AU2016101087A4 - Rofraus trust 04 - automatic snow belts (asb) - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present innovation is an Automatic Snow Bests (ASB), a system which automatically installs the snow belts on all tires of the vehicle, without the manual intervention of the driver. The Automatic Snow Belts (ASB) can be designed for any type of vehicle on wheels. The system will allow the driver to engage and disengage tire chains from a dashboard switch, without stopping the vehicle. m 2 oo o0 0 21 z o~ w '( CO U-3~c r~r --- -- --

Description

Owner; ROFRAUS TRUST Title; A UTOMA TIC SNOW BEL TS (ASB)

Description of Innovation

Technical Field (01) The present innovation is an Automatic Snow Bests (ASB), a system which automatically installs the snow belts on all tires of the vehicle, without the manual intervention of the driver. (02) The Automatic Snow Belts (ASB) can be designed for any type of vehicle on wheels. (03) Snow Belts are manufactured of extendable materials to enable a tied attachment to the tyres. (04) The Snow Belts has Hook ends or Padded Hips ends to enable the attachment to the Rims.

Background (05) In winter season, on roads covered with snow and ice, the vehicles need to be equipped with chains or belts, in order to improve the driving conditions. The manual installation of these devices is usually a very long and tough activity, mainly due to climatic conditions. Also, the installation is carried out in an unsafe environment, most of the time on the side of the road, under heavy traffic. (06) Also, on a long trip in winter conditions, the alternative road sections with and without snow, will oblige the driver to install and remove several times the chains or the belts, which is extremely discomforting. (07) Overall, the manual installation of winter belts is a slow, difficult and hazardous operation. (08) ONSPOT Automatic Tire Chains and RUD Automatic Snow Chain are permanently mounted chains to the vehicle’s rear suspension and allow the driver to engage and disengage tire chains from a dashboard switch, without stopping the vehicle. (09) These systems improve the traction, but not the direction, because are installed on the rear tires only. For the same reason, these equipments are also not operational for small vehicles with front traction.

Summary of Invention (10) The Automatic Snow Belts (ASB) is an equipment capable to install automatically and simultaneously the winter belts on all vehicle’s tires, without any human intervention. (11) The driver has only to stop the vehicle on a safe place, with aligned wheels. If necessary, the wheels have to be cleaned of any mud or excessive snow.

Brief Description of drawings (12) There are two possible Methods for the Installations of Automatic Snow Belts: Group Installation and Serial Installation. (13) The included drawings describe the two methods for the installation of Automatic Snow Belts, as well as the details of the installation stages. (14) Figure 1 is the side view of the Group Installation of Automatic Snow Belts (15) Figure 2 is the side view of the Serial Installation of Automatic Snow Belts (16) Figure 3 give details of different stages of the Installation of Automatic Snow Belts

Detailed description of drawings (17) On Figure 1 the Snow Belts 1 are installed on the tires 3 of the vehicle 5. (18) Each Snow Belt 1 is initially stored in an individual Storage Box 2 (19) Each Storage Box 2 has an individual Equipment for the Snow Belt Installation. (20) On the first stage the belts B1, B3, B5 and B7 are simultaneously installed on all tires 3 of the vehicle 5. (21) Then the driver has to move forward the vehicle 5 approximately half of the circumference of the tyre. Sensors will advice the driver the precise position of the vehicle 5 for the second stage of the installation of Snow Belts. (22) On the second stage, belts B2, B4 and B6 are installed simultaneously on the tires 3 of vehicle 5. (23) The main advantage of this method is the rapidity of the installation: half of the belts are installed in the same time on the first stage, the other half will be installed, simultaneously, on the second stage. (24) This system is expensive, due to the high number of Equipments for Snow Belts Installation. (25) On Figure 2, the Snow Belts 1 are installed on the tires 3 on Serial Mode. (26) Initially the Snow Belts are stored on individual storage boxes 11 (27) All the Winter Belts can also be stored in a Single Storage Box per tyre or group of 2 rear tyres. (28) There is only one Equipment for the Winter Belt Installation for each tyre or group of 2 rear tyres, stored in a separate Storage Box 12. (29) On Serial Installation, the Snow Belts 1 are installed one by one. The Installation Equipments move on Rails 13 to pick up the Snow Belts 1 and install them on tyre 3. (30) Sensors will guide the Serial Installation Equipment to pick up the Snow Belts 1 and install them on the precise location. (31) On the first stage the Snow belts B1, B2, B3 and B4 are installed. (32) The driver has to move the vehicle approximately Vfe of wheel’s circumference. The distance to move the vehicle is not essential as on Group Installation, as the sensors will monitor the Equipment to precisely install the Winter Belts to the required places. (33) On the second stage, the belts B5, B6 and B7 are installed. (34) The main advantage of this method is the low cost: only one Storage Box with only one Equipment for Winter Belts Installation per tyre or group of 2 rear tyres. The Serial Installation of the Winter Belts is more time consuming than the Group Installation. (35) Figure 3 shows different stages of Snow Belts Installation. (36) When the Automatic Snow Belts equipment is on Stand-by Mode, the Snow Belts 6 and the Installation Equipment 8 are stored in the Storage Box 2. (37) On Snow Belts Installation Mode, the Storage Box 10 is open, the Installation Equipment 9 collects the Snow belt 7 and install it on Tyre 3. (38) The Snow Belt 7 is equipped with a hook at each end, to enable the attachment to the Rim 4. (39) The Snow Belt 7 can also be equipped with a padded hip end, to enable the attachment to the rim 4. (40) After all the Snow Belts 1 are installed, the Installation Equipment 8 is stored in the Storage Box 2. The Storage Box 2 is closed.

First Preferred Embodiment (41) With reference to the Figure 1, there is illustrated a side view of Group Installation of Snow Belts 1. (42) In this preferred embodiment the Snow Belts 1 are installed in two stages. The driver has to move forward the vehicle approximate Vz of the tyre circumference. (43) In this preferred embodiment the Snow belts 1 are attached to the Rim 4 using a hook system. (44) In this preferred embodiment, the snow Belts 1 are attached to the Rim 4 using a padded hip system.

Second Preferred Embodiment (45) With reference to the Figure 2, there is illustrated a side view of Serial Installation of Snow Belts 1. (46) In this preferred embodiment the Snow Belts 1 are installed in two stages. The driver has to move forward the vehicle approximate Vz of the tyre circumference. (47) In this preferred embodiment the Snow Belts 1 are attached to the Rim 4 using a hook system. (48) In this preferred embodiment, the Snow Belts 1 are attached to the Rim 4 using a padded hip system.

Claims (8)

1. Claims

   1. An Automatic System to Install and remove Snow Belts on vehicle tyres.
2. 2. The System of Claim 1 wherein the Snow Belts are manufactured of extendable materials to enable a tied attachment to the tyres.
3. 3. The system of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the Snow Belts are installed on single tyres (small vehicles).
4. 4. The system of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the Snow Belts are installed on single tyres and double rear tyres (large vehicles).
5. 5. The system of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the Snow Belts are attached on the sides of the rims using a padded hip attachment.
6. 6. The system of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the Snow Belts are attached on the edges of the rims using a hook attachment.
7. 7. The system of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the Snow Belts are installed on Group Mode.
8. 8. The system of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the Snow Belts are installed on Serial Mode.