GB2114075A

GB2114075A - Vehicle mudflaps

Info

Publication number: GB2114075A
Application number: GB08302152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan Buckley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-30
Filing date: 1983-01-26
Publication date: 1983-08-17
Also published as: GB8302152D0; GB2114075B

Abstract

In order to minimize spray and direct water away from the path of a following wheel during wet road conditions, at least some of the mudguards or flaps 11 of a road vehicle have a channel 19 along their lower edge. Preferably that lower edge is inclined and the channel 19 is closed at its upper end 20 and has a pipe extension 21 and possibly a spout 23 at its lower end so that water running down the surface of the flap 11 is directed laterally for release inwardly of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Road vehicle mudguards and flaps This invention concerns road vehicle mudguards, mudflaps, wings and like devices and structures provided adjacent or around each of the wheels of a vehicle to minimise water and other matter from the road being thrown up behind the vehicle. For convenience such arrangements will be referred to herein generally as mudguards and/or mudflaps.

It is already known, in relation to heavy loadcarrying vehicles of the kind having closely adjacent axles, to provide mudflaps which hang down to the rear of the wheels on each of the axles. Thus it is known to provide a first flap behind the forward wheel of a tandem-arranged pair of wheels and a second flap behind the rear wheel of such pair, at each side of a vehicle. Such flaps are intended to reduce the amount of water and spray thrown up when travelling over wet roads, especially at high speeds, and whilst they have some spray-inhibiting effect, vehicles so fitted still generate considerable volumes of spray to the detriment of other road users.

One reason why such mudguard and mudflap arrangements are not as efficient as they might be in reducing water spray lies in the fact that the mudguard or flap of each forward wheel tends to be instrumental in depositing the water thrown up by its wheel immediately in the path of the following wheel. Thus, instead of the forward wheel clearing water from a track over which the following rear wheel passes, the effect is that the water is thrown up twice, firstly by the front wheel and then again by the rear wheel. The same effect occurs in the case of multi-axle vehicles, the same water being thrown up to generate spray, on a number of separate occasions, once by each wheel, for example on three separate occasions in the case of triple axle vehicles, four occasions in the case of vehicles with four axles and so on.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mudguard or mudflap arrangement whereby the above-discussed disadvantage is obviated or minimised, in that when it is used in relation to a multi-axled vehicle it will serve to direct water away from the following wheel, so that the latter will run on a track which has at least to some extent been cleared of water.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a road vehicle mudguard or mudflap arrangement comprising a mudguard or flap, for mounting adjacent or around a vehicle wheel, which includes a channel extending along the lower edge of the mudguard or flap and capable of receiving water running down at least one surface of the mudguard or flap and directing said water laterally of the mudguard or flap.

The mudguard or mudflap arrangement is preferably attached to a vehicle such that the channel directs the water laterally of the mudguard or flap for release inwardly of the vehicle. This may, in practise, be accomplished by having the end of the channel which lies adjacent the outside of the vehicle closed and/or inclining the channel downwardly from the outside towards the inside of the vehicle at an angle of approximately 8 to the horizontal.

Furthermore one end of the channel located inwardly of the vehicle may be extended to form a pipe and a spout to facilitate downward release of the water.

The channel may conveniently be formed by a J-profiled or L-profiled section connected to the lower edge of the mudguard or mudflap.

Such a mudguard or mudflap arrangement may advantageously also include a vehicle spray inhibitor as described in my co-pending application No. 82 1 3996 to inhibit water thrown up by the vehicle wheel from rebounding onto said wheel and to encourage said water to run down the surface of the mudguard or flap in order to minimise spray generation.

Alternatively, however, a sheet of material having ridges arranged in a "rising sun" configuration may be provided above the channel to direct water etc., impinging on the sheet towards the inner end of the channel.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side view illustrating a first embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement of the present invention mounted adjacent each wheel of a set of wheels of a multi-axle vehicle; Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of the embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view of a second embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement of the invention mounted between adjacent wheels of a multi-axle vehicle;; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding te Fig. 3 of the lower portion of a third embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower portion of a fourth embodiment of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the lower portion of a fifth embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the mudguard or flap arrangement of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, a first practical embodiment of the road vehicle mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention comprises a mudguard or flap 10 in the form of a flexible substantially rectangular plate 11 made of rubber or plastics and adapted for attachment to a road vehicle 12 to hang down at the rear of a wheel 13, 14, 15.The mudguard or flap 10 has a J-profiled section 1 6 connected by bolts 1 7 to its side remote from the wheel and along its edge which is intended to project downwardly when the mudguard or flap 10 is in position on the vehicle 1 2. The section 1 6 may be formed of noncorrosible metal such as aluminium or tin or of plastics or rubber and comprises a substantially planar portion 1 8 and a channel 19. The planar portion 18 is trapezoidal in shape, having one side approximately 5cm longer than the other side, so that in position on a vehicle the channel 1 9 is inclined at an angle of approximately 8 angle along the lower edge of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement.The upper end of the channel 1 9 is closed by an end wall 20.

In a slightly modified form of the arrangement where the mudguard or flap is formed of rigid material, the channel-forming section should be attached thereto by way of a strip of pliable material in order to provide the necessary flexibility.

In use, one of the aforesaid mudguard or mudflap arrangements may be attached behind all the wheels of a two-axled or multi-axled vehicle in place of the conventional mudguards or flaps, said arrangement being orientated such that the channel-forming section 1 6 is located along the lower edge of the mudguard or flap 11 with the channel 1 9 on the side of the mudguard or flap 11 facing the wheel and inclining downwardly towards the inside of the vehicle. A part of a multiaxle lorry 12 with three such mudflap arrangements mounted in this manner is, of course, shown in Fig. 1. In accordance with any British and European regulations, the upper end of the channel 1 9 should be approximately 1 6 to 1 8cm above the road surface.

Whenever the vehicle 1 2 is travelling along a wet road, the water and matter entrained thereby thrown up by the wheels 13, 14, 1 5 strikes the mudguards or flaps 10, some rebounds onto the wheels 13, 14, 1 5 and is broken up to form spray but some drains downwards into the inclined channel 1 9 and is directed downwardly towards the lower end of the channel 1 9 and discharged inwardly of the vehicle 1 2. Thus, in the case of each wheel 1 13, 14, (i.e. excluding the wheel 1 5 on the rearmost axle) water is directed away from the path of the following wheel 14, 1 5, so that the latter runs on a track which has at least to some extent been cleared of water.When the relevant wheels are those on closely adjacent axles such as those of tandem axle or triple axle trailers, or on domestic motor cars or small vans, the extent to which the track of the rearward wheel or wheels is cleared of water is considerable.

The fact that the wheels of an axle pair following an axle pair with the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention fitted run on a drier track than with previous mudguard arrangements leads to better road grip and safer braking of these following wheels and considerably reduces the danger of jack-knifing in articulated vehicles. Moreover, sirce the water is directed out of the lower end of the channel 1 9 at a short distance above the road surface, splashing, which is detrimental to other road users, is also reduced.

Attachment of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention behind the last axle pair of wheels on a vehicle (as shown in Fig. 1 where the channel section 16 on the rearmost mudguard 11 is indicated in broken lines) considerably reduces the amount of spray thrown up behind the vehicle 12 so that the rear of the vehicle 1 2 is less susceptible to corrosion and remains cleaner for a longer period of time than previously. The latter feature may be considered advantageous in the case of coaches and vans which have advertising material on the rear of the vehicle.Despite this advantage, owners of vehicles, particularly of large vehicles, may decide against installing a mudguard or flap arrangement on the rearmost wheels because of the risk of such arrangements being trapped or damaged when the vehicle is reversed towards or onto a kerb or other raised platform.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the mudguard or flap arrangement may include a channel 19, 29 each-on side of the mudguard or flap 10. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig.

4 and is advantageously used between closely adjacent wheels, for example on tandem axle or triple axle trailers. The rearwardly facing channel 29 catches and laterally directs water thrown forward from the rear wheel 25 while the frontwardly facing channel 1 9 deals with water thrown up by the front wheel 24 in the manner previously described.

Fig. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention in which the lower end of the channel 1 9 is extended beyond the vertical edge of the rest of the channel section 1 6 to form a short cylindrical pipe length 21. As shown, an additionai pipe 22. for example, of plastics or rubber, may be attached to the extension 21 by way of a jubilee clip 23 or similar device to form a downwardly projecting spout which will discharge water etc., very close to the road surface and thereby minimise splashback.Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification from which the pipe 22 has been omitted and in which rims 30 are provided on the vertical edges of the channel section 16 to ensure that water etc., impinging on the flap 11 or the section 1 6 is directed into the channel 1 9. In all other respects both the aforesaid embodiments are similar to the arrangements illustrated in Figs.

1 to 4, and the same reference numerals have been used for corresponding parts.

Fig. 7 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention wherein a sheet 31 of material such as metal or plastics is mounted along the bottom of the mudguard or flap 1 This sheet 31 has a lower edge sloping at an angle of about 8 to the horizontal and also has a number of ridges 32 diverging from the lowest corner in a so-called "rising-sun" configuration. The ridges 32 are either formed directly on the sheet 3 1 or consists of strips of similar material attached to said sheet 31. A channel 33 of U-shaped cross-section may be attached along the lower edge of the sheet 31, as shown, or formed directly thereon.This arrangement functions in a similar manner to the previously described embodiments but the ridges 32 additionally serve to direct water and entrained matter into the channel 33, particularly the lower end thereof. In a variation, a sheet of flexible material such as rubber ridged in the manner described may be attached to the planar section 18 of the channel section 16 as illustrated in any of Figs. 2 to 6.

The above-described advantages of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention may be enhanced by attachment of a spray inhibitor, as described in my co-pending patent application No. 82 13996 to the mudguard or mudflap. One such arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this case, a strip 35 of flexible material connects a channel-forming section 1 6 similar to that shown in Fig. 6 to the bottom of the flap 11 by bolts 17. A spray inhibitor 34 comprising a number of mesh layers is fitted to the mudflap 11. It is envisaged that the inhibitor 34 will extend downwards as far as the channel 19, although in the drawing it is shown foreshortened for clarity. In use, water and other material trapped in the inhibitor 34 will drain down into the channel 19 and be discharged inwardly of the vehicle from the extension 21.

The scope of the invention is, of course, not limited to the foregoing details and numerous variations are possible. For example, the upper end of the channel need not be closed by an end wall and the planar portion of the channel section may simply be substantially rectangular instead of trapezoidal in shape. Also, the channel may be provided by a L-profiled section with a narrow upwardly projecting rim along the edge of the horizontal limb.

It will, of course, be understood that the channel or channels of the mudguard or mudflap arrangement of the invention may be provided by one or more channel sections capable of being fitted to any type of mudguard or other sprayinhibiting device or by one or more channels formed integrally with a mudguard or flap, which may itself be longer at the side intended for location inwardly of the vehicle than the side to be located outwardly.

Claims

1. A road vehicle mudguard or mudflap arrangement comprising a mudguard or flap, for mounting adjacent or around a vehicle wheel; which includes a channel extending along the lower edge of the mudguard or flap and capable of receiving water running down at least one surface of the mudguard or flap and directing said water laterally of the mudguard or flap.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the channel is closed.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the other end of the channel extends to form a pipe or spout to facilitate lateral release of the water.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 including a number of ridges diverging from a lower corner of the mudguard or flap so as to direct water running down the surface of the mudguard or flap towards said corner.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the mudguard or flap is inclined.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lower edge of the mudguard or flap is inclined at an angle of approximately 80 to the horizontal.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the upper end of the channel is closed.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lower end of the channel extends to form a pipe or spout to facilitate lateral and downward release of the water.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 including a number of ridges diverging from the lowest corner of the mudguard or flap so as to direct water running down the surface of the mudguard or flap towards said corner.

10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the channel is formed by a J-profiled or L-profiled section connected to the lower edge of the mudguard or mudflap.

11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a second channel is provided along the lower edge of the mudguard or mudflap to receive water running down the reverse surface of the mudguard or flap and direct said water laterally of said mudguard or flap.

12. A road vehicle mudguard or mudflap arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, or in Fig. 4, or in Fig. 5, or in Fig. 6 or in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A road vehicle incorporating a mudguard or mudflap arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim.

14. A road vehicle incorporating a mudguard or mudflap arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 1 2 such that water running down at least one surface of the mudguard or mudflap is discharged from the channel inwardly of said vehicle.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 3 May, 1983.

Superseded claims 1 and 4.

New or amended claims:

1. A road vehicle mudguard or mudflap arrangement comprising a mudguard or flap, for mounting adjacent or around a vehicle wheel, which includes a number of ridges diverging from a lower corner of one surface of the mudguard or flap so as to direct water running down said one surface towards said corner, and a channel extending along the lower edge of the mudguard or flap and capable of receiving water running down said one surface and directing said water laterally of the mudguard or flap.

Claims 5-14 renumbered as 4-13 and appendancies corrected.