with 
roller tracks 58 in exactly the same manner as described previously for 
rollers 46 and roller tracks 57. When semitrailer 28 is to be loaded or 
unloaded panels 49 may be unhooked from springs 56 and swung outwardly 
against side sections 26 to give free access to the rear door of 
semitrailer 23. 
Each of semitrailer 23 and second trailer 38 are provided with side panels 
36 and 44 respectively which extend from the truck bed downwardly to 
adjacent to ground level 29, and extend forward and rearward to cover the 
space between the front and rear wheels. In the case of semitrailer 23 the 
wheels under the forward portion are actually rear wheels 80 of tractor 
20. 
Along the lower portion of all of side panels 32, 33, 36, 44, and 49 are 
skirt portions 35, 37, 45, and 59 respectively. All of these skirt 
portions are identical in structure. They are made to ride as close to 
ground level 29 as possible, but also to be able to negotiate bumps, 
obstructions in the roadway, and sharp changes in elevation. The structure 
of these skirt portions is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8 there is 
shown a representative panel 32, 33, 36, and 44. In the case of panels 36 
and 44 they depend from semitrailer 23 or second trailer 38. In each 
instance side sections 26 and 40 terminate at trailer bed 60. In order to 
attach a streamlining panel below bed 60 a length of angle beam 61 may be 
bolted, welded, riveted, or otherwise attached thereto and panel 36 or 44 
hung therefrom by bolts, rivets, or other fasteners 60. Panels 32 and 33 
are attached at any convenient place to the cab or other structure of 
tractor 20 and may or may not have a supporting structure like angle beam 
61 and fastener 62. Along the bottom edge 82 of panels 32, 33, 36, and 44 
is fastened an angle beam 63 by means of fasteners 71. Depending 
downwardly from angle beam 63 at horizontally spaced intervals are support 
brackets 64, which may be channel beams, angle beams, plates, strips, or 
the like fastened at their top ends by means of flanges 65 to angle beam 
63 by bolts, rivets, or other fasteners 66. At the lower end of brackets 
64 is a lateral pin 67 from which hangs backing plate 68 by means of holes 
69 through which pass pins 67. Holes 69 are considerably larger than pins 
67 so as to provide a substantial amount of movement or play around pins 
67. A flexible fabric skirt is attached at its upper edge to the bottom of 
panels 32, 33, 36 and 44, and near its lower edge to the bottom of backing 
plate 68 by means of fasteners 72. A lower portion 73 of fabric 70 extends 
below the bottom of plate 68 to adjacent ground level 29. It may be seen 
that if plate 68 encounters any obstruction which is above ground level 
29, plate will move upward due to the play around pins 67 and fabric 70 
will merely flex outward. When past the obstruction, gravity will cause 
plate 68 to seek its lowest level and fabric 70 will return to its normal 
unflexed position. Of course, any large obstructions cannot be negotiated 
by this structure, but such are not expected to be encountered on 
superhighways where the trucks of this invention are expected to travel. 
The materials used to make the structure of this invention cover a wide 
variety of types. It is only important that they be as durable and as 
light as possible and yet be strong enough to serve their purposes. Iron, 
steel, aluminum, plastic, etc. may be employed except for fabric 70 which 
may be cotton, nylon, wire mesh, etc. 
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific 
embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes 
may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to 
cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit 
and scope of the invention.