A Promising Splashguard.
Page 9
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In common with many another omnibus company, the Cornpagnie Generale des Omnibus de Parrs has been troubled with the mud-flinging propensities of its vehicles and the resulting public complaints. The best remedy that this important. concern has been able to discover up to the present has been a leather splashguard hung by a wire stay from the hub cap. When this guard is not carried round with the wheel it is effective in keeping down a certain amount of mud. A modification of this type attached to the mudguard has been found rather less satisfactory, while running the risk of being carried away in the frequent collisions with other vehicles and the kerbs.
At the present time the company is experimenting on the Porte Maillot-Hotel de Ville line with a new guard invented by M. Menu. It appears to be the most efficient yet produced, for no matter at what speed the vehicle is running, or how muddy the roads, there are no projections whatever. The device consists of a rubber and canvas ring moulded like a pneumatic tire, with a face depth of about four inches and of the same diameter as the wheel to which it has to be attached. This splasher is bolted to a light metal ring, and by means of five suitable clasps is secured to the spokes of the wheel, leaving a gap of 2 inches to 3 inches between the wheel and splasher. It is light., can be attached or detached in a.few seconds, and being flexible will bend when passing over obstacles in the road. As a preventive of mud flinging it is undoubtedly efficient. The demonstration model appears to be made out of an old tire and is really more suitable for use in conjunction with a pneumatic than with a solid tire. If an old pneumatic tire be cut up so as to take away the tread, it leaves the two rings of rubber and canvas which only need the raw edges bound over and vulcanized to make them into thoroughly efficient guards. Having the same profile as the tire, the presence of these fittings would be unnoticed except for the clips holding them to the spokes of the wheel. The Menu guard should be cheap to produce even for the large diameter wheels used on the Paris omnibuses, so that it would not be surprising to find ii: meet with considerable commercial success. The apparatus was tested before a number of members of the municipal council last week and was very favourably commented upon. Two illustrations are reproduced on the preceding page.