GB2607895A

GB2607895A - Trailer for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2607895A
Application number: GB2108425.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Slocum Jackson; Madugundi Dinesh; Zanetti Paolo
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2021-06-14
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2022-12-21
Also published as: GB202108425D0

Abstract

A trailer 10 for a vehicle has at least one lateral fairing 28 mounted to an underbody of the trailer. Fairing 28 extends away from the underbody downwardly and has a curved portion 36 extending curvilinearly inwards in a transverse direction of the trailer and at least partially surrounding a support device 38, such as a landing gear of the trailer or other ground support device. Fairing 28 preferably extends along a major part of the length of trailer 10.

Description

TRAILER FOR A VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a trailer for a vehicle. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0002] US 2019/0276096 Al shows a fairing for use on a trailer having an underbody extending between a front portion and a rear portion of the trailer and a rear bogie assembly mounted on the underbody and having a forward termination point and a rear termination point. Furthermore, WO 2019/168546 Al shows an apparatus for a trailer, comprising a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the trailer. Moreover, WO 2019/168548 Al shows an apparatus for a trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer for a vehicle such that particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the trailer may be realized.

[0004] This object is solved by a trailer having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

[0005] The invention relates to a trailer for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle such as, for example, a truck. This means that, for example, the trailer may be used in a tractor-trailer combination or in a "semi truck", wherein, in said tractor-trailer combination the trailer may be, in particular, arficulatedly connected with a tractor configured to move or drive the trailer. The trailer comprises at least one lateral fairing mounted to an underbody of the trailer. The trailer comprises two sides which are arranged opposite each other in a transverse direction of the trailer, wherein, preferably, the fairing is arranged on one of the sides. Preferably, a further lateral fairing may be arranged on the other side. The fairing extends away from the underbody in a vertical direction of the trailer downwards, wherein, preferably, the vertical direction of the trailer extends perpendicularly to the transverse direction. Furthermore, the fairing comprises a curved portion which extends curvilinearly inwards in the transverse direction of the trailer. By the fairing having the curved portion, particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the trailer may be realized such that the trailer may be moved or driven by, for example, a tractor in a particularly efficient way.

[0006] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0008] The drawings show in: [0009] Fig. 1 a part of a schematic perspective view of a trailer for a vehicle. [0010] Fig. 2 a part of a schematic bottom view of the trailer; and [0011] Fig. 3 a part of a further schematic view of the trailer.

[0012] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0014] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0015] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise' does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0016] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a trailer 10 for a vehicle such as, for example, a commercial vehicle. For example, said vehicle may be configured as a motor vehicle or a tractor configured to move and thus drive the trailer 10. This means that the trailer 10 and said tractor may be used in a tractor-trailer combination in which the trailer 10 may be articulatedly connected with the tractor. The trailer 10 has a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a vertical direction, wherein, in Fig. 1, the longitudinal direction is illustrated by a double arrow 12, the transverse direction is illustrated by double arrow 14, and the vertical direction is illustrated by a double arrow 16. Furthermore, the trailer 10 comprises an underbody 18 which may be formed by or comprise at least a portion of a body 20 of the trailer 10. For example, the body 20 is mounted on a frame of the trailer 10. Preferably, the body 20 bounds a cargo bay of the trailer 10, wherein goods to be transported by the trailer 10 may be arranged in said cargo bay. For example, said portion of the body 20 may be a bottom 22 (Fig. 2) of the body 20, wherein, for example, said cargo bay is at least predominantly bound by the bottom 22 in the vertical direction of the trailer 10 downwards.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the trailer 10 may comprise two axles 24 which are arranged one after another in the longitudinal direction of the trailer 10. The respective axle 24 comprises respective wheels 26. The wheels 26 are at least indirectly rotatably mounted to the body 20. For example, the wheels 26 are at least indirectly rotatably mounted to said frame and, thus, via said frame to the body 20.

[0019] The trailer 10 further comprises at least one lateral fairing 28 which is mounted to the underbody 18, wherein the fairing 28 extends away from the underbody 18 in the vertical direction of the trailer 10 downwards. Thus, when the trailer 10 is supported on a ground via the wheels 26, a gap between the underbody 18 and said ground is at least partially, in particular at least predominantly, closed or bridged by the lateral fairing 28, said gap extending in the vertical direction of the trailer 10.

[0020] The trailer 10, in particular the body 20, has lateral walls which are spaced away from each other in the transverse direction of the trailer 10, wherein, in Fig. 1, a first one of said lateral walls is shown, the first wall being indicated by 30. The cargo bay is limited or bound at both of its ends by the lateral walls in the transverse direction of the trailer 10. Thus, the trailer 10 comprises two sides which are arranged opposite each other in the transverse direction of the trailer 10. In this regard, the lateral wall 30 is arranged on a first one of the sides of the trailer 10, wherein the other lateral wall is arranged on the other, second side of the trailer 10. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fairing 28 is arranged on the first side of the trailer 10, wherein, for example, the trailer 10 may comprise a further lateral fairing not shown in the Fig., the further lateral fairing being arranged on the second side of the trailer 10.

[0021] The fairing 28 is mounted to the underbody 18 in such a way that the fairing 28 extends away from the lateral wall 30 downwards in the vertical direction of the trailer 10. In other words, the lateral wall 30 extends away from the lateral fairing 28 upwards in the vertical direction of the trailer 10. Preferably, the lateral wall 30, in particular an outer face 32 of the lateral wall 30, and the fairing 28, in particular an outer face 34 of the fairing 28, are arranged flush in relation to each other and with respect to the transverse direction of the trailer 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the outer faces 32 and 34 max face outwards in the transverse direction of the trailer 10 such that the outer face 32 faces away from said cargo bay.

[0022] In order to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the trailer 10 and, thus, the tractor-trailer combination, the lateral fairing 28 comprises at least a curved portion 36 which is also referred to as a curvature. The curved portion 36 (i.e. the curvature) extends curvilinearly inwards in the transverse direction of the trailer 10. Trailer aerodynamics are becoming more and more important to consider. One possible way to improve trailer aerodynamics is to extend a trailer fairing technology, in particular by bending it thereby realizing, forming or creating said curvature (i.e. the curved portion 36). In the tractor-trailer combination, the fairing 28 is arranged in close proximity to a back of the tractor with respect to the longitudinal direction of the trailer 10. Thus, a gap between the back of the tractor and the trailer 10 may be closed at least partially, in particular at least predominantly by the fairing 28. In other words, the gap between the back of the tractor and the trailer 10, in particular between the back of the tractor and the fairing 28, may be closed as much as possible or maybe kept particularly low by the fairing 28. The curvature may prevent and excessive amount of air from flowing underneath the trailer 10 such that the tractor-trailer combination may be driven in a particularly efficient way. By the lateral fairing 28, aerodynamic drag may be reduced in comparison with conventional solutions thereby realizing improved efficiency. In an embodiment, the fairing 28 may comprise at least the curved portion 36 that at least partially surrounds a supporting device 38. In a further embodiment, a linear portion may extend from the curved portion 36 toward the back of the tractor with respect to the longitudinal direction of the trailer 10.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the trailer 10 comprises a supporting device 38 configured to support the trailer 10 on said ground. In other words, the trailer 10 may be supported on the ground via the wheels 26 and via the supporting device 38 in the vertical direction of the trailer 10 downwards, especially when the trailer 10 is not coupled to the tractor. In the embodiment shown in the Figs., the supporting device 38 may be configured as a landing gear. In the embodiment shown in the Figs., the curved portion 36 is curved in such a way that the curved portion 36 at least partially surrounds the landing gear of the trailer 10 thereby providing a further aerodynamic benefit and improving fuel efficiency. Hence, the lateral fairing 26 is an aerodynamic device in the form of a trailer forward skirt by which particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the tractor 10 may be realized.

Reference signs trailer 12 double arrow 14 double arrow 16 double arrow 18 underbody body 22 bottom 24 axle 26 wheel 28 lateral fairing lateral wall 32 outer face 34 outer face 36 portion 38 supporting device

Claims

CLAIMS1. A trailer (10) for a vehicle, comprising at least one lateral fairing (28) mounted to an underbody (18) of the trailer (10), the fairing (28) extending away from the underbody (18) in a vertical direction (16) of the trailer (10) downwards, wherein the fairing (28) comprises at least a curved portion (36) extending curvilinearly inwards in a transverse direction (14) of the trailer (10), wherein the curved portion (36) at least partially surrounds a support device (38) of the trailer (10).
2. The trailer (10) according to claim 1, wherein the trailer (10) the supporting device (38) is configured to support the trailer (10) on a ground.
3. The trailer (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supporting device (38) is configured as a landing gear.
4. The trailer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fairing (28) extends, in a longitudinal direction (12) of the trailer (10), at least over a major portion of a length of the trailer (10).