A wheel cover apparatus for a vehicle includes an upper planar section for at least partially covering the wheel outer side of a steerable wheel, a lower planar section for at least partially covering the wheel outer side of the steerable wheel, an adjustment device for adjusting a position and/or orientation of the upper planar section and a positioning device for positioning the lower planar section. The upper planar section can be arranged on a body of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The upper planar section and the lower planar section are connected to each other so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The upper planar section is coupled to the adjustment device in such a manner that, in a functional installed state in the vehicle, the upper planar section is movable relative to the wheelhouse by means of the adjustment device. The positioning device is a traction means transmission.

A wheel casing for a vehicle having a wheel assembly including a wheel and a tire. The wheel casing includes a body portion positionable adjacent an inboard surface of the tire, and a brake cooling duct defining an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening. The air outlet opening is in fluid communication with a brake system component and the air inlet opening is positionable inboard of the body portion when the body portion is positioned adjacent the inboard surface of the tire, thereby providing cooling air flow through the brake cooling duct to the brake system component when the vehicle is in forward motion. The wheel casing further includes a suspension arm undercover extending inboard of the body portion and configured to protect predetermined components of the vehicle.

A fender assembly for an agricultural tractor including a carrier bracket which supports a wheel fender adjacent to a vehicle wheel. A steering mechanism is provided as part of the fender assembly, such that the wheel fender can be rotated relative to the carrier bracket. Accordingly, the rotation of the wheel fender can be controlled based on a steering signal generated by the vehicle steering system, to ensure that the wheel fender accurately follows the movement of the adjacent tractor wheel.

An optically and aerodynamically improved body for a motor vehicle has a wheel well cover with at least one wheel well for receiving a wheel. The wheel well cover is designed in such a way as to be adjustable by an adjusting mechanism in accordance with the wheel angle, and includes at least two ring portions which surround part of the wheel and which are arranged in such a way as to be movable at least partially into each other and at least partially relative to one another.

Generally described, an articulated wheel fairing system for a vehicle having a steering system with a neutral steering input and a non-neutral steering input is provided. The articulated wheel fairing system provides clearance to the steer tire and wheel of the vehicle during non-neutral steering input, such as when the vehicle is turning at slower road speeds. The wheel fairing system generally includes an articulating fairing panel configured to cover at least a portion of the steer wheel, where the fairing panel movable from a first position adjacent to the steer wheel, such as when the vehicle is traveling at higher road speeds, to a second position outwardly from the first position. The wheel fairing system includes a mechanical linkage or actuator coupled to the fairing panel and the vehicle and configured to move the frame between the first position and the second position relative to the vehicle.

A fender mounting system for mounting a fender disposed partially around the circumference of a wheel can include a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket. The first bracket can be attached to a leading radial edge of the fender and depends toward an axis line associated with the wheel. The second bracket can be attached to the radial mid-section of the fender and depends toward the axis line. The third bracket can be attached to a radial trailing edge and depends radial toward the axis line. In an embodiment, the first and third brackets can resist lateral forces along the axis line and the second bracket allows deflection due to lateral forces along the axis line.

A morphing fender skirt includes a rigid, open-ended arched base, stretchable exterior skin connected across the base, and a structural, bendable rib array connected over the base subjacent to the skin. The rib array is configured to bend between a flattened shape over the base, whereby the rib array imparts the flattened shape to the skin across the base, and a domed shape over the base, whereby the rib array imparts the domed shape to the skin across the base.

Generally described, an articulated wheel fairing system for a vehicle having a steering system with a neutral steering input and a non-neutral steering input is provided. The articulated wheel fairing system provides clearance to the steer tire and wheel of the vehicle during non-neutral steering input, such as when the vehicle is turning at slower road speeds. The wheel fairing system generally includes an articulating fairing panel configured to cover at least a portion of the steer wheel, where the fairing panel movable from a first position adjacent to the steer wheel, such as when the vehicle is traveling at higher road speeds, to a second position outwardly from the first position. The wheel fairing system includes a mechanical linkage or actuator coupled to the fairing panel and the vehicle and configured to move the frame between the first position and the second position relative to the vehicle.

Drag reducing systems for tractor-trailer combination vehicles are provided. In one aspect, a drag reducing assembly generally includes a stowable mud flap rotatably coupled to a mounting bracket and a linkage. The linkage is configured to transition the mud flap between a first, deployed position, to a second, stowed position. The mud flap is generally positioned adjacent a wheel and tire of the vehicle, downstream of airflow. In the first position, the mud flap may be deployed at an angle of about 90 to the ground. In the second position, the mud flap may be stowed at an angle of about 90 from the first position.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body having an underbody, the vehicle body defining an inner fender, the inner fender forming an opening in the underbody of the vehicle body. A wheel assembly has a rim and a tire, and the wheel assembly is positioned within the inner fender. A suspension knuckle is disposed within the inner fender to permit motion of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body. A brake shield is mounted on the suspension knuckle and an inner fender undercover panel is secured on one of the brake shield and the suspension knuckle and disposed inboard of the wheel assembly. The inner fender undercover panel is configured to move up and down with vertical movement of the suspension knuckle and to move with turning movement of the wheel assembly.