GB2161762A - Vehicle wheel water deflector - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle wheel comprises a pneumatic tyre 11 or other surface-engaging portion and a deflector member 12 associated with the wheel and supported so as to lie, at least during rotation of the wheel, generally to the side of, but spaced from, the pneumatic tyre. Preferably the wheel is arranged on a vehicle so that the deflector member 12 is disposed inboard of the tyre to suppress the flow of water in an inwards sideways direction when travelling over a wet surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to wheeled vehicles This invention relates to fluid control means and in particular, though not exclusively, to fluid control means suitable for use as a vehicle spray suppressor.

The spray generated by vehicles, especially heavy commercial vehicles, when travelling at speed on a wet road surface often can present a substantial safety hazard particularly to the drivers of overtaking vehicles. The spray generated also has the undesirable effect of tending to accelerate the accumulation of road dirt on the vehicle body; this is particularly undesirable in the case of vehicles operating in connection with certain retail trades and public services where the continuous presentation of a smart and clean appearance is considered important.

The spray generated by a vehicle wheel as the associated tyre passes over a wet surface arises partly due to that water expelled inwards, transversely relative to the direction of movement and then striking the underside of the vehicle, and partly due to water thrown up in a generally tangential direction from the road wheel towards a vehicle wheel arch or mudflap and from which the water issues sideways in the form of a fine spray.

A considerable number of means have been proposed for seeking to reduce the generation of spray from that water which is thrown tangentially from a road wheel. However, relatively little attention has been paid to reduction of that spray which arises due to the water expelled from between a tyre and road surface in a sideways direction as considered relative to the normal direction of vehicle movement.

A possible reason for little attention having been given to the suppression of spray due to sideways issuing water is that most obviously such spray could be suppressed by providing over the outboard side of each tyre and wheel assembly a cover, such as an extended wheel arch, the tyre and wheel therefore being substantially hidden from normal view. This arrangement would, however, suffer the disadvantage of the cover being prone to kerbside damage, especially in the case of a cover provided to extend outwards sufficiently to cover but not interfere with the movement of the steered wheels of a vehicle.

The present invention seeks to provide a means by which the aforedescribed difficulties may be overcome.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention a vehicle wheel comprises a surface engaging portion and a deflector member associated with the wheel and supported to lie, at least during rotation of the wheel, generally to one side of but spaced from the surface engaging portion of the wheel.

Preferably the deflector member is annular so as, for example, not to inhibit air cooling of any brake mechanism associated with the wheel. Preferably also the deflector member is releasably securable to the wheel, this being particularly advantageous where the surface engaging portion of the wheel comprises a pneumatic tyre which may need to be removed from the wheel.

The deflector member may be formed of a polymeric material, such as a plastics, for example nylon, or may be of metal. The outer edge of the deflector member may comprise a wear resistant portion of resilient elastomeric material resistant to wear due to any contact with the road or other surface or a flexible brush of an inherently wear resistant type e.g. comprising radially outwardly extending bristles.

The deflector member preferably is of a substantially frusto-conical shape, and may comprise two or more portions each of frusto-conical shape which subtend different angles to the axis of rotation of the wheel. Preferably a radially outer portion subtends a smaller included angle than a radially inner portion.

In accordance with another of its aspects the present invention provides a vehicle having secured thereto a wheel of a kind in accordance with the present invention and with the deflector member thereof disposed inboard of the surface engaging portion of the wheel.

Preferably the deflector member is of a multipart construction, for example preferably comprising a pair of semi-circular elements, to facilitate attachment to and release from the wheel without the necessity for removing the wheel from the associated vehicle axle. Where the deflector member is of a flexible material the deflector member may be of an annular form having a single break preferably extending in a generally radial direction, the flexibility of the material permitting it to be deformed to open said break sufficient to allow passage over a vehicle axle.

Where a surface engaging portion of a vehicle wheel is a pneumatic tyre, preferably the external diameter of the deflector member is substantially equal to the diameter of the undeflected tyre so that in use the periphery of the deflector member contacts the road surface when the tyre is deflected locally by the weight of the vehicle.Alternatively the external diameter of the deflector member may be slightly less than the rolling radius of the pneumatic tyre or other surface engaging portion of the wheel so as to avoid or minimise surface contact The deflector member may be formed with apertures to facilitate attachment to the wheel or, particularly in the case of an assembly of wheel and pneumatic tyre, the deflector member may be formed with clips, similar to those employed to clip balance weights to a wheel, for the purpose of releasably attaching the deflector member to a vehicle wheel.

The deflector member may be of a kind which is arranged to lie close to the surface engaging portion of the wheel in a static condition and become spaced therefrom only when in use, i.e. when fitted to a vehicle or when subject to rotation.

The deflector member may be formed with apertures to facilitate cooling of the surface engaging portion of the wheel andior, for example a brake mechanism associated with the wheel.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side view of the inboard side of a tyre and wheel assembly incorporating a deflector member in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is an end view of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

A vehicle wheel in accordance with the present invention comprises a metal hub 10 having secured thereto in conventional manner a pneumatic tyre 11. Additionally the vehicle wheel comprises a deflector member 12 in the form of an annular frusto-conical shaped disc of polyurethane releasably secured to the hub 10.

The deflector member 12 is of a two-part construction comprising a radially outer portion 12a of a frusto-conical shape having included apex angle in the range 905 to 18Q typically 120 , and a radially inner part 12b extending radially inwards from the outer part, and being of a frusto-conical shape having an included apex angle in the range 90 to 180". Preferably the part 12b has an included apex angle greater than that of the outer part 12a.

Where the outer part has an included angle of 120-, the inner part typically may have an included angle of 150;. The inner diameter of the inner part corresponds to the outer diameter of the hub 10, and the deflector member is secured to the hub 10 by means of three circumferentially uniformly spaced clips 14 attached to the deflector member and selectively securable to a lip 13 at the rim of the hub.

The radially inner part 12b of the deflector member is provided with a series of circumferentially uniformly spaced holes 13 (only three thereof shown in Figure 1) to facilitate the flow of air to the pneumatic tyre for cooling thereof in use.

In use the aforedescribed deflector member is arranged to lie inboard of the vehicle wheel. In this location it does not suppress the sideways flow of water in an outwards direction from between the wheel and road surface, but suppresses the sideways flow of water in an inwards direction. It is found that the suppression of flow of water in an inwards sideways direction is particularly useful insofar as that water is prevented from striking the underside of the vehicle body, and becoming atomised to form spray which then issues in a sideways outwards direction to present a safety hazard.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a surface engaging portion and a deflector member associated with the wheel and supported to lie, at least during rotation of the wheel, generally one side but spaced from the surface engaging portion of the wheel.

2. A vehicle wheel according to claim 1 wherein the deflector member is annular.

3. A vehicle wheel according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the deflector member is releasably secured to the wheel.

4. A vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the deflector member has a radially outer edge of resilient elastomeric material.

5. A vehicle wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the deflector member is provided at the radially outer edge thereof with brush means.

6. A vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the deflector member is of a frusto-conical shape.

7. A vehicle wheel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the deflector member is of a multi-part construction.

8. A vehicle wheel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A vehicle having secured thereto a vehicle wheel in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8 with the deflector member disposed inboard of the surface engaging portion of the wheel.