JPS5916962B2 - tire chain - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a wire rope tire chain, particularly a wire rope tire chain that can be easily accommodated in a small space and is particularly effective for radial tires.

Modern automobiles are characterized by reduced fender cutouts, making it difficult or impossible to use conventional tire chains.

Furthermore, tires do not have a constant shape and can flex to a considerable extent, especially when supporting the weight of a vehicle.

Even known lightweight cable chains tend to rub against the sides of fender cutouts, causing damage to the vehicle and tires, especially when the tire chain is loose.

A conventional cable tire chain is similar in general outline to a regular tire chain formed entirely of chain links, with side cables provided on both sides of the tire close to the rim of the wheel, and at the same time cross links connected to the sidewall of the tire. extending around the tire and across the tire bottom or tread to create frictional contact between the tire and the road surface.

Therefore, most of the cross-link or cross-cable assembly actually abuts the sidewall of the tire and tends to rub between the sidewall of the tire and the vehicle fender cutout.

This is especially true for radial tires.

Since the side pieces or side cables are located radially inward towards the rim of the metal wheel, they do not allow the side pieces themselves to be held against the tire, but rather the fender cutout of the vehicle is free from lateral movement towards other parts. The side members do little to hold the tire chain in place because they act to hold the tire chain in place.

Never before has side cables been provided further radially outward, this is a durable, flexible, low profile means for attaching cross links or cross cables to side cables. This is because there was no

When used with radial tires, the cross-links or cross-cables of a cable tire chain tend to exhibit radial throw; It is thrown outward by centrifugal force at the top of the tire.

The overall profile of the tire chain thus tends to cause radial tire expansion, resulting in loosening of the side members or side cables on the side of the tire near the top of the tire, which can cause cross-links or cross-cables to become loose. sag, allowing them to be driven outward by centrifugal force.

This, of course, results in undesirable wear and damage between the tire and the vehicle fender cutout.

The wire rope tire chain of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has a pair of side cables and a plurality of crossing cables extending across the bottom or tread of the tire between the pair of side cables.

A plurality of lateral cable attachment members are disposed at spaced locations along each lateral cable and simultaneously connect a plurality of crossed cable end coupling members to the ends of the crossed cables, each of said crossed cable end coupling members is articulated to the side cable attachment member.

Each member is suitably formed from a metal plate material having a low profile, with crossing cables locating each member closer to the bottom of the tire and bringing the articulation closer to the bottom of the tire than the rim of the wheel on which the tire is mounted.

The flat metal member forms a durable connection that creates a hinge action close to the bottom of the tire, and instead of installing the side cable inside the bend or expansion point of the tire sidewall, the entire profile of the tire with the side cable is Position it near the bottom.

Accordingly, the tire chain of the present invention tightly adheres to a "shroud" provided closely adjacent to the circumference of the tire, which prevents undesired movement of side or cross cables and preferably prevents radial throw-off. It forms a close "hug" to the tire without causing any wear and tear.

The free articulation of the hinge movement is constructed to have adequate flexibility to allow tire flexure without collision or excessive movement of the entire device, making the device of the invention particularly advantageous for radial tires. Configure to have.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tire chain that closely follows the contour of the tire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tire chain that is not subject to radial throw and can be used with radial tires.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved tire chain that causes less damage to the tires and the vehicle on which they are mounted than devices of the type previously proposed and used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tire chain having increased hinging motion adjacent the tire circumference to accommodate changes in tire profile without compromising durability and positioning of the tire chain around the tire. It is to be.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tire chain that is lighter in weight than previously used tire chains.

The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The figure shows the wire rope type tire chain of the present invention for tire 1.
The wheel 12 is shown mounted on the wheel 12 in Figures 1 and 3.
The tire 10 attached to the vehicle is shown in broken lines, and the rim of the wheel 12 is shown in broken lines.

This tire chain has a lateral wire rope or cable 14.16 which extends circumferentially around the side wall of the tire, with both ends of the cable being connected to each other, e.g.
The connection is made by a belt retainer such as the belt device 18 shown in the figure.

Each side cable is provided with a flat metal clamping clasp 20 at a spaced apart position, and each clamping clasp 20 is arranged so as to form a first side 22 and a second side 24 in a facing relationship parallel to the sidewall of the tire 10. fold around the side cable.

A first side of the fastening band 20 is bent to form a tongue 25 extending substantially perpendicularly away from the side wall of the tire 10, and an opening 26 is simultaneously drilled in the side 24 so that the tongue 25 is pulled under tension as shown in the figure. This opening 26 accommodates the tongue 25 in such a way that it is not easily distorted from its shape.

Additionally, a spade-shaped flat metal cross-link catch 30 with each tongue 25 attached to the end of a cross-wire or rope.
The cable is received through an opening 28 in the clasp 20 and the closed ring profile of the cable tie clasp 20 prevents disengagement between the cable tie clasp 20 and the catch 30.

In forming this articulation, the tongue 25 is first inserted through the opening 28 as shown in FIG.

At this time, the side surface 24 is at a position 24a indicated by a broken line.

Next, the side surfaces 24 are closed toward the side surfaces 22, and the cable 14 is then sandwiched between these sides.

The tongue, 25, now projects slightly through the top of the opening 26 shown.

As shown in FIG.
Two slits 36 and 38 are provided, and in order to sandwich the cable 32 behind the catch 30, a portion 40 between these slits is retracted to accommodate the cable 32.

This configuration is repeated as appropriate as shown in FIGS.

It is apparent that the sandwiching of sections 40 and 42 to cable 32 as shown gives the cable an S-shape.

This cable tends to bend away from the rear of the cross-link catch, ie, toward the tire.

However, this sandwich arrangement preserves the flexibility of the cable.

Bottom surface 1 of tire 10 between aligned cable clamping pieces 20
0a, or where the tire tread is located, the cross-link cables 32 are extended and cross-link clasps 30 are installed at each end of each cross-cable for engaging the corresponding clamping piece in the manner described above.

Multiple steel wires coated with helically wound flat pieces of steel are suitable for the cable 32, with the bends spaced slightly apart so that the cable remains flexible.

A plurality of cylindrical steel sleeves 34 are provided around the outer surface of the cable 32 to engage with the road surface.

These steel sleeves 34 are slidable and rotatable relative to the cable 32.

Openings 2 of cross-link clasps 30 are removed without latching the tongues 25 of each fastening clasp 20 as described above to provide an articulated or hinged connection between members 20 and 30, i.e., in an unconstrained relationship.
8 is accommodated through.

Although both members 20 and 30 are made of flat metal plates and lie substantially flat against their respective tire sidewalls, the sides 22 and 24 of the fastening strap 20 are spaced far enough apart as shown by the arrows in FIG. This creates a limited sliding movement of the catch 30 along the tongue 25 in a direction perpendicular to the tire sidewall to allow for the large hinge movement illustrated by 44 and 46.

The important hinging movement for the catch 30 is in the direction of arrow 44, ie, toward the sidewall of the tire, to accommodate changes in the tire's profile.

Therefore, when the side wall of the tire flexes, for example when it contacts the road surface and is subjected to the load of the vehicle, the connection between the members 20 and 30 (!:) formed between the tongue 25 and the opening 28 also comes into close contact with the tire. Flex while holding contact.

The opening 28 of the catch 30 is elongated in the circumferential direction of the tire, and the intersection of the tongue 25 is similarly elongated in the same direction to provide a strong connection.

However, tongue 25 is shorter than opening 28 in the circumferential direction to allow for lateral relative movement between members 20 and 30.

The lower end 28a of the opening 28 and the tongue 2 engaged by these
5 and 5 are both curved to a center of curvature, e.g. 48, located upwardly along the crossing cable 32.

These curved mating surfaces are therefore capable of sliding movement relative to each other without the need for curvature of the cross-cable, which would cause breakage of the cable, as could occur in movement of the tire chain during tire chain installation and use. allows for angular placement of the crossing cables 32 relative to the side cables 14 in the plane of the sidewalls.

This profile also prevents binding that would otherwise interfere with the articulation flexure due to tire sidewall flexure.

Accordingly, a two-way fully articulated stable cable latching joint is provided on the tire sidewall adjacent the bottom of the tire.

The joint consists of a generally flat member that requires a very small clearance close to the tire sidewall and is structurally strong and resistant to wear.

According to an advantageous construction of the invention, cross-over cables 32 locate members 30 and 20 and likewise attach side cables 14 and 16 to tire tread 10a at a relatively close distance. .

Separate the side cables 14 and 16 from the tire tread approximately 5.
08cIIL (2 inches), located just outside the bend or inflation point of the radial tire.

Each joint provided between the articulation or tongue 25 and the aperture 28 is located substantially closer to the bottom of the tire than the rim of the wheel upon which the tire is mounted, and those articulations closer to the bottom of the tire are In addition to the necessary durability as described above, this part also has a hinge action against tire deflection.

This profile produces a firm grip all the way between the tire chain and the tire.

This is because the tire chain is placed substantially outside the main point of curvature of the tire and forms a rigid "shroud" around the periphery of the tire.

The cable profile does not require the same large tire shape changes as in conventional chain profiles, and therefore the cable profile is not loose and does not undergo significant lateral movement due to tire inflation.

The radial throw-up of cross-cables or cross-links, such as the radial throw-up of differential cables at the top of the tire when the bottom of the tire is compressed by the weight of the vehicle, is minimal.

The crossover cables are short, held closely together, and do not loosen as a result of allowing radial tire expansion.

Tire chain wear and vehicle fender dents are reduced by providing a tighter and more consistent fit of the tire chain.

This " of the side cables 14 and 16 towards the bottom of the tire
The resulting "lift" and tightening of the tire chain against the tire is made possible by the strong, flat articulation formed by members 20 and 30, which are sufficiently close to the bottom or tread surface of the tire. It can be installed and withstand harsh conditions without damage.

The flexible joint provided by members 20 and 30 allows the cable tire chain to be further provided around the circumference.
In addition to scraping, these components are generally flat or low-profile and have a tight clearance to the sidewall of the tire, allowing them to fit neatly into the gap between the tire and fender cutout of today's automobiles. can.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the overall weight of the traction device is reduced compared to conventional tire chains.

As described above, each side cable 14 and 16 is provided with a belt arrangement 18 for attaching each end of these cables 14 and 16 when the tire chain is attached to a vehicle tire.

One end of the side cable, for example, one end of the cable 14, is attached by inserting it into a slit in a clasp 50 having a similar construction to the cross-link clasp 30.

The other end of the cable 14 on the same side is attached by passing it through the slit of the clamp 52 and inserting it, and a vertical hole 54 is provided at the end of the clamp 52 opposite to the side where the cable 14 is connected, and a belt 56 is inserted into the vertical hole. The belts passed through the vertical holes are stacked on top of each other and held by a surrounding metal adhesive member 58.

The other end of the belt 56 is passed through an opening 60 in a hook buckle 62 and passed around a slide bar 64 before being folded back through the opening.

Buckle 62 has a hook 66 for engaging an opening 68 in clasp 50.

The belt 56 is suitably tightened as shown in FIGS.
tightly interlocks with the edge of the

The free ends of the belts 56 are secured against sag by plastic clasps 70 which fasten and tie the ends of the belts 56 together.

The releasable hook 66 cooperates with the aperture 68 to facilitate the quick attachment of the tire chain to the tire, for example on the inside of the tire, without having to readjust all the belts each time the tire chain is attached to the tire. Make it.

Of course, this hook also allows quick removal of the tire chain.

Although the tire chain of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with radial tires, it may also be used with other types of tires.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of the tire chain of the present invention attached to a tire indicated by a broken line, and FIG. 2 is a line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing a belt device for attaching the tire chain of the present invention to a predetermined position. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a partial plane showing a pair of joint connecting members disposed between the side cable and the crossing cable of the tire chain of the present invention. 5 is a sectional view of the articulation of FIG. 4 taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 10...Tire, 10a...Tread,
13... Wheel, 14, 16... Cable, 18... Belt device, 20...
・Tightening strap, 22...--First side, 24.24a
...Second side, 25...Tongue, 26゜2
8... Opening, 30... Clasp, 32.
... Cable, 34 ... Steel sleeve,
36, 38...slit, 40, 42...
・・・Part, 44, 46...Arrow, 48...
- Center of curvature.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A tire chain attached to a tire attached to a wheel, including a pair of side cables extending circumferentially around each side wall of the tire, and a pair of side cables extending circumferentially around each side wall of the tire; a plurality of cross-over cables extending across the bottom surface and provided with means for engaging the road surface; a plurality of cross-over cables disposed at spaced apart positions along each said side cable and oriented to lie flat near the sidewall of the tire; a plurality of flat lateral cable attachment members, and a plurality of flat cross-over cable end connection members connected to the sides of the cross-over cables and oriented to lie flat near the sidewall of the tire; A cable end coupling member articulates with the side cable attachment members, one member of each pair of articulated cross cable end coupling members and side cable attachment members having a curved tongue; The other member of the articulated members has a tongue-receiving aperture, said tongue extending through said aperture in a non-constrained relationship permitting articulation, and said tongue extending from the rim of a wheel on which said tire is mounted. The side cables and the attachment members are disposed proximate to the bottom surface of the tire by means of the crossing cables such that the articulation is provided near the bottom surface of the tire, and the articulation is configured to provide elasticity of the sidewall of the tire. A tire chain characterized by a hinge motion. 2. The opening is elongated in a direction t along the circumference of the tire, and the tongue is elongated in a cross section along the edge of the opening that engages the tongue, and the opening is longer than the tongue in the direction. A tire chain according to claim 1. 3. The tire chain according to claim 2, wherein the engaged tongue portion and the opening edge are curved about the center of curvature on the connected crossing cable side. 4. A tire chain according to claim 1, wherein said one of said members has a side with a second opening for receiving said tongue after said tongue has passed through said opening. 5. The side portions extend so that said one of said members wraps around and pinches said side cable and forms said tongue portion on the opposite side of said side portion having said second opening. Tire chains as described in section. 6. The tire chain according to claim 1, wherein the crossing cable end connecting members sandwich the ends of the crossing cable. 7 Each said side cable buoy has a flat metal kelp fitting piece mounted at a spaced apart position, said side cable buoy member has a flat metal cross link connected to the end of said cross cable. 2. A tire chain according to claim 1, wherein the cross-cable end connections include stops, each stop providing a substantially flat articulation in the articulation to the cable attachment piece. . 8. Wrapping each said cable attachment piece around said side cable so that two spaced sides face each other, one end of said two sides being bent to form a tongue, and the other receiving said tongue; an opening is formed, each said cross-link catch having a tongue-receiving aperture, and said cross-link catch being positioned in a non-constrained relationship between said two sides of said cable attachment piece to provide said articulation. The tire chain according to claim 7. 9. The flat metal cross-link clasp is spade-shaped and has a double slit in its upper part, through which the end of the cross-link cable is received, and the cross-link cable is curved towards the bottom surface of the tire. A tire chain according to claim 8. 10 the cable attachment piece forming a substantially closed ring with first and second planar sides extending from the side cable, the end of one of the planar sides distal from the side cable being bent; 2. A tire chain according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided in one plane of said cross-link clasp forming a tongue and through which said tongue passes to provide said articulation. 11. The tire chain according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the side cable are connected together by an adjustment belt. 12. The tire chain according to claim 11, wherein the belt is connected to the side cable by a 12-layer dislocatable hook.