Abstract: An inflatable panel for use as an inflatable airfoil in aerodynamic fairing assemblies that uses a blower that provides a continuous airflow to the inflated panel to maintain it in the deployed position. The inflatable panel is constructed from sheets of PVC vinyl that are cut, assembled and sewn together. The sewn seams act as an air vent that allow air to bleed from the panel, thereby eliminate the need for a separate air vent to bleed off the continuous airflow from the blower. The inflatable panel includes a blower port with an internal vent end designed to prevent the port from becoming obstructed by the body of the panel collapsing on itself as the panel deflates. The inflatable panel also includes a retraction unit oriented so that the internal cable not only retracts the deflating panel uniformly into the panel housing but also laterally urges the panel slightly in one direction to ensure that the deflating panel does not splay outward creating a road hazard.

Abstract: The panel housing for an aerodynamic fairing assembly using inflatable panels that deploy from the panel housing where the panel housing uses “shaft-less” spring hinges to pivotally connect a pair of gates that partially enclose the deflated panels within the panel housing. The spring hinges are constructed from a wire rod of spring steel bent to a pair of axially aligned spring coils, a central U-shaped neck that bolts to the gate and a pair of end arms that bolt to the end plate of the panel housing. The spring hinges functions as both a hinge mechanism and a torsion spring to normally bias the gate towards its closed orientation.

Abstract: The fairing assembly uses inflatable wall panels that automatically deploy and retract at certain speeds to provide sturdy, light-weight aerodynamic fairings, which cover and enclose the space between the tractor truck and connected trailers to improve the aerodynamics of the tractor-trailers. The fairing assembly uses a module design and includes two or more panel units, a blower/vacuum and an electronic controller. Each panel unit includes a panel housing and an inflatable wall panel, which inflates and deflates to deploy and retract from its housing. The controller actuates the blower/vacuum to provide a continuous flow of air to the inflatable wall panels during deployment and to draw an air flow from the inflatable wall panels when retracting the panels back into the panel housings.