Abstract: A gear motor includes an electric motor, a high ratio hypoid ring and pinion coupled to the motor, and one set of spur gears to couple to and work with the spiroid gear set to transfer power to an output shaft.

Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.

Abstract: An arm assembly for a cover system includes a force mechanism contained within a hollow arm of the assembly that includes a resiliently compressible element, such as a compression spring, with a cable or wire extending through the element. The cable is fastened at one end to an end cap that bears against one end of the compression spring. The opposite end of the cable is fastened to a base mounted to the container body. The base includes a pulley about which the cable is wound as the arm pivots relative to the base. As the arm pivots and the cable winds about the pulley, the end cap bears against the spring to compress the spring.

Abstract: An underbody storage box assembly mountable beneath a vehicle body includes a storage box mountable to the underbody of the vehicle body, the storage box having a leading face and a trailing face in the direction of travel of the vehicle;. The assembly is provided with a pair of like-configured aerodynamic caps, one mounted at the leading face of the storage box and the other mounted at the trailing face of the storage box. Each of the aerodynamic caps includes opposite side panels, each having a substantially triangular shape with a rear edge abutting the storage box, a base edge that is substantially perpendicular to the rear edge, and a front edge that is arranged at an acute angle relative to the base edge. A front panel is connected between the opposite side panels at the front edge.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a cover extendable over an open-topped container body from a stowed position to a deployed position includes two actuator mechanisms on each side of the body, each including at least one torsion spring having a base portion and at least one reaction end and at least one reaction post in contact with a corresponding reaction end of the at least one spring. In a first exterior actuator mechanism, the reaction post is connectable to the bail arm, while in the second interior actuator mechanism the reaction post is mountable to the container body. A common shaft extends between the base portions of the spring(s) of each actuator mechanism to transmit torque from the interior spring(s) to the exterior spring(s), serving as a rotating anchor for the exterior actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, only the exterior actuator mechanism is situated outside the side extent of the container body.

Abstract: A bail arm assembly for a retractable tarp or cover system for a container, comprises a lower arm configured to be pivotably mounted relative to the container, an upper arm configured to support the tarp or cover, and an adjustable coupling connecting the lower arm to the upper arm. The adjustable coupling includes a pair of opposing engagement faces configured to permit selective adjustment of the angular relationship between the lower and upper arms at discrete angular intervals.

Abstract: A bow end is provided for a retractable cover assembly for a container, the container having an open top and a side rail extending along each side of the container, and the cover assembly having a tarpaulin sized to cover the open top in an extended position, the cover assembly including a plurality of arcuate bows attached to the cover assembly and configured to support the tarpaulin and to span the width of the container. The bow end is engaged to the each end of each arcuate bow and comprises a one-piece body defining a bow receiving portion with a bore configured to receive an end of the arcuate bow therein, the bow receiving portion including a surface arranged for sliding contact with a top rail when the bow end is engaged to an arcuate bow of the cover assembly.

Abstract: A bow system is provided for an open-topped container body having a cover sized and configured to extend laterally across the body from one side rail to the other side rail. The bow system includes a plurality of curved bows pivotably mounted at one end to one side rail and sized to extend in a curved path over the open-top of the container body to engage the other side rail at an opposite end of the bows. A ridge pole assembly is provided that includes first and second ridge pole segments, each of the segments pivotably engaged to a corresponding number of the plurality of curved bows. A tether element is coupled between the facing ends of the ridge pole segments that permits movement of the segments relative to each other as the bow system is moved between a deployed configuration in which the plurality of curved bows extend across the open-top of the container body and a retracted position in which the curved bows are substantially outside the open-top of the container body.

Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.

Abstract: A drag reducing device for a vehicle includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, in which position the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is an extrusion sized for a minimal prominence in the stowed position.

Abstract: A bow system is provided for an open-topped container body having a cover sized and configured to extend laterally across the body from one side rail to the other side rail. The bow system includes a plurality of curved bows pivotably mounted at one end to one side rail and sized to extend in a curved path over the open-top of the container body to engage the other side rail at an opposite end of the bows. A ridge pole assembly is provided that includes first and second ridge pole segments, each of the segments pivotably engaged to a corresponding number of the plurality of curved bows. A tether element is coupled between the facing ends of the ridge pole segments that permits movement of the segments relative to each other as the bow system is moved between a deployed configuration in which the plurality of curved bows extend across the open-top of the container body and a retracted position in which the curved bows are substantially outside the open-top of the container body.

Abstract: A cover system for covering an open top of a container includes a flexible cover, a bail member, a bow member, and a tension element. The cover has a first end connected to the container and is sized to cover the open top when a second end is in an extended position. The bail member has an end pivotally connected to the container and an end connected to the second end of the cover. The bail member pivots to deploy the cover into the extended position. The bow member includes an end pivotally connected to the bail member and an end configured to bear against the cover between the ends of the cover. The tension element is connected between the container and the bow member. The tension element applies a force to the bow member to apply a force against the cover.

Abstract: A drag reducing device includes an air flow turning component having a curved surface adapted to turn air flow passing over the curved surface, a first mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to a rear door of the vehicle, and a second mounting component for connecting the air flow turning component to one of the opposite side walls of the vehicle. The mounting components are configured so that the air flow component is automatically in a deployed position when the rear door is closed, so the air flow turning component turns air flow passing along the side the vehicle inward to thereby reduce drag. The mounting components are further configured so that the air flow component is automatically stowed between the rear door and the vehicle side wall when the door is fully opened. The air turning component is sized for a minimal prominence when stowed.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a cover extendable over an open-topped container body from a stowed position to a deployed position includes two actuator mechanisms on each side of the body, each including at least one torsion spring having a base portion and at least one reaction end and at least one reaction post in contact with a corresponding reaction end of the at least one spring. In a first exterior actuator mechanism, the reaction post is connectable to the bail arm, while in the second interior actuator mechanism the reaction post is mountable to the container body. A common shaft extends between the base portions of the spring(s) of each actuator mechanism to transmit torque from the interior spring(s) to the exterior spring(s), serving as a rotating anchor for the exterior actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, only the exterior actuator mechanism is situated outside the side extent of the container body.

Abstract: A cover system for covering an open top of a container includes a flexible cover, a bail member, a bow member, and a tension element. The cover has a first end connected to the container and is sized to cover the open top when a second end is in an extended position. The bail member has an end pivotally connected to the container and an end connected to the second end of the cover. The bail member pivots to deploy the cover into the extended position. The bow member includes an end pivotally connected to the bail member and an end configured to bear against the cover between the ends of the cover. The tension element is connected between the container and the bow member. The tension element applies a force to the bow member to apply a force against the cover.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a cover extendable over an open-topped container body from a stowed position to a deployed position includes two actuator mechanisms on each side of the body, each including at least one torsion spring having a base portion and at least one reaction end and at least one reaction post in contact with a corresponding reaction end of the at least one spring. In a first exterior actuator mechanism, the reaction post is connectable to the bail arm, while in the second interior actuator mechanism the reaction post is mountable to the container body. A common shaft extends between the base portions of the spring(s) of each actuator mechanism to transmit torque from the interior spring(s) to the exterior spring(s), serving as a rotating anchor for the exterior actuator mechanism. Only the exterior actuator mechanism is situated outside the side extent of the container body.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for a cover extendable over an open-topped container body from a stowed position to a deployed position includes two actuator mechanisms on each side of the body, each including at least one torsion spring having a base portion and at least one reaction end and at least one reaction post in contact with a corresponding reaction end of the at least one spring. In a first exterior actuator mechanism, the reaction post is connectable to the bail arm, while in the second interior actuator mechanism the reaction post is mountable to the container body. A common shaft extends between the base portions of the spring(s) of each actuator mechanism to transmit torque from the interior spring(s) to the exterior spring(s), serving as a rotating anchor for the exterior actuator mechanism. Only the exterior actuator mechanism is situated outside the side extent of the container body.

Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for a tarping system having a flexible cover carried by a deployment mechanism having a horizontal arm spanning the width of a container, the deployment mechanism movable to an extended position in which the horizontal arm is adjacent one end of the container. The locking mechanism includes at least one locking element associated with one end of the container and at least one latching element having a latching portion configured to engage the at least one locking element. The latching element is pivotably supported on the horizontal arm so that latching element can pivot to and from a locked position in which the latching portion engages the at least one locking element. A tension element is connected between the latching element and the cover to control the pivoting of the latching element under the force of gravity based on the position of the flexible cover.

Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for a tarping system having a flexible cover deployable from a roller assembly for covering a container and a mechanism for extending and retracting the cover from the roller assembly. The locking mechanism includes a locking element, such as a taut cable, mounted to the roller assembly and spanning the width of the cover. The locking element is arranged on the roller assembly with a portion of the length of the cover less than the entire length of the cover wound around the locking element. This portion of the cover corresponds to an extended length of the cover. The locking mechanism prevents further advancement of the cover from the roller assembly once the locking mechanism is uncovered when the cover is unwound.

Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for a tarping system having a flexible cover deployable from a roller assembly for covering a container and a mechanism for extending and retracting the cover from the roller assembly. The locking mechanism includes a locking element, such as a taut cable, mounted to the roller assembly and spanning the width of the cover. The locking element is arranged on the roller assembly with a portion of the length of the cover less than the entire length of the cover wound around the locking element. This portion of the cover corresponds to an extended length of the cover. The locking mechanism prevents further advancement of the cover from the roller assembly once the locking mechanism is uncovered when the cover is unwound.