GB2181396A - Spray suppression equipment for road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A road vehicle has at least one wheel (8) fitted with spray suppression means (14, 16) which is supported for movement between a lowered position close to the wheel (8) providing clearance from overlying objects and a raised position providing a running clearance from the wheel. Thus a mudwing (14) may be pivoted at one end (18) to a support (12) and controlled by link means (20, 22, 24) at the other end. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in spray suppression equipment for road vehicles This invention relates to a goods road vehicle of the rigid, trailer or semi-trailer kind that is required to be fitted with spray suppression equipment.

For certain vehicles required to be fitted with spray suppression equipment (mudwings and flaps) a means of raising and lowering the mudwings is required. One such type of vehicle is a demountable bodied vehicle where the wings have to be lowered to allow loading (fitment) of the body and unloading (removal) of the body, and then raised for normal running conditions of the vehicle, to avoid tyres hitting the wings, due to axle and suspension movement.

The invention provides a road vehicle having at least one wheel fitted with spray suppression means which is supported for movement between a lowered position close to the wheel providing clearance from overlying objects and a raised position providing a running clearance from the wheel.

The mudwing and flap may be raised and lowered by a device which is either mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic assisted, and is allowed to be retained in the 'raised' or 'lowered' position by a fixed device.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la and ib are fragmentary side views of a goods vehicle body adjacent a wheel in first and second embodiments of the invention respectively; and Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary side views of a goods vehicle body adjacent a wheel according to third and fourth embodiments of the invention.

In Fig. la, longitudinal chassis members 10 of a goods vehicle body (e.g. a semi-trailer vehicle body) support spaced cantilever brackets 12 that provide support for a mudwing 14 carrying a mudflap 16. The rear bracket 12 supports the mudwing by means of a hinge 18 and the front bracket 12 supports the mudwing by means of a link 20 that slides in a sleeve 22, the sleeve 22 and link 24 being formed with pin apertures 24. The mudwing 14 can thereby be rotated between its raised running position (solid lines) and its lowered stand-by position in which the mudwing 14 is at less than a running clearance from the wheel 8 but the mudwing 14 is lowered relative to the vehicle body give greater top clearance. Fig. 1b is similar to Fig. 1a except that the hinge 18 is at the front of the mudwing 14 and the link 20 is at the rear thereof.

In Fig. 2 the mudwing 14 is supported at each end by means of sliding links 30 so that movement of mudwing 14 is purely in translation. Preferably the sliding links 30 are arranged to give equal rise and fall of mudwing 14.

In Fig. 3 the mudwing 14 is lowered relative to body member 10 by means of a mechanical linkage or by means of hydraulic devices during loading or unloading of a body 40.

When the body 40 has been fully loaded or removed, the wings 14 are raised (solid lines) so as to allow normal running conditions and not foul on the vehicle tyres. Operation of the device can be from existing circuitry on the vehicle or from a separate system and controls.

1. A road vehicle having at least one wheel fitted with spray suppression means which is supported for movement between a lowered position close to the wheel providing clearance from overlying objects and a raised position providing a running clearance from the wheel.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the spray suppression means is a mudwing carrying a mudflap.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the mudwing is pivoted at one end to a support and controlled by link means at the other end.

4. A vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the mudwing is supported at each end for vertical movement.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for locking the mudwing at its lowered and raised position.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, further comprising mechanical or hydraulic means operable to move said spray suppression means between its raised and lowered positions.

7. A road vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in Fig. la or 1b, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A road vehicle, wheels of which are provided with spray suppression mudwings and flaps and means by which said mudwings and flaps can be raised and lowered.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in spray suppression equipment for road vehicles This invention relates to a goods road vehicle of the rigid, trailer or semi-trailer kind that is required to be fitted with spray suppression equipment. For certain vehicles required to be fitted with spray suppression equipment (mudwings and flaps) a means of raising and lowering the mudwings is required. One such type of vehicle is a demountable bodied vehicle where the wings have to be lowered to allow loading (fitment) of the body and unloading (removal) of the body, and then raised for normal running conditions of the vehicle, to avoid tyres hitting the wings, due to axle and suspension movement. The invention provides a road vehicle having at least one wheel fitted with spray suppression means which is supported for movement between a lowered position close to the wheel providing clearance from overlying objects and a raised position providing a running clearance from the wheel. The mudwing and flap may be raised and lowered by a device which is either mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic assisted, and is allowed to be retained in the 'raised' or 'lowered' position by a fixed device. Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures la and ib are fragmentary side views of a goods vehicle body adjacent a wheel in first and second embodiments of the invention respectively; and Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary side views of a goods vehicle body adjacent a wheel according to third and fourth embodiments of the invention. In Fig. la, longitudinal chassis members 10 of a goods vehicle body (e.g. a semi-trailer vehicle body) support spaced cantilever brackets 12 that provide support for a mudwing 14 carrying a mudflap 16. The rear bracket 12 supports the mudwing by means of a hinge 18 and the front bracket 12 supports the mudwing by means of a link 20 that slides in a sleeve 22, the sleeve 22 and link 24 being formed with pin apertures 24. The mudwing 14 can thereby be rotated between its raised running position (solid lines) and its lowered stand-by position in which the mudwing 14 is at less than a running clearance from the wheel 8 but the mudwing 14 is lowered relative to the vehicle body give greater top clearance. Fig. 1b is similar to Fig. 1a except that the hinge 18 is at the front of the mudwing 14 and the link 20 is at the rear thereof. In Fig. 2 the mudwing 14 is supported at each end by means of sliding links 30 so that movement of mudwing 14 is purely in translation. Preferably the sliding links 30 are arranged to give equal rise and fall of mudwing 14. In Fig. 3 the mudwing 14 is lowered relative to body member 10 by means of a mechanical linkage or by means of hydraulic devices during loading or unloading of a body 40. When the body 40 has been fully loaded or removed, the wings 14 are raised (solid lines) so as to allow normal running conditions and not foul on the vehicle tyres. Operation of the device can be from existing circuitry on the vehicle or from a separate system and controls. CLAIMS

1. A road vehicle having at least one wheel fitted with spray suppression means which is supported for movement between a lowered position close to the wheel providing clearance from overlying objects and a raised position providing a running clearance from the wheel.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the spray suppression means is a mudwing carrying a mudflap.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the mudwing is pivoted at one end to a support and controlled by link means at the other end.

4. A vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the mudwing is supported at each end for vertical movement.

5. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for locking the mudwing at its lowered and raised position.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, further comprising mechanical or hydraulic means operable to move said spray suppression means between its raised and lowered positions.

7. A road vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in Fig. la or 1b, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A road vehicle, wheels of which are provided with spray suppression mudwings and flaps and means by which said mudwings and flaps can be raised and lowered.