GB2610171A

GB2610171A - Tractor-trailer comprising a flexible device for bridging a gap

Info

Publication number: GB2610171A
Application number: GB2112027.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinzer Hans
Original assignee: Daimler Truck AG
Current assignee: Daimler Truck Holding AG
Priority date: 2021-08-23
Filing date: 2021-08-23
Publication date: 2023-03-01
Also published as: GB202112027D0

Abstract

A tractor-trailer 10, typically a truck, includes a tractor 12 and a trailer 22 coupled to tractor 12. A flexible device 30 is provided to bridge a gap 24 between tractor 12 and trailer 22. Device 30 may suitably be water-resistant or waterproof, and may comprise a base layer of a first plastic material, such as polyester, and a coating of a second, different, plastic material such as polyurethane or vinyl. Springs 32 may be provided to tension the device. A flexible framework may be provided which may tension or span device 30.

Description

Tractor-Trailer Comprising a Flexible Device for Bridging a Gap

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a tractor-trailer. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0002] EP 3 025 939 Al shows a tractor for attaching a trailer, comprising a driver's cab comprising a back wall. Furthermore, WO 2016/083997 Al shows an aerodynamic device for reducing the drag of terrestrial vehicles. Moreover, US 2016/0096555 Al shows a gap-reducer for reducing a gap between a tractor and a trailer attached the thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tractor-trailer such that a drag of the tractor-trailer may be kept particularly low.

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

[0005] The invention relates to a tractor-trailer comprising a tractor. The tractor is also referred to or may be a truck. For example, the tractor may be a semi-truck. The tractor is a motor vehicle comprising at least one motor for driving the tractor. For example, the motor is an internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the motor may be an electric machine. The tractor-trailer also comprises a trailer coupled to the tractor. For example, the trailer is articulately coupled to the tractor. Thus, the trailer may be moved (i.e. pushed and/or pulled) by the tractor. The trailer is coupled to the tractor such that a gap exists between the tractor and the trailer, wherein, for example, the gap allows the trailer to pivot or to be pivoted in relation to the tractor and vice versa while the tractor is coupled to the trailer.

[0006] In order to keep a drag of the tractor-trailer particularly low and, thus, in order to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the tractor-trailer, the tractor-trailer further comprises a flexible device bridging said gap between the tractor and the trailer. For example, the device may be attached the tractor or the trailer at least indirectly. Conventionally, the gap between the tractor and the trailer may have a significantly negative impact on drag. Conventionally, hard (i.e. inherently stable or rigid) panels are used to partially fill the gap. However, since the trailer needs to be able to turn or pivot in relation to or independently from the tractor, a portion of the gap still needs to exist between the trailer and said panels or between the tractor and said panels to avoid damages of the trailer or the tractor, in particular its driver's cab which is also referred to as a cab. The respective gap increases the drag and therefore reduces the aerodynamic performance of the tractor-trailer.

[0007] According to the present invention, instead of using hard (i.e. inherently stable or rigid) panels which attempt to retract when the trailer turns or pivots in relation to the tractor, the flexible device is used. For example, the device is made of a thick yet flexible material; for example, a tarpaulin type material. For example, the device is attached to side extenders of the tractor and/or the trailer. The device may completely fill and thus completely bridge the gap thereby allowing air to flow from the tractor over the device and towards the trailer particularly smoothly. In comparison with mechanical systems such as extending and/or retracting and inherently stable panels which fill the gap only partially, a significant cost advantage may be realized by the invention since, conventionally, said mechanical systems need pneumatic actors to pneumatically actuate said panels, wherein said actuators need to be controlled by an electronic control unit in order to retract and/or extend the panels when the tractor-trailer turns. Moreover, the invention has better aerodynamic performance, less costs and less weight than conventional solutions. Furthermore, the invention may be realized with few parts only such that, for example, replacement is easier in comparison with conventional solutions. Furthermore, excessive damage of the tractor or the trailer and thus costly repairs may be avoided.

[0008] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. 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 figure and/or shown in the figure alone may 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

[0009] 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.

[0010] Fig. 1 shows part of a schematic and perspective view of a tractor-trailer comprising a flexible device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows part of a schematic and perspective view of a tractor-trailer 10 which is also referred to as a vehicle. The tractor-trailer 10 comprises a tractor 12 being a motor vehicle. The tractor 12 comprises a frame 14 which may be configured as a ladder frame. The tractor 12 further comprises a cab 16 which is separately manufactured from the frame 14, wherein the cab 16 is mounted on the frame 14. The cab 16 is also referred to as a driver's cab. The cab 16 comprises a roof 18, wherein the tractor 12 comprises a roof fairing 20 mounted on the roof 18. The roof fairing 20 is configured to deflect and/or guide air that flows against and around the fairing 20 during a forward motion of the tractor-trailer 10 and thus the tractor 12.

[0016] The tractor-trailer 10 further comprises a trailer 22 which is articulatedly coupled to the tractor 12. Thereby, the trailer 22 may be moved (i.e. pulled and/or pushed) by the tractor 12. The trailer 22 is coupled to the tractor 12 in such a way that a gap 22 is arranged between the trailer 22 and the tractor 12, in particular the cab 16 and the fairing 20. This means that, for example, the gap 24 is bounded by the cab 16 and the fairing 20 in a longitudinal direction of the tractor-trailer 10 towards a front 26 of the tractor-trailer 10, therein the longitudinal direction of the tractor-trailer 10 is illustrated by a double arrow 28. Furthermore, the gap 24 is bounded by the trailer 22 in the longitudinal direction of the tractor-trailer 10 towards a back of the tractor-trailer 10, wherein the front 26 and the back of the tractor-trailer 10 are arranged on opposite ends of the tractor-trailer 10, the ends being opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the tractor-trailer 10.

[0017] In order to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the tractor-trailer 10, the tractor-trailer 10 comprises a flexible device 30 (also referred to as the device 30) bridging the gap 24. As shown in Fig. 1, the device 30 is attached to the cab 16 and the roof fairing 20 at least indirectly. In an embodiment, the flexible device 30 may comprise or be made of a tarpaulin type material. Alternatively or additionally, the flexible device 30 is attached to the trailer 22. For example, the flexible device 30 may be attached to both the cab 16 and the trailer 22, or to only one of the cab 16 and the trailer 22. For example, the flexible device 30 is made of a thick yet flexible material such that the device 30 allows the trailer 22 to pivot and to be pivoted in relation to the tractor 12 and vice versa while the trailer 22 is coupled to the tractor 12 and while the device 30 is attached to both the tractor 12 and/or the trailer 22. As shown in Fig. 1, the device 30 may completely fill or bridge the gap 24 such that air may flow particularly smoothly from the tractor 12 over the device 30 to the trailer 22.

[0018] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the tractor-trailer 10 comprises springs 32 for tensioning the device 30. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a respective spring 32 is arranged at each corner of the device 30 such that the corners of the device 30 are forced tight by the strong springs 32 arranged in the corners. Preferably, the springs 32 are stronger in an outward direction than in an inward direction. This means that, for example, in order to expand and thus lengthen the spring 32 by a distance, a first force, in particular a tensile force, needs to be applied to the spring 32. In order to compress and thus shorten the spring 32 by the same distance, a second force, in particular a compressive force, needs to be applied to the spring 32, wherein the second force is lower than the first force. The springs 32 allow the device 30 to fold when the trailer 22 turns or pivots in relation to the tractor 12. Moreover, the springs 32 make the device 30 to return to a particularly advantageous aerodynamic position after the trailer 22 has pivoted in relation to the tractor 12 and when the tractor-trailer 10 drives forward in a straight line.

[0019] Preferably, the device 30 is made of a water-resistant or waterproof material. For example, the device 30 may be made of polyester coated with polyethylene and/or vinyl. Moreover, the device 30 may be made of a plastic material such as polyethylene. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the device 30 is held tight by the springs 32 arranged in said corners, wherein the springs 32 hold up the device 30 against wind loads but allow the device 30 to fold when, for example, the trailer comes into contact with at least one of the springs 32. This also allows maneuverability of the tractor-trailer 10 when making turns etc. For example, the respective spring 32 may be configured as a coil spring.

[0023] For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the springs 32 and the device 30 are attached to the tractor 12, in particular the cab 16. Preferably, the spring 32 tension the device 30 in particular in such a way that the device 30 extends away from the cab 16 and towards the trailer 22 thereby bridging the gap 24.

[0024] For example, in an embodiment not shown, the tractor-trailer 10 may comprise a framework which may be configured as a flexible framework. For example, the flexible device 30 is held on the framework such that the framework spans or tensions the device 30. For example, the device 30 may be held on the tractor 12, in particular the cab 16, by said framework. By the framework, the device 30 may be kept in a particularly advantageous shape. When, for example, the trailer 22 comes into contact with the device 30 and/or said framework, the framework may fold or reversibly collapse When the contact between the trailer 22 and the device 30 or the framework ends, the framework may move, in particular spring, back to its original position thereby spanning or tensioning the device 30 bridging the gap 24.

List of Reference Signs tractor-trailer 12 tractor 14 frame 16 cab 18 roof roof fairing 22 trailer 24 gap 26 front 28 double aero tarp 32 spring

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A tractor-trailer (10) comprising: -a tractor (12), -a trailer (22) coupled to the tractor (12), and -a flexible device (30) bridging a gap (24) between the tractor (12) and the trailer (22).
2. The tractor-trailer (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tractor-trailer (10) comprises springs (32) for tensioning the device (30).
3. The tractor-trailer (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device (30) is water-resistant or waterproof.
4. The tractor-trailer (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (30) comprises at least one base layer made of a first plastic material, wherein the base layer is coated with a second plastic material different from the first plastic material.
The tractor-trailer (10) according to claim 4, wherein the first plastic material is polyester.
6. The tractor-trailer (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second plastic material comprises polyurethane and/or vinyl.