GB1580829A - Tyre chains - Google Patents

Abstract

The tyre chain is composed of chain links (1, 2) which are arranged upright and, respectively, horizontally and form meshes composed in each case of four chain links (1) which are arranged upright and are joined to one another by a chain link (2) which is arranged horizontally. The mesh area bounded by adjacent junction points (4) and the free link-aperture area bounded by the chain link (2) which is arranged horizontally and is elongate, are essentially of the same size. By this means, uniform wear of the tyre is achieved. Due to the elongate design of the chain links (2) forming the junction points (4) a considerable saving in chain links is achieved for a given chain length. The tyre chain is of a low weight, as a result of which small centrifugal forces and only a low degree of inner wear of the tyre chain occur during driving. The elongate chain links (2) rotate with their longitudinal axis in each case in the direction of the main force component, as a result of which a self-tightening effect is achieved. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) TYRE CHAINS (71) We, EISEN--UND DRAHT WERK ERLAU AKTIENGESELL SCHAFT, a Company of the Federal Republic of Germany, of 16 Erlau, 7080 Aalen, Würt- temberg, Federal Republic of Germany do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a tyre chain in the form of a network of interconnected chain links which define a plane of the chain, comprising first links which lie in said plane and define open areas or meshes therebetween, each of said first links being connected to others of said first links by second links lying perpendicular to said plane.

In known tyre chains of this type the open area bounded by adjacent ones of the first links is substantially larger than the open area enclosed by each first chain link. Thereby the tyre chain in the region of the first links has only a small opening so that the chain in this region of the tyre chain is protected from damage and premature wear. However the openings formed by the meshes between the first links are substantially larger, so that in these regions of the tyre chain the tyre, for example, with continuous driving on stony ground as, for example, in the case in mining or quarrying, can easily become damaged or prematurely worn. Therefore with such a tyre chain the tyre may become irregularly worn.

The invention is based on the problem of designing a tyre chain of this type such that a tyre fitted with the tyre chain may become regularly worn.

According to the invention therefore, each open area or mesh bounded by adjacent ones of said first links is substantially equal to the open area of one of said adjacent first links, and each of said first links is elongate with its major axis parallel with the longitudinal direction of the chain.

In consequence of the construction according to the invention the tyre chain has over its whole length and width respectively substantially equal openings formed by and between the first links. Thereby a uniform wear of the chain can be achieved so that the life of the chain with substantially equal areas formed by and between the first links can be substantially increased. The tyre chain according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for use on stony ground as it ensures under such conditions an optimum protection of the chain.

The invention will now be described further by way of Example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows, in a purely diagrammatic manner, a part of a tyre chain according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a part of a second form of a tyre chain according to the invention; and Fig. 3 shows a part of a third form of a tyre chain according to the invention.

The tyre chain of Fig. 1 has first chain links 2 and second chain links 1 which define a plane of the chain and are arranged alternately and form a network. The second links 1 lie perpendicularly to the plane of the chain and the first links 2 lie within such plane. Each second chain link 1 is formed having a bridge-piece member having a wear side which widens from opposite ends of the bridge-piece member continuously in the direction of the centre thereof so that the wear side has its greatest width approximately mid way along the length of the bridge-piece member. The first chain links 2 of the tyre chain are formed respectively by oblong chain links the longitudinal axes 5 of which lie in the longitudinal direction of the chain, arrow 6. Each oblong chain link 2 encloses an oblong hole and has two chain link sections 7 and 8 running parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axes 5, which chain link sections provide respectively sides of two open areas or meshes 3. On each oblong chain link 2, four bridge-piece containing second links 1 engage. When the tyre chain is tensioned these bridge-piece containing links 1 lie respectively at transitions between the straight chain link sections 7 and 8 and further chain link sections 9 and 10 interconnecting these.

The mesh sides 11 to 18 of each mesh are provided by four bridge-piece containing links 1 and by the straight link sections 7, 8 of two oblong first chain links 2 lying opposite one another crosswise to the longitudinal direction 6 of the chain, and by the curved chain link sections 9, 10 of two oblong first chain links 2 lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the chain. In consequence of this construction each mesh has an approximately rectangular shape - the: corners of which are bevelled by the pro jecting bridge-pieces of second links 1. In consequence of the special construction of the wear sides of the bridge-pieces of second links 1 these project at their widest parts into the mesh openings whilst their end sections 20, 21 project only slightly into the link opening 19 of the chain links 2.

In consequence of the arrangement of oblong first chain links of the tyre chain it is achieved that the open area or mesh 3 bounded by adjacent first links 2, and the open area 19 of a first link 2, which is the area of the link opening less the area of end sections 21 and 20 respectively of the bridge-pieces of second links 1 projecting into this link opening, are substantially of equal size. These openings of the tyre chain may, according to the size of the oblong first chain links 2 and the second links 1, be selected larger or smaller. In the embodiment shown purely diagrammaticallly in Fig. 1 adjacent oblong first chain links 2 are connected to one another by a bridge-piece containing second link 1 so that a narrow mesh chain net results which ensures that the tyre chain affords a high degree of protection. In the longitudinal direction of the chain, arrow 6, and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the chain, the meshes 3 and the link openings 19 alternate.

By the use of oblong first link chains, in comparison with the known type of chains in which these first links are ring links, a considerable saving of chain links can be achieved. In particular with the oblong chain links as shown in Fig. 1 arranged in the chain such that their longitudinal axes 5 lie parallel to the longitudinal direction 6 of the chain a considerably smaller number of chain links for a given chain length is necessary so that the manufacturing costs of the tyre chain can be substantially reduced. In addition to the saving in chain links, a considerable saving in weight compared with known tyre chains with circular first chain links can be achieved, amounting to 30%. In consequence of the smaller number of chain links for a given length of chain, the tyre chain can be assembled and welded in a shorter time which has a substantially favourable influence on the manufacturing costs.

In consequence of the small weight of the tvre chain, high centrifugal forces such as tend to lift the tyre chain away from the tyre may not occur. The tyre chain described above can lie securely on the tyre and this ensures a high degree of protection.

The oblong chain links have, compared with circular chain links, the great advantage that they can withstand substantially higher traction forces than the corresponding circular chain links. As the tyre chain is appreciably stressed in use by traction this advantage of oblong chain link is particularly favourable.

Inner wear of the tyre chain, in consequence of the lighter weight of the tyre chain, in consequence of the small centrifugal forces due to such small weight, and in consequence of the use of oblong chain links, is considerably reduced so that the life of the tyre chain is substantially increased. This is of great advantage for the user as the tyre chain may have a working life three to five times greater than that of the tyre. The inner wear is in addition reduced because the chain has less first links so that, in a predetermined period, the tyre chain becomes less extended and thereby does not have to be re-tensioned so frequently.

With the tyre chain according to Fig. 1 the distance 24 between first links 2 adjacent one mesh 3 lying opposite one another measured cross-wise to the longitudinal direction of the chain, arrow 6, is smaller than the distance 23 between two first links of the same mesh lying opposite one another measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain. In addition the inner dimension 22 of the oblong first chain link 2 measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain is substantially equal to the distance 25 between two bridge pieces of second links of a mesh lying opposite one another. Thereby the mesh opening has approximately the same form of outline as the first link opening.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the first chain links 2a extending in the chain plane, are of elliptical shape and are connected to one another by second chain links la lying perpendicular to the chain plane. These chain links la are formed by wear rings each having a link opening in which are suspended two elliptical chain links 2a. With this embodiment four wear rings la engage each elliptical chain link 2a. The mesh or open area 3a bounded by adjacent first links 2a is substantially equal to the open area of the first chain link 2a, which link open area corresponds to the area of the link opening 19a of the elliptical chain link 2a less the area of the end sections 20a, 21a of the wear rings la projecting into this opening. The meshes 3a and thus the mesh sides Ila, 13a, 15a, 17e are bounded substantially by the elliptical chain links 2a. With this embodiment the elliptical chain links 2a have only a small distance from one another so that a very narrow mesh chain net results.

The wear rings la project only a little into the link opening 19a of the elliptical chain link 2a and form in practice the corners of the mesh area.

A tyre chain according to Fig. 2 is in other respects formed the same as the tyre chain according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment in which oblong chain links 2b are connected directly to one another by wear rings ib. As the wear rings ib, which form links perpendicular to the plane of the chain, are comparatively short and the inner diameter of the wear ring lb is only slightly greater than twice the diameter of the oblong shaped chain links 2b, the chain links connected to one another by a wear ring lie only a short distance away from one another. Therefore the meshes 3b and the mesh sides lib, 13b, 15b, 17b are formed substantially only by the oblong shaped chain links 2b. In this embodiment also the area of mesh 3b bounded by adjacent first links 2b is substantially equal to the open area of the chain link 2b, which open area corresponds to the area of the link opening 19b less the area of the end sections 20b, 21b of the wear rings ib projecting into the link opening. Corresponding to the foregoing embodiments the mesh width 24b is smaller than the mesh length 23b whereby the mesh surface has approximately a rectangular outline with rounded narrow sides. In addition the inner dimension 22b of the oblong chain link 2b as measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain, corresponding to the two foregoing embodiments, is substantially equal to the inner dimension 25b between two wear rings ib of a mesh 3b lying opposite one another which forms one of the two diagonals of the mesh. The embodiment to Fig. 3 has, like the previous embodiment, in the region of the first links as well as also in the region of the mesh, substantially the same size of openings so that a uniform wear and tear thereof and uniform wear of the tyre is ensured.

For the chain links which are perpendicular to the plane of the chain any bridge-piece shaped link and gripping ring shape may be used. Furthermore the tyre chain may be of rhomboidal, honeycomb shape or similar mesh shapes. The side chains and the tension members of the tyre chain may consist of the same chain links as the tread of the tyre chain, namely oblong first chain links and second chain links connecting these. The tyre chain consists then in an advantageous manner only of two different chain link shapes.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tyre chain in the form of a network of interconnected chain links which define a plane of the chain, comprising first links which lie in said plane and define open areas or meshes therebetween, each of said first links being connected to others of said first links by second links lying perpendicular to said plane, characterised in that each open area or mesh bounded by adjacent ones of said first links is substantially equal to the open area of one of said adjacent first links, and each of said first links is elongate with its major axis parallel with the longitudinal direction of said tyre chain.

2. A tyre chain according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner dimension of a first link measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain is substantially equal to the inner dimension measured between two second links of a mesh lying opposite one another.

3. A tyre chain according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first links are elliptical.

4. A tyre chain according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said second links are formed by bridge-piece containing links and/or rings.

5. A tyre chain according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the distance between adjacent first links of a mesh lying opposite one another measured crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the chain is smaller than the distance between adjacent first links of a mesh lying opposite one another measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain.

6. A tyre chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The wear rings la project only a little into the link opening 19a of the elliptical chain link 2a and form in practice the corners of the mesh area. A tyre chain according to Fig. 2 is in other respects formed the same as the tyre chain according to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment in which oblong chain links 2b are connected directly to one another by wear rings ib. As the wear rings ib, which form links perpendicular to the plane of the chain, are comparatively short and the inner diameter of the wear ring lb is only slightly greater than twice the diameter of the oblong shaped chain links 2b, the chain links connected to one another by a wear ring lie only a short distance away from one another. Therefore the meshes 3b and the mesh sides lib, 13b, 15b, 17b are formed substantially only by the oblong shaped chain links 2b. In this embodiment also the area of mesh 3b bounded by adjacent first links 2b is substantially equal to the open area of the chain link 2b, which open area corresponds to the area of the link opening 19b less the area of the end sections 20b, 21b of the wear rings ib projecting into the link opening. Corresponding to the foregoing embodiments the mesh width 24b is smaller than the mesh length 23b whereby the mesh surface has approximately a rectangular outline with rounded narrow sides. In addition the inner dimension 22b of the oblong chain link 2b as measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain, corresponding to the two foregoing embodiments, is substantially equal to the inner dimension 25b between two wear rings ib of a mesh 3b lying opposite one another which forms one of the two diagonals of the mesh. The embodiment to Fig. 3 has, like the previous embodiment, in the region of the first links as well as also in the region of the mesh, substantially the same size of openings so that a uniform wear and tear thereof and uniform wear of the tyre is ensured. For the chain links which are perpendicular to the plane of the chain any bridge-piece shaped link and gripping ring shape may be used. Furthermore the tyre chain may be of rhomboidal, honeycomb shape or similar mesh shapes. The side chains and the tension members of the tyre chain may consist of the same chain links as the tread of the tyre chain, namely oblong first chain links and second chain links connecting these. The tyre chain consists then in an advantageous manner only of two different chain link shapes. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tyre chain in the form of a network of interconnected chain links which define a plane of the chain, comprising first links which lie in said plane and define open areas or meshes therebetween, each of said first links being connected to others of said first links by second links lying perpendicular to said plane, characterised in that each open area or mesh bounded by adjacent ones of said first links is substantially equal to the open area of one of said adjacent first links, and each of said first links is elongate with its major axis parallel with the longitudinal direction of said tyre chain.

2. A tyre chain according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner dimension of a first link measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain is substantially equal to the inner dimension measured between two second links of a mesh lying opposite one another.

3. A tyre chain according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first links are elliptical.

4. A tyre chain according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said second links are formed by bridge-piece containing links and/or rings.

5. A tyre chain according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the distance between adjacent first links of a mesh lying opposite one another measured crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the chain is smaller than the distance between adjacent first links of a mesh lying opposite one another measured in the longitudinal direction of the chain.

6. A tyre chain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.