Patent GB-241604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to anti-splash guards or shields for road vehicle wheels
IPC: B62D25/18
Filed: 1924-06-20
Abstract: 241,604. Gath, J. H. June 20, 1924. Lateral-splash guards for vehicle wheels comprise a plain or corrugated flexible shield clamped in a supporting frame by bolts passing through the frame and through open-ended slots in the upper edge of the shield, so that when it is trapped between the wheel and the kerb, the shield may become detached without damage thereto. Stiffening-strips may be attached to the shield to hold it vertical and springs may be interposed between the bolt heads and the frame so that the shield is resiliently clamped therein Various means which may be provided for raising the guard when the vehicle approaches the kerb are also described. As shown in Fig. 3, the shield A is clamped between a pair of longitudinal plates C, D by bolts E passing through openended slots F in the upper edge of the shield, its lower edge being provided with longitudinal flexible strips B which, together with the shield A, are vertically slitted for a portion of their depth, the slots being arranged to break joint. For a light car, the guard may be fixed upon an extension of a front-wheel stub-axle, but for heavy vehicles, the guard is carried by brackets Z hinged to levers W pivoted in frame-members T adjustably carried by brackets S secured to arms R fixed on the stub-axle L. The levers W, which are keyed to a shaft V carrying counterweighted arms 9. have toothed bosses Y engaging toothed quadrants 1 on levers keyed to a shaft 2 carried by the brackets T and having extensions 5, 7 hinged to move in a plane parallel with the wheel but adapted when engaging a kerb to raise the guard above the kerb. In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the guard, which is shown in the raised position, is fitted with brackets 11 sliding on vertical rods 12 carried by a frame 13 secured to the stub-axle. The kerb-engaging members 5, 7 are carried by bell-crank levers 17 pivoted in the frame 13, so that when the guard is forced down against the springs 14 the horizontal arms of the bell-crank levers allow the brackets 11 to pass downwards and then engage over the top of the brackets to hold the shield in the operative position until it is released by contact of the member 7 with the kerb. The levers may be dispensed with and the guard held in the operative position by releasable catches engaging the rods 12. In a further modification, a guard carried by a horizontal pivot at one end is provided at the other end with a device similar to that shown in Fig. 6, except that the rod 12 is curved. In further modifications, the guard is actuated by pneumatic cylinders having valves operated by kerb-engaging members similar to those previously described, or, as shown in Fig. 11, the shield may be provided with a flap 25 adapted, when engaging a kerb, to close contacts 26 in an electric circuit controlling solenoids 27 which raise the shield by means of plungers 28 and levers 29. The guard may also be hinged about a longitudinal axis, so that when it engages a kerb electrical contacts arranged about the longitudinal axis are closed to operate the solenoids, the circuit being broken by a push operated by the driver so that the shield falls back by gravity.