Patent ID: 8235456

Claim:
A drag reduction apparatus for the rear end of a cargo-carrying compartment of a cargo-hauling ground vehicle, said cargo-carrying compartment being characterized by a rear wall formed by substantially planar wall portions arranged above, below and on opposite sides of an opening with at least one door disposed therein, the drag reduction apparatus comprising at least one non-planar air deflection element, said at least one air deflection element having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said at least one air deflection element having an associated frame attached to the exterior surface of an associated one of said wall portions and said at least one air deflection element having at least one associated support member coupling said at least one air deflection element to said associated wall portion, said at least one associated support member allowing selective displacement of said at least one air deflection element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position, said at least one deployed position comprising at least one first deployed position and at least one second deployed position, wherein in said retracted position said at least one air deflection element is disposed substantially within said associated frame, wherein in said at least one first deployed position the leading edge of said at least one air deflection element substantially abuts said associated frame, and wherein in said at least one second deployed position the leading edge of said at least one air deflection element is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from said associated frame.