GB2367740A

GB2367740A - Vehicle wheel cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2367740A
Application number: GB0124387A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas James Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-12
Filing date: 2001-10-11
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Also published as: GB0124387D0; GB0025005D0

Abstract

Equipment for cleaning the wheels of a vehicle comprising elevated tracks over which a vehicle may be driven. These may comprise a pair of spaced apart generally parallel tracks 10 and 11 with lead-in 13 and lead-out 14 ramps at either end. The tracks being formed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs 15 which cause the wheels to be jolted and the tyre treads to be opened up as the vehicle is driven over the tracks to displace mud and other debris therefrom to the space beneath the tracks from where it may be removed by raking. The ribs 15 may be of inverted V-shape in which the angle at the apex of the V is acute.

Description

WHEEL CLEANER This invention concerns equipment for cleaning the wheels of vehicles moving from such as a construction site to reduce the amount of mud deposited on public roads.

Various arrangements are known where the vehicles are driven through water baths to wash their wheels.

Through careful observation of such arrangements, I have noticed that the water in the baths quickly becomes contaminated with mud and to an extent that the cleaning operation becomes ineffectual.

Following experiment I have found that mud from vehicle wheels can be displaced without necessarily relying on the use of water baths thus allowing the equipment to be more compact, more readily transportable and less costly.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided equipment for cleaning the wheels of a vehicle comprising tracks over which a vehicle may be driven, the tracks being formed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs which cause the wheels to be jolted as it is driven over the tracks to displace mud and other debris therefrom to the space beneath the tracks from where it may be removed by raking.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided equipment for cleaning dirt, e. g. mud and other debris, from the tyres of a vehicle comprising tracks over which a vehicle may be driven, the tracks being formed from a

plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs which cause the treads of the tyres to be deformed as the vehicle is driven over the tracks to release dirt therefrom to the space beneath the tracks from where it may be removed by raking.

As the vehicle passes over the tracks, its tyres are subjected to vibration and also the tyres are caused to deform at the locations of contact with the ribs thereby opening up the treads to facilitate release of dirt therefrom.

There may be two tracks arranged in spaced generally parallel relation to each other, i. e. consistent with the spacing between the wheels at one side of the vehicle and those at the other side.

The ribs may make substantially line contact with the tyres.

The ribs may be of inverted V-shape with the apex thereof presented uppermost for contact with the vehicle wheels. The included angle at the apex of the V may be acute to reduce the tendency for the released dirt to adhere to the ribs. The apex of the V may be slightly rounded.

Typically, for tyres with a circumferential extent of about 4 feet, the ribs are spaced with a centre to centre pitch of 7 to 10.25 inches, preferably 7.5 to 9.75 inches and more preferably 8.5 to 9.5 inches. For example, the pitch may be about 9 to 9.25 inches.

The tracks may be elevated in at least in part and lead-in and lead-out ramps may be associated with or form part of each track. The ramps may be provided with ribs as defined above if desired.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, one form of equipment embodying same. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the equipment; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic fragmentary cross-section of the equipment on the line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view showing a presently preferred rib configuration.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the equipment comprises a pair of spaced apart generally parallel tracks 10 and 11 which are positioned on the ground to enable a vehicle to be driven thereover. Each of the tracks 10 and 11 comprises an elevated central section 12 typically having a length of about 14 metres with lead-in and lead-out ramps 13 and 14 at either end.

The tracks are formed by a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs 15 formed by invented lengths of angle iron supported at either end by beams 16. Barrier fences 17 may be provided along the outer edges of the two tracks to aid positioning of a vehicle as it is driven over the tracks. Although the ramps 13 and 14 as illustrated are provided with ribs 15, this need not necessarily be the case or they may be provided with ribs only over part of their lengths, e. g. in the regions adjacent the central elevated section of the tracks. Thus, for example, at least the initial and final sections respectively of the lead-in ramps and lead-out ramps may include plates over which the tyres run before, and after, encountering the ribs 15.

Although it is preferred that the tracks have an elevated section as illustrated, the possibility of locating the ribbed sections of each track over a pit is not excluded in which case the elevated section may not be required.

As a vehicle is driven over the ribbed tracks its wheels are repeatedly jolted by passage over the ribs 15. Also the tyres are repeatedly deformed with consquent opening up of the treads thereof In this way mud and other debris can be displaced from the wheels to fall into the space beneath the sections 12 for subsequent removal as by raking.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ribs 15 are of the form shown in Figure 3, comprising a box-section 20 surmounted by an angle iron section 22 which is welded to the section 20. These ribs are supported at each end by spaced longitudinally extending rails and may, for a typical tyre circumference of about 4 feet, be arranged with a centre to centre pitch of the order of 9 inches. Typically, the box-section is about 30 mm wide and 60 mm deep and the sides of the angle section are about 25 mm wide resulting in an acute included angle at the apex. On its exterior, the apex may be slightly rounded.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art being possible without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Equipment for cleaning the wheels of a vehicle comprising tracks over which a vehicle may be driven, the tracks being formed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs which cause the wheels to be jolted as it is driven over the tracks to displace mud and other debris therefrom to the space beneath the tracks from where it may be removed by raking.
2. Equipment for cleaning dirt from the tyres of a vehicle comprising tracks over which a vehicle may be driven, the tracks being formed from a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs which cause the treads of the tyres to be deformed as the vehicle is driven over the tracks to release dirt therefrom to the space beneath the tracks from where it may be removed by raking.
3. Equipment as claimed in Claim I or 2 in which there are two tracks arranged in spaced generally parallel relation to each other.
4. Equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the ribs are of inverted V-shape with the apex thereof presented uppermost for contact with the vehicle wheels.
5. Equipment as claimed in Claim 4 in which the included angle at the apex of the V is acute.
6. Equipment as claimed in Claim 4 or 5 in which on the external side of each rib the apex of the V is slightly rounded.
7 Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ribs are spaced with a centre to centre pitch of 7 to 10. 25 inches.
8 Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ribs are spaced with a centre to centre pitch of 7. 5 to 9.75 inches.
9 Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the ribs are spaced with a centre to centre pitch of 8.5 to 9.5 inches.
10. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the tracks are at least in part elevated above ground level.
11. Equipment as claimed in Claim 10 including lead-in and lead-out ramps associated with the each track.
12. Equipment for cleaning dirt from the wheels of vehicles, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.