WO2009065365A2

WO2009065365A2 - Anti-skid device for automobile wheels

Info

Publication number: WO2009065365A2
Application number: PCT/CZ2008/000138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rafael Knobloch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-06
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-06
Also published as: CZ2007773A3; EP2219892A2; EP2219892B1; WO2009065365A3; ATE509787T1; PL2219892T3

Abstract

The automobile wheel anti-skid device includes a central star (6) fitted on the outer wheel side and made by hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) with profiles for sliding bars (11, 21, 31, 41), ended by yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) embracing a tire (2) of the wheel, the bars (11, 21, 31, 41) of the yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) having clamps (13, 23, 33, 43) for a tightening spring (8), whereas the hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) of the star (6), the radial' bars {11, 21, 31, 41) and parts of yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) adjoining to circumferential surface of the tire (2), with longitudinal symmetry axes (b, c, d) being in one symmetry plane (e) out of the axis (a) of the tire (2) of the wheel.

Description

Automobile wheel anti-skid device

Technical field

The invention refers to an automobile wheel anti-skid device, consisting of central star fitted on outer wheel side, the star being made of hollow spokes with guides for sliding bars to be pushed into the spokes, the sliding bars terminated by yokes embracing the tire of the wheel, the yoke bars provided with clamps for a tightening spring.

State of art

Current anti-skid devices are used for increasing motor vehicle wheel adhesion, e.g. tightening belts, one end of which embrace the tire and the other end fitted to radial bars, fixed in central element at the outer side of the wheel. Sliding radial bars are fitted in the central element at the outer side of wheel and fixed using mechanical locks or springs . This type of anti-skid device has been described in patent specification FR 2758293 and includes two flat hollow profiles, joined together with screw and guides, thus forming a cross star. Radial bars are inserted in the ends of each hollow profile, the ends of bars changing into yokes, embracing the tire. Radial bars have clamps for fitting a spring, pushing opposite radial bars into hollow profiles. The cross star may form a single unit, two opposite flat profiles laid one onto another and rectangular and joined using welds. The anti-skid device as described above can be attached on car wheel, without turning the wheel during assembly or moving the car along. The yokes grip with road surface in the area, where the tire is depressed. As the wheel turns, the tire will be depressed, at first, in front of the yoke, then the yoke grips with the road surface. Owing to high circumferential traction force applied on yokes, they become subject to torsion - and so do radial bar-type bars. The torsion force applied on radial the bar causes the bar being not pushed inside the hollow profile as necessary and, consequently, the contact between the yoke and circumferential tire surface will be reduced. Having lost contact with circumferential tire surface, the yoke, being not supported by tire surface, will be subject to torsion at traction movement again, and causes the radial yoke bar being subject to torsion as well. As the bars are constrained in pushing inside and outside of the hollow spokes, the contact between yokes and circumferential tire surface will reduced even more. As indicated in specification WO 0147730, there exist an anti-skid device including central element fitted on outers side of the wheel, with longitudinal bars, one end of which is joined with the central element and the other, free, end joined with anti-skid yokes tightly fitting to tire circumference. The ends of bars sliding into the central element have evolvent teeth engaging with the central gear. The central gear is fitted between couples of opposite bars that are shifted tangentially to wheel centre, as the central gear turns. In one direction, the bars tighten anti-skid yokes, press them onto tire surface and loosen them in the opposite direction. In the area between central element and tire circumference, the opposite, free, bar ends, joined with anti-skid yokes, are in the same plane, crossing wheel axis. In the existing wheel anti-skid devices, longitudinal symmetry yoke axes are in the plane crossing wheel axis. The yokes are being pressed onto tire circumference. The contact between yoke and tire surface is flat, the yokes are not fixed strongly enough to the tire surface and are subject to bending due to tangential forces, thus causing torsion of longitudinal bars. Consequently, the ends of bars shifted into the central element get stuck when engaged with the central gear, thus affecting engagement of the bars and the central wheel. The aim of the invention is to rule out this problem and provide an effective and simple anti-skid device featuring radially-arranged hollow spokes, allowing the guides of radial yokes (embracing the tire) being shifted into the guides, the yokes not changing position in traction contact with tire surface and/or when the tire is depressed. Also, the aim of the invention is to provide an anti-skid car wheel device capable of transmitting lateral friction forces between the wheel and the road. Also, the aim of the invention is to provide an anti-skid car wheel device that is reliable, easy to fit on the tire even at loaded vehicle. Also, the aim of the invention is to provide an antiskid car wheel device that is reliable in operation and easy to disassemble and put in transport case in the luggage compartment .

The essence of the invention

The anti-skid wheel device, as described in this patent specification i.e. central star fitted on outer wheel side and consisting of hollow spokes with guides for sliding bars and yokes embracing the tire, yoke bars being fitted with clamps for the fixing spring and hollow spoke, radial bar and the yoke part adjoining to tire having the same symmetry axis, other than the tire axis, will largely sort out the problems featuring the existing anti-skid devices.

Advantageously, the axis of the yoke adjoining to tire is advanced in wheel turning direction to the plane of wheel axis parallelly with symmetry planes of the hollow spoke, radial bar and yoke. Advantageously, the star consists of at least three hollow spokes, arranged in one plane parallelly with the wheel, the ends of each spoke being fixed to side of the adjacent spoke. Advantageously, the yokes have waveform profiles at sections adjoining to tire surface. Advantageously, the hollow star spoke, bars with clamps and the spring reach into dish-shaped cap, the star and the cap having centre holes for screwed joint. Advantageously, the walls of the dish-shaped cap are thick-walled plastic to provide good grip with the road, the bottom of the cap having lugs reaching into sectors between adjacent spokes and the cap diameter being smaller than that of the tire. The anti-skid device as described herein is able of transmitting high traction forces between the wheel and the road, since the yokes grip efficiently with the road surface, since longitudinal symmetry axes of the hollow spoke of the star, radial bar and the yoke are in one plan, other than the wheel axis. When depressed, the yokes do not loose contact with the tire. Since the symmetry axes of yokes, radial bars and hollow star spokes are in the same plane, radial bars, being depressed, slide easily inside/outside the spoke, when the tire depressed/loosened. Since the symmetry axis of the yoke adjoining to tire is advanced in wheel turning direction to the plane of wheel axis parallelly with symmetry planes of the hollow spoke, radial bar and yoke, one side of the yoke will be more distant from tire circumference and the other side will be more strongly pressed into the tire surface, than with the anti-skid devices currently used. In the anti-skid device, the yoke grips like a blade into road surface at traction grip and the other side of the yoke will be pressed onto the tire, thus fixing yoke position on tire surface. The central star is flat and of low thickness, consisting of hollow spokes arranged in one plane parallelly with the wheel, ends of each spoke being fixed to the adjacent spoke. The arrangement of hollow spokes of the central star as described herein allows radial spokes to be shifted up to the radial coming from wheel axis, perpendicularly to shifting direction. This is of particular importance, if the wheel is strongly depressed. The anti-skid device according to claim 4 significantly improves transmission of lateral forces between wheel and road surface, avoiding yoke torsion. The anti-skid device according to claims 5, 6 enables covering mechanical components at outer wheel side, prevent dirt, earth and/or snow to penetrate to wheel disc from outside of the wheel. The anti-skid device according to claim 7 improves driving properties of the car in extreme conditions on roads with weak surface. 'The anti-skid device according to the invention can be easily and reliably fitted onto the tire, easily fitted at loaded vehicle, is reliable and safe. Even if the wheels are burrowed deep in the soil, anti-skid device can be fitted on the remaining surface of the wheel. Considering small size, low weight and easy maintenance, the anti-skid device can be included in all-year accessories of any motor vehicle category. The anti-skid device appropriately covers mechanical components and prevents dirt, earth and snow from entering into these components and the wheel disc. Dish-shaped cap can be advantageously fitted on radial bar clamps. The anti-skid device as described herein can be easily fitted and individual components are easy to store.

Figures on drawings

The anti-skid device of a motor vehicle is illustrated by means of drawings, the figures representing Fig. 1 Front view and sectional view of the wheel with fitted four-spoke antiskid device as described in the invention. Fig. 2 Five-spoke anti-skid device as described in the invention. Fig. 3 Three- spoke central star of the device as described in the invention. Fig. 4 Cap of the anti-skid device as described in the invention. Fig. 5 Outer drum of the anti-skid device as described in the invention.

Examples of construction

The anti-skid device of a motor vehicle, as shown in Fig. 1, includes a star _6, having (for example) four spokes I₁O-, 20, 30, 40, making angle 90°. The spaces between spokes l_0, 20,

30, 40 are sectors 11_, 21_, 37_, £7. Spokes JLO₇ 2_0, 3J), 40 are of rectangular, transversal profile, hollow, with bars JL1_, 21,

31, 41, sliding inside the profiles. The bars are made [for example) from hoop steel. The bars JLJL, :2JL, 3J₁, 41 slide freely inside the spokes I₁O-, 2£, 3_0, £0 of the star _6. The bars JLJL, 21, 31, £1 reaching out of the spokes JL_O, 2£, 3_0, £0 change into yokes JL2_, 2/2, 3J2, 42 via clamps JL_3, £3_, 3_3_, 43, the yokes embracing the tire 2 of the wheel. The clamps JL_3, 23_, 3_3, £3 are provided by shaping the bars IJL, 2JL, 3_1, 41 in radial and axial direction to produce a bend for fitting fixation spring 8_. The clamps L3, 2J3, 3_3, £3 can have any shape, e.g. axial lugs, however, they must provide radial support for fixing the spring 8_. The spring 8_^_ advantageously, is normal tightening rope, which can be endless or can have hooks on its ends to lock on the bars JLJL, J2JL, 3_1, £1. The spring _8 provides fixation of the anti-skid device on wheel tire. The bars 11,

21, 31, 41 change into clamps JLJ3, 2_3, 3_3_, £3 and then into yokes JL_2, Tλ_, 3_2, 4_2_, which frontal part adjoining to the tire 2 and the other part exceeding the circumference and embracing the tire 2 from inside. On the frontal view (fig. 1), a part of yokes JL2, 2J2, J^Z, 42_ adjoining to the tire 2_ (depicted using dashed line on the frontal view at bar ends I₁I, 2JL, 31, 41. On the vertical sectional view (Fig. 1), part of yokes 12,

22, 42 adjoining to the tire 2_ has waveform profile. The section of yoke 3_£ is shaped as well (however, it cannot be seen in the sectional view (Fig. 1) . Longitudinal axes a, b and c of hollow spokes IJ), 2J), 3_0, 4J) of the star §_, radial bars JLJL, 2JL, 3SJL, £1 and parts of yokes JL2, 22_, J3J2, M , adjoining to the tire 2, are in the plane e and go outside the axis of the tire 2_. The axis d of a part of yokes .12,

22, 32, £2 adjoining to the tire 2_ is advanced in the wheel turning direction compared with the plane of the axis and tire 2_j_ parallelly with the symmetry plane e of hollow spokes 10, 20, 30, 40, radial bars JLL, 2JL, .3JL, _4JL and yokes Vλ_, 2^2, 32, 42. The star _6 is made of at least three hollow spokes

10, 20, 30, 40, arranged parallelly with the wheel, the ends 14, 24, 34, 44_ of each hollow spoke JL_O, 2J), 30.' 15. ^is fixed to sides JLJ5, 2J5, J3J5, £5 of the adjacent spokes 2_0, J3_0, £P__/ 10- When assembling the anti-skid device, the bars JLL, 2JL, J3JL, 4_1 shall be pushed into the spokes IJ), 2JD, 3J), 40 of the star 6_, then the star _6 shall be placed at the outer wheel side, the yokes JL2, 22_, J3J2, _42 shall be locked into the tire 2_, the bars

11, 21, 31, 41 shall be pushed deeper into the spokes JL_O, 20, 30, 40 and the spring 8_ shall be drawn along the clamps 13,

23, 33, 43. By means of the tension produced by the spring, the bars JLL, 2JL, J3JL, _41 will be pushed into the spokes JL_O, _2_0, 30, 40, while the yokes 12_, 22_, 3J2, 42_ will be held on the tire. The wheel turning in the direction shown by the arrow

(Fig. 1), the tire will be pressed onto the road. The contact surface is symmetric with the plane going through the axis and the wheel perpendicularly to the road surface. Longitudinal symmetry axes b', c' of the spoke JM and the bar 2J3 are out of the wheel axis a. Being in position, the axes of the yoke 22, bar 2J3 and spoke 2Λ_ are in plane e", perpendicularly to the road surface, the yoke 2J2 adjoining to the tire 2_ out of the centre of the contact surface of the wheel and the road. The distance n between longitudinal axis of the yoke 22, adjoining to the tire 2, and point B of the contract surface in wheel turning direction is shorter than the distance to point A of the contact surface in the opposite direction. Owing to advanced arrangement of spokes, the yoke will be deflected from tire's tangent line at the point of contact with the tire. Hence, the front side of the yoke, when driving, will be pressed into the road surface and the other side of the yoke will be pressed into tire surface. Fig. 2 (front view) shows the star _6 with five spokes J₁O-, 20_, 3_0, M' 5£ with bars 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 pushed inside. The spring 8 is drawn along the clamps 1_3, 2_3, 33._/ i_3, 5J3, pushing the bars JLJL, _2_1, 3JL, 4JL, 5_1 into the spokes JLJD, 2_0, 3_0, 4_0, _5JD. The ends of the bars, can be joined with the adjacent spokes, for example, by welding. Fig. 2 shows the end JL_4 of the spoke JL_O joined to the side 2b_ of the spoke 2_0. Fig. 3 shows design of the star _6 with three spokes JL_O, 2J3, 3_0_ and joints of spoke end with side of the adjacent spoke. E.g. joint of the end 1_4_ of the spoke JL_O_ with the side 2J5 of the adjacent spoke 2jO in one turning direction. Fig. 4 shows the star 6 with hollow spokes JL£, 3J3 bars JLJL, _3_i with clamps JLJ3, 3_3 for fitting the tightening spring JB. Hollow spokes JL_O, J30_ of bars 1_1, J3JL with clamps 1_3, J3J3 reach into dish-shaped cap J3, the star _6 and the cap 3_having centre holes £, 1_ f°^r screwed joint. Fig. 5 shows the wall 5_ of dish- shaped cap 3_ made of thick-walled plastic to grip with road surface, the bottom 3_of the cap having lugs reaching into sectors 1/7, 2J7, 3J7, 4J7 between adjacent spokes 1Q_, 2_0, _3_0, £0 of the star <ό_j_ as shown on Fig. 1. The star _6 has an opening 4_ and the other concentric opening 1_ is in the bottom of the cap J3. Both openings are intended for screwed joint of the components (i.e. the star 6_^ and the cap 3) .

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. Automobile wheel anti-skid device, including a central star (6) fitted on the outer wheel side and made by hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) with profiles for sliding bars (11, 21, 31, 41), ended by yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) embracing a tire (2) of the wheel, the bars (11, 21, 31, 41) of the yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) having clamps (13, 23, 33, 43) for a tightening spring (8), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) of the star (6), the radial bars (11, 21, 31, 41) and parts of yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) adjoining to circumferential surface of the tire (2) , with longitudinal symmetry axes (b, c, d) being in one symmetry plane (e) out the axis (a) of the tire (2) of the wheel.

2. Automobile wheel anti-skid device according to the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t symmetry axis (d) of part of yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) adjoining to the tire (2) is advanced in wheel turning direction in respect to the plane passing through the axis (a) of the tire (2) parallelly with symmetry axis (e) of the hollow spoke (10, 20, 30, 40) and radial bar (11, 21, 31, 41) and the yoke (12, 22, 32, 42) .

3. Automobile wheel anti-skid device according to the claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the star (6) made of at least three hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) arranged in one plane parallel with the tire (1) , whereas the end (14, 24, 34, 44) of each hollow spoke (10, 20, 30, 40) fixed on the side (15, 25, 35, 45) of adjacent spoke (20, 30, 40, 10) .

4. Automobile wheel anti-skid device according to one of the claims 1 through 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t yokes (12, 22, 32, 42) having waveform profile at sections adjoining to the circumferential surface of the tire (2) .

5. Automobile wheel anti-skid device according to one of the claims 1 through 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the star (6) with hollow spokes (10, 20, 30, 40), bars (11, 21, 31, 41) with clamps (13, 23, 33, 43) and tightening spring (8) reaching into dish-shaped cap (3), the star (6) and dish- shaped cap (3) provided with central holes (4, 7) for mutual screwed joint.

6. Automobile wheel anti-skid device according to the claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t walls (5) of the dish-shaped cap (3) being made of flexible thick-walled plastic to provide grip with road surface, the bottom of the cap (3) having lugs (411, 412, 413, 414), reaching into sectors (17, 27, 37, 47) between adjacent spokes (10, 20, 30, 40) of the star (6) and the diameter of the cap (3) being smaller than that of the tire (2) of the wheel.