Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – With distinct wind deflector
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-24
2002-08-06
Patel, Ken (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
With distinct wind deflector
C296S180100, C296S180200, C296S180400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06428084
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to providing a system for improving the fuel mileage of a truck tractor (of the type typically used in combination with a semi-trailer, hereinafter simply referred to as a tractor), and semi-trailer combination by improving the air resistance that occurs in the area between the rear of the tractor and the front of the semi-trailer. The present invention improves the prior art by providing an improved roof panel extension system, which automatically raises the roof panel adjoining the tractor and the semi-trailer when the tractor is put into reverse gear. In addition, there is provided an improved wheel mechanism for the side panel extensions.
Typically, improvements to the airflow between the tractor cab portion and the semi-trailer portion relate to rigid or flexible extensions which are arranged to close the gap between the tractor cab portion and the semi-trailer portion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,448 discloses a device which provides a two-piece cab roof extender and multi-piece articulating side extenders to close the gap between the tractor cab portion and the semi-trailer portion. In addition, it discloses an automatic roof panel extender to raise the roof panel when the semi-trailer is being attached to the tractor by utilizing rotation of a cam-arm which is adjacent the fifth wheel mechanism and also utilizing a complicated cable and pulley arrangement to lift the cab roof portion. Further, the trailer portion requires a wear plate be mounted onto it to prevent the roof portion from wearing into the trailer top during transit. The cam and cable arrangement requires modifications to both the tractor and the semi-trailer. A problem with this arrangement is that should, during the coupling maneuver, the tractor back up towards the trailer and not connect with the cam-arm, the roof extension will not lift and the trailer will damage the roof extension.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a system for improving the fuel mileage of a tractor used in combination with a semi-trailer by improving the operation of the system controlling the panels that reduce air resistance in the area between the rear of the tractor and the front of the semi-trailer.
Another primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a system for automatically raising the roof extension portion to sufficiently clear the semi-trailer anytime the tractor is placed in reverse gear, as typically occurs when the tractor is backing up to couple to the semi-trailer.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide such a system with an improved rotation mechanism for the side panel extensions as they rotate against the side of the semi-trailer.
It is yet a further primary object and feature of the present invention to provide such a system having a wear plate mounted only on the roof extension portion of the tractor.
A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a system which is efficient, inexpensive, and handy.
Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following descriptions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a raisable rear roof extension of a cab of an over-the-road tractor, of the type used with a semi-trailer and having a transmission with a reverse gear actuator, comprising, in combination: a roof extension structured and arranged to provide a rearward extension element at about the level of a roof of the cab; a roof extension support structured and arranged to support, in a normally substantially horizontal position, such roof extension from a rear portion of the cab, and permit such roof extension to swivel upward and rearward; and a powered piston system structured and arranged to extend at least one piston in such manner as to swivel such roof extension upward and rearward. It also provides such a system further comprising a switch system structured and arranged to activate such powered piston system. And, it provides such a system wherein such powered piston system comprises at least one pneumatically-actuated piston; wherein such powered piston system comprises a pneumatically-actuated piston; and wherein such powered piston system further comprises a pneumatic connection to such at least one pneumatically-actuated piston to supply pneumatic pressure.
Additionally, it provides such a system wherein such switch system comprises: a switch structured and arranged, in a first position, to activate such powered piston system; wherein such switch is also structured and arranged, when in a second position, to de-activate such powered piston system. Further, it provides such a system wherein such switch: is operable by the reverse gear actuator and is structured and arranged to be activated when the transmission is placed into reverse gear and to be deactivated when the transmission is placed out of reverse gear. Even further, it provides such a system wherein such switch system comprises: a switch structured and arranged, in a first position, to activate such pneumatic connection to such at least one pneumatically-actuated piston for supplying pneumatic pressure; wherein such switch is also structured and arranged, when in a second position, to de-activate such pneumatic connection to such at least one pneumatically actuated piston for supplying pneumatic pressure. Moreover, it provides such a system wherein such switch: is structured and arranged to be operable by the reverse gear actuator; and is structured and arranged to be activated when the transmission is placed into reverse gear and to be deactivated when the transmission is placed out of reverse gear. It also provides such a system wherein such roof extension support comprises at least one hinge. And, it provides such a system wherein such roof extension support further comprises at least one hinge. Even further, it provides such a system further comprising an instrument panel notifier having a light, wherein such light is activated when such switch is in such first position. Still further, it provides such a system wherein such roof extension comprises a. wear-plate structured and arranged to assist such roof extension to slide over a top of the semi-trailer when the semi-trailer is coupled to the tractor.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system, for use with an over-the-road tractor of the type used to pull a semi-trailer, to assist turning operations and efficient air flow when substantially covering top and side gaps at a rear of the tractor (and in front of the semi-trailer), comprising, in combination: a tractor having a transmission with a reverse gear actuator; at least one side panel structured and arranged to be hingedly attached to such tractor to essentially cover each of the side gaps; at least one return spring attached to each such at least one side panel; and at least one rotator attached to a rear end of such at least one side panel, wherein such rotator is structured and arranged to assist a sliding of such rear of such side panel along a side of the semi-trailer; wherein such rotator comprises multiple sets of substantially different radii from a rotation-center of such rotator; a roof extension structured and arranged to provide a rearward extension element at about the level of a roof of the cab; a roof extension support structured and arranged to support, in a normally substantially horizontal position such roof extension from a rear portion of the cab, and permit such roof extension to swivel upward and rearward; and a powered piston system having at least one piston and structured and arranged to extend such piston in such manner as to swivel such roof extension upward and rearward.
It also provides such a system further comprising a switch system, attached solely to the tractor, structured and arranged to activate such piston. And, it provides such a system wherein such at
Patel Ken
Stoneman Martin L.
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