Rear fences and a system for deploying said rear fences on a vehicle are described. The rear fences are disposed inboard of and spaced apart from the rear pillars. The rear fences may be folded against the rear panel of the vehicle when retracted and are rotated to a central position in a deployed position. The system includes a deployment control system including controller logic having at least one processor and a memory storing instructions for implementing deployment and retraction of rear fences on a vehicle.

A dynamic interface between a vehicle windshield and a structure (e.g., an A-pillar) is provided. The dynamic interface can be actively managed to allow its configuration to be selectively changed based on real-time driving environment conditions. The interface can include one or more actuators that can be selectively activated or deactivated to change the aerodynamic characteristics of the interface. When a crosswind activation condition is detected, the actuator(s) can be activated. The actuator(s) can be soft-bodied structures. The actuator(s) can include a bladder defining a fluid chamber filled with a dielectric fluid. A first conductor and a second conductor can be operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. When electrical energy is supplied to the conductors, they can become oppositely charged. As a result, the conductors can be electrostatically attracted toward each other, displacing some of the dielectric fluid to an outer peripheral region of the fluid chamber.

A cover device for a side sill of a passenger vehicle includes a sill cover which has a cover element securable on the side sill and a mobile cover element which is disposable in a length region of the side sill below a door opening of the passenger vehicle. The mobile cover element is displaceable between a covering position and an entry position by a drive unit and the drive unit, configured as a pre-assembled structural unit, has a motor and is disposed in a region of the cover element by a holding device. The motor is disposed on an outside of the cover element and protrudes into an interior of the sill cover with a motor shaft.

A protective device structure for a vehicle is provided that includes an outer surface or shell attached to or otherwise disposed upon a vehicle that covers a top edge of a vehicle to absorb impact. The protective device can include a compressible portion disposed in a cavity defined between the outer shell and the vehicle proximate to the top front wall of the vehicle.

A strut assembly for mounting an aerodynamic fairing assembly for attachment to a trailer of a tractor-trailer having a centerline, transverse structural support members extending between sides of the trailer, and longitudinal members extending along a length of the trailer. The strut assembly may comprise a mounting plate, a strut body, and a substantially rectangular composite spring. The mounting bracket comprising a mounting plate and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The strut body rotatably may be coupled to the pair of spaced apart sidewalls on the mounting bracket. The substantially rectangular composite spring may be coupled to an upper surface of the strut body and configured to contact an underside of the mounting plate of the mounting bracket to resist inward deflection from an external force applied to the strut body.

A passively activated flow control device including a valve body configured to be mounted in a vehicle. The valve body includes an inlet and an outlet. A valve member is arranged at the valve body for selectively opening and closing flow between the inlet and the outlet. The valve member is responsive to acceleration induced forces on the vehicle to shift from one of an open configuration and a closed configuration toward the other of the open configuration and the closed configuration.

An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

An aerodynamically effective attachment part or spoiler extension is disclosed. The spoiler extension includes a guide arrangement having a first guide element formed between the spoiler extension and a base body of the spoiler arrangement. Transfer of the spoiler extension is guided from a release position, in which the spoiler extension is detachable from the base body, along at transfer direction into a locking position, in which the spoiler extension is secured on the base body. The spoiler extension includes a securing element able to secure the spoiler extension automatically on the base body of the spoiler arrangement in the locking position.

A laterally extending aerodynamic deflector panel disposed upstream in front of an otherwise exposed uppermost portion of a vehicle wheel assembly, and arranged to divert headwinds from otherwise impinging upon drag-magnified uppermost wheel surfaces to thereby minimize overall vehicle drag.

Apparatuses and methods reducing the amount of drag on a vehicle are provided. In some embodiments, the proposed apparatuses are configured to remain stowed in a sidewall of the vehicle when not in use, thereby maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle, while in other embodiments the apparatus is static and fixed along the sides of the vehicle. In one example, an aerodynamic apparatus includes a tapered structure, in which an inner side panel is substantially planar, and an outer side panel has a convex curvature.