Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a mud flap for a vehicle having a mounting section and a barrier section. The barrier section is configured to deflect matter discharged from a tire during vehicle operation. The width of the mounting section is greater than the width of the barrier section. The mounting section optionally includes a first set of mounting features, each of the mounting features forming a recess or aperture. One mounting feature of the first set of mounting features is arranged at and/or beyond a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. The one mounting feature is also arranged at least partially within a portion of the mounting section width extending outwardly from a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. Further embodiments include mounting a single wide mud flap on a vehicle configured to receive a dual wide mud flap.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for a trailer (12) that has a trailer skirt (32,36) in which the majority of its outer surface length is oriented at an angle from 3 degrees to 7 degrees to the longitudinal direction and extends inboard in the lateral direction upon extension forward in the longitudinal direction. An aerodynamic mud flap (22) is present and configured for being located rearward of the trailer skirt (32,36) in the longitudinal direction. The aerodynamic mud flap (22) has a barrier section (24) that includes apertures therethrough that allow air and particles to flow during travel of the trailer (12). A top fairing (26) is present and is configured for being attached to a top surface of the trailer (12). The top fairing (26) is configured to be located closer to the rearward terminal end of the trailer (12) than to the forward terminal end of the trailer (12) in the longitudinal direction. The apparatus (10) also has a rib cover (74).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for a trailer (12) is provided that has a trailer skirt (14) configured for attachment to the trailer (12). A majority of the outer surface length of an outer surface (16) of the trailer skirt (14) is oriented at a 3-7 degree angle to the longitudinal direction, and the majority of the outer surface length extends inboard in the lateral direction upon extension forward of the trailer skirt (14) in the longitudinal direction. An overall length/overall height ratio of the trailer skirt (14) is 6 or less. The trailer length in the longitudinal direction is at least 10.668 meters (35 feet). A majority of the outer surface length is located rearward of a longitudinal midpoint of the trailer. A rib cover (74) is present and is located higher than a bottom edge of the trailer skirt (14) in the height direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a trailer skirt is provided that has a trailer mounting bracket that carries a bending member. A skirt attachment is present and is configured for engaging a skirt of a trailer. The bending member is received by the skirt attachment such that the bending member is configured to slide relative to the skirt. A stop member is included that limits sliding of the bending member relative to the skirt.

Abstract: An aerodynamic system (10) for a tractor trailer (12) is provided that has a rear fairing (18) configured for attachment to a trailer (16) of a tractor trailer. The trailer (16) has a cargo area (30) and the rear fairing (18) is configured for being located in the vertical direction lower than the cargo area (30). The rear fairing (18) has an air flow surface (32) facing outboard in the lateral direction, and a kick out (34) located at a tailing end (36) of the rear fairing (18) in the longitudinal direction. The kick out (34) has a kick out surface (40) that upon extension rearward in the longitudinal direction extends outboard in the lateral direction and then inboard in the lateral direction. The kick out (34) is located rearward of the forward trailer tire (28) in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method of attaching a trailer skirt (14) to a trailer (16) is provided in which the trailer skirt (14) has upper (38) and lower (40) surfaces spaced from one another in a vertical direction. The trailer skirt (14) has first (42) and second (44) attachment locations in which the first attachment location (42) is located forward of the second attachment location (44) in the longitudinal direction and closer to the leading terminal end in the longitudinal direction. The trailer skirt (14) has a third attachment location (46) that is located rearward of the second attachment location (44) in the longitudinal direction and closer to the trailing terminal end in the longitudinal direction. The method includes providing a trailer (16) of a tractor trailer and attaching the trailer skirt (14) to the trailer (16) at the first, second, and third attachment locations (42, 44, 46) such that the lower surface (40) is placed into tension.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that has a trailer mounting bracket that carries a bending member, and a skirt attachment configured for being carried by a skirt of a tractor trailer. The bending member is received by the skirt attachment such that the bending member is configured to slide relative to the skirt. A locating feature that has a first member and a second member is present in which one of the first member and the second member is carried by the skirt attachment. The first member and the second member interact with one another to stabilize the position of the bending member relative to the skirt until a sufficient amount of force is applied to move the first member and the second member relative to one another to allow the bending member to slide relative to the skirt.

Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. First and second side fairings are also included and are configured for being mounted to respective first and second side surfaces of the trailer. Additionally, first and second trailer skirts are configured for being carried by the trailer and are part of the apparatus. First and second trailer rear skirts are likewise included and are located rearward of the first and second trailer skirts. The combination of components provides aerodynamic benefit to the trailer.

Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is also present and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the trailer. The top fairing engages the side fairing.

Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is present and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the trailer. A corner at the side fairing and the top fairing has an outer surface with a first location and a second location. The first location is located forward of the second location in the longitudinal direction, and the first location has a radius of curvature that is smaller than a radius of curvature of the second location. The top and side fairings are configured for being mounted at locations closer to the back of the trailer than to the front of the trailer.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: An apparatus for a trailer is provided that has a top fairing configured for being mounted to a top surface of the trailer at a location closer to the back of the trailer than the front of the trailer. The trailer has a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction. A side fairing is also present and is configured for being mounted to a side surface of the trailer. The top fairing engages the side fairing.

Abstract: Embodiments include a mud flap having a barrier section configured to intercept and deflect matter discharged from the tire when rotating during vehicle operation. The barrier section including a plurality of horizontal louvers, each horizontal louver forming an elongate member having a length extending primarily in a direction of the mud flap width, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are spaced apart in the direction of the mud flap height in the form of an array, where the plurality of horizontal louvers are configured to intercept and deflect matter of a minimum size traveling along any linear trajectory path from the outer circumference of the tire/wheel assembly towards the front side of the mud flap while substantially maximizing the spacing between adjacent louvers to minimize aerodynamic drag. Other embodiments provide a method of using the mud flap.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a gap reducer and a method of mounting the gap reducer to a vehicle. Such method includes attaching operably a bi-modulus bending member to a first vehicle in a cantilevered configuration along a vertical side of the first vehicle, where a cantilevered end of the bi-modulus bending member is arranged to extend within a gap arranged between the first vehicle and a second vehicle when the first and second vehicles are coupled. The bi-modulus bending member comprises an elongate bending element configured to elastically buckle and bend to a buckled configuration when a force component exceeds a threshold buckling force, and to elastically return to an unbuckled configuration when the force component is reduced below the threshold buckling force. A gap reducer panel is operably coupled to the bi-modulus bending member, the gap reducer panel having a length extending primarily in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A fairing for a back end of a trailer is provided that has a leading airflow surface oriented within an angular range from 5 degrees to 14 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is attached. The angular range is oriented so that its arms extend rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer. A tailing airflow surface is present that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location. The tailing airflow surface is curved, and a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location. A frame engages the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a gap reducer and a method of mounting the gap reducer to a vehicle. Such method includes attaching operably a bi-modulus bending member to a first vehicle in a cantilevered configuration along a vertical side of the first vehicle, where a cantilevered end of the bi-modulus bending member is arranged to extend within a gap arranged between the first vehicle and a second vehicle when the first and second vehicles are coupled. The bi-modulus bending member comprises an elongate bending element configured to elastically buckle and bend to a buckled configuration when a force component exceeds a threshold buckling force, and to elastically return to an unbuckled configuration when the force component is reduced below the threshold buckling force. A gap reducer panel is operably coupled to the bi-modulus bending member, the gap reducer panel having a length extending primarily in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A fairing for a back end of a trailer is provided that has a leading airflow surface oriented within an angular range from 5 degrees to 14 degrees to a surface of the trailer to which the fairing is attached. The angular range is oriented so that its arms extend rearward from a vertex of the angular range in a longitudinal direction of the trailer. A tailing airflow surface is present that engages the leading airflow surface at meeting location. The tailing airflow surface is curved, and a common tangent line of the tailing airflow surface and the leading airflow surface is at the meeting location. A frame engages the surface of the trailer to which the fairing is configured to be attached.

Abstract: An aerodynamic trailer system is provided that has a skirt support member with a trailer attachment that attaches the skirt support member to a trailer. The skirt support member has a skirt attachment that attaches the skirt support member to a skirt. The skirt has a height that extends in a vertical direction of the aerodynamic trailer system. The skirt has an upper side, a lower side, a front side, and a rear side. The skirt also has a lower section that extends in the vertical direction from the lower side to an attachment location with the skirt attachment. The skirt has an upper section that extends in the vertical direction from the attachment location to the upper side. The lower section has a higher bending stiffness than the upper section.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a wake disruptor (112) for use on the rear side (102) of a land vehicle (100), a method of using the wake disruptor to reduce drag of a land vehicle, and a land vehicle including the wake disruptor. The wake disruptor forms a protrusion extending outwardly from a rear side of the land vehicle by a distance of 1.5 to 8 inches and has a length extending at least partially in a direction of the vehicle width. The land vehicle may comprise a motorized or powered vehicle and/or a towed object, such as a trailer.