AT521889B1 - Tire chain with chain mesh elements closed by welding and a method for producing such a tire chain - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tire chain (1) with a tread (6), which in the assembled state rests on a tread (8) of a vehicle tire (2), in order to increase traction and / or as tire protection. The running net has a multiplicity of first running net elements (10, 12, 14), in each of which at least two second running net elements (10, 12, 14), in particular chain rings (14), are suspended. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a running net, at least two second running net elements (10, 12, 14) being suspended in an open first running net element (10, 12, 14). In order to realize a cost-effective and easy-to-automate production of the tire chain, the invention provides that an opening of the first chain mesh elements (10, 12, 14) is or will be closed by a material structure (34) produced by build-up welding. Due to the material structure (34) of the build-up weld, a web (26) can also be built up at least partially between the running net elements (12). In addition, a protruding traction element (20) can be formed by the material structure (34).

Description

description

The invention relates to a tire chain with a running network resting in the assembled state on a tread of a tire to increase traction and / or as tire protection, the running network having at least one first running network element into which at least two second running network elements are suspended.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a chain net for a tire chain from a plurality of chain net elements, wherein at least two second, preferably closed chain net elements are hung in an open first chain net element.

Such tire chains are known. They are used, for example, as anti-skid devices to increase traction on slippery surfaces such as snow, slush and mud. Furthermore, tire chains of this type are used as tire protection when driving on sharp-edged surfaces that have, for example, slag, rubble or sharp stones.

[0004] Tire chains are often produced by hand in a laborious manner. The circumference and width of the tire chains depend on the respective tire size. Particularly in the area of tire protection chains, which are used in mines or slag plants, particularly large tires are used. Due to the large number of different sizes, production must be flexible in order not to have to keep excessively large stocks, which are uneconomical due to the high material costs.

[0005] For example, WO 2013/104014 A1, EP 0 090 765 A2 and WO 2019/140585 A1 describe such tire chains with a tread mesh resting on a tread of a vehicle tire in the assembled state to increase traction and / or as tire protection.

The invention therefore aims to create a tire chain that is flexible and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved for the tire chain mentioned at the outset in that the first chain mesh element has an opening closed by a material structure of a build-up weld.

In the production method mentioned at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention in that the first running net element is closed by build-up welding after the second running net elements have been inserted.

The build-up welding can be carried out quickly and inexpensively, in particular also in an automated manner. In the first running net element, which can be a chain link or a chain ring, the second running net elements are first inserted through the opening, this synonymously also describing the fact that, conversely, the first running net element is inserted into the second running net elements, that is the first and the second running net elements are hung into one another. The second running net elements are preferably closed, that is to say themselves do not have any openings for hanging in further running net elements. Subsequently, the opening of the first running net element required for hanging the second running net elements is closed in a materially bonded manner by a material build-up produced by a build-up weld. During build-up welding, a filler metal is layered on the chain link to build up volume, thereby forming the material build-up. Build-up welding is preferably carried out in accordance with DIN 8590. The material build-up generated by the build-up welding can be demonstrated in micrographs and / or etchings. The mesh elements suspended in one another should remain movable relative to one another even after the build-up welding and should not be welded to one another.

The above invention can be further improved by the following developments, each of which is advantageous in itself and which can be combined with one another as desired.

To increase the service life of the tire chain, the first running network element between two adjacent second running network elements can have a web which is built up at least in sections by build-up welding or one by build-up welding

has generated material structure. The web separates the two second running net elements suspended in the first running net element and thus prevents their contact. In order to simplify the production, the open first running net element, in particular before the build-up welding, can already have a stub-shaped web, which is then raised by the build-up welding. The stub-shaped web contributes to an improved positional fixation of the second running net elements inserted into the open running net element. The web can extend continuously from a preferably straight leg of the first running net element to the opposite leg and connect the two legs to one another. Alternatively, there can be a gap between the web and a leg.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the material structure generated by the build-up welding can be part of a leg of the first running net element connecting the bend of the first running net element. In this way, the opening for hanging in the second running net elements can be simply closed. The material build-up produced by the build-up welding can also completely form a straight leg of the first running net element.

The material structure produced by the build-up welding can furthermore be essentially T-shaped. In addition to at least part of a leg connecting the bend of the first running net element, the material structure can form an extension protruding between the second running net elements, which can extend as a web to the opposite limb of the chain link.

The build-up weld can - with the tire chain pulled onto the tire - be on the side of the first chain mesh element facing the tread, so that the build-up weld is exposed to lower loads and less abrasion.

The first chain mesh element is preferably an upright chain link, so that the plane spanned by the first chain network element is aligned essentially perpendicular to the tread of the tire when the tire chain is mounted on the vehicle tire. In such a configuration, the two second running net elements preferably have a position in which the plane spanned by them is oriented essentially parallel to the tread of the tire.

The first running network element can in particular be a web member which has a traction web on the side facing away from the tread, the material thickness of which is greater than the material thickness of one facing the tread, in particular resting on the tread of the tire in the assembled state, in particular through Build-up welding of the closed leg of the first running network element. The higher material thickness takes into account the wear and tear that occurs during operation. The bar link can in particular be an upright chain link.

The traction bar can be provided with at least one traction-increasing traction element, in particular in the form of a projection and / or a recess, for example at least one cleat, at least one mandrel, at least one spike and / or at least one rib. In such a configuration, the traction bar or the traction element serves to increase the traction by clawing into the ground. Of course, a plurality of traction elements can also be present.

In a further embodiment, the traction web, in particular together with the at least one traction element, can be formed from the material structure of the build-up weld. This allows the production of a large number of individual, application-specific traction elements as part of a uniform manufacturing process.

Alternatively or in addition to a first chain link configured as a chain network element, a first chain network element can also be an in particular circular ring-shaped chain ring in which further, in particular more than two standing chain links are suspended as second chain network elements.

For the material structure of the build-up welding, a different material, in particular

a different steel is used than for the rest of the chain link. The material structure of the build-up weld can consist of a highly wear-resistant material, in particular steel or steel wire. This measure makes it possible to reduce the heat treatment cost in the manufacture of the tire chain. In particular, in the case of the tire chain, the material structure produced by the build-up welding cannot be heat-treated. With this configuration, costly heat treatment after build-up welding can be completely dispensed with. In this context, it is advantageous if the steel used for build-up welding is work hardening, as is the case, for example, with fully austenitic weld metal. The material structure can have a hardness of at least 550 HV, in particular without heat treatment.

The running net can have a plurality of first and second running net elements. For example, a first and a second running net element can be hooked into one another alternately and in succession. In another embodiment, a first running net element can preferably always be arranged where more than two running net elements are hooked into one another. Thus, more than two second running net elements can be hung in a single first running net element and / or more than two first running net elements can be hung in a single second running net element.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one chain ring, in particular a circular ring-shaped, can be suspended as a second running net element in the first running net element. At least two, three, four or more first chain mesh elements can be suspended in each chain ring. The number of first running net elements suspended in a chain ring determines the density and running properties of the running net. A particularly dense running net can be achieved, for example, by suspending two chain rings as second running net elements in each first running net element and three or four first running net elements in each chain ring. The first and second running net elements preferably form a closed mesh of the running net.

In a further advantageous embodiment, non-metallic running net elements, in particular as second running net elements, can be hooked into the running net. These non-metallic running net elements are suspended, in particular, in a running net element that is closed by the material structure or the build-up welding. For example, the chain rings or individual chain and / or bar links can be made of a ceramic.

The first and second running net elements can be part of a one-dimensional, that is to say linear, chain strand extending along one direction, in which several running net elements are lined up one behind the other. The chain mesh can have meshes of such one-dimensional chain strands. The chain mesh can alternatively or cumulatively have two-dimensional, i.e. two-dimensional, chain strands, in which the chain network elements are each connected to more than two further chain network elements, all of which lie in a plane extending along the tread of the tire, so that directly connected chain network elements are behind. and are arranged side by side.

In the following, the invention is described using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are always used in the drawings for elements that correspond to one another in terms of function and / or structure.

In accordance with the above statements, further advantageous features can be added to the exemplary embodiment if the technical effect associated with this feature should be important for a particular application. Conversely, features of the described embodiment can also be omitted if the technical effect associated with these features is not important.

[0027] They show:

1 shows a schematic representation of a first step in the production of a chain mesh for a tire chain;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a chain link of an assembled tire chain with suspended chain mesh elements;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a section of a chain mesh of a tire chain;

4 shows a schematic representation of a tire chain. The invention is explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

A tire chain 1 is used to protect a vehicle tire 2 on sharp edges and / or to increase the traction of the vehicle tire 2 on a slippery surface 4. The tire chain 1 has a chain mesh 6 which, in the assembled state of the tire chain 1, as shown in FIG. 4, rests on a tread 8 of the vehicle tire 2. The running net 6 has a plurality of first running net elements 10 and second running net elements 12, which are movably connected to one another. The second running net elements 12 are, for example, circular chain rings 14, in each of which two, three or four first running net elements 10 are suspended. The second chain mesh elements 12 can also be other chain links, for example round steel or profile steel chain links (not shown). The first chain mesh elements 10 can be configured as chain links, but also as chain rings 14. The chain links are preferably upright chain links, so that the chain link plane 16 spanned by them runs essentially perpendicular to the running surface 8 when the tire chain 1 is installed. The second running net elements 12 are preferably arranged horizontally. The plane 18 spanned by them preferably runs parallel to the tread 8 of the tire 2.

The chain links are preferably provided with at least one traction element 20 on the side facing away from the running surface 8. The traction element 20 is designed as a projection which can project in the circumferential direction 22 and / or in the radial direction 24. The traction element 20 serves to increase the traction with respect to the ground 4. The traction element 20 can be a rib, a cleat, or a spike. A chain link can have a plurality of identical or different traction elements.

In the geometry illustrated in FIG. 3, the manufacture of a chain mesh 6 is quite complex due to the two-dimensional network structure. During production, as shown in FIG. 1, the two second running net elements 12 must be hung into a first running net element 10. This can be done in that the first running net element 10 remains stationary and the running net elements are inserted into the chain link for hanging, or by the second running net elements 12 being fixed in a stationary manner and the first running net element 10 being inserted into the second running net elements 12. For the sake of simplicity, both approaches are referred to as hanging the second running net elements 12 in the first running net element 10, regardless of whether the first running net element 10 or the second running net elements 12 are moved for hanging.

The insertion and positioning of the second running net elements 12 can be simplified by a web 26 of the first running net element 10, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 as an optional element. The web 26 at least partially separates two receptacles 28, 30 of the first running net element 10, into each of which the second running net elements 12 are inserted. If the second running net elements 12 are inserted into the first running net element 10, the opening 32 of the first running net element 10, which made it possible to insert the second running net elements 12 into the respective receptacle 28, 30, must be closed. This is done by build-up welding. The opening 32 of the first running network element is closed in a materially bonded manner by a material structure 34 produced by build-up welding. The material structure 34 can also form the web 26 or supplement it. In this case the material structure 34 is T-shaped.

The material structure 34 can consist of a different material than the rest of the chain link 10. In order to save heat treatment costs in the manufacture of the tire chain, a highly wear-resistant welding steel or welding wire can be used for the material structure. The material structure 34 is preferably not heat treated in the finished tire chain. It can have a hardness of at least 550 HV. In particular, the material structure 34

be formed from fully austenitic weld metal.

The opening 32 is preferably located in a leg 38 or instead of a leg 38 of the first running network element; it can also include the web 26.

In the exemplary embodiment, a web 26 is shown which connects the two opposite legs to one another in a straight line. Alternatively, there can be a gap between the web 26 and the leg 38, even if the web 26 has a material structure produced by build-up welding.

As FIG. 2 shows, the material structure 34 of the build-up weld forms at least part of the leg 38 connecting the bend 36 of the first running network element 10. The leg 38 is preferably opposite the leg 40 with the traction elements 20. In order to protect the build-up weld from wear, the leg 38 of the tread 8 of the vehicle tire 2 faces in the assembled state of the tire chain 1. The material thickness of the leg 38 is preferably less than that of the opposite leg 40, which is subject to greater wear and material removal.

Alternatively, the leg 40 facing away from the running surface can also have the opening 32 closed by the material structure 34. In this case, the at least one traction element 20 can also be formed from the material structure 34. With such a configuration, the use of a highly wear-resistant welding steel is advisable.

In a variant, the first running network element 10 can also be a chain ring 14. In this case, the chain ring 14 has an opening 32 closed by a material structure 34 for inserting the second chain mesh elements 12, for example chain links. This is indicated in Fig. 3 by dashed lines as a design option.

In a chain mesh can be present both as chain rings 14 and as chain links as first chain network elements 10 closed by build-up welding.

The second running net elements 12 can be non-metallic, for example ceramic.

Austrian

REFERENCE MARK

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40

Tire chain

Vehicle tires

Underground

Running net

Tread of the vehicle tire first chain mesh element second chain mesh element chain ring

Chain link level

Plane of a walkway network element traction element circumferential direction

radial direction

web

admission

admission

opening

Material build-up created by build-up welding at the bow

leg

leg

AT 521 889 B1 2021-04-15

Claims (15)

Claims 1. Tire chain (1) with a tread (6) resting on a tread (8) of a vehicle tire (2) in the assembled state to increase traction and / or as tire protection, the tread (6) having at least one first tread element (10, 12, 14), in which at least two second running net elements (10, 12, 14) are suspended, characterized in that the first running net element (12) has an opening (32) closed by a material structure (34) of a build-up weld. 2, tire chain (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first running net element (10, 12) between the second running net elements (10, 12, 14) has a web (26) which at least in sections through the material structure (34) of the Build-up welding is built up. 3. Tire chain (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material structure (34) is located on a straight leg (38, 40) of the first chain mesh element (10, 12). 4. tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the material structure (34) of the build-up weld is T-shaped. 5. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material structure (34) of the build-up weld is located on the side of the first chain mesh element (10, 12) facing away from the tread (8). 6. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material structure (34) of the build-up weld is located on the side of the first chain mesh element (10, 12) facing the running surface (8). 7. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first running network element (10, 12) on the side facing away from the running surface (8) has a straight leg (40) whose material thickness is greater than that Material thickness of the opposite leg (38) facing the running surface (8). 8. Tire chain (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the leg (40) with a greater material thickness is formed at least in sections by the material structure (34) of the build-up weld. 9. Tire chain (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the leg (40) of greater material thickness has at least one traction element (20) formed by the material structure (34) of the build-up weld and protruding from the leg (40). 10. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first running network element (10) is suspended in at least one chain ring (14) as a second running network element (12), a plane spanned by the chain ring (14) ( 18) runs parallel to the running surface (8). 11. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least three first track network elements (10) closed by build-up welding are suspended in every second track network element (12). 12. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the material structure (34) of the build-up weld is not heat-treated. 13. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one of the second chain mesh elements (10, 12, 14) is made of a non-metallic material. 14. Tire chain (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first chain mesh element is annular. 15. A method for producing a chain link (10) and chain network elements (12) for a tire chain (1), wherein at least two chain network elements (12) are hung in an open chain link (10), characterized in that the open chain link (10) is closed by build-up welding. 1 sheet of drawings