US5273315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for protecting a vehicle wheel against hydroplaning
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-02-27
•
Granted: 1993-12-28
•
Expires: 2009-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A device for protecting the wheels of a vehicle against hydroplaning, having a water film displacement device (4,9) the displacement cross section of which is smaller than its operational cross-section. A deflecting device (11) may be arranged behind the displacement device (4,9) to deflect the hurled up water from the area of the wheel to be protected.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Debus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B39/00; B60T; B60T2210/00; B60T2210/10; B60T2210/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for protecting a vehicle wheel (2) against hydroplaning on a water film (6) by a displacement device (3,9) which penetrates into the water film (6) in front of the wheel (2), said device being formed by a rotor having an axis of rotation running approximately parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of radially extending displacement elements (4, 10, 16, 17, 18, 24, 34) connected thereto which penetrate into the water film (6) at a spaced distance from one another, the cross-section of the displacement elements in contact with the water film, with regard to the direction of movement of the displacement elements relative to the water film, being substantially smaller than the total operational cross-section of the portion of the device which influences the behavior of the water film, the operational cross section including the cross section of the displacement elements and the cross section of spaces between the displacement elements, the apparatus further including deflecting means arranged substantially behind the rotor and connected to the rotor for laterally deflecting the water, the deflecting means having ground clearance in an amount which is determined by the connection to the rotor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for protecting a vehicle wheel (2) against hydroplaning on a water film (6) by a displacement device (3,9) which penetrates into the water film (6) in front of the wheel (2), said device being formed by a rotor having an axis of rotation running approximately parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of radially extending displacement elements (4, 10, 16, 17, 18, 24, 34) connected thereto which penetrate into the water film (6) at a spaced distance from one another, the cross-section of the displacement elements in contact with the water film, with regard to the direction of movement of the displacement elements relative to the water film, being substantially smaller than the total operational cross-section of the portion of the device which influences the behavior of the water film, the operational cross section including the cross section of the displacement elements and the cross section of spaces between the displacement elements, the apparatus further including deflecting means arranged substantially behind the rotor and connected to the rotor for laterally deflecting the water, the deflecting means having ground clearance in an amount which is determined by the connection to the rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the density of the displacement elements in the outer peripheral surface of the rotor is not greater than about 30%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the density is not greater than about 15%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displacement elements are bar-shaped (10) or tubular (17).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the displacement elements are leaf-shaped (16,18,24).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the leaf-shaped elements are rotor blades (18) which have a directional component running predominantly parallel to the rotor axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus includes means for driving the rotor (9) at a peripheral surface speed exceeding the ground speed of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rotor blades are curved forward.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus includes means for driving the rotor (9) at a peripheral surface speed below the ground speed of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotor blades are curved backward.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the rotor blades (18) enclose an angle with the transverse direction (23) of the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement elements comprise rotor blades which run approximately in the vehicle direction (19).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotor (9) is arranged essentially with roadway contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a supporting wheel is allocated to the rotor (9).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement device (4,9) has a smaller width (B 1 ) than the contact surface of the wheel (B 2 ) to be protected, and the deflecting means (11) directs the water flow (12) towards the margins (13) of the water film (6) which are left behind.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means (34) for separating the water film arranged in front of the rotor (9).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotor has a shaft that is connected to the deflecting means (11) in such a way as to determine the height of the deflecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotor blades (18) enclose an angle with the transverse direction (23) of the vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the rotor along a road surface is the same as the speed of the vehicle wheel along the road surface, and slipping of the rotor is thereby prevented.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
BE397983A
Cited
US2631692A
Cited
FR1468222A
Cited
US3650885A
Cited
DE2333853A1
Cited
DE2611447A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-27 | 1997-06-28 | 1997-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-27 | 2001-06-28 | 2001-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-27 | 2005-06-28 | 2005-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |