SDC unveils fuel-saving tapered Aeroliner
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SDC TRAILERS HAS manufactured a new aerodynamic trailer with a tapered rear chassis that, the firm claims, will improve fuel economy by 8%.
Narrowing at the rear of the body and the chassis, the Aeroliner makes use of a rear sloping roof in order to reduce drag behind the trailer.
Tony Sturgess, chief design engineer at the Nottinghamshire manufacturer, reveals that road trials with different operators have demonstrated an 8% fuel saving.
"We wanted to design something that didn't cut the trailer capacity, and keeps the air as close to the body as possible," he says. "The vortex generator (on the 100rnm rear sloping roof) energises the air as it comes over the roof, pulling it back down the slope."
There is an air deflector at the front, and the rear chassis and superstructure tapers 180mm on both sides of the trailer over the final 1.6m of its length. This produces a 2.18m-wide rear access for loading. The design allows the final two pallets of a load to be positioned lengthways, rather than widthways.
Its side buckles are tucked underneath the curtain to cut air disturbance, and even the mud flaps are aerodynamically designed.
SDC uses Spraydown Vehicle Spray Suppression mud flaps that have vanes with a series of small curves to catch the water, but which let air through.
"It's all about reducing the carbon footprint and improving fuel economy for operators," Sturgess says. who sees curtainsiders as the core application for this type of product. "Feedback from operators is positive. They say it's a good trailer that has caused no problems and improved fuel economy."