A stowable side fairing for a tractor-trailer having a frame includes first and second panels rotatably coupled to the frame and extending downward from the frame. A cross-member is rotatably coupled at a first end to the first panel and at a second end to the second panel. The side fairing further includes a drive arm rotatably coupled at a first end to the frame and at a second end to the cross-member. An actuator is configured to rotate the drive arm about the first end to move the side fairing between a deployed position and a stowed position.

An air fairing device is connected below the bottom a frameless trailer to improve aerodynamic efficiency and improve fuel economy. One embodiment of the air fairing device provides an air deflector positioned forward of a trolley which supports the frameless trailer at a rear end. A second embodiment of the air fairing device provides two deflectors mounted below the frameless trailer. The first deflector is attached and extends downward from an articulating arm, said arm connecting the trailer to a semi-tractor or truck. The second deflector connected to below the bottom of the frameless trailer and positioned rear of the first deflector and forward of the trolley. A third embodiment is similar to the second but further includes a third deflector positioned between two axles of the trolley.

There is provided a securing mechanism for securing a strut portion to an I-beam, the securing mechanism comprising a pair of clamps, each including a gripping portion, a securing portion, an abutting portion and a fastener for applying tension on the clamps toward each other for moving the clamps toward each other. A kit thereof and a method of installing the securing mechanism are also contemplated in the present application.

An apparatus for reducing air drag on a vehicle is hereby presented, the apparatus is comprising a panel including a surface thereof disposed between a first surrounding flow of air about the vehicle, on a first side of the panel, and a second surrounding flow of air about the vehicle, on a second side of the panel, the first surrounding flow of air being proximally located in respect with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the second surrounding flow of air being distally located in respect with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the first surrounding flow of air including a lower air velocity than the second surrounding flow of air, the panel including a serrated trailing edge thereof for creating vortexes and reducing air drag of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving forward.

The present invention concerns an improved flow control device for a vehicle (1), especially for a truck or small van, that comprises at least one air deflector blade (10, 12), which can be installed in an operating position as an extension of the contour on a rear vehicle edge (52), which forms an air deflector area and which is installed tiltably around a swivel axis by means of an adjustment unit between the operating position (I) and a stowing position (II). The present invention further concerns a vehicle (1) that is equipped with the flow control device.

A semitrailer comprising a main frame having a hitch, an axle assembly connected to the main frame, the axle assembly including at least two wheels for rotation relative to the main frame, a fairing connected to an underside of the semitrailer intermediate the hitch and the axle assembly, the fairing including a pair of lateral surfaces, a bottom surface spaced from the underside of the semitrailer, and a leading surface, wherein the leading surface includes an intake opening, and wherein at least one of the bottom surface or the lateral surfaces includes an exit opening, and a flow path fluidly connects the intake opening and the exit opening.

An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is present and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the trailer. A corner at the side fairing and the top fairing has an outer surface with a first location and a second location. The first location is located forward of the second location in the longitudinal direction, and the first location has a radius of curvature that is smaller than a radius of curvature of the second location. The top and side fairings are configured for being mounted at locations closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the trailer.

An underbody storage box assembly mountable beneath a vehicle body includes a storage box mountable to the underbody of the vehicle body, the storage box having a leading face and a trailing face in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The assembly is provided with a pair of like-configured aerodynamic caps, one mounted at the leading face of the storage box and the other mounted at the trailing face of the storage box. Each of the aerodynamic caps includes opposite side panels, each having a substantially triangular shape with a rear edge abutting the storage box, a base edge that is substantially perpendicular to the rear edge, and a front edge that is arranged at an acute angle relative to the base edge. A front panel is connected between the opposite side panels at the front edge.

A motor gearbox assembly is provided for a vehicle having two wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. The assembly includes two independent drive systems that each include an electric motor and an associated gear train, each drive system being configured to independently drive one of the wheels. The assembly further includes a common housing that receives the motors and the gear trains such that the gear trains are at least partially positioned between the motors. Furthermore, at least portions of the drive systems have generally inverse orientations in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the motor gearbox assembly is mounted on the vehicle.

To improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a vehicle trailer, one or more aerodynamic components are positioned on the trailer. In some examples described herein, the one or more aerodynamic components are in the form of side skirt fairing segments, which are positioned underneath the trailer and forward of the wheel assembles. In use, the one or more side skirt fairing segments improve air flow underneath the trailer and in the vicinity of the wheel assemblies, thereby reducing drag.