Splash protection assembly for vehicles equipped with mudguards

• US 4,334,694 A
• Filed: 03/12/1979
• Issued: 06/15/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrzej T. Iwanicki
• Original Assignee: Andrzej T. Iwanicki
• Inventors: Iwanicki, Andrzej T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/023,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 280/154.5 R, 280/154.5 A, 280/152 R, 280/152 A, 280/152 B, 280/153 R, 280/153 A, 280/153 B, 280/158 R
• US Class Current: 280/851
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/18 Parts or details thereof, e.g. mudguard flaps
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0207 Substrates having a special shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/227 Buried mesa structure ; Striped active layer

Abstract

An assembly intended to eliminate the turbulence and pressure rise occurring inside a mudguard (1) due to the effect of the airflow, caused by the motion of the vehicle, passing over the inside of the mudguard and meeting the counter-directed airstream caused by rotation of the wheel (2) and the splash formed thereby. By introducing guide means (3,4) between wheel (2) and mudguard (1), these streams of air can be mutually separated and the wheel airstream redirected to coincide with the airflow on the inside of the mudguard without pressure rises and consequent turbulence occurring inside the mudguard. The assembly can have one or more vanes (4) or a body (3) forming a portion of a channel (9a,9) for the airflow along the inside of the mudguard and simultaneously redirecting a portion of the wheel airstream.

Claims

1. A splash protection assembly for vehicles with mudguards, comprising means arranged between the wheel of the vehicle and the mudguard for lessening the spread of dust and splash as a result of the vehicle travel, said means including at least one guide member extending between said wheel and said mudguard substantially across the entire width of the mudguard and in the airstream occurring as a result of the rotation of the wheel and being provided with one guide surface to form at least a part of a channel for an airstream along the inside of the mudguard, wherein said guide member comprises a guide body with three guide surfaces, one of which is arranged to form said part of the channel, a second forming the lower side of the guide body and adapted to redirect a part of the airstream occurring as a result of the rotation of the wheel and the thus formed splash, and a third guide surface forming an edge of incidence together with the second guide surface, said edge of incidence being directed towards the airstream occurring as a result of the rotation of the wheel and the thus formed splash and splitting this airstream into two partial airstreams, one of which is guided by the second guide surface, and wherein the third guide surface together with the first guide surface form the upper side of the guide body and are adapted to redirect the second partial airstream so that the two partial airstreams enter the channel with directions which are substantially in parallel with one another and with the airstream in the channel.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the inside of the mudguard is formed with side portions which together with the guide member define the channel (9) for the airstream along the inside of the mudguard.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the side portions are extendable by means of movable side pieces (28) which are pivotably mounted in the mudguard.

4. An arrangement according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least two guide members (3, 4) are arranged between the mudguard and the wheel.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (3) carries a splash protector (5).

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that an extension portion for said mudguard (27) together with the splash protector (5f) forms an extended portion (a) of the channel (9) for the airstream along the inside of the mudguard.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the extension portion (27) is connected to movable side pieces pivotally mounted in the mudguard (28).

8. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the splash protector (5) is carried a certain distance (7) spaced from the guide element (3) to allow passage of at least a part of the airstream passing over the third guide surface.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the splash protector (5a-5c) is formed with guide means which, together with the guide elements (3) form at least one channel for the airstream passing over the third guide surface (3c).

10. An arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the splash protector (5f) is formed with lamellas for louvres, commonly forming substantially parallel channels intended for redirecting at least a part of the airstream generated by the rotation of the wheel and the thus formed splash, for interaction with the airstream in the channel (9a).

11. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the mudguard (1) is formed with an outer channel (24) at least partially located outside the mudguard and intended to enable an external speed airstream to be introduced on the inside of the mudguard for entraining by means of an ejector into the inner airstream along the inside of the mudguard, said outer channel being provided with at least one constriction for increasing the air speed.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the mudguard is provided with louvres as said injector for allowing air passage between the outer and inner channels.

13. A splash protection assembly for vehicles with mudguards, comprising means arranged between the wheel of the vehicle and the mudguard for lessening the spread of dust and splash as a result of the vehicle travel, said means including at least one guide member extending between said wheel and said mudguard substantially across the entire width of the mudguard and in the airstream occurring as a result of the rotation of the wheel, said at least one guide member being provided with a guide surface forming at least a part of a channel for an airstream along the inside of the mudguard, wherein said guide member comprises a substantially circular guide body which is rotatably disposed for bringing into engagement against the wheel of said vehicle, said guide body splitting said airstream occurring as a result of the rotation of said wheel into two partial airstreams which are guided by said guide body to redirect said two partial airstreams so that said two partial airstreams enter the channel with directions which are substantially in parallel with one another and with the airstream in the channel.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the cylindrical guide body (8) is connected to at least one guide baffle (19).

15. An arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that the cylindrical body (8) is connected to a fan wheel (31) intended to increase the air speed in the channel.