Aerodynamic drag reduction apparatus for gap-divided bluff bodies such as tractor-trailers

Patent · Tue Jul 11 04:00:00 EDT 2006

OSTI ID:908347

Ortega, Jason M ^[1]; Salari, Kambiz ^[2]

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1. Pacifica, CA
2. Livermore, CA

An apparatus for reducing the aerodynamic drag of a bluff-bodied vehicle such as a tractor-trailer in a flowstream, the bluff-bodied vehicle of a type having a leading portion, a trailing portion connected to the leading portion, and a gap between the leading and trailing portions defining a recirculation zone. The apparatus is preferably a baffle assembly, such as a vertical panel, adapted to span a width of the gap between the leading and trailing portions so as to impede cross-flow through the gap, with the span of the baffle assembly automatically adjusting for variations in the gap width when the leading and trailing portions pivot relative to each other.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 7,073,845
• Application Number: 10/786,398
• OSTI ID: 908347
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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