Patent Application
20080035258
This invention relates to a system which facilitates driving of the vehicles on the surfaces with snow and ice by being attached to the outer surface of the vehicle tires.
Various methods have been used in order to facilitate driving of vehicles on snowy and icy surfaces during winter conditions. One of these methods, namely studded snow tires, has not been widely used due to their costs. Although, studded snow tires are suitable for being used especially on icy roads, they could not be used where the snow thickness is huge. Instead, chains which wraparound the vehicle tires are preferred. As for chains, they lead to difficulties of attachment-detachment necessities upon varying road conditions. Moreover, they cause malfunctioning of some parts of the vehicles due to generation of vibrations.
In the prior art, different solutions have been made to problems mentioned above to enable vehicle tires suitable for winter conditions by covering the tires. Particularly, in patent/patent applications: DE3506649, DE3506650, DE3616372, ES2013405, FR2537060, GB1238637, GB190921111, GB2049575, polymer and metal tracks covered to the outer surface of the vehicle tires have been described. Since, there are difficulties for covering these tracks on the tires and their structures being complex, many problems occur concerning with the cost, utilization and maintenance thereof.
The object of the invention is to provide a tire track system being attached or covered on the vehicle tires, usable in all winter conditions, inexpensive, easy to attach/detach and protective for tires.
The system of the invention is illustrated in the appended figures, in which:
In figures, each part is numbered individually and corresponds to the numbers given below:
The subject of the invention is a tire track system being attached or covered vehicle tires, usable in all winter conditions, inexpensive, easy to attach/detach and protective for vehicle tires. The most important properties of the attachable tire track system are being an alternative to chains which have a breaking off problem, harm to vehicle tires, front equipments such as vehicle axle, ball bearings or other equipments due to vibration or impacts, being free of rupture problems as in the case of chains, protective for vehicle tires, usable on the roads even there is no snow/ice, non-harmful to any equipment of the vehicle, operative relatively quiet comparing to chained tires. In addition, attachable tire tack system has capability to be attached/detached easily and these operations could be done without removing the tire or lifting the vehicle.
As shown in
Attachable tire tracks (1) have outer surfaces (12) of tire track which is grooved and diked similar to the patterns of vehicle tires (B) (shown in
Inner metal tracks (2) placed under the attachable tire tracks (1) have pin hole of inner metal tracks through which the rigidified pin (3) can be fitted. Inner metal tracks (2) lay between the attachable tire tracks (1) and vehicle tire (B). Pin holes (16) of the inner metal tracks retain the rigidified pins (3) in place without being disrupted. Further, inner metal track (2) has the form of a band to be placed under the attachable tire tracks (1). Perforated connection tabs (17) of inner metal track are placed at both sides of the band form to connect the inner metal tracks (2) together. Rigidified pins (3) fitted through the pin holes (16) of the inner metal track and the pin holes (13) of the attachable tire track hold together the attachable tire track (1) and the inner metal track (2) just beneath hereof. Consequently, the strength of the attachable tire tracks (1) reinforced with the inner metal track (2) is improved and as a result tearing is prevented. Inner metal tracks (2) are joined together by the connection tabs (17) of the inner metal track. Inner metal tracks (2) are used as one or more, preferably 9 pieces, in the context of the invention.
Rigidified pins (3) have an elongated thin body capable to pass through the pin holes (16) of inner metal track and the pin holes (13) of attachable tire track and a wide surface disable to pass through the pin holes (13, 16) and resting on the vehicle tire at the lower portion.
Track locking pins (4) are used to join the inner metal tracks (2) together by being passed through the connection tabs (17) of inner metal track and the perforated connection tabs (15) of tire track and also to join the attachable tire tracks (1) together.
Front stretcher hooks (5) are used to join front stretcher rubber (11) and attachable tire tracks (1) together. One end of the front stretcher hook is attached to the stretcher hooks (14) of tire track and the other end is attached to the front stretcher rubber (11).
After the jamming capsules (8) of steel rope are connected to both open ends of the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher, steel rope (9) of rear stretcher is shielded by being placed in the steel rope covering (10) of rear stretcher. Steel rope covering (10) of the rear stretcher is made of flexible plastic material and has a tube or hose shaped structure. Steel rope covering (10) of rear stretcher is used to protect the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher from wear and corrosion. At the same time, steel rope c (10) of rear stretcher prevents wear of vehicle tire (B) due to the friction between the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher and the vehicle tire. Thus, if the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher is used with the absence of the steel rope covering (10) of rear stretcher, both the vehicle tire (B) is damaged and its strength is diminished in time due to corrosion and wear.
User holds two ends of steel ropes (9) of rear stretcher to join these two ends together behind the vehicle tire to surround the axle periphery when the vehicle tire (B) is on the vehicle. In this position, these two ends of the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher are joined together by attaching jamming capsules (8) of steel rope to the lock piece (7) of rear stretcher. In this position, rear stretcher hooks (6) are used to join steel rope (9) of rear stretcher and attachable tire tracks (1) together. One end of the rear stretcher hook (6) is attached to the stretcher hooks (14) of tire track and the other end is attached to the steel rope (9) of rear stretcher.
In
In
In
In
Attachable tire track system (A) is on the vehicle tire (B).
As an alternative to the attachable tire track system (A) described above, the connection of the attachable tire tracks (1) and the inner metal tracks (2) could be obtained by producing the inner metal tracks (2) as embedded in the attachable tire tracks (1). In this case, the pin holes (13) of tire track and pin holes (16) of inner metal track are coaxial, connection tabs (17) of inner metal track is embedded in the connection tabs (15) of tire track and holes are coaxial. In this type of integral structure, by only attaching track locking pins (4) to connection tabs (15) of tire track, connection tabs (17) of inner metal track and hence the connection of inner metal tracks are done as well. Therefore, user does not have to make the connection of inner metal tracks (2) in the attachable tire track system (A). Moreover, since the inner metal tracks (2) are embedded in the attachable tire tracks, the possibility of damage by the inner metal tracks (2) to the vehicle tire is avoided. In this case in
An alternative of attachable tire track system (A) is on the vehicle tire (B).
Preferred attachable tire track system (A) above is not intended to limit the protection scope of the invention. In view of the described knowledge by the invention, all modifications on this preferred attachable tire track system (A) should be interpreted in the protection scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004/00784 | Apr 2004 | TR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/TR05/00017 | 4/8/2005 | WO | 2/5/2007 |
