FR2650543A1 - Device for catching the water thrown up by the wheels of a heavy vehicle moving along when the roadway is wet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device making it possible to eliminate the sprays of water and mist on the sides of heavy vehicles driving on a wet roadway and blinding the other users. It consists of a strip of "plastic" material 1 fixed to the existing mud flaps or fixed directly to the chassis, exhibiting conical orifices 2 into which the water is thrown in which it is trapped, flows over the internal face towards gutters 6 which pour it out under the lorry 11. The device according to the invention is intended for all road vehicles.

Description

 The invention relates to a device for recovering water projected by the wheels of heavy vehicles moving when the roadway is wet.

 The projection of water from the roadway caught by the wheels of heavy vehicles on the hard and smooth surfaces of the mudguards or chassis, causes when the truck moves the bursting of this water in a very strong fog impeding visibility other drivers who are often blinded by an impressive body of water, which could lead to an accident.

 Some methods exist to eliminate this mist, in addition a kind of doormat with large flexible plastic hairs mounted inside the mud flaps dampening water splashes.

 This system is practical, but it has the disadvantage of being expensive and can only be adapted on flat surfaces and not on curved surfaces because in this case, the coarse hairs no longer act as a shock absorber.

 One can also cite another system existing on the market which is composed of a steel plate which, pierced with holes, absorbs water splashes.

 This system is also expensive and very poorly adapted in mudguards because it is too rigid in steel. This plate, moreover, being a flat surface, perforated at 60 Z, lets water burst on the 40 Z of remaining surface, which does not avoid the fog phenomenon but attenuates it.

The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks, it in fact comprises a plate made of "plastic" material (1) semi-rigid molded either flat, or continuously, therefore of very low cost, comprising holes in the form of cones thus reducing the flat surfaces perpendicular to the water projections allowing them to be better evacuated towards the ends of the mudguard. The tops of the cones prevent water from passing through them, falling back onto the wheels and collecting the water which will be evacuated under the truck by semi-rigid "plastic" gutters (1) fixed to the system by
example by bolts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings which schematically represent:
Figure 1. A sectional view of the device whose band (1) is seen fixed on a mudguard (9) above a wheel (8)
Figure 2. A sectional view of the device which we see the strip (1) fixed on a mudguard (9) and the gutters (6) fi
xed on (1).

 Figure 3. A view of the device according to the invention mounted on a train of three wheels, on a mudguard (9).

 Figure 4. A view of the device according to the invention mounted on a mudguard (9).

Figure 5. A view of the device according to the invention mounted on
the mudguard (9) of a cabin (11).

 Figure 6. A view of the device according to the invention mounted on the chassis (10) of a heavyweight, attached with fixing lugs (9).

Figure 7. An enlarged sectional view of the device according to
the invention, conical holes.

 Figure 8. A flat view of the system according to the invention, of the strip (1) of the ribs (5) of the holes (2) of the bosses (4).

 Figure 9. A sectional view along AA of Figure 8.

 As shown in the figures, the device according to the invention comprises a strip of semi-rigid "plastic" (1) molded, of thickness approximately 5 / 10ths of a millimeter. Conical orifices (2) with a diameter of approximately 8mm for passage at the base, 4mm at the top, have a height of approximately 8mm. The holes are approached from each other so that there is no flat surface between each hole.

 The strip of "plastic" (1) is provided with bosses (4) conical in the direction of the water projections and plan of the side which will bear on the mudguard or any other support or not.

 These bosses pierced with holes (7) executed during casting serve, for example, to pass a pop rivet through it, allowing the system according to the invention to be fixed inside the existing mud flaps (9) or on the truck body (10) or other.

 These bosses (4) will have a height of approximately 12 mm and a diameter of approximately 8mm for the flat surface with a hole in the center of the diameter approximately 4mm.

 Longitudinal ribs (5) with a height of about 6mm serve to stiffen the strips of "plastic" (1) and at the same time serve as water guidance. These ribs may be multiple over a width of "plastic" strip (1) according to the invention allowing cutting to the desired width as required. Indeed, it suffices to measure the width of the existing mudguard and to cut, in the longitudinal direction according to a measurement, the "plastic" strip (1) according to the invention to have a desired width of each cat a reinforcement (5) guide of water.

 Gutters (6), in semi-rigid or rigid material molded as appropriate, are fixed to the ends of the "plastic" strip (1). The fixing of these gutters (6) will be done by pre-drilled holes in them at the center of the holes (2) located in the "plastic" plate (1). The purpose of these gutters is to recover the water (3) flowing over the top of the "plastic" plate (1) between the canes (12) Fig. 2.

 The water, caught by the wheels on the roadway is forcefully projected onto the "plastic" strip (1) according to the invention, passes through the conical holes (2) strikes the mudguard (9) or the body ( 10) or any other support, falls between the canes (12) then flows towards the gutters (6) to be evacuated under the truck (11).

 The air entering between the existing mudguard (9) Fig. 2 and the plate (1) according to the invention, will circulate between these two elements and will create, when the heavy goods vehicle is in motion, a depression sucking water through the conical holes. As a result, the projections are all sucked up by this suction phenomenon, and the higher the speed of the heavy goods vehicle, the mudguard will suck up the mists or water splashes.

 Openings (13) Fig. 2 or holes are provided to increase the air flow between the mudguard (9) and the plate (1) thus allowing a stronger suction of water through the orifices (2).

 The strip of "plastic" (1) according to the invention can be molded by a more or less long plate. We could imagine making a roll with the strip, which we would then cut to size as needed according to the principle of plastic garden fencing.

 For gutters (6), these could be extruded in great length, then cut to length as needed during installation.

 The term "plastic", in the texts, designates all categories of existing or future plastic, likely to be suitable for the manufacture of this water recuperator according to the invention, let us quote for example PVC.

 The embodiment which has just been described is given for information only and other implementations of the present invention within the reach of man on the part could be adapted without departing from the scope. of it.

 In particular, it will be possible to reduce or increase the dimensions mentioned above in the description.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended to be mounted on heavy goods vehicles whatever it is traveling on the roads.

Claims (11)

 1) Device for recovering water projected by the wheels of heavy goods vehicles moving when the roadway is wet, characterized in that it comprises a strip of "plastic" material (1), almost without a flat part on the side of the water projections, having orifices (2) into which the water (3) is introduced as well as bosses (4) allowing the fixing and longitudinal ribs (5) of reinforcements allowing a width cutting, also having gutters (6).  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the semi-rigid plastic strip (1) is manufactured by molding with a thickness of about 0, Smm easily bendable by hand, is packaged in a roll for cutting to size .  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the orifices (2) are conical and a height of about 8mm with a passage diameter of about 8mm.  4) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the orifices (2) are raised, prevent water (3) from falling on the wheels by guiding it towards the gutters (6).  5) Arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that the bosses (4) are higher than the conical orifices (2).  6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the bosses (4) are pierced with fixing holes (7).  7) Device according to claim 1 and 5 in that the bosses (4) are conical in shape on the water spray side and flat on the side of the binding and have a height greater than the conical orifices (2).  8) according to claim characterized in that the strip of "plastic" material (1) is formed for laying in its longitudinal direction and according to existing supports.  9) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the gutters (6) are fixed to the "plastic" strip (1).  10) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the gutters (6) are made of "plastic" (1) semi-rigid molded.  11) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the air, introduced between the mudguard (9) and the plate (1), during the movement of the heavyweight, by the gills (13) increases the suction of the through the openings (2).