US 5,326,135 AGranted

Vehicle wheel splash attenuator

AssigneeBridgestone Corporation

InventorsTakeshi Nakayama, Itaru Kurimoto, Koutaro Endo

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A vehicle wheel splash attenuator has a deflection-suppressing member designed to be installed in a tire housing so as to face a tire and define a space of more than 15 mm between itself and the inner face of the tire housing. The deflection-suppressing member has strands formed therein which define a plurality of apertures through which muddy water flung by the tire is passed. The deflection-suppressing member thus suppresses the deflection of the muddy water impinging upon the tire housing. The opening ratio of the apertures is within a range of 25 to 55%, the diameter of the apertures elongated circumferentially of the tire is within a range of 30 to 150 mm, and the width of those strands defining the apertures and facing the tire is within a range of 2 to 15 mm. The cross-section of at least those strands projected toward the tire is shaped into a triangle whose apex is directed toward the tire and whose bottom is directed toward the tire housing.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A splash attenuator for a vehicle tire, consisting of a deflection-suppressing member disposed opposite an inner face of a tire housing at a distance greater than 15 mm, spacer means disposed between said deflection-suppressing member and the inner face, and fastening means interconnecting the tire housing, spacer means and deflection-suppressing member to form an air space between the inner face and said deflection-suppressing member, said deflection-suppressing member having a plurality of strands projecting towards said tire defining a plurality of apertures for transmitting water flung from said tire through said apertures and into said air space, said deflection-suppressing member having a total surface area facing said tire, said plurality of apertures having a combined surface area facing said tire ranging from 25 to 55% of said total surface area and a length of each aperture in a circumferential direction of the tire ranges from 30 to 150 mm, each strand having a width facing said tire ranging from 2 to 15 mm and at least some of said strands having a triangular cross-section with an apex directed towards said tire and a bottom directed towards said inner face, whereby said deflection-suppressing member suppresses deflection of water passing through said apertures into said air space and impinging on the inner face of the tire housing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.