Tractor-trailer aerodynamic drag reducer

Claim 2

A tractor-trailer aerodynamic drag reducer for use on the roof of a tractor having roof mounted equipment and comprising: a generally wedge-shaped body having a top surface with a leading edge faired into the tractor roof, the top surface extending rearwardly from the leading edge and diverging upwardly from the tractor roof to streamline airflow over the trailer roof, the wedge-shaped body having side surfaces extending generally vertically between the top surface and the tractor roof with the juncture of the side surfaces and the tractor roof following a curvilinear path providing a concave-convex contour to the side surfaces to divert air smoothly around the sides of the trailer and to streamline crosswind airflow to reduce aerodynamic drag on the tractor-trailer vehicle, the leading edge of the top surface having a central portion recessed rearwardly of outboard portions of the leading edge to accommodate roof mounted equipment, said rearwardly recessed central portion of the leading edge dividing the top surface into a pair of laterally spaced outboard top surface portions and a central top surface portion, the central top surface portion diverging upwardly and rearwardly from the central portion of the leading edge and into tangency with the top surface, and a pair of laterally spaced walls depending generally vertically from the laterally spaced top surface portions to the tractor roof and to the central top surface portion to cooperate with the central top surface portion, the tractor roof and the roof mounted equipment to define a recessed channel which imparts a low-drag streamline curvature to the airflow.

Claim 3

In combination with a tractor-trailer vehicle including a tractor having a roof and an equipment device mounted on the tractor roof, an aerodynamic drag reducer mounted on the tractor roof and comprising: a generally wedge-shaped drag reducing device having a top surface with a leading edge faired into the tractor roof, the top surface extending rearwardly from the leading edge and diverging upwardly from the tractor roof to streamline airflow around the tractor and over the trailer roof, the leading edge of the device being of lesser width than the width of the tractor roof and defining outboard leading corners of the top surface, the drag reducing device having side surfaces extending generally vertically between the top surface and the tractor roof and diverging toward the respective outboard edges of the tractor roof, the juncture of the side surfaces and the tractor roof following a curvilinear path providing a concave-convex contour to the side surfaces to divert air smoothly around the sides of the trailer and to streamline crosswind airflow to reduce aerodynamic drag on the tractor-trailer vehicle, the leading edge of the top surface having a central portion recessed rearwardly of the outboard corners of the leading edge and rearwardly of the roof mounted equipment device, said rearwardly recessed central portion of the leading edge dividing the top surface into a pair of laterally spaced outboard top surface portions and a central top surface portion, the central top surface portion diverging upwardly and rearwardly into tangency with the top surface, and a pair of laterally spaced walls depending generally vertically from the laterally spaced outboard top surface portions to the tractor roof and to the central top surface portion to cooperate with the central top surface portion, the tractor roof and the roof mounted equipment device to define a recessed channel which imparts a low-drag streamline curvature to the airflow thereby drag reducing effectiveness is maintained and a roof mounted equipment device is accommodated.

Claim 4

In combination with a tractor-trailer vehicle including a tractor having a roof and an equipment device mounted on the tractor roof, an aerodynamic drag reducer mounted on the tractor roof and comprising: a generally wedge-shaped drag reducing device having a top surface with a leading edge faired into the tractor roof, the top surface extending rearwardly from the leading edge and diverging upwardly from the tractor roof to streamline airflow around the tractor and over the trailer roof, the leading edge of the device being of lesser width than the width of the tractor roof and defining outboard leading corners of the top surface, the drag reducing device having side surfaces extending generally vertically between the top surface and the tractor roof and diverging toward the respective outboard edges of the tractor roof, the juncture of the side surfaces and the tractor roof following a curvilinear path providing a concave-convex contour to the side surfaces to divert air smoothly around the sides of the trailer and to streamline crosswind airflow to reduce aerodynamic drag on the tractor-trailer vehicle, the leading edge of the top surface having a central portion recessed rearwardly of the outboard corners of the leading edge and rearwardly of the roof mounted equipment device, said rearwardly recessed central portion of the leading edge dividing the top surface into a pair of laterally spaced outboard top surface portions and a central top surface portion, the central top surface portion diverging upwardly and rearwardly into tangency with the top surface, and a pair of laterally spaced walls depending generally vertically from the laterally spaced outboard top surface portions to the tractor roof and to the central top surface portion to cooperate with the central top surface portion, the tractor roof and the roof mounted equipment device to define a recessed channel which imparts a low-drag streamline curvature to the airflow thereby drag reducing effectiveness is maintained and a roof mounted equipment device is accommodated.

Claim 5

A tractor-trailer aerodynamic drag reducer for use on the roof of a tractor having roof mounted lamps and a roof mounted air conditioning unit with a air outlet opening in the top surface thereof, said drag reducer comprising: a generally wedge-shaped body having a top surface with a leading edge faired into the tractor roof, the top surface extending rearwardly from the leading edge and diverging upwardly from the tractor roof to streamline airflow over the tractor roof, the wedge-shaped body having side surfaces extending generally vertically between the top surface and the tractor roof with the juncture of the side surfaces and the tractor roof following a curvilinear path providing a concave-convex contour to the side surfaces to streamline airflow around the side of the trailer, the leading edge of the top surface having a central portion recessed rearwardly of outboard portions of the leading edge, said rearwardly recessed central portion of the leading edge dividing the top surface into a pair of laterally spaced outboard top surface portions and a central top surface portion, the central top surface portion diverging upwardly and rearwardly into tangency with the top surface and having an opening therein to receive a rearward portion of the air conditioning unit inside the wedge-shaped body, the central top surface portion contacting the top surface of the air conditioning unit rearwardly of the air outlet opening, and a pair of laterally spaced walls depending generally vertically from the laterally spaced top surface portions and juxtaposed with the air conditioning unit whereby the air conditioning unit substantially fills the recessed channel defined by the tractor roof, the central top surface portion and the pair of laterally spaced walls.

Claim 6

A tractor-trailer aerodynamic drag reducer for use on the roof of a tractor having roof mounted lamps and a roof mounted air conditioning unit with a air outlet opening in the top surface thereof, said drag reducer comprising: a generally wedge-shaped body having a top surface with a leading edge faired into the tractor roof, the top surface extending rearwardly from the leading edge and diverging upwardly from the tractor roof to streamline airflow over the tractor roof, the wedge-shaped body having side surfaces extending generally vertically between the top surface and the tractor roof with the juncture of the side surfaces and the tractor roof following a curvilinear path providing a concave-convex contour to the side surfaces to streamline airflow around the side of the trailer, the leading edge of the top surface having a central portion recessed rearwardly of outboard portions of the leading edge, said rearwardly recessed central portion of the leading edge dividing the top surface into a pair of laterally spaced outboard top surface portions and a central top surface portion, the central top surface portion diverging upwardly and rearwardly into tangency with the top surface and having an opening therein to receive a rearward portion of the air conditioning unit inside the wedge-shaped body, the central top surface portion contacting the top surface of the air conditioning unit rearwardly of the air outlet opening, and a pair of laterally spaced walls depending generally vertically from the laterally spaced top surface portions and juxtaposed with the air conditioning unit whereby the air conditioning unit substantially fills the recessed channel defined by the tractor roof, the central top surface portion and the pair of laterally spaced walls.