GB2208160A

GB2208160A - Spray-suppression device

Info

Publication number: GB2208160A
Application number: GB8816527A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chirico Giuseppe De
Original assignee: Gilardini SpA
Current assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1987-07-16
Filing date: 1988-07-12
Publication date: 1989-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-12
Also published as: NL8801812A; IE882183L; IT8753526V0; GB2208160B; NO168757B; DE3823786A1; SE468847B; IT212168Z2; FI88600C; SE8802617D0; SE8802617L; IE63201B1; BE1002304A4; FI883379A; FI883379A0; FR2618118B1; NO883163L; PT88000A; DK394788A; PT88000B

Description

f. C , /-, U b 1 6U -i- 1 ----pt)OR-QUALITY MOTOR VEHICLE MUDFLAP The

present invention relates to a mudflap for a motor vehicle, in particular, an industrial vehicle.

Motor vfhicles, particularly industrial vehicles, are frequently fitted with mudflaps behind the wheels, for preventing spray off the wheels from being directed laterally and rearwards of the vehicle, thus seriously impairing visibility.

Known rubber mudflaps provide for only partially solving this problem, by virtue of most of the water on the flap being splashed back on to the wheel or laterally in relation to the vehicle.

Multilayer mudflaps are also known comprising a waterproof IS rear element, and one or more superimposed layers, one of which, facing the wheel, is designed to allow the water to filter on to the underlying layers, which provide for absorbing the kinetic energy of the water, thus substan tially preventing it from "bouncing" off the waterproof rear element, and enabling controlled runoff. The said lavers are The major uslia 1 1 Y drawbacks formeo from extruded plastic:,,-Iting. oi known multilayer muciflaps of the aforementioneo type It P & t he high c-usi of' manufacturing and assembling the various layers, and the relatively heavy weight of the finished flap. Furthermore, the said layers present the same characteristics over the entire surface area of the flap, regardless of the dctual amount of water striking each portion of the same. Consequently, portions of the flap subjected to relatively small amounts of water (e.,,,;. the top and side portions) account for the same percentage of total weight and manufacturing cost as maximum impact portions (e.g. the lower center portion) from which greater efficiency is demanded.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a motor 15 vehicle mudflap designed to overcome the drawbacks typically associated with known mudflaps of the aforementioned type.

With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided a mudflap designed to fit on to a vehicle wheel and comprising a waterproof rear element; a permeable layer facing the said waterproof rear element on the side facing the said wheel; spacing means; and impact means designed to intercept the spray filtering through the said permeable layer, and enable controlled runoff of the same along the the said spacing and said tween the said waterproof meable layer; characterised pact and said spacing means 30 and second integral front t said waterproof rear element; impact means being located berear element and the said perby the fact that the said imconsi-st respectively of first projections on the said water- -- 3 - proof rear e I ement.

A IlUmber 0 1 preterreo embodiments or the present invention will be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

ig.l shows a partial ly-sectioned tront view of' a mudflap in accordance with the teaching-, of the pre.sent invention; Fig.s 2a a nd 2b show a partial front view and cross section respect ively of a detai I in Fig. I Fig.s 3a and 3b show a front view and cross section re10 spectively 0 f a further embodiment of the detail in Fig.s 2a and 2b.

Fig-4 shows a partial section of d detail in Fig.1; Fig-5 shows a partial section of a further embodiment of the Fig-4 de Fig.6 shows Fig.1 mudflap vehicle. Number I in vehicle.

Mudflap I comprises a rectangular, substantially flat, waterproof rear element 2 conveniently formed from molded elastomeric material, and having a flat, raised edge 3 extending along vertical sides 4 and top side 5 and having further external projections 6 along vertical sides 4.

According to the present invention, rear element 2 presents a number of projections 7, e.... five, parallel and equally-spaced in relation to one another and in relation to external projections 6, and extending vertically from top side 5 to bottom side 8 of rear element 2. The said projections 7 present a substantially triangular section tail; a smaller-scale schematic side view of the fitted to the ferider of an industrial Fig.1 indicates a mudflap for an industrial - A. - rourided at the- top. and ed-e 3 in relation to Ific C5 element 2 al.so comprises a projections 5 than the 9 rounded a t_ said projections tions 9 011 r ea r c 1 efflent POOR GUALWY -- subst ant I a I I t fie same hei ght as i5uriace or rear element 2. Rear nUnMer of substdtitially conical the top aiid shorter in height 7. The distribution of projecvaries from one portion to another of-the same. With reference to Fig.1, the two lateral projections 7, bottom side 8 of rear element 2, and imaginary horizontal line 10 shown by the dotted line and rouighly two fifths of the way up rear element 2 from the said bottom edge _', define a portion 11 hereinafter referred to as the maximum impact portion. The said portion 11 is further divided by three center projections 7 and horizontal line I'J, halfway between bottom edge 8 and line 10, into eight portions numbered (outwards and upwards from the center) 14, 14', IS, 1S.', 16, 161, 17 and 17'. Inside each of the said portions, projections 9 are arranged in parallel vertical rows offset vertically by half a space in relation to one another. The rows in por- tions 14, 14', 15 and 15' are equally spaced and packed closer together than in portions 16, 161, 17 and 17'. The vertical center distance of projections 9 is the same in portions 15, 15', 16 and 161, smaller in portions 14 and 14', and larger in portions 17 and 17'.

In the portion of rear element 2 outside portion 10, the said rows and projections 9 within each row are equally spaced by twice the row spacing and vertical center distance of portions 14 and 14'. As shown clearly in Fig.1, the above pattern is svmmetrical in relation to the mid vertical axis of rear element 2, i.e. in relation to center projection 7.

1i 1 C1 L., POOR Rear elemeni 2 is fitt.ed ivit,Ii it net 21:;T' clastothe bottom ha 1 f of so as to define secured by a number of rivets 33. Fig.6 shows an example of mudflap 1 fitted to the fender 34 of a wheel 35 on an industrial vehicle (shown only partially and schematically). Mudflap 1 is secured to the inner rear surface of fender 34, so as to project downwards by a lower portion at least meric or plast ic matt.-r:iil and c(,,n%:c-nicnt 113 formed b) niolding. Net 20 as shown in detail in Fig.s 2a and 2b is biplanar, with rhomboidal mesh elements 21, and is placed on top of edge 3 and projections 7, and housed loosely between tAo_ latpral projecti-on-t, 0. Net 20 is secured to rear element 2 by a pair of pressure strips 22, each hav ing an L-shaped edge 23 cooperating with a respective pro jection 6. The said strips 22 extend substantially along sides 4, and are connected to edge 3 by bolts 24 (Fig-4) engaging respective holes 25 on edge 3 and fitting through mesh elements 21 of net 20. Alter natively, the said net may be of the type indicated by 26 in Fig.s 3a and 3b, wherein the said net 26 is again substantially biplanar, but defined by two groups of alternating, parallel elements 27, 2/'-' having an irregular sinusoidal section and lying in slightly offset mid planes 28) 281. Adjacent elements 27 and 27' vex sides connected integral 20 define oblong mesh elements 29. Fig-5 shows an alternative solution for securing net. 20 (or 26) to rear element 2. In this case, edge 3 is bent in the form of a U, at least along a portion of sides 4, lateral guides 30 for net 20, which is present opposed con- with each other, so as to . 6equa 1 in intercept P"9 ú 03 K -ll' height to maximum impact p(-)rt ion i-,'(,si,rned to most. of' the spray off x,. i i t; in Llit said portion_ 11 3 potential impact increases downwards and to wards the center.

Mudflap 1 is secured to fender 34 by means of bolts 36 for which purpose mudflap 1 1)re!,t-nt-s a number of holes 37 along top side 5 of edge 3,, and a number of drilled bosses 38 aligned substantially along the horizontal center line of mudflap 1. Bosses 38 are conveniently the same height as projections 7 and edge 'j, so as to provide further supporting and assembly, points for net 20.

bludflap 1 functions as follows. The water raised by wheels 35 is intercepted by net 20 (or 26), which allows at least most of it to filter on to waterproof rear element 2. The impact of the water particles on projections 9 produces a substantial loss in the kinetic energy of the particles, which are deflected laterally and "trapped" between rear element 2 and net '20 (or 26), where they eventually collect on rear element 2 and run off downwards.

The advantages of mudflap 1 will be clear from the fore going description. Firstly, it is cheap and lightweight, by virtue of being composed of only a small number of component parts (substantially two layers and relative connecting means). Secondly, it provides for a high degree of efficiency, by virtue of projections 9 being arranged as a function of potential impact.

To those skilled in th c art it will be clear that changes may be made to mudflap 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however., departing from the scope of the present invention.

.7- For example, c I I it S mily. b c PI.icle t o t lie cl c -, i a n cl arrangement 0 f 1) r o j c c 1, i o n t a iici w, to t c tY,pe of net and the manner in which net 410 or 20 is secured to rear element 2. In particular, net 20 or 26 may be formed by e xtrusion or, if molded, may present mesh elements of dif ferent sizes and/or shapes over different portions of the net. bludflap 1 may also be mounted otherwise than as shown in Fig.6, e.g. housed inside the wheel hoii--ing, both over and behind the wheel.

1 1 - g-

Claims

POOR QUALITY - A mudflap designed to fit on to a vehicle wheel and comprising;a waterproof rear element; a permeable layer facing the said waterproof rear element on the side facing the said wheel; spacing means: arid impact means designed to intercept the spray -filtering through the said permeable layer, and enable controlled rutioff of the same along the said waterproof rear element; the said spacing and said impact means being located between the said waterproof rear element and the said permeable layer; characterised by the fact that the said impact and said spacing means consist respectively of first and second integral front projections on the said waterproof rear element.

2) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the density of the said first projections on the said waterproof element varies from one portion to another of the same.

3) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the density of the said first projections is greater on portions of the said waterproof rear element to greater impact by water during use.

subjected 4) - A mudflap as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said first projections are substantially conical. 5) - A mudflap as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said second projections 30 extend substantially in a straight line over the front - 5 surface of the said waterproof rear element 6) - A mudf lap as claimed in Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said second projections are parallel and equally spaced.

7) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, characterised by the f act that the said second projections extend vertically from the top side- to the bottom side of the said waterproof rear element 8) - A mudflap as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said second projections present a substantially. triangular cross section.

9) - A mudflap as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said second projections is are higher tha n the said first projections 10) - A mudflap as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said permeable layer consists of a net. 11) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 10, characterised by the fact that the said net is formed from elasto meric material.

12) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 10, characterised by the fact that the said net is formed from plastic material.

13) - A mudflap as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims from 10 to 12, characterised by the fact that the said is molded.

14) - A mudflap as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims f rom 10 to 12. 9 characterised by the fact that the said net is extruded.

--- 10 - 15) A mudf lap as claimed in any ene of thr- Claims, characterised by the fact that tf.(- _said waterproof' rear element is formed from elastomeric material.

16) - A mudflap as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said waterproof rear element comprises an edge substantially equal in height to the said second projections and extending at least along two opposite vertical sides of the said waterproof rear element 17) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 16, characterised by the fact that it comprises means for fastening the said net at least to the said edge along the said opposite sides of the said waterproof rear element 0 is 18) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 17, characterised by the fact that the said fastening means comprise two press ure elements designed to secure the said net to the said edge 19) - A mudflap as claimed in Claim 18, characterised b.v 20 the fact that the said pressure elements are integral portions of the said edge 20) - A motor vehicle mudflap substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1985 a' 7_211e Patent Office. Szate House. 66 7, 1 High Holborn. London IVCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obzamed from The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con- 1/87.

t