Drag reduction fairing for a trailer converter dolly

Abstract

A converter dolly is provided for use with a tractor-trailer wherein the converter dolly additionally comprises dolly fairings which are located in front of the wheels of the converter dolly. The dolly fairings are preferably made of fibreglass, and improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the converter dolly, and thus reduce fuel consumption.

Claims

1. A converter dolly comprising a support frame, a wheel assembly comprising at least one axle having a first set of at least two wheels, with at least one wheel located on each side of said dolly, a fifth wheel assembly, and a pintle eye for use as a hitching apparatus, and additionally comprising drag reducing, aerodynamic dolly fairings on each side of said converter dolly, which dolly fairings are positioned in front of the wheels on each side of said wheel assembly, and wherein each dolly fairing on each side of said converter dolly has a front section of a curved, hollow, frusto-conical section having a base open towards, or around, said at least one wheel on each side of said wheel assembly, an angled inner surface on the inner part of each fairing, a more curved outer surface on the outer part of each fairing, and having a leading edge on said front section which leading edge is located inside of a middle of said fairing in front of the at least one wheel on each side of the dolly, and wherein said dolly fairings on each side of said converter dolly are mirror images of each other, and are essentially symmetrical when installed on said converter dolly.

2. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one wheel comprises two wheels located on each side of the dolly, which are connected together by a single axle.

3. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dolly fairings on each side of said converter dolly additionally comprise a flexible material secured along their bottom edge.

4. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fifth wheel is moveable along a longitudinal axis of said dolly.

5. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one axle is a dual axle assembly having two axles, and said dual axle assembly having a second set of at least two wheels attached to a second axle and having said at least one wheel on each axle on each side of the dolly.

6. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one wheel includes two wheels attached to each axle on each side of the dolly.

7. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said dolly fairings is made from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminum, alloys of steel, alloys of aluminum, thermoplastic materials, polyethylene, polypropylene or TPO, reinforced composite plastics, fibreglass and thermoset composites.

8. A converter dolly as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said dolly fairings is resilient.

9. A convertor dolly as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said dolly fairings is made of composite fibreglass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only, in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A and 1B are side and top views of a single axle, prior art converter dolly;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art converter dolly in position between two trailers;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a converter dolly of the present invention, with converter dolly fairings attached;

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 are top and side views of the converter dolly shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 6 is a further perspective view of the converter dolly shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tractor-trailer assembly utilizing the converter dolly of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tandem axle converter dolly, according to the present invention; and. FIG. 9 is a perspective view is shown, of a modified version of the converter dolly of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example only. In the drawings, like reference numerals depict like elements.

(10) It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Also, unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

(11) Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a single axle converter dolly 10, in accordance with the prior art, is shown. Dolly 10 includes a frame section 12, to which a wheel assembly 14 is attached. Wheel assembly 14 includes wheels 16 located on each side of dolly 10, and a connecting axle 18 which connects wheels 16 to each other.

(12) A hitching apparatus, which in this case is an pintle eye 20 is fitted to the front of frame 12, and is adapted to connect to an pintle hook 22, located at the rear of a first trailer 24, as seen in FIG. 2. Any suitable trailer hitching means can be used, however, including ball-type trailer hitches, and the like. A pintle eye and hook (or hitch) are most preferred however.

(13) A fifth wheel assembly 26 is fitted on the top of frame 12, and is orientated so that a further, second trailer 28, can be attached to dolly 10, by use of the fifth wheel.

(14) Commonly mud-flaps 32 are provided to control water spray, and the like, but these provide little or no aerodynamic benefits.

(15) Dolly 10 also includes a variety of air hoses, support stands, chains, electrical connectors, and the like, in accordance with current practises.

(16) In FIG. 2, the use of connector dolly 10 to connect a second trailer 28 to a first trailer 24, can clearly be seen.

(17) In FIGS. 3 to 6, a converter dolly 40 of the present invention is shown comprising a frame 42, to which a wheel assembly 44 is attached. Wheel assembly 44 includes wheels 46 located on each side of dolly 40, and a connecting axle 48 which connects wheels 46 to each other. A hitching apparatus, which in this case is an pintle eye 50 is fitted to the front of frame 42, and is adapted to connect to an pintle hook (not shown) of a first trailer. A fifth wheel assembly 56 is fitted on the top of frame 42, and is orientated so that a further, second trailer can be attached to dolly 40, by use of the fifth wheel.

(18) In FIGS. 3 to 6, two dolly fairings 60 are fitted to frame 42. Fairings 60 are hollow, made of composite reinforced fibreglass, and are located on each side of dolly 40. Fairings 60 are aerodynamically shaped, and are positioned immediately in front of wheels 46. At a front section of fairings 60 is a section 62 generally having a frusto-conical shape, and an open rear-ward section 64 which is open towards wheels 46. Preferably the dolly fairings on either side of the converter dolly are mirror images of each other, so that the installation of the dolly fairings on the dolly of the present invention, is preferably essentially symmetrical.

(19) It can thus be noted that in FIGS. 3 to 6, and FIG. 4 in particular, that the left-hand fairing is the mirror image of the right-hand fairing. It can also be seen that the fairings on the dolly have a more curved outer surface, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the dolly, while the inner surface is more angled. Also, it can be seen that for the wheel assembly shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the front of the fairing is shaped so that its leading edge is located inside of the outermost wheel, on each side of the dolly. This provides a stabilizing effect on the dolly, during use.

(20) In FIG. 7, a perspective view of a tractor-trailer system is shown having a tractor 70 with a first trailer 72 connected to tractor 70. At the back of trailer 72 is a converter dolly 40 of the present invention, to which is attached a second trailer 74.

(21) In FIG. 8, a dual axle dolly 80 is shown, having a frame 82, a fifth wheel 84, an attachment pintle eye 86, and two wheel assemblies 88 and 90, and each having two wheels 92 on each side of dolly 80. Each wheel assembly 88 and 90 has an axle 94 connecting the two wheels 92 on each side of dolly 80 to the corresponding two wheels 92 on the other side of dolly 80. In front of each set of wheels 92 of wheel assembly 88, is a dolly fairing 96, according to the present invention. It is also noted, that fifth wheel 84 is movable along the longitudinal axis of dolly 80, by use of locking set 98.

(22) In FIG. 9, a front perspective view of a modified converter dolly fairing 100, is shown, which is similar in structure to converter dolly fairing 40, shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. However, at the bottom edge of fairing 100, a flexible material 102, made of an EPDM rubber, is provided on each side, so as to protect against scuffing or breaking of converter dolly fairing 100.

(23) There has thus been described a converter dolly fairing system which may be employed to reduce the drag on a towed trailer, particularly one which is being towed at high speed along a highway, by use of a converter dolly. Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a converter dolly which fully satisfies the goals, objects, and advantages set forth hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and variations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the present specification embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

(24) Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the word comprise and variations of the word such as comprising and comprises, when used in the description and claims of the present specification, is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

(25) Moreover, the words substantially or essentially, when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element. Also, terms such as forwardly, rearwardly, up or down, or the like, are used in their normal sense which respect to the use of the dolly in its normal operation.

(26) Further, use of the terms he, him, or his, is not intended to be specifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be read as she, her, or hers, respectively.

(27) Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to the inventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is citable against the present application.