Device for removing splash water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for removing spray water (7) from a vehicle wheel (2) of a vehicle (1). According to the invention, a plurality of tubular capillary elements (5) for collecting and conveying spray water (7) are arranged in the wheel housing (4) of the vehicle wheel (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle and to a vehicle.

[0002] In road traffic, particularly on wet roads or roads covered in water, the problem often arises that the visibility of one's own vehicle is drastically reduced due to spray from a vehicle ahead. This issue, which is significant for road safety, is independent of the operating mode of the own vehicle - i.e. whether the vehicle is operated manually by a driver, adaptively using a driver assistance system on the vehicle, or highly automated independently of a driver. Although a reduction in the permitted speed is often specified on many road sections through occasional speed restrictions in wet conditions, to which a driver of the vehicle or a driver assistance system on the vehicle can react accordingly, the impairment of visibility caused by the spray and thus the impairment of road safety still persists.

[0003] In this context, GB 2 378 166 A describes a system for extracting water vapor from a vehicle using a pump. This device for extracting water vapor or spray from a vehicle's wheels features an electrically operated extraction unit as a suction module, which is connected to the fender of the vehicle wheel via a duct. When the formation of water vapor on a road is detected by a sensor, the water vapor extraction is activated by the extraction unit as a suction module, and the extracted water vapor is discharged to the ground via a drainpipe.

[0004] Furthermore, CN 2 12 332 602 U describes a device for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel, intended to increase road safety. For this purpose, a plate with perforated holes is attached to the wheel arch of the vehicle wheel to direct the spray water flow. This plate is connected to an extraction unit. The extraction unit extracts the water vapor passing through the perforated plate.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 39 39 937 A1 discloses a device for collecting and diverting spray water thrown up by a vehicle wheel. For this purpose, a firewall facing the running surface of the vehicle wheel contains several truncated cone-shaped or truncated pyramid-shaped collecting chutes distributed over the firewall surface for gravity separation of the spray water passing through these chutes.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 41 09 129 A1 describes a wheel cover for a vehicle for collecting spray water, dirt, or the like. For this purpose, truncated cone-shaped or truncated pyramid-shaped collecting ducts are provided. The wheel cover is hinged to the vehicle body and can be pivoted between an operating position and an inoperative position.

[0007] Finally, DE 10 2018 108 335 A1 discloses a water collection system for a vehicle that has a fold-out channel arranged on a component of the vehicle. This channel can be moved between a stowed position and a folded-out position for collecting water. For example, during a car wash, the channel can be folded out, allowing the water used during the car wash to be collected and filtered in a tank for further use.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle, in which traffic disruptions caused by spray water are significantly reduced in a simple manner and with little effort.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle having the features recited in patent claim 1.

[0010] Advantageous further developments of the device according to the invention and a vehicle with such a device according to the invention are part of the further patent claims.

[0011] In the device according to the invention for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle, the spray water on a vehicle wheel of a vehicle resulting from a rain-wet roadway or a roadway with a water film is reduced and preferably eliminated mechanically by utilizing the capillary effect, thereby also improving road safety, without the need for an electrically operated unit such as a voltage source or a current source.

[0012] For this purpose, a plurality of tubular capillary elements are installed in the curved wheel housing or in the wheel house of the vehicle wheel on the upper side of the vehicle wheel. These tubular capillary elements, intended to absorb and convey spray water or the water vapor formed from this spray water, are preferably arranged parallel to one another in the curved wheel housing. The water vapor is absorbed by the tubular capillary elements against gravity due to capillary action.

[0013] These tubular capillary elements are made of an elastic material and, as thin tubular capillary elements, have a diameter of less than 2 cm. For example, the tubular capillary elements have a diameter in the range of 1 cm.

[0014] In a preferred development of the invention, the tubular capillary elements are arranged oriented perpendicular to the surface of the curved wheel house and in particular are arranged along the entire surface of the curved wheel house and thus along the entire circumference of the curved wheel house.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubular capillary elements are directly or indirectly connected to a collecting line provided for draining the spray water onto the roadway. For this purpose, the collected water vapor can be passed through a type of filter in which the water vapor is captured and converted into the liquid state. The liquid water is then fed into the collecting line and can be temporarily stored beforehand or in the collecting line in a reservoir connected to the collecting line. As soon as the storage limit of the reservoir is reached or a dry road surface is detected, the collected liquid water can be flushed back onto the road and the roadway via the collecting line, optionally after prior removal of contaminants and disruptive particles, and thus drained away.

[0016] This allows the collected water to be either directly and immediately disposed of via the collection line on the road or later, under suitable conditions such as a dry road surface, via the collection line on the road. Alternatively, the collected water can also be used for other purposes within the vehicle, such as cleaning the vehicle's wheels or engine, cleaning dust generated by the rubber wear of the vehicle's tires, or cooling a vehicle's battery, etc.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the reservoir is connected to a pump to improve the water collection effect and thus the water collection function. This pump can be controlled by the sensor signals of a sensor system provided for detecting moisture on the road surface.

[0018] This means that in this further development of the invention, sensors of a sensor system of the vehicle are provided, for example, LED light sensors or cameras of the vehicle, which are used to detect the road condition and the ambient conditions while the vehicle is traveling. This can, for example, determine the presence of moisture or water on the road surface and the degree of wetness or humidity of the road surface, and / or the occurrence of precipitation such as rain, and / or the current temperature and the current sunlight.

[0019] The vehicle's electronic control unit can evaluate and analyze the sensor data from the sensors in the vehicle's sensor system. The electronic control unit can then activate and deactivate the optional pump to improve water collection in the reservoir as needed, thereby starting and stopping the supporting water collection function. Depending on the vehicle design and space availability, the electronic control unit is located near the vehicle wheel, in particular inconspicuously on top of the wheel housing.

[0020] The vehicle also claimed according to the invention with a device for removing spray water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle, in which a traffic-impairing occurrence of spray water is thus reduced and preferably eliminated by the device according to the invention, can be designed as a motor vehicle or motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car, or as a truck or as a passenger bus.

[0021] With the proposed device for removing splash water from a vehicle wheel of a vehicle, impairments to road safety caused by splash water can advantageously be avoided or reduced in a simple manner and with little effort.

[0022] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle wheel in side view; Fig. 2 shows a further schematic representation of a vehicle wheel in side view with certain components of the device according to the invention and Fig. 3 a schematic detailed view of a tubular capillary element.

[0023] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the described components each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also considered components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described exemplary embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0024] In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0025] In the Fig. 1 and the Fig. Figure 2 illustrates the situation of a vehicle 1 moving on a road covered with moisture, using the example of one of the traction wheels 2 of the vehicle 1. A device according to the invention for removing splash water 7 can, of course, be provided on several traction wheels 2 of the vehicle 1 and, in particular, also on each of the traction wheels 2 of the vehicle 1.

[0026] According to the Fig. 1 and the Fig. 2, when the vehicle 1 is traveling, the moisture present on the road surface 6 is thrown as spray water 7 by the rotation of the vehicle wheel 2 into the cavity 11 between the wheel rim 3 of the vehicle wheel 2 and the wheel housing 4 or wheel case. In the wheel housing 4 or wheel case, a plurality of thin tubular capillary elements 5 are arranged along the entire circumference of the wheel housing 4 or wheel case, oriented parallel to one another, perpendicular to the surface 12 of the wheel housing 4 or wheel case.

[0027] These tubular capillary elements 5 are made, in particular, of an elastic material, for example, an elastic plastic material. For example, the tubular capillary elements 5 have a diameter of 1 cm and a height of 3 cm, so that approximately 4,000 such tubular capillary elements 5 are arranged along the circumference of the wheel housing 4 or wheel arch, and some of them extend into the cavity 11 between the wheel arch 3 of the vehicle wheel 2 and the wheel housing 4 or wheel arch.

[0028] As can be seen in particular from the detailed view of a tubular capillary element 5 in the Fig. 3, the spray water 7 which is thrown into the cavity 11 between the driving handle 3 of the vehicle wheel 2 and the wheel house 4 or wheel arch and which is present in particular as water vapor or finely distributed liquid mist, is virtually sucked in by the capillary effect of the tubular capillary elements 5 and moves against the force of gravity through the tubular capillary elements 5 in the direction of the wheel house 4 or wheel arch.

[0029] After the liquid mist emerges from the tubular capillary elements 5, the liquid mist condensed into liquid water 13 is transported to a collecting line 8 located in the wheel house 4 or wheel arch.

[0030] By means of this collecting line 8, the water 13 contained therein is transported, for example, back towards the roadway 6 or is available for other purposes in the vehicle 1, for example for cleaning components of the vehicle 1

[0031] In order to prevent the water 13 in the collecting pipe 8 from being immediately discharged onto a wet road surface, as shown in the Fig. 2, a reservoir 9 can be integrated into the collecting line 8. A specific volume of liquid water 13 can thus be collected in this reservoir 9, which is then discharged onto the roadway 6 during the travel of the vehicle 1, in particular only upon reaching a suitable roadway condition of the roadway 6, such as in particular a dry roadway 6. The detection of a suitable roadway condition of the roadway 6 can be carried out via suitable sensor systems of the vehicle 1 and their sensors.

[0032] As in the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the reservoir 9 can optionally be connected to a pump 10 to improve the collection effect of the liquid water 13 in the reservoir 9. In particular, the pump 10 is controlled by a control unit of the vehicle 1, which processes sensor signals from suitable sensor systems of the vehicle 1, such that the pump 10 is switched on when moisture 7 is detected on the road surface 6 and is switched off again when a dry road surface 6 is detected.

Claims

[1] Device for removing spray water (7) from a vehicle wheel (2) of a vehicle (1), characterized by , that a plurality of tubular capillary elements (5) for collecting and conveying spray water (7) are arranged in the wheel housing (4) of the vehicle wheel (2), and that the tubular capillary elements (5) are made of an elastic material and have a diameter of less than 2 cm. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the tubular capillary elements (5) are arranged parallel to one another in the wheel housing (4). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the tubular capillary elements (5) are arranged oriented perpendicular to the surface (12) of the wheel housing (4). [4] Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the tubular capillary elements (5) are arranged along the entire circumference of the wheel housing (4). [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the tubular capillary elements (5) are connected to a collecting line (8) provided for draining the spray water (7) onto the roadway (6). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the tubular capillary elements (5) are connected to the collecting line (8) via a reservoir (9). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that the reservoir (9) is connected to a pump (10) which can be controlled by means of the sensor signals of a sensor system provided for detecting moisture on the roadway (6). [8] Vehicle (1) with at least one device for removing spray water (7) on a vehicle wheel (2) of a vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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