LU84612A1 - ANTI-SLIP AND PNEUMATIC CLAMP OR NAIL PROVIDED WITH SUCH CRAMPONS OR NAILS - Google Patents

Description

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ANTI-SLIP AND PNEUMATIC CLAMP OR NAIL PROVIDED WITH SUCH CRAMPONS OR NAILS

The invention relates to a non-slip stud or stud for a tire, composed of a sheath intended to be anchored in the carcass of a tire and a hard metal rod housed in the sheath, the sheath and the rod each having a longitudinal axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the other, as well as a tire fitted with such studs or studs.

10 Many motorists, especially in Nordic and mountainous countries, have tried or are still using studded or studded or studded tires to overcome the difficulties of driving a motor vehicle on ice and snow. The advantages and disadvantages are, however, always disputed. The damage caused by these nails or crampons to the roads has led the authorities of the countries concerned to strictly regulate their use, their dimensions, their weight and the protrusion allowed outside the rolling surface of the tire. , as well as the maximum number of nails 20 or studs per tire.

Also, various proposals have been made to reduce the wear of the roads by studs or studs in winter, when the roads are devoid of ice and snow. All these proposals provide for auxiliary systems which make it possible to move the studs or studs along their longitudinal dimension in the carcass of the tire, which is equipped therewith, to make them protrude from the running surface, or to re-enter them into the carcass. so that their point no longer protrudes from the running surface. Examples of such auxiliary nail displacement systems are described in FR-A-2478547, FR-A-2216131, DE-A-2319351, DE-A-2602544, DE-A-2430858, DE-A-2424469, DE-A-2645639, DE-A-2337729, DE-A-2354612 and DE-A-2600797. All these systems have, as a caiman characteristic, one or more additional air chambers secured to the carcass. The additional air chambers are pressurized or drained to move the nails between the projecting position or the withdrawn position or vice versa. Often a cooperation of the tire pressure and that of the additional i - 2 - chambers achieves the displacement.

However, all of these systems also have the disadvantage that a pressure source must be available, depending on the system used, when it is desired to drive out the nails or studs or when it is desired to retract the nails.

The object of the present invention is to provide non-slip nails or crampons and tires fitted with such nails or crampons, which are of simple construction, easy to maneuver and whose non-slip effect can be caused or eliminated at the same time as it is desired or no longer necessary, even during the rolling of the tire which they equip, without interrupting the travel of the vehicle equipped with such a tire.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a nail or spike of the kind described above, the rod of which is movable in the sheath in the direction of its longitudinal axis - - --—. and which are equipped with means which, when the stud or nail is anchored in a tire, allow the rod to move in the sheath between a first advanced position, in which the tip of the rod 'protrudes from the rolling surface of the tire, and a recessed position, in which the tip of the rod no longer protrudes from the rolling surface of the tire, so that, when the tire, fitted with the stud or nail, rolls on a road surface deprived of snow and / or ice, the rod coming into contact with the roadway is pushed back by it from said first position to said second position, or rolls on a snowy or icy roadway, the rod coming into contact with the roadway remains in said first position.

The tire according to the invention comprises a carcass with a running surface and is characterized in that nails or studs according to the invention described above anchored in said carcass' so that for an unused wearing surface , the rod being in the first position protrudes from a determined length of the rolling surface and the rod is movable in a sliding channel arranged in said carcass *

The nails or crampons and the tires which are fitted with them have the advantage that the driver of a vehicle equipped with such studded tires according to the invention has at all times, immediately, the non-slip effect of the nails or crampons, but that these do not cause damage to non-icy and non-snowy roads. This protective effect on the roads is thus immediate and does not require any particular intervention by the driver.

The invention will now be described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing, in which: FIG. 1 shows a vertical projection, partially in section, of a usual nail or crampon, FIG. 2 shows a vertical projection, partially in section, of a first embodiment of a nail or crampon according to the invention; Fig. 20 3 shows a vertical projection, partially in section, of a second embodiment of a nail or crampon according to the invention; and Fig.4 shows a section of a further embodiment of a nail or crampon according to the invention mounted in the carcass of a tire.

In the drawing figures, i-dental reference numbers are used to designate elements common to the different figures.

In Fig. 1, there is a nail or crampon (1) habitual comprising a sheath (2) in which is embedded a rod (3) of hard metal whose end (4) will protrude from the rolling surface of a pneumatic equipped with it. When a tire with such nails (1) rolls on snow or ice, the tip (4) of the rod (3) of the nail 35 (1) sinks into the layer of ice or snow to provide a non-slip effect. On the other hand, if a tire is fitted with such nails (1). rolls on a road not covered with a layer of ice or snow, the point (4) of the rod (3) of hard metal of the nail (1) causes damage to the road by its - 4 - hammering on the roadway or when the tire skids.

Fig. 2 shows a nail or crampon 5 according to the invention. This comprises a sheath (2) in which a rod 5 (3) is housed so as to be able to slide in the sheath (2) along the longitudinal axis (7) of the nail or spike (5).

The rod (3) is slidably received in a cavity (8) closed in the sheath (2) and which has the same section as the rod (2). In the cavity (8) is a spring (9) which rests on one side against the bottom (10) of the cavity (8) and on the other side against the lower part (11) of the rod (3).

The rod (3) has a length such that, when the stud or stud (5) is anchored in the carcass or tread 15 of a tire, its point (4) protrudes from the rolling surface and this on the maximum distance desired or prescribed by road traffic laws.

The rod (3) may consist of a single piece or be divided into two pieces 12,13 joined at 15 so that the front part 13 can be removed from the rear part (12) for replacement in the event of damage or outright removal. The front part (13) can be provided with a joint (14), preferably at a location close to the junction (15) of the front and rear parts (13,12), allowing the front part (13) to the rod 3 to follow the deformation movements of the tread of the tire rolling on the road. Obviously the rod (3) one-piece can also be provided with a joint (14) in a suitable location to allow the part of the rod 30 (3) between the joint (14) and the tip (4) to follow deformations of the tread.

By the use of the spring (9) the force exerted by the tip (4) of the rod (3) on the road becomes independent of the weight of the vehicle and the pressure of the tire. This force can furthermore be fixed in advance, that is to say it will have a value sufficient to pierce ice or ice, but insufficient to pierce the harder surface of the road. Since a much smaller force is enough to pierce ice or ice, we will give the spring an elasticity - 5 -! such as when using the nail on a tire rolling on ice or ice, the tip (4) of the rod (3) pierces the ice or ice, but that if the dull tire-5 rolls on a bare road, the rod (3) is pushed back into the sheath (2) and its point (4) withdrawn as far as the rolling surface of the tire. No longer protruding from the tire, when it touches the bare pavement and exerting insufficient force to pierce the pavement, the point (4) of the rod (3) will no longer damage the pavement. However, as soon as the point (4) of the rod (3) comes into contact with ice or ice easier to pierce, the point (4) of the rod (3) will sink into the ice or ice and provides a non-slip effect. Obviously this non-slip effect also occurs when the tire fitted with studs or studs according to the invention rolls on compressed snow which is easier to pierce than ice or ice.

In FIG. 3, the nail or crampon (5) according to the invention is equipped with a device (16) allowing the motorist who has equipped his vehicle with tires fitted with nails or crampons according to the invention to have at will. of their non-slip effect. In this embodiment using all the elements of the nail or crampon according to FIG. 2, the rear part (12) of the rod (3) formed of one or two pieces, is provided with a notch or a series of notches (17) in which a stop notch (18) can engage. The stop notch (18) placed substantially perpendicular to the stroke of the rod (3), or in any position suitable for obtaining the desired locking effect of the rod (3) in its withdrawn position, is constituted by the core of an electromagnet (19) movable in the coil (21) of the electromagnet (19).

A return spring (20) is provided at the rear end of the core or catch (18) and the electromagnet housing (19) of the device (16). The front end of the stop notch (18) has a shape suitable for engaging in the notches of the notch (17) and causing the locking of the rod (3) in its withdrawn position. The return spring (20) pushes the catch (18) towards and into the notch (17). Finally the device (16) is provided with a locking means (not - 6 - ί shown) of the stop notch (18) in the position in which the tip of the stop notch is not engaged in the notches notching (18).

This operation of this embodiment of the nail or crampon according to the invention is as follows. Let us consider that the rod (3) of the crampon (5) is blocked in its retracted position by the stop notch (18) engaged in one of the notches of the notch (17) and that the driver wishes to take advantage of the effect. non-slip studs fitted to the tires which are fitted to his vehicle. At this time the conductor sends a current pulse through the coil (21) of the electromagnet (19) in the appropriate direction and the stopper is removed from the notch (17) and releases the rod 15 (3 ) which, under the effect of the compressed spring (9) / is pushed towards the outside of the sheath (2) and therefore leaves the rolling surface of the tire in which the stud or stud is mounted. All the coils of studs or studs fitted to a tire are connected in an appropriate circuit which allows their excitation using the vehicle on-board voltage or any other suitable voltage. A brush contact (not shown) or any other contact or system allowing the transmission of a current pulse between a fixed element and a rotary element connects the circuit of the coils (19) of the nails (1) of a tire to driving the nails near the driver in the vehicle. The control of the generation of the excitation pulse of the coils can also be done by electromagnetic means.

The catch (18) is attracted by the magnetic field produced by the current pulse flowing in the coil (21) and moves against the force exerted by the return spring (20) on the rear part. stopper (18). The released rod (3) comes out of the tire surface.

The operation of the nail or clamp (5) is then the same as that described in relation to the nail (1) shown in FIG. 2.

When the conductor wishes to no longer have the anti-slip effect, he sends a current pulse in the opposite direction through the coil (21) of the electromagnet - 7 - j (19). The core or catch (18) is attracted by the magnetic field created by this pulse, which disarms the blocking means (not shown) of the catch (18) which moves under the effect of the spring. (20) in a direction opposite to that for the release of the rod (3) to come into contact with the notch (17) of the rod (3). When the tire turns and the tip of the rod (3) comes into contact with the road surface, it is pushed back against the force exerted by the spring (9) and enters the tire. The notches of the notch (17) and the anterior end of the stop notch (18) are designed so that the rod (3) can move freely to enter the tire when the stop notch (18) touches the notch (17), but cannot move in the opposite direction, because the anterior end of the catch notch (18) engages in one of the notches of the notch (17) to lock the rod in its position withdrawal.

A free pawl (24) is provided, the cooperation and design of which are such as to guarantee that the point (4) of the rod (3) does not come out of the tire rolling surface for a predetermined fixed length, that the tire either worn or not.

When the rod (3) of the nail (5) has come out of the tire, the notch -, - (17) drives the free pawl (24) at its end engaged in the notch against an ar-25 rêt (not shown) and that the pawl then blocks the stroke of the rod (3), the tip of which emerges from the tire. In this locked position the tip (4) of the rod then leaves the tire of the predetermined fixed length.

When the rod (3) retracts, the free pawl (24) is also dragged by the notch (17) in the opposite direction of its displacement when the rod (3) leaves, until against another stop ( not shown). If then, due to the wear of the tire, the rod (3) rises higher beyond the position of withdrawal before being taken out, it can slide on the free pawl 35 (24) which has arrived in its end position. race in the opposite direction until it no longer leaves the tire tread. If the rod (3) then comes out again, the above-described operation of the free pawl is repeated and the tip (4) of the rod (3) again comes out of the predetermined length - 8 - finished from the surface of worn tire bearing. An additional device can be put in place to regulate the path of action of the free pawl and thus regulate the importance 5 of the projection of the point (4) of the rod (3). By an appropriate arrangement of the free pawl (24) and the electromagnet (19), the latter can be used to act on the free pawl (24).

In Fig. 4 we find an embodiment of a nail or crampon (5) slightly modified compared to that shown in FIG. 3 and anchored in the carcass (22) of a tire. The sheath (2) is slightly modified, but in principle corresponds to that of the nail in FIG. 3. The pawl (24) is arranged on the opposite side (23) of the notch (17) relative to FIG. 3. The operation of the pawl (24) of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is the same as that of embodiment 4, so there is no need to repeat it here.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, 20 the spring (9) is more stretched compared to those of FIGS. 2 and 3 to keep the force exerted on the rod (3) constant, even after the maximum wear of the running surface of a tire fitted with a stud or stud according to the invention.

By placing an additional device on the sheath (2), it is possible to obtain an adjustment of the force with which the rod (3) acts on the layer of ice or snow. This device (not shown) would more or less compress the spring (9) thus varying the bearing force exerted by the rod (3).

Finally, the surface of the rod (3) can be coated with an anti-friction substance to guarantee easy sliding in the sheath (2) and the sliding channel (26) in the carcass (22) of the tire. This substance can also be applied to the surface of the sliding channel (26).

This substance must have characteristics such that the easy sliding of the rod (3) is guaranteed for all temperatures occurring when using the nail or spike according to the invention. This anti-friction substance can be useful for all the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 attached.

- 9 -

The nail (5) according to the invention is suitably mounted in the carcass (22) of the tire so that, for a new rolling surface, its tip emerges from the desired predetermined length. Depending on the embodiment of the stud and / or the type of tire, the sheath will pass through the layers (27) * of fabrics or trellis for reinforcing the tire.

For the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4 electrical connection means (not shown) for the coils are to be provided in the tire to allow the excitation of the coils by the driver, eg from the driving position.

Obviously, the release of the nails can be caused depending on the temperature near the roadway. A temperature detector will be provided which measures the temperature in the vicinity or at ground level. If this temperature approaches 0 ° C, which is an indication of possible freezing, the detector will produce a control signal intended to excite the electromagnet (19) and consequently release the nails or clamp.

The cross-section of the rod (3) can be circular, flat, hexagonal or crossed with slots plugged with a material which is less hard than that of the rod (3), eg a plastic material.

*

Claims (20)

1. Crampon or non-slip nail for tire / composed of a sheath (2) intended to be anchored in the carcass of a tire and of a rod (3) of hard metal housed in the sheath, the sheath (2) and the rod (3) each having a longitudinal axis coinciding substantially with the longitudinal axis of the other, characterized in that the rod (3) is movable in the sleeve (2) in the direction of its longitudinal axis 10 and that means (9,16) are provided which, when the stud or nail is anchored in a tire, allowing the displacement of the rod (3) in the sheath (2) other a first advanced position, in which the point ( 4) of the rod (3) protrudes from the rolling surface (22) of the tire, and a recessed position, in which the point (4) of the rod (3) no longer projects from the rolling surface ( 22) of the tire, so that, when the tire, fitted with the stud or nail (5), rolls on a roadway devoid of snow and / or ice, the tire ge (3) coming into contact with the roadway is pushed by it from said first position to said second position, or rolls on a snowy or icy roadway, the rod (3) coming into contact with the roadway remains in said first position. 2. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 25 1, characterized in that said means (9,16) are a res spell (9) disposed on the longitudinal axis (7) between the base (11) of the rod ( 3) and the said sheath (2) and that the elasticity of the said spring (9) is adapted so that the rod (3) can execute the movement described between these first and second positions. 3. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 2, characterized in that said means (9,16) further comprise a damping system combined with said spring (9). 4. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 35. or 3, characterized in that the rod (3) includes a rear part (12) movable in the sheath (2) and a front part (13) and that a joint ( 14) is provided between the front part and the rear part. 5. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim ¢ - - 11 -! 4, characterized in that said front part (13) is detachable (15). 6. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 5 or 5, characterized in that said means (9,16) further comprise means (16) for locking the rod in the second position, said means (16) can be operated from inside a vehicle on which a tire fitted with the stud or nail is mounted. 7. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 6, characterized in that the rear part (13) of the rod is provided with a notch (17) over a determined length and that said locking means (16) comprises a notch 'stop (18) can be engaged in said notch (17) to lock the rod (3) in its second position. 8. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 7, characterized by an electro-mechanical relay (19) whose plunger is formed by said stop notch (18). 9. Crampon or non-slip nail according to claim 20. or 8, characterized in that the said notch (17) and the stop notch (18) cooperate so as to allow the displacement of the rod (3) from its first position towards its second position, but to prevent the movement of the rod (3) in the opposite direction, when the stop notch (18) is brought into contact with the notch (17) of the rod (3). 10. Crampon or non-slip nail according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said means (9,16) further comprise a free pawl (24) following the movement of said rod (3) and leaving the rod move freely from its first position to its second position, but limiting its displacement from its second position to its first position, thereby fixing the projection of said rod (3) from the rolling surface (25) of the tire equipped with said stud or nail. 11. Crampon or non-slip nail according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that said spring (19) is stretched in length so as to keep constant the force exerted on the rod, even after maximum wear of the surface of rolling of a tire fitted with said crampon. ί! - 12 - 12. Cleat or nail according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the excitation of the electro-mechanical relay (19) is controlled manually. 13. Cleat or nail according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the excitation of the electro-mechanical relay (19) is controlled as a function of the temperature in the vicinity of the ground. 14. Cleat or nail according to any one of claims 10 tions 1 to 13, characterized in that the section of the rod (3) is crossed with plugged slots. 15. Cleat or nail according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the surface of the rod (3) is provided with a layer of an antifriction substance. 16. Stud or nail according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the force exerted by the spring is adjustable. 17. Studded tire comprising a carcass with a rolling surface, characterized in that studs or studs (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 16 are anchored in said carcass (22) so that for a surface of unused bearing (22), the rod (3), being in the first position, protrudes by a determined length from the rolling surface and the rod (3) is movable in a sliding channel (26 ) fitted out in the said carcass. 18. A tire according to claim 17, characterized in that the sheath (23) passes through the de‘renforcenent layers of the tire. 19. A tire according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the surface of the rod (3) is provided lengthwise in said sliding channel with a layer of an anti-friction substance. 21. A tire according to any one of claims 35 17 to 19, characterized in that the wall of the sliding channel (26) is provided with a layer of an anti-friction substance.