DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to automotive safety in general; but more specifically to a safety device deployable to mitigate the consequences of tyre burst in the front suspension. It is aimed at preventing a motor vehicle from-overturning in the event of a front wheel blowout.

Background Of Invention

With the continued development of more powerful and faster vehicles, the automobile industry has witnessed a considerable increase in fatalities and serious injuries related to road accidents. A need has long been recognized to provide adequate safety to passengers travelling in these vehicles.

In Kenya there are a lot of accidents involving passenger carrying motor vehicles, mostly NISSAN and TOYOTA 14 seater micro-buses (Matatus). These vehicles ply the roads that connect the numerous towns and villages country wide, and with an increased population and the need to travel fast from town to town, the number of "Matatus" on the roads is also ever increasing.

Invariably, in the event of an accident where a fast moving loaded vehicle overturns, the chances of serious injuries and deaths to the passengers are quite high. When a vehicle is driven at a speed-and no doubt "Matatu" drivers are notorious for breaking the speed limits-and if at such a speed the vehicle's front wheel bursts, the rim of the blown tyre will hit the road surface causing the vehicle to loose its straight drive position; This happening is so fast and forceful that the driver immediately loses control, of the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to go off the road and overturn within seconds.

There are many causes for a tyre burst in our roads including cracked casings, worn out tyres, bent wheel rims, poor quality tyres, shoddy retreads, incorrect tyre pressure, bad road conditions, hazardous objects on the road, overloading, heat, unpaved road shoulders, potholes, etc. etc.

With the increasing mortality rates and near death n uries of passengers in vehicles involved in collisions arising from increased use of motor vehicles and the increased rate of power and speed at which they are operated, the problem of protecting the passengers has been a major concern and is being addressed in many different ways by the automobile manufacturers.

Over the years the automakers have developed various safety devices which are designed to reduce fatalities when the vehicles are involved in a collision at high speed. Such safety features include - padded dashboard, padded and collapsible steering wheel, neck support, seat belts, air bags etc, etc. However these devices are designed to be useful only in the event of direct impact accidents. Considering the fact that serious injuries and extensive damage to the vehicle arise even in the event of accidents taking place in the ABSENCE of any impact, i.e. accidents happening without involvement with any stationary or moving object; one such event is the occurrence of a blowout of any of the front wheel tyres while the vehicle is travelling even at normal speed.

A principal object of the present invention is therefore to prevent deaths and near death injuries to the occupants of the vehicle involved in such an accident.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that instantaneously takes up all the weight and functions of the blown-out standard front wheel and thus help the driver to remain in full control of the vehicle in such an eventuality.

Yet another objective of the invention is to preserve the vehicles operational, aerodynamic and aesthetic aspects. - -

The further object of the present invention is to ensure that a motorist always has more than one spare wheel on which to continue his journey without facing the hazard of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Yet a further object of the invention is to increase traction and improve grip in snow mud or sand by converting any ordinary two wheel drive automobile into a four

wheel drive motor vehicle into an eight wheel drive vehicle.

Summary of the Invention

The invention consists of a specially designed additional wheel that can be attached to the existing front wheels of the vehicle; which immediately takes up the weight and functions of the burst wheel. Thus preventing the driver to lose control of the steering wheel and eventually keep the vehicle on the road.

The AAS wheel (1) consists of a specially shaped metal wheel rim (2) with a bulge (5) and fitted with a narrow rubber tyre (3). Which is co-fastened with the standard tyre (4) to the hub of a front wheel of a vehicle using the normal wheel studs (6). The AAS wheel is smaller than the conventional wheel and it stays above the ground under normal driving conditions. This will save the user from incurring any extra running cost of the vehicle and at the same time will facilitate all the front four wheels to take full cornering curves, without touching the mudguards, as per vehicles specifications.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig 1 is cut-up section of the AAS wheel.

Fig 2 is cut-up view of the AAS wheel attached to the conventional wheel showing the relative dimensional parameters used in size matching.

Fig 3 is an illustration of the AAS wheel in contact with the road surface following a tyre burst of the conventional wheel.

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to the aforesaid drawings, the automobile anti-roll solution (AAS) (1) provided herein comprising the use of an additional special wheel (1) to be attached to the each of the existing two front wheels (4) of a motor vehicle to prevent the vehicle from overturning in the event of any front wheel tyre burst.

wheel rim (2) to accommodate a rubber tyre (3) of a size designed to be smaller and narrower than the target standard front wheel (4) with which it is intended to be used. The rim (2) has a bulge (5) that ensures close geometric cooperation with the target front wheel (4) so that the AAS wheel (1) is positioned as closely as possible to the front wheel (4) thus ensuring that the protrusion of the tyre (3) outside the body frame of the vehicle is minimized.

The complete AAS wheel-Fig. 1,2-is designed to have a small overall diameter (Da) to keep it off the ground by a pre-determined clearance (ch) to save on wear and tear expenses of an extra wheel and also to facilitate full steering curve without touching the mudguard. The metal rim (2) may be designed to be of the same diameter (Dra) as that of the target front wheel (4) so as to ensure that rims of similar geometric patterns may be easily manufactured through the use of equipment and processes used to manufacture standard rims-with minor modifications to include the bulge (5). The rubber tyre (3) used is also as narrow as possible to avoid excessive protrusion outside the vehicle body frame. Since the rubber tyre (3) is narrow, it automatically has a proportionally reduced diametric size to ensure that its overall diameter (Da) is less than the diameter of the target wheel by twice the required clearance (ch).

The AAS wheel (1) being smaller than the conventional wheel (4) and since it stays above the ground under normal driving conditions, will save the user from incurring any extra running cost of the vehicle and at the same time will facilitate all the front four wheels to take full cornering curves, without touching the mudguards, as per vehicles specifications.

The AAS wheel (1) is specifically designed for it to be easily fitted to the standard front wheels of the vehicle without any modifications to the original fittings, and by using the same existing studs and nuts (6) of the vehicle.

When a vehicle is travelling and if any of the standard front tyre (4) bursts-Fig. 3, the attached AAS (1 ) wheel immediately takes over the functions of the conventional wheel, thus preventing the rim of the burst wheel from hitting the road

.. in steering control and save the vehicle from overturning.

Example of the Preferred Embodiment

As an example application, the invention will now be illustrated by the use of a preferred embodiment as applied to a typical 14 seater Nissan/Toyota Micro-bus (matatu).

The designed AAS wheel tyre size 115/70 D14 - 88M is inflated to 60psi and fitted to an unloaded NISSAN/ TOYOTA "Matatu" (any model) having a conventional tyre size 185/ 65 R14 - 86H inflated to 40psi the position of the AAS wheel will be approximately 30mm (ch) above the road surface. The AAS will only come into full contact with the road surface when the conventional wheel is totally deflated or gets a blowout.

Under this specific circumstances, the dimensions of the tyre has been established- on the basis of the geometry of the vehicle body as well as the hub-to be optimal as follows:-

Ds = 600 mm

Da = 520 mm Dra = 390 mm ch = , 35 mm (Depending on actual tyre pressures) b = 60 mm

Ba = 200 mm

Ts = 160 mm Ta = 130 mm

It is of course obvious to conceptualise several other embodiments of the improvements outlined in the present invention; and the present disclosure seeks to lay claim to the spirit of the entire invention, as well as obvious extensions to the development.