GB2069033A - Magnetic rubbish collector; snow plough - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle (not shown) is provided with a collector for ferromagnetic material comprising a permanent or electro-magnet such as 4-5 yieldably mounted on the vehicle body just ahead of each of the road wheels and close to the road surface. The collector, shown as a wire brush magnetized by a magnet 4, picks up any ferrous scrap which the vehicle would otherwise run over and which could cause damage to it. The brush may be replaced by a snow plough blade for winter use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Magnetic rubbish collector This invention concerns a magnetic collector to be mounted on a vehicle to collect ferrous metal rubbish from the road surface.

Nowadays small pieces of ferrous metal such as nails, swarf and bolts, litter the surface of main roads and motorways. These can cause punctures or other damage to vehicles which happen to run over them. Punctures can cause serious accidents, and tyres, particularly those fitted to heavy lorries are very expensive. The aim of the present invention is to provide on a vehicle a magnetic device which will pick up such material before it can come into contact with the vehicle wheels.

According to the invention I provide a collector for ferromagnetic material comprising a magnet provided with means which enable it to be mounted on a motor vehicle underbody just ahead of one of the road wheels and close to the surface on which the vehicle is supported.

Preferably the device includes means for brushing the road surface for deflecting any rubbish in the path of the vehicle either out of the said path or towards the magnet. This means could for example be a wire or other stiff brush or a snowplough-type blade, which could be magnetised.

In a preferred embodiment I provide a collector for ferromagnetic material including a magnet, a plurality of magnetised stiff bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from the magnet, and means for mounting the magnet in a horizontal position on a vehicle just ahead of one of the road wheels so that the bristles are in contact with the surface on which the vehicle is supported, and so that the bristles can be deflected if they encounter a fixed obstacle.

I also provide a vehicle fitted with such devices.

The mounting means preferably comprises one or more flexible straps, which can move to prevent articles from becoming jammed between the wheel and the magnet, and which can move aside to allow the vehicle to mount a kerb or other obstacle. Alternatively, the mounting means may comprise a pivotable arm or a spring to enable deflection if a fixed obstacle such as a cat's-eye is struck.

The magnet may for example be a simple magnet or an electromagnet energised by the vehicle's electrical system.

Three embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a motor car which is fitted with such devices; Fig. 3 shows in perspective an embodiment incorporating a wire brush; and Fig. 4 shows in perspective the embodiment of Fig. 3 in which the magnet and brush have been replaced by a deflector blade.

The device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a magnet 1 provided with two stout non-magnetic straps 2 by means of which it can be suspended from a vehicle underbody. Fig. 2 shows a motorcar 3 having four such devices (only two being shown), each mounted just ahead of one road wheel and just above the ground. As the vehicle travels in a forward direction, one of the magnets 1 picks up any small ferrous objects before they can be struck by the associated wheel.

The device shown in Fig. 3 comprises a magnet 4 provided with magnetised wire bristles 5 extending roughly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the magnet. The magnet is mounted horizontally in front of one of the wheels of a vehicle so that the magnetised bristles brush the ground in front of the wheel as the vehicle is moving, thus deflecting any scrap that these encounter outwards or upwards. Any ferrous scrap deflected upwards is attracted and retained by the magnet or the wire bristles. The magnet 4 is attached to a substantially vertical pillar 6 which slides within a vertical tube 7 mounted on the chassis, bumper or bodywork of the vehicle. A compression spring (not shown) urges the bar 4 towards the road to keep it in contact with the road surface, but allows it to be deflected upwards if the bristles or bar should encounter a rigid obstacle such as a cat's-eye.It should be far enough ahead of the wheel not to foul the wheel when deflected.

Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 3 where the magnet and bristle assembly have been temporarily replaced by a plastics snow-plough blade 8 for winter use.

1. A collector for ferromagnetic material comprising a magnet provided with means which enable it to be mounted on a motor vehicle body just ahead of one of the road wheels and close to the surface on which the vehicle is supported.

2. A collector for ferromagnetic material including an elongated magnet, a plurality of magnetised stiff bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from the bar magnet, and means for mounting the magnet in a horizontal position on a vehicle just ahead of one of the road wheels so that the bristles brush the surface on which the vehicle is supported, and so that the bristles can be deflected if they encounter a fixed obstacle.

3. A collector according to claim 2, wherein the magnet and associated bristles are spring-urged towards the road surface.

4. A vehicle fitted with a collector for ferromagnetic material according to any preceding claim.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Magnetic rubbish collector This invention concerns a magnetic collector to be mounted on a vehicle to collect ferrous metal rubbish from the road surface. Nowadays small pieces of ferrous metal such as nails, swarf and bolts, litter the surface of main roads and motorways. These can cause punctures or other damage to vehicles which happen to run over them. Punctures can cause serious accidents, and tyres, particularly those fitted to heavy lorries are very expensive. The aim of the present invention is to provide on a vehicle a magnetic device which will pick up such material before it can come into contact with the vehicle wheels. According to the invention I provide a collector for ferromagnetic material comprising a magnet provided with means which enable it to be mounted on a motor vehicle underbody just ahead of one of the road wheels and close to the surface on which the vehicle is supported. Preferably the device includes means for brushing the road surface for deflecting any rubbish in the path of the vehicle either out of the said path or towards the magnet. This means could for example be a wire or other stiff brush or a snowplough-type blade, which could be magnetised. In a preferred embodiment I provide a collector for ferromagnetic material including a magnet, a plurality of magnetised stiff bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from the magnet, and means for mounting the magnet in a horizontal position on a vehicle just ahead of one of the road wheels so that the bristles are in contact with the surface on which the vehicle is supported, and so that the bristles can be deflected if they encounter a fixed obstacle. I also provide a vehicle fitted with such devices. The mounting means preferably comprises one or more flexible straps, which can move to prevent articles from becoming jammed between the wheel and the magnet, and which can move aside to allow the vehicle to mount a kerb or other obstacle. Alternatively, the mounting means may comprise a pivotable arm or a spring to enable deflection if a fixed obstacle such as a cat's-eye is struck. The magnet may for example be a simple magnet or an electromagnet energised by the vehicle's electrical system. Three embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in front elevation; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a motor car which is fitted with such devices; Fig. 3 shows in perspective an embodiment incorporating a wire brush; and Fig. 4 shows in perspective the embodiment of Fig. 3 in which the magnet and brush have been replaced by a deflector blade. The device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a magnet 1 provided with two stout non-magnetic straps 2 by means of which it can be suspended from a vehicle underbody. Fig. 2 shows a motorcar 3 having four such devices (only two being shown), each mounted just ahead of one road wheel and just above the ground. As the vehicle travels in a forward direction, one of the magnets 1 picks up any small ferrous objects before they can be struck by the associated wheel. The device shown in Fig. 3 comprises a magnet 4 provided with magnetised wire bristles 5 extending roughly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the magnet. The magnet is mounted horizontally in front of one of the wheels of a vehicle so that the magnetised bristles brush the ground in front of the wheel as the vehicle is moving, thus deflecting any scrap that these encounter outwards or upwards. Any ferrous scrap deflected upwards is attracted and retained by the magnet or the wire bristles. The magnet 4 is attached to a substantially vertical pillar 6 which slides within a vertical tube 7 mounted on the chassis, bumper or bodywork of the vehicle. A compression spring (not shown) urges the bar 4 towards the road to keep it in contact with the road surface, but allows it to be deflected upwards if the bristles or bar should encounter a rigid obstacle such as a cat's-eye.It should be far enough ahead of the wheel not to foul the wheel when deflected. Fig. 4 shows the device of Fig. 3 where the magnet and bristle assembly have been temporarily replaced by a plastics snow-plough blade 8 for winter use. CLAIMS

1. A collector for ferromagnetic material comprising a magnet provided with means which enable it to be mounted on a motor vehicle body just ahead of one of the road wheels and close to the surface on which the vehicle is supported.

2. A collector for ferromagnetic material including an elongated magnet, a plurality of magnetised stiff bristles extending substantially perpendicularly from the bar magnet, and means for mounting the magnet in a horizontal position on a vehicle just ahead of one of the road wheels so that the bristles brush the surface on which the vehicle is supported, and so that the bristles can be deflected if they encounter a fixed obstacle.

3. A collector according to claim 2, wherein the magnet and associated bristles are spring-urged towards the road surface.

4. A vehicle fitted with a collector for ferromagnetic material according to any preceding claim.