Abstract
A device for scattering grit in front of the wheels of a vehicle comprises a housing having a feed inlet for the grit, an outlet for the grit and a substantially cylindrical recess for receiving a brush roll which is rotatably mounted and driven about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation for the metered delivery of the grit from the feed inlet to the outlet. At least one wedge is arranged in the region of the feed inlet for the grit, in front of the brush roll and tangentially and displaceably with respect to the brush roll so that the size of the feed inlet can be adjusted.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A device for scattering grit in front of wheels of a vehicle, the device comprising a housing having a feed inlet for the grit, an outlet for the grit and a substantially cylindrical recess for receiving a brush roll which is rotatably mounted and driven about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation for metered delivery of the grit from the feed inlet to the outlet, wherein in a region of the feed inlet for the grit two wedges are arranged in front of the brush roll and tangentially and displaceably with respect to the brush roll so that the feed inlet size is adjustable.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein an intermediate space is arranged between the front faces of the brush roll and the cylindrical recess.
13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the brush rolls have brushes arranged in sector form with grooves arranged in between for receiving the grit.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the brushes of the brush roll are made of plastic and metal.
15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the wedges are made of high-strength steel.
16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the outlet for the grit has a cross-section which becomes larger.
17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the housing is arranged in a container for the grit.
18. The device according to claim 11, wherein the brush roll is connected to a drive.
19. The device according to claim 18, wherein a transmission is arranged between the drive and the brush roll.
20. The device according to claim 14, wherein the brushes of the brush roll are made of a polyamide and stainless steel.
21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the polyamide is Perlon.
Description
[0018] The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device for scattering grit mounted on a vehicle in front of the wheels of the wheel of the vehicle;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a sectional drawing through an embodiment of a device according to the invention for scattering grit;
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device for scattering grit according to FIG. 2 in closed form;
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the device for scattering grit according to FIG. 2 from the side; and
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of two devices for scattering grit which are driven via a common drive and a transmission.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device 1 for scattering grit 2 in front of the wheels 3 of a vehicle 4. The device 1 is arranged at a suitable position of the vehicle 4 underneath a container 15 for the grit 2 so that the grit 2 can be dispensed to the desired place in front of the wheel 3 and can increase the static friction between wheel 3 and ground in order to facilitate starting up or shorten the braking distance.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a sectional diagram through an embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for scattering grit 2. The device 1 comprises a housing 5 with a feed inlet 6 for the grit 2 which coincides with a corresponding outlet of a container 15 for the grit 2. Ideally the walls of the container 15 are configured to be inclined in order to facilitate the trickling of the grit 2 stored therein due to gravity. A substantially cylindrical recess 8 is provided in the housing 5 in which a rotatably mounted and driven brush roll 9 is made possible for metering and conveying the grit 2 from the inlet 6 to an outlet 7. The brush roller 9 has a certain number of grooves 12 between brushes 11 or brush bundles. For the sake of simplicity the brushes 11 are not shown in detail here. The brushes 11 ideally consist of a combination of plastic and metal wires, for example, Perlon and stainless steel wires. According to the invention, in the region of the feed inlet 6 for the grit 2 at least one wedge 10 is arranged tangentially and displaceably with respect to the brush roll 9 so that the size of the feed inlet 6 can be adjusted. In addition, the front pointed side of the wedge 10 serves to scrape off or peel off excess grit 2 or oversize grit 2 with the result that the probability of a jamming of the brush roll 9 in the cylindrical recess 8 of the housing 5 can be reduced. Ideally, two wedges 10 arranged tangentially and displaceably with respect to the brush roll 9 are arranged on both sides of the feed inlet 6. The wedges 10 are preferably made of high-strength steel whereas the housing 5 can consist of plastic or light metal such as, for example, aluminium. The outlet 7 can, as indicated in FIG. 2, have a cross-section which becomes larger towards the outside so that the grit 2 can be dispensed over a larger area in front of the wheels 3 of the vehicle 4.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device 1 for scattering grit 2 according to FIG. 2 in closed form. In this view, clamping screws 16 can be identified for fastening the wedges 10 in the desired position. Usually the position of the wedges 10 is adapted accordingly to the desired position of the metered grit 2 and the size of the grit 2 used.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the device 1 for scattering grit 2 according to FIG. 2 from the side. Preferably an intermediate space d is arranged between the front face of the brush roll 9 and the housing 5, which intermediate space is ideally 4-6 mm when using grit 2 having an average diameter of about 6 mm. The brush roll 8 is connected to a corresponding drive 13 or transmission 14 via a corresponding drive shaft 17.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of two devices 1 for scattering grit 2 which are driven via a common drive 13 and a transmission 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two devices 1 for scattering grit 2 are located in front of two vehicle wheels 3 and are connected to an electrical drive 13 via a common transmission 14.
[0029] The control of the rotational speed of the brush roll 9 and the duration of the activation of the brush roll 9 is usually accomplished manually by the driver of the vehicle 4. However, automatic activations of the device 1 for scattering grit 2 are also feasible if, for example, an anti-blocking device or an anti-slip system of the vehicle 4 detects a smooth ground. Usual rotational speeds for the brush roll 9 vary in the range between 30 and 35 rpm.
