Inflatable Panel for an Aerodynamic Fairing Assembly

摘要

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.

主权项

1. An improvement in an inflatable panel for use in aerodynamic fairing assembly for a tractor-trailer having a blower operatively connected to the panel to provide a continuous airflow into the panel that keep the panel inflated, the improvement comprises the inflatable panel having a panel body constructed of a first sheet of pliable hermetic material and a second sheet of pliable hermetic material overlying the first sheet and sewn together forming a sewn peripheral seams that act as an air vent to bleed air from the panel body when the inflated panel is inflated.