Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird
If you had side skirts attached to the tow vehicle that went all the way to the sides of the trailer, then had them on spring hinges that allowed them to swing out for turns even to the point of jack knife, then just return to their neutral.
What you don't want to run 60 sheet metal screws into the side of your SRT so you can hang a 4'x4' aluminum panel on each side?
I also wonder what the turning limit on the old GMC aero truck was? This was the coolest thing ever.
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This was NASA's solution for their semi-trailer.
Tesla has chosen same for their Semi.
I had trouble over-extending and over-stretching springs, so I defaulted to cables-and-pulley-to- window-drop-weights, inside elevator shafts on both sides. It's impossible for gravity to fail, the weights are incapable of sticking, and suspending the weights above the bottom of the elevator shaft allows a constant pre-load on the gap-filler panels, holding them snug against the trailer sides when going straight.
WARNING: the panels are in full cantilever, with a gravity moment ( torque ) acting at all times over the entire length of the panels. Striking frost-heaves and pot-holes creates an instantaneous shock-loading ( mechanical 'jerk' ) on the supporting hinges.
Panels need to be as 'short' as possible.
Panels need to be as 'light' as possible.
Hinges need to be as 'strong' as possible.
No 'spontaneous disassembly' is permissible!