GB2573658A

GB2573658A - Spray suppression device

Info

Publication number: GB2573658A
Application number: GB1906232.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Egby Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-04-27
Filing date: 2018-04-27
Publication date: 2019-11-13
Also published as: GB201906232D0

Abstract

A device 400 for suppressing airborne spray from a moving vehicle has a water suppressor 410 with an elongate portion 412 and a first curved portion 414, so that an end of first curved portion 414 is coupled to an end of elongate portion 412. Elongate portion 412 directs flowing air to first curved portion 414 to generate a vortex near this first curved portion, which may direct surface water spray towards a road surface. A plurality of devices 400 may be coupled to a support 422 and the devices may be spaced to allow flowing air to flow between them. Devices 400 may be perpendicular to or at an angle to a road surface. Water may be collected from ends of devices 400 into an edge cap (428, Figure 4C) for diversion to an outlet (430, Figure 4C). A water channelling means is also disclosed.

Description

SPRAY SUPPRESSION DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to devices and a system for reducing water spray caused by pulverisation of water on a wet road surface that is thrown upwards by tyres of a vehicle in motion. The invention has particular relevance to large vehicles that require a spray suppression device/system based on the EU Directive (EU) 109/2011.

Prior art spray-suppression systems were introduced in 2011 in an attempt to combat the amount of water spray produced by large vehicles on wet roads. These systems generally comprise a mudguard and a rain flap, wherein at least the rain flap is made from a material that suppresses water spray thrown up by tyres. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art spray-suppression system 100, comprising a mud-flap 150 and rain flap 170. The surface 180 of the rain flap is manufactured to trap water spray and return the trapped spray to the road surface. After the introduction of these spraysuppression systems, the visibility behind vehicles increased and in turn road safety improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A problem with current prior art spray-suppression systems is that the root cause of the pulverisation of water has not been solved because the surface water remains on the road surface for subsequent vehicles to pulverise.

The present invention addresses the above problem of the prior art. In particular, aspects of the invention relate to devices and a system that are arranged to reduce surface water spray by capturing said surface water spray and re-directing said surface water spray away from the driving line of the tyres of said vehicle and pursuing vehicles.

The invention is especially applicable to large vehicles that require a spray suppression device/system based on the EU Directive (EU) 109/2011.

As a result of the invention the surface water spray caused by vehicles pulverising surface water on a road surface can be reduced.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water channelling device for use with a rain flap or a mud guard. The water channelling device comprises water collection means that is arranged to collect water output from the rain flap/mud guard and to channel said collected water to a periphery of the water channelling device. Advantageously, the water channelling device re-directs the water away from a driving line of the vehicle so that said water is not re-pulverised by subsequent tyres of the vehicle or by pursuing vehicles.

The water channelling device may be arranged such that the water collecting means is arranged to surround/encase a lower portion of the rain flap in order to prevent water escaping from the water collection means.

The water channelling device may comprise a water outlet positioned at the periphery of the water channelling device. Advantageously, the water outlet may be arranged to output the collected water away from a tyre of the vehicle in order to prevent the re-pulverisation of said output water by a pursuing tyre or vehicle that is using the same driving line.

The water channelling device may further comprise an air vent positioned in the water channelling device, wherein the air vent is positioned proximal to the water outlet. The air vent may be coupled to an air outlet via an air flow passage. The air vent, the air flow passage, and the air outlet may be arranged to direct a flow of air, which may be a jet of air at a high enough vehicle speed, from the air vent to the air outlet at an air pressure that is sufficient to draw water from the water outlet. The air outlet may be positioned adjacent to the water outlet such that the air jet interferes with/entrains the water output by the water outlet.

The water collection means may comprise a channelling means that is arranged at an angle with respect to a base of the water channelling device in order to direct collected water to the periphery of the water channelling device more efficiently.

The water channelling device may be coupled to a rain flap or a mud guard.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for suppressing airborne spray from a moving vehicle. The device comprises a water suppressing means that includes an elongate portion and a first curved portion. An end of the first curved portion is coupled to an end of the elongate portion, wherein the elongate portion is arranged to direct flowing air to the first curved portion in order to generate a vortex of air in the region of the first curved portion.

The first curved portion may be arranged to collect water spray in the flowing air, and direct said water spray to a lower portion of the device.

The elongate portion of the device may comprise a planar surface and a curved surface, wherein low pressure air is arranged to flow past the curved surface in order to cause the elongate portion to flex in a direction of the low pressure air flow. This has an advantage of moving the water suppressing means away from a driving line of a vehicle such that water output by the device is deposited away from the drive line.

The elongate portion of the device may comprise a second curved portion that is arranged on an opposing side to the first curved portion. The second curved portion may be arranged to receive flowing air to generate a second vortex of air in the region of the second curved portion.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a device comprising a support member and a number of the water suppressing means coupled to said support member.

The water suppressing means may be coupled to the support member so that they are arranged, in use, perpendicular to a road surface or arranged, in use, at an angle with respect to the road surface.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a system for suppressing spray from a moving vehicle. The system comprises a number of water suppressing means arranged at an angle with respect to a road surface, wherein ends of the water suppressing means are coupled to an edge cap that is arranged to collect and divert the collected water spray to a water outlet positioned away from a driving line of a vehicle.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a system for suppressing spray from a moving vehicle. The system comprises the water channelling device and the device for suppressing airborne spray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional spray-suppression system.

Figures 2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating perspective views of a water channelling device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3A illustrates a known rain flap in use, and Figure 3B illustrates the known rain flap in combination with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 4A to 4D are diagrams illustrating a profile, front and side view of a device for suppressing airborne spray according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 2A and 2C.

Figure 2A provides a perspective view of a water channelling device 250 for use with a spray-suppression system, for example a rain flap 170 as described in Figure 1. Arrow 201 indicates a direction of travel of the water channelling device 250 when said water channelling device 250 is coupled to the rain flap 170 of a moving vehicle. In use, the water channelling device 250 is arranged to follow a drive line of a vehicle using said water channelling device 250.

The water channelling device 250 comprises an opening 200 at an upper portion 202 of the water channelling device (delimited by dashed line 204) that is arranged to accommodate a portion of the rain flap 170. In use, said portion of the rain flap 170 is positioned inside the upper portion 202 of the water channelling device and down to dashed line 204. The position of the dashed line 204 is merely for explanatory purposes and may be positioned above or below the current illustrated dashed line 204. The portion of the rain flap 170 inside the upper portion 202 is removably attached to the water channelling device 250 so that the water channelling device 250 remains attached to the rain flap 170 during use, i.e., whilst supressing water spray from a moving vehicle. The upper portion 202 of the water channelling device 250 is arranged to collect surface water spray from the rain flap 170 and direct the collected surface spray water to a lower portion 206 of the water channelling device 250.

The lower portion 206 of the water channelling device 250 comprises an inner channel 208 that is arranged to direct collected surface spray water to a water outlet 210, which is arranged at a side of the water channelling device 250. The inner channel 208 may be angled with respect to the base 212 of the water channelling device 250 so that any collected surface spray water is more efficiently channelled to the water outlet 210.

In an alternative embodiment, the inner channel 208 may be used to store collected surface water spray and direct said collected surface water spray to a periphery of the water channelling device. This has an advantage of preventing the collected water from returning to the road surface so that the amount of water on the road surface is reduced. In such an example, the water outlet 210 would be sealed to prevent water escaping from the inner channel 208.

Referring again to Figure 2A, the lower portion 206 of the water channelling device further comprises an air vent 214 that is positioned proximal to the water outlet 210. The air vent 214 is arranged on a surface of the water channelling device which, in use, would receive a flow of air (or a jet of air depending on the speed of the vehicle) generated by movement of the vehicle utilising the rain flap 170. The air vent 214 provides an opening for air to flow through an airflow passage 216 and past the water outlet 210 via an air outlet 211. Arrow 218 represents the flow of water exiting the water outlet 210. Arrow 220 represents an air flow that passes through the air vent 214 and the air flow passage 216 and exits via the air outlet 211 (see also figure 2C) that is positioned proximal to the water outlet 210.

In use, i.e., when a vehicle is moving, surface spray water collected by the rain flap 170 is directed into the upper portion 202 of the water channelling device 250 (illustrated by arrows 219), wherein collected surface spray water is directed to the lower portion 202 of the water channelling device 250. The inner channel 208 is arranged to direct the collected surface spray water to the water outlet 210. The air flow represented by arrow 220 (see also figure 2C) will be at a higher pressure when entering the air vent compared to exiting the air outlet 211. Thus an air flow, which may approximate a jet of air at high vehicle speeds will pass through the air vent 214, the airflow passage and out of the air outlet 211 and past the water outlet 210, which results in the jet of air/flow of air entraining, and in some examples shielding, water that is exiting the water outlet 210. Thus the use of the air vent 214 results in water at the water outlet 210 being projected further away from the water outlet 210 than if the air vent 214 was not used. This has an advantage of directing the water further away from the driving line of the vehicle so that trailing tyres of the vehicle, and subsequent pursuing vehicles are less likely to pulverise the water re-deposited onto the road surface, as most vehicles follow a similar driving line.

Referring to Figures 3A and 3B, example implementations of the water channelling device 250 in use are illustrated. Referring to Figure 3A, a rain flap 170 is illustrated that is collecting surface water spray and depositing the collected water back onto the road surface. The arrow 300 indicates the direction of travel of the vehicle. It can be seen that the rain flap 170 is depositing water in a driving line of the tyres of the vehicle so that the water deposited by the rain flap 170 will be pulverised by the subsequent tyre 310 and tyres of pursuing vehicles following behind (not illustrated).

Referring to Figure 3B, the water channelling device 250 is illustrated in use with the rain flap 170. The water channelling device 250 collects the water usually deposited back onto the road surface in the driving line of the tyres, and re-directs the surface spray collected by the rain flap 170 towards the water outlet 210 of the water channelling device 250. Low pressure airflow that is generated around the tyre 305 of the vehicle due to the forward motion of the vehicle entrains the water exiting the water outlet 210 away from the subsequent tyre 310. Thus the water channelling device 250 reduces water that can be pulverised by the subsequent tyre 310 and thereby reducing surface spray and surface water that is in the driving line of the tyre 310. Addition of the air vent 214 (not shown) further increases the projection of water away from the drive line of the tyre 310 because the jet/flow of air passing the water outlet 210 further entrains water that is exiting the water outlet 210 and thus increases the distance the water is projected from the driving line of the tyre 310 and subsequent following vehicles.

It is envisaged that the water channelling device 250 may be coupled to each rain flap 170 of a vehicle, wherein the water outlets of the water channelling devices 250 can be positioned according to the direction of travel of the vehicle. For example, in the UK, the water outlet 210 may be positioned so that entrained water exits towards the kerb side of a road. Alternatively, water channelling devices on the kerb side may direct water to the kerb, and water channelling devices on the driver side may direct water to the driver side in order to keep the collected surface spray away from the driving line of the tyres of vehicles. The reverse may be applied for vehicles driving on the continent, for example Europe and America.

The water channelling device 250 discussed above may be used in conjunction with current spray-suppression systems, for example the rain flap 170. The water channelling device 250 may also be coupled to a mud guard of a vehicle to channel water and debris from the driving line of the vehicle. The water channelling device 250 may also be used in conjunction with the following exemplary embodiment that details a new device for suppressing airborne spray from a moving vehicle.

Referring to Figure 4A, a top-down view of a device 400 for suppressing airborne spray from a moving vehicle is illustrated. Device 400 comprises one or more water suppressing means 410, wherein each water suppressing means 410 includes an elongate portion 412 and one or more curved portions 414, 416. Optionally, the elongate portion 412 may approximate a wing profile and comprise a planar surface 418 and a curved surface 420, wherein the curved surface 420 is arranged to direct low pressure air to the curved portion 414 such that the water suppressing means 410 flexes in a direction of the curved surface 420 when sufficient air 411 flows past the curved surface 420. In another optional embodiment the elongate portion 412 comprises a second planar portion in place of the curved portion 420. This may reduce the flexing of the water suppressing means 410 if this is not required.

A number of the water suppressing means 410 may be positioned vertically with respect to a horizontal support member 422 (i.e., perpendicular to a road surface when in use) to form the device 400 for suppressing airborne spray, i.e., a spray-suppression system, which may approximate the operation of a rain flap such as the rain flap 170 from Figure 1. The horizontal support member 422 is arranged to fix the water suppressing means 410 into position such that air flow 410 cannot pass directly through the water suppressing means 410 without coming into contact with a surface of the water suppressing means 410. In use, the device 400 directs air flow 411 along the surface of the elongate portions 412 and to the curved portions 414 and optionally the curved portions 416. The curved portions 414 and 416 cause a low pressure vortex at the inner surface of the curved portions 414 and 416, which results in surface water spray that is travelling with the flow of air to be channelled downwards to a lower portion of the water suppressing means 410 (see figure 4B).

The positioning of the water suppressing means 410 on the horizontal support member 422 is designed to allow air 411 to flow past the water suppressing means 410, whilst capturing surface water spray travelling with the air 410 that has been pulverised by the moving vehicle. In contrast to existing spray-suppression systems, the device 400 has a relatively lower drag coefficient as air 411 can still flow through the device 400, i.e., between the water suppressing means 410. The use of a horizontal support member 422 is not essential, and the support member 422 may be positioned at any angle that enables the water suppressing means 410 to be coupled to the support member 422 so that the water suppressing means 410 are arranged perpendicular to a road surface when in use.

Referring to Figure 4B, a front view (air facing surface) of the device 400 comprising a number of water suppressing means 410 is illustrated. In this example, the device 400 is illustrated in combination with a mud flap 150, for example the mud flap 150 illustrated in Figure 1. Thus in this example, the device 400 is approximating the rain flap 170 from Figure 1. Optionally, the device 400 can also be used in combination with the water channelling device 250.

In use, pulverised water in the form of surface water spray will be transported by flowing air towards the device 400, wherein air flows around the water suppressing means 410 and forms low pressure vortices at the curved portions 414 and 416. Water spray in the low pressure vortices is directed down the water suppressing means 410 in the direction of arrows 424 and towards the road surface, or in the present example into the water channelling device 250.

As the speed of the vehicle increases, the air flow incident onto the device 400 also increases. In examples where the water suppressing means 410 comprise elongate members approximating a wing profile, the water suppressing means 410 flex in a direction of the curved surface 420 (see figure 4A), which moves the water channelling device 250 further from the driving line of the tyres of the vehicle so that water exiting the water channelling device 250 will be directed further from the driving line of the vehicle, which reduces water available to be pulverised by following tyres/vehicles and thus reducing surface water spray. It is noted that if this embodiment is used in conjunction with the air vent 214 then the water exiting the water channelling device 250 will be directed even further from the drive line of the vehicle.

In an example, the water suppressing means 410 may have a depth of approximately 60mm from the elongate portion 412 to the curved portion 414, and the water channelling device 250 may have a depth of approximately 40mm so that, in use, the water suppressing means 410 protrude from the water channelling device 250 by approximately 20mm. The width, depth and height of the device 400, and the water channelling device 250 is dependent on the mud guard/rain flap of the intended vehicle. Figure 4D illustrates this preferred embodiment in a profile view.

In another example, the water suppressing means 410 may have a depth that is similar to the depth of the water channelling device 250 so that the water suppressing means 410 can slot inside an upper portion 402 of the water channelling device 250. For example, the depth of the water suppressing means 410 and the water channelling device 250 may both be 40mm. As discussed above, the width, depth and height of the device 400 and the water channelling device 250 is dependent on the mud flap/rain flap of the intended vehicle.

FIG. 4C illustrates an alternative example of the device 400 illustrated in FIG. 4B. In this alternative example, the water suppressing means 410 are arranged at an angle with respect to the horizontal support members 422, with the curved surface 420 (see figure 4A) of the water suppressing means 410 being positioned uppermost so that pulverised water is collected by curved portions 414 and channelled away from the driving line of the vehicle without the need for the water collection device 250. For example, water spray is directed down the water suppressing means 410 in the direction of arrows 424 and towards an edge cap 428, which is arranged to divert the water spray towards a water outlet 430. Thus the angled nature of the water suppressing means has an advantage of directing collected water spray away from a drive line of a vehicle, wherein the collected water spray can be diverted via the edge cap 428 to a water outlet 430 positioned away from a drive line of a vehicle. In the above example, the relative orientation of the angled water suppressing means has been described with respect to a horizontal support member 422. Thus support members 422 do not have to be horizontal, and can be at any angle that enables coupling of the water suppressing means so that, in use, the water suppressing means are angled with respect to a road surface.

The above embodiments relate to devices and a system for reducing associated water spray caused by pulverisation of water thrown upwards by the tyres of a moving vehicle on a wet road surface. Embodiments have been described in combination with a spray-suppression system that may incorporate a rain flap. Embodiments of the invention are also applicable to standard mud flaps or mud guards that may not comprise any spray suppression.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device (400) for suppressing airborne spray from a moving vehicle, said device comprising:

a water suppressing means (410), said water suppressing means (410) comprising:

an elongate portion (412); and a first curved portion (414), wherein an end of the first curved portion (414) is coupled to an end of the elongate portion (412), and wherein the elongate portion (412) is arranged to direct flowing air to the first curved portion (414) to generate a vortex of air in the region of the first curved portion (414).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the vortex of air generated in the region of the first curved portion (414) is so as to direct surface water spray in the air flow towards a road surface.

3. The device of any preceding claim, wherein an inner surface of the first curved portion (414) and the vortex of air are arranged to capture water spray from the flowing air.

4. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the elongate portion (412) comprises a planar surface (418) and a curved surface (420), wherein low pressure air is arranged to flow past the curved surface (420) and to cause the elongate portion (412) to flex in a direction of the low pressure air flow.

5. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a second curved portion (416) coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the second curved portion is arranged on an opposing side to the first curved portion (414) and arranged to receive flowing air to generate a second vortex of air in the region of the second curved portion (416).

6. A device comprising a support member (422) and a number of devices of claim 1 coupled to said support member (422).

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the number of devices of claim 1 are arranged, in use, perpendicular to a road surface.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the number of devices of claim 1 are spaced apart from each other on the support member (422) such that flowing air can flow between said number of devices.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the number of devices of claim 1 are arranged, in use, at an angle with respect to a road surface such that collected water is directed away from a driving line of a vehicle

5

10. A system for suppressing spray from a moving vehicle, said system comprising the device of claim 9, wherein ends of the number of devices of claim 1 are coupled to an edge cap (428), wherein the edge cap is arranged to collect water from the number of devices of claim 1 and divert said collected water to a water outlet (430).