GB2299795A

GB2299795A - Mud flap

Info

Publication number: GB2299795A
Application number: GB9502320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Wignall; Stephen Roger Wildgoose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-07
Filing date: 1995-02-07
Publication date: 1996-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-07
Also published as: GB9502320D0; GB2299795B

Abstract

A mud flap 8 has a collector 1 attached to its lower surface to collect the water thrown up by a wheel of the vehicle. The collector comprises a tube with a wall open in the form of a slot 2 adjacent to a series of spaced notches 3 which create openings to the inside of the tube. At one end of the tube an inducer 4 is fitted to use the forward motion of the vehicle to ram air along the tube to assist the flow of fluid, and at the other end an exhauster 6 to deposit the fluid away from the path of the next oncoming roadwheel. The collector grips the edge of a flap, but may also be fixed with fasteners, glued or welded.

Description

FLUID/LIOUID COLLECTOR AND~DISTRIBUTOR A device to collect and distribute fluidslliquids flowing or spraying from surfaces, channels or ducts etc., in an uncontrolled manner, and to collect, direct and distribute the fluid flows or sprays in a controlled manner.

The device can be applied to static and moving objects and surface expanses from horizontal to vertical, and also surfaces that are back to back either seperate or integral ie. back and front, top and bottom.

A particular application is to collect and distribute the fluids emanating from a moving vehicles surfaces and containment devices, like wheelguards, mudflaps, valances and spray suppression guards. At present fluid from these containment devices invariably is deposited back on the roadway in front of the next oncoming road wheel of the vehicle, hence the problem of splash and spray containment is compounded through the wheel train.

With the collectors fitted fluids which normally come out of the containment devices surrounding individual wheels or groups onto the roadway is collected and ducted away to be deposited back onto the roadway in a manner so not to impede or effect the next oncoming roadwheel. In the process the resulting problem of splash and spray is greatly deminished.

Generally the collector consists of a tube of any cross sectional shape with one wall open in the form of a longitudinal split or slot. Adjacent to the split or slot is a series of spaced notches through the wall of the tube and running longitudinally following the split or slot and at their position causing the split or slot to widen so as to create a larger opening to the inside of the tube at intervals along the tube.

The collector tube by way of the split or slot is capable of being fitted along the edge of any surface with the edge of the surface entering the collector. Any fluids coming from the edge of the surface or containment device will pass through the wider slots into into the collector tube to be ducted away and deposited in a controlled manner. The slot can be the full width of length of the surface edge. The slot can be capable of taking fluids from the front or back, or top or bottom surfaces simultaneously.

The collector is capable of self gripping the surface and edge or can be fixed with fasteners, glued or welded. The collector is also capable of gripping more than one surface simultaneously Another feature of the collector and ducting is that the tubes end may be fitted with inducers so as to use the forward motion of the vehicle so that ram air and spray will assist and cause the fluids to flow more readily in the collector tube and ducting.

The outlet from the collector tube or ducting may also be fitted with an exhauster so as to cause the fluids to exhaust more readily.

Another feature of the collector is that its shape along the edge of the surface can be such that in gripping the edge, the shape of the containment device may be changed so as to improve its containment effeciency.

The inlet and outlet from each collector may be connected to a common ducting or manifold. The partial or combined fluid can then be ducted away to be distributed in a controlled manner.

The cross section of the collector and ducting can be any convenient shape to suit particular installations.

The cross sectional area of the collector and ducting will be designed to handle the desired fluid flow. This could range from 0.25cm2 and smaller to 1300cm2 and larger.

The length of the collector would suit the particular installation and is unlimited.

Material and manner of construction of the collector and ducting would be varied to suit surfaces it would be co-operating with.

ccc The Task of the C Clear Collector is to collect and distribute the fluids emanating from a moving vehicles surfaces and containment devices, like wheelguards, mudflaps, valances and spray suppression guards. At present fluid from these containment devices invariabl is deposited on the roadway in front of the next oncoming road wheel of the vehicle, hence the problem of splash and spray containment is compounded through the wheel train. This leaves excessive amounts of water under the rear most wheels.

With the collectors fitted, fluids which normally come out of the containment devices surrounding individual wheels or groups onto the roadway is collected and ducted away te be deposited back onto the roadway in a manner so not to impede or effect the next oncoming roadwheel. In the process the problem of residual splash and spray is greatly diminished, and the oncoming roadwheels run on a relatively dry track in much more safer conditions.

The collector tube by way of the split or slot is capable of being fitted along the edge of any surface with the edge of the surface entering the collector. Any fluids coming from the edge of the surface or containment device will pass through the wider slots into the collector tube to be ducted away and deposited in a controlled manner.

The collector is capable of self gripping the surface and edge and can be retrofitted to existing systems in a few minutes.

Another feature of the collector is that the tube ends are fitted with inducers and exhausters so as to use the forward motion of the vehicle so that ram air and spray will assist and cause the fluids to flow more readily in the collector tube and ducting.

The collector is manufactured from high density polyethylene material. Extremely lightweight (log) and tough in all weather conditions.

Claims

1. A device to collect and distribute fluids/liquids flowing or spraying from surfaces, channels or ducts etc., in an uncontrolled manner, and to collect direct and distribute the flows or sprays in a controlled manner.

2. A device to be applied to static and moving objects and surface expanses from horizontal to vertical, being a seperate or integral part there of.

3. A device to collect and distribute flows or sprays emanating from one or more surfaces simultaneously, surfaces that are back to back, i.e. back and front, top and bottom.

4. A device capable of being fitted to the surface of say. containment wheel guards, mudflaps, valances and spray suppression guards on vehicles by way of longitudinal split and slots and allow fluids and spray to pass from the containment devices into the collector and distributor, to be ducted away in a controlled manner, thus dramatically reducing the residual spray currently emanating from moving vehicles in wet conditions.

5. A device as desciibed above fitted svith inducers and exhausters so as to use the forward motion of the vehicle so that ram, air and spray X ill assist and cause the fluids to flow more readily in the collector and ducting.

6. A device in that it's shape along the edge of the surface can be such that in zipping the edge, the shape of the containment device may be changed so as to improve it's containment efficiency.

7. A device were the inlet and outlet from each collector may be connected to a common ducting or manifold. The partial or combined fluids can then be ducted away to be distributed in a controlled manner