Drag reduction apparatus for a trailer

A drag reduction apparatus for mounting at the rear of a trailer. The apparatus includes a first unit which is secured to the first door of the trailer and a second unit which is secured to the second door of the trailer. Each of the units includes an upper panel, an intermediate panel and a lower panel. The units are selectively movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a drag reduction apparatus for a trailer and more particularly relates to a drag reduction device which is mounted on the rear end of the trailer. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a drag reduction apparatus for a trailer which is easily movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Description of the Related Art

Many attempts have been made to provide a drag reduction apparatus for attachment to the rear of a trailer. However, the previous prior art devices have many disadvantages. First, the prior art devices are not durable in use. Second, the prior art devices are not easily attached to the rear of a trailer. Third, the prior art devices are not easily movable between stowed and deployed positions. Fifth, the prior art devices make it difficult to gain access to the interior of the trailer. Lastly, the prior art devices do not satisfactorily reduce the drag on the trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A drag reduction apparatus is disclosed for mounting on the rear end of a trailer. The drag reduction apparatus includes a first drag reduction unit mounted on the left rear door of the trailer and a second drag reduction unit mounted on the right rear door of the trailer. The second drag reduction unit is a mirror image of the first drag reduction unit. The first drag reduction unit includes an upper panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the first upper panel being hingedly secured to the left rear door of the trailer adjacent the upper end thereof about a horizontal axis. The first upper panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a rearwardly extending deployed position. The first upper panel extends downwardly from the rear door and the first upper panel is in its stowed position. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first intermediate panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first side and a second side with the first end of the first intermediate panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the first upper panel about a horizontal axis. The first intermediate panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first lower panel having an upper end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the first lower panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the first intermediate panel about a horizontal axis. The first lower panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second end of the first lower panel is hingedly secured to the left rear door of the trailer adjacent the lower end thereof. The first upper panel, the first intermediate panel and the first lower panel have a width which would be substantially equal to the width of the rear door of the trailer. The first drag reduction unit also includes a first locking member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end of the first locking member being pivotally secured to the outer side of the left rear door of the trailer. The first locking member is selectively movable between stowed and deployed positions. The first rearward end of the first locking member engages the inner side of the first upper panel, when the first locking member is in its said deployed position, to selectively maintain the first upper panel, the first intermediate panel and the first lower panel of the first drag reduction unit in their deployed positions. A flexible first sheet member closes the outer end of the first drag reduction unit.

The second drag reduction unit includes a second upper panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the second upper panel being hingedly secured to the right rear door of the trainer about a horizontal axis. The second upper panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a rearwardly extending deployed position. The second upper panel extends downwardly from the right rear door of the trailer when the second upper panel is in its stowed position. The second unit also includes a second intermediate panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first side and a second side with the first end of the second intermediate panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the second upper panel about a horizontal axis. The second intermediate panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second drag reduction unit also includes a second lower panel having a first end, a second end, a first side edge, a second side edge, an outer side and an inner side with the first end of the second lower panel being hingedly secured to the second end of the second intermediate panel about a horizontal axis. A second lower panel is selectively hingedly movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second end of the second lower panel is hingedly secured to the right rear door of the trailer adjacent the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The second drag reduction unit also includes a second locking member having a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end of the second locking member being pivotally secured to the outer side of the right rear door of the trailer. The second locking member is selectively movable between stowed and deployed positions. The rearward end of the second locking member engages the inner side of the second lower panel when the second locking member is in its deployed position to selectively maintain the second upper panel, the second intermediate panel and the second lower panel in their deployed positions. A flexible sheet member closes the outer end of the second drag reduction unit.

A drag reduction apparatus is easily moved between a stowed position and its deployed position. In its deployed position, the drag reduction apparatus of this invention reduces the drag on the rear of the trailer.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved drag reduction apparatus for mounting on the rear of a trailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is easily moved between a stowed position and a deployed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drag reduction apparatus of the type described which is extremely efficient and which is durable in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The numeral10refers to a conventional trailer having a forward end12, a rearward end14, a first side16and a second side18. The rearward end14of trailer10is closed by doors20and22in conventional fashion. For purposes of description, door20will be described as having an upper end24, a lower end26, an outer end28, an inner end30, and an outer side32. It is to the conventional trailer10that Applicant has designed the drag reducing apparatus34of this invention to reduce the drag at the rearward end of the trailer. Drag reducing apparatus34is comprised of a right unit34A and a left unit34B which are attached or mounted on the doors20and22respectively at the outer side of the doors20and22.

Unit34A includes an upper panel36having a first end38, a second end40, a first side edge42, a second side edge44, an outer side46and an inner side48. The first end38of upper panel36is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door20by a hinge50.

The numeral52refers to an intermediate panel having a first end54, a second end56, a first side edge58, a second side edge60, an inner side62and an outer side64. The first end54of intermediate panel52is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to the second end40of upper panel36by a hinge66.

The numeral68refers to a lower panel having a first end70, a second end72, a first side edge74, a second side76, an outer side78, and an inner side80. The first end70of lower panel68is hingedly secured to the second end56of intermediate panel52by a hinge82. The second end72of lower panel68is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door20adjacent the lower end26of door20by a hinge84.

The numeral86refers to a locking device such as a panel of similar structure which has a forward end88and a rearward end90. The forward end88of locking device86is hingedly secured to the outer side of door20by a hinge92or other means. The locking device86is hingedly movable between a vertically disposed stowed position to a locking position as seen inFIG. 3. The locking device86may be manually moved between its stowed position and locking position or by other means. When in its locking position ofFIG. 3, the rearward end90of locking device86engages a stop93secured to the inner side of lower panel68. When in its locking position, locking device86maintains the unit34A in its deployed position.

A flexible sheet member94is secured to the outer side of door20, the first side edge42of upper panel36, the first end edge58of intermediate panel52and a first side edge76of lower panel68by any convenient means to close the outer side of unit34A when unit34A is in its deployed position.

Unit34B is a mirror image of unit34A and will now be described with “′” indicating identical structure on unit34B. Unit34B includes an upper panel36′ having a first end38′, a second end40′, a first side edge42′, a second side edge44′, an outer side46′ and an inner side48′. The first end38′ of upper panel36′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door20by a hinge50′.

The numeral52′ refers to an intermediate panel having a first end54′, a second end56′, a first side edge58′, a second side edge60′, an inner side62′ and an outer side64′. The first end54′ of intermediate panel52′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to the second end40′ of upper panel36′ by a hinge66′.

The numeral68′ refers to a lower panel having a first end70′, a second end72′, a first side edge74′, a second side76′, an outer side78′, and an inner side80′. The first end70′ of lower panel68′ is hingedly secured to the second end56′ of intermediate panel52′ by a hinge82′. The second end72′ of lower panel68′ is hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to door20adjacent the lower end26′ of door20by a hinge84′.

The numeral86′ refers to a locking device such as a panel of similar structure which has a forward end88′ and a rearward end90′. The forward end88′ of locking device86′ is hingedly secured to the outer side of door20by a hinge92′ or other means. The locking device86′ is hingedly movable between a vertically disposed stowed position to a locking position as seen inFIG. 3. The locking device86′ may be manually moved between its stowed position and locking position or by other means. When in its locking position, locking device86′ maintains the unit34B in its deployed position.