GB2074109A - Suppression of spray from motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of suppressing spray at least one strip of bristles is located to intercept the spray thrown out by a vehicle wheel. The strip of bristles may be located around the concave arcuate periphery of the mudguard with the bristles close to or touching the wheel, and/or one or more may extend transversely across the wheel arch inwardly from the mudguard to catch the spray as it is thrown off the wheel. Alternatively, or additionally, the strip may be provided in place of the traditional mud flap. The strip of bristles preferably incorporates a flexible backing member which is attached to or integral with a flange gripping beading of generally U-shaped cross-section to allow the strip easily to be connected to a mudguard. If desired the longitudinal axes of the beading and bristles may be relatively inclined. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suppression of spray from motor vehicles This invention relates to suppression of spray from motor vehicles. The generation of spray from vehicles, especially heavy goods vehicles, travelling at high speed on wet roads, is causing considerable concern, and considerable efforts are being made to solve the problem. It is important to find an early solution to the problem, because of the danger that such spray causes. As anyone who has travelled behind a commercial "box-van" vehicle moving at 60 or 70 m.p.h. on a wet motorway will know, the vehicle puts up a spray screen behind it and to each side, through which it is almost impossible to see, making it extremely hazardous to overtake.This spray results almost exclusively from water off the road surface being picked up by the numerous wheels of the vehicle, due largely to surface tension, and subsequently being formed into small droplets as it is mixed with air after being thrown off the tyre surface, due to centrifugal action. These particles then get swirled by the currents of air generated by the rotating wheels, and by the passage of the vehicle forwardly at high speed, into the turbulent air behind the vehicle.

Clearly, if the water picked up by the vehicle tyres can be confined to the wheel arch areas of the vehicle, and returned to the road, that will help solve the problems associated with spray generation. Various attempts in this direction have been made, largely resulting in "boxing-in" the wheel arch area, but this means the airflow around the wheels is restricted, thus tending to cause brake overheating. Furthermore, access to the wheels, e.g. for inflating tyres, checking their condition and changing tyres in the event of a puncture, is limited.

According to the present invention, we provide a method of suppressing spray generated by the wheels of vehicles travelling at high speed on a wet road surface, wherein at least a major portion of the space between the outer peripheral area of each vehicle tyre and the vehicle structure is closed off by a first strip of brush-like material, the bristles of which are in close proximity with, or touching the tyre, and/or a second strip of brushlike material extends inwardly from a bottom rear edge of a vehicle's mudguard in the form of a flap, across the rear of the wheel arch in close proximity with the road, and/or wherein at least one further strip of brush-like material extends inwardly from the outer edge of the mudguard across the wheel arch over at least the total width of the wheel or set of wheels therein so as to provide an air permeable but generally waterproof barrier to the passage of spray thrown off the tyre(s) on the wheel(s) as the or each tyre rotates.

Preferably, a first strip extends from a point in front of the wheel or set of wheels at a level a little below the rotational axis of the wheel(s), around the periphery of the tyre, to a point at the rear of the wheel(s) adjacent the ground, and is connected to the arcuate periphery of the mudguard.

It is preferred that two or three further strips extend across the wheel arch, to catch spray as it is thrown off the wheel(s). These may be inclined from one end to the other, so that water collected on them is directed inwardly and then allowed to drop to the ground.

Preferably, the first strip extends from the periphery of a traditional mudguard into close proximity with the peripheral area of the tyre, and accordingly is inclined inwardly from the mudguard towards the tyre.

Preferably, the invention also embraces a mudguard to which one or more of the abovedescribed brush strips is fitted.

The brush strips may be connected to a flangegripping extrusion of rubber or plastics, so as to form a push fit onto suitable flanges on the mudguard.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the rear of an eight-wheeled semi-trailer; FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation, showing the rear wheels on one side of the semi-trailer; FIGURE 3 is a scrap view, in perspective, showing the wheels, on one side of the semitrailer, with a slightly modified mudguard, and FIGURES 4-8 are cross-sections showing various possible constructions of flange grippers to which the brush strip is connected or connectable.

Referring to the drawings, the semi-trailer shown in Figures 1-3 has a traditional load platform 1, and on each side two sets 3, 5 of double wheels 7. Each wheel is shrouded in a largely traditional mudguard 9, provided with a short, down-turned valance 11. This is not essential, or it may be a simple flange 1 a as shown in Figure 3. The mudguard extends the full width of each wheel set 3, 5 from a level 13 in front of each wheel set to a level 1 5 a few inches from the road surface behind each wheel.

In accordance with the invention, a first strip of brush-like material 1 7 is attached to the valance 11 (or flange 11 a) so as at least substantially to close the space between the valance (vehicle structure) and the peripheral area of the outer face of each tyre 7. This prevents, to a large extent, spray from emitting sideways from around the upper portion of each wheel set 3, 5. Alternatively, or additionally, a second strip 1 9 of brush-like material extends inwardly across the whole width of each wheel set, to close off the gap between the mudguard 9 at its rear lower edge 15, and the road surface, thus preventing rearward escape of spray.

The strips 1 7 and 1 9 may be connected to the mudguard in known manner. For example, the brush strip can be provided with a flexible backing, which can be bolted or clipped to the mudguard.

Alternatively, the strip could be provided with an integral flange gripping bead, e.g. of U-shaped cross-section, which can simply be pushed onto the edge of the mudguard, and which will automatically remain in position, and can only be removed with difficulty. Such constructions will be described hereinafter with reference to Figures 1 8.

At least one, and preferably two or three further brush-like strips 21 are alternatively, or additionally, provided within the mudguard 9, extending between the underside of the mudguard 9 and the road-engaging surface of each tyre 7, so as to "catch" water/spray as it is thrown by centrifugal action off the tyres 7, and to direct it inwardly and allow it to drop back onto the roadway. As shown, two of these strips 21 are inclined from one end to the other, so as to assist the passage of collected water inwardly away from the sides of the vehicle, where most turbulence occurs. The inclination of the strips 21 can be chosen to direct collected water inwardly, or outwardly, upwardly or downwardly, as required. The drawings only show one particular inclination.

The strips 17, 1 9 and 21 have a bristle density which is low enough to allow the passage of air, so as to maintain an air flow around the tyres and wheels, but which is sufficiently high to prevent the passage of water, and hence which will act as a filter to remove water droplets from spray, before they become entrained in the swirl of air around the vehicle when it is moving at high speed.

In Figures 1-3 the various brush-like strips are shown just touching various wheel surfaces. It will be appreciated that instead of the strips touching the wheel surfaces, they may be spaced from them by a few millimetres if desired.

It is envisaged that mudguards for vehicles may be specially developed to receive brush strips in accordance with the invention, and/or be sold with one or more strips attached. One of the easiest ways of attaching the strips would be to provide the strips with a U-shaped flange-gripping bead of generally known construction, e.g. of plastics or rubber and incorporating a metal carrier and gripper fins to allow easy application to a flange (but which can be removed only with difficulty).

Several such constructions are illustrated in Figures 4 8 in which like parts have the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figures 1 8, the brush strip, e.g.

17, 19 or 21, is shown at B, the bristles being held together by a backing strip of metal or preferably of extruded plastics P or p. In order to secure the bristle strip B to a mudguard flange, the strip B is fused with, or adhesively secured to. or has extruded onto it, a generally U-shaped flange gripping beading F. Depending on the location of the strip B on the beading F, the beading can be used to fix the strip B directly to a mudguard flange, in known manner, or if the beading F itself grips the strip B, then the beading can be connected to, or extruded with a second beading S, as shown in Figures 5-8.

It will of course be appreciated that the relative inclinations of the longitudinal central axes of the strip B and beading F can be as desired.

If desired, the brush strips described above can be fitted to mudguards, which can then be sold as spray suppressing mudguard kits.

Claims (14)

1. A method of suppressing spray generated by the wheels of vehicles travelling at high speed on a wet road surface, wherein at least a major portion of the space between the outer peripheral area of each vehicle tyre and the vehicle structure or mudguard is closed off by a first strip of brushlike material, the bristles of which are in close proximity with, or touching the tyre, and/or wherein a second strip of brush-like material extends inwardly from the bottom rear edge of the mudguard or the first strip or equivalent in the form of a flap, across the rear of the wheel arch in close proximity with the road, and/or wherein at least one further strip of brush-like material extends inwardly from the outer edge of the mudguard, or the first strip or its equivalent, across the wheel arch over at least the total width of the wheel or set of wheels therein so as to provide an air permeable but generally waterproof barrier to the passage of spray thrown off the tyre(s) on the wheel(s) as the or each tyre rotates.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first strips extends from a point in front of the wheel or set of wheels at a level a little below the rotational axis of the wheel(s), around the periphery of the tyre, to a point at the rear of the wheel(s) adjacent the ground, said strip being connected to the arcuate periphery of the mudguard.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the strip has a generally U-shaped plastics or rubber flange-gripping beading integral with or connected thereto, by means of which it is connected to the mudguard.

4. A method accordingly claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein two or three further strips extend generally transversely across the wheel arch, to catch spray as it is thrown off the wheel(s).

5. A method according to any one of claims 4 wherein the or each further strip is inclined from one end to the other, so that water collected on it (them) is directed inwardly and then allowed to drop to the ground.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein the first strip extends from the periphery of a traditional mudguard into close proximity with the peripheral area of the tyre, and is inclined inwardly from the mudguard towards the tyre.

7. A method of suppressing spray thrown up by the wheels of vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A brush-like strip for use in the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and comprising a plurality of bristles held together by a backing member, and means for connecting the strip to a vehicle or its mudguard.

9. A strip according to claim 8, wherein said connecting means comprises a generally Ushaped flange gripping beading.

10. A strip according to claim 9 wherein the beading is extruded integrally with the backing member.

11. A strip according to claim 9 wherein the beading is adhesively secured or heat sealed to the backing member.

12. A strip according to claim 9 wherein the backing member is gripped within the beading, and a second flange gripping beading is secured to the first beading.

13. A strip according to claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the longitudinal central axes of the bristles and beading coincide.

14. A strip according to claim 1, 11 or 12 wherein the longitudinal axes of the bristles and beading are relatively inclined.

1 5. A strip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4-8 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A mudguard having at least one spray suppressing brush-like strip connected to it.

1 7. A mudguard having at least one spray suppressing strip according to any one of claims 8-1 5 connected to it or formed integral therewith.