JPH0540004U - Tire chain - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a tire chain that is basically made of metal, but is extremely easy to mount as compared with conventional ones, and that is excellent in durability, light weight, and storability. [Structure] The chain inner member has a certain degree of shape-retaining property and a certain degree of flexibility, and the chain outer member is composed of two ropes divided into approximately half circumferences. The inner member of the chain is turned into the inside of the tire to be mounted, and the both ends are lifted from the outside of the tire,
The hooks at both ends of the inner member of the chain are connected to each other in a generally conventional manner of the tire. Hooks are provided at both ends of the two ropes of the chain outer member, and short hooks are attached to the hooks at both ends of the one rope. Each of these short ropes is wound several times between the hooks to be connected, and then the tip ring is hooked on one of the hooks.
The chain inner member is also configured by connecting two wires that are divided into approximately half circumferences, and not only the storability and portability but also the durability of the chain inner member is improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a tire chain, and more particularly to a metal tire chain that is easy to install and has excellent durability.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, various tire chains have been proposed. In recent years, rubber and net-shaped tire chains have been developed, but considering the grip performance when traveling on an icy road, there is nothing better than metal tire chains.

Since the manufacture of spiked tires has been totally banned in Japan recently, studless tires have become widespread as winter tires. Studless tires are inherently inferior in grip performance on icy roads, so improvements have been made to the rubber compound etc. to improve this performance, but it is possible to obtain sufficient grip performance especially when climbing uphill on icy roads. Can not. Therefore, it is expected that it will become common sense to use studless tires together with a tire chain depending on the road surface condition in future winter road surface running. Metal tire chains, which have excellent grip performance on icy roads, are the most suitable method for using such tire chains.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the biggest drawback of conventional metal tire chains is that they are difficult to attach to the tires of automobiles, and if an unfamiliar user tries to attach them, it takes several minutes to ten minutes, and sometimes tens of minutes. was there.

One of the reasons why the conventional metal tire chain is difficult to mount is that the work of connecting both ends of the inner chain, which is mounted in a ring shape inside the tire, is extremely difficult. .. That is, if you want to install a tire chain without jacking up the wheels, you must first connect both ends of the inner chain, but there is only a small gap between the tire house of the car and the wheels. It was extremely difficult to connect both ends of the inner chain by putting a hand in the meantime, and the posture at the time of mounting was quite unreasonable, and the hands and clothes were often soiled.

For the purpose of facilitating the connecting work of both ends of the inner chain, for example, this connecting work is performed on the outer side of the tire, and then the entire tire chain is attached to the tire from the outer side of the tire. Made tire chains are also proposed. This type of tire chain seems to be easy to install, but the inner chain will be installed near the outer diameter of the tire, so the inner chain will come into contact with the ground when driving, and the inner chain caused by frictional heat will There is a great possibility that this will result in early disconnection. If the inner chain is cut, the cut end not only damages the vehicle body such as the tire house, but also has a great risk of being entangled with the axle and making it impossible to run or hindering braking. Therefore, in practice, after covering the entire tire chain with the tire and turning the inner chain inside the tire, additional means for tightening the inner chain to reduce the diameter in its installed state is required. On the contrary, the mounting becomes troublesome.

Since the work of connecting both ends of the outer chain can be performed on the outside of the tire, there is no difficulty as in the work of connecting both ends of the inner chain described above. However, a considerable amount of force is required in the work of connecting both ends of the outer chain, and the excess tip after connection is fixed near the connection part or a rubber band for tightening is used. It was necessary to use fingertips for work such as wearing, and it was quite difficult in severe cold.

Further, the tightening force (centripetal force) due to the rubber band does not actually perform the tightening action when the vehicle is running at a certain speed, because the rubber band is stretched by losing the centrifugal force caused by the wheel rotation. For this reason, if the tire chain is not attached with a considerable amount of binding force from the beginning, regardless of whether the rubber band is attached or not, the tire chain will float up from the tire during running and will spin around, resulting in loss of desired grip. Will end up. However, due to the various circumstances described above, it was very difficult to mount the conventional metal tire chain with a necessary and sufficient binding force.

Further, the conventional metal tire chain can be used only in a specific size corresponding to the tire size, and there is a problem that the applicability to the tire size is poor.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 Therefore, the present inventor has conducted research and experiment in view of the above problems in the conventional metal tire chain, and as a result, the chain inner member is provided with a certain degree of shape retention and a certain degree of flexibility so that Mounting is facilitated, and the chain outer side member is divided into two parts, and by connecting the two connecting ends while tightening using ropes, it is possible to easily install with a slight force and tightening after mounting. We found that it was possible to eliminate the need for additional tightening work, and filed a utility model registration application for this on July 19, 1991. The present invention relates to the improvement of the invention of this earlier application, and further aims to improve the storability and durability.

That is, the present invention provides a chain inner member to be annularly mounted on the inside of a tire, a chain outer member to be annularly mounted on the outside of a tire, and a chain inner member and a chain outer member. In a tire chain consisting of a large number of metal grounding members that are connected to each other at required intervals, (1) the chain inner member is formed of a material having some shape retention and some flexibility. It is made by connecting the inner members of the book, and the inner retaining members are attached to both ends of the book, and lift up the vicinity of both ends of the chain inner member that has been turned inside the tire to be mounted from the outside of the tire. The chain inner member is mounted by connecting the inner locking members to each other substantially above the tire, and (2) the chain outer member has a substantially half circumference. Each of the outer members is divided into two outer members, the first and second outer retaining members are attached to both ends of one outer member, and the first and second outer retaining members are attached to both ends of the other outer member. A third and a fourth outer hooking member, which should face the second outer hooking member, are attached, respectively, and one of the first and third outer hooking members and the second and fourth outer hooks are attached. A rope-shaped member having a ring-shaped tip is attached to one of the hook members, and the rope-shaped member is connected to the first and third outer hook members and the second and fourth outer hook members. The tire chain is characterized in that the chain outer member is mounted by winding the member around the member several times and then hooking the distal end annular portion of the member with one outer locking member.

[0012]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 shows a deployed state of a tire chain according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the tire chain is shown as drawing a slight arc shape, but as will be apparent from the later description, it is actually developed into a substantially ring shape drawing an arc of at least 180 ° or more. To do.

The chain inner member 1 formed by connecting two wires of substantially equal length by the connecting means 19 needs to be formed of a material having both required shape retention and required flexibility. Yes, for example, one or several steel wires having a diameter of 2 to 3 mm and one lead steel wire are used in parallel, or a piano steel wire having a diameter of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm is used. The chain inner member 1 can be formed by combining 10 to 10, for example, 7 pieces. Further, as in the configuration example of the chain grounding member 3 (FIG. 3), if a steel wire core material coated with a coil spring is used as the chain inner member 1, the required element intended by the present invention is obtained. It is particularly preferable because it has both the shape-retaining property and the required flexibility and exhibits an effect of excellent strength and durability. Reference numeral 2 denotes a tube made of metal or synthetic resin (for example, urethane or vinyl chloride) of a certain length, which encloses the inner member 1 of the chain in a parallel state to protect it from contact with the outside and corrosion, and It acts as a spacer for the ground member 3. As described above, configuring the chain inner member 1 by arranging a plurality of wires in parallel means that even if one of them is cut due to metal fatigue or other causes, the chain inner member is Since the cut wire is stored inside the protective tube 2, there is no risk of damaging the vehicle body due to the cut end being swung along with the wheel rotation. Hooks 4 and 5 which can be hooked to each other are fixed to both ends of the chain inner member 1.

The chain outer member is composed of two ropes 6 and 7 of substantially equal length. These ropes may be synthetic fiber ropes such as nylon used for general cargo handling, and it has been confirmed that even such ropes have sufficient durability to be used as a chain outer member. Hooks 8 and 9 are fixed to both ends of one rope 6, and similar hooks 10 and 11 are also fixed to both ends of the other rope 7. The hooks 8 and 9 are associated with relatively short ropes 12 and 14 having ring-shaped tips 13 and 15, respectively. The short ropes 12 and 14 are tied to the hooks 8 and 9 so as not to be easily detached, but if they are pulled with a certain amount of force or more, they can be pulled out through the gap between the hooks 8 and 9. It is easy to replace if damaged. The short length ropes 12 and 14 may be of the same quality as the ropes 6 and 7, but it is preferable that they have a slightly smaller diameter in order to facilitate mounting work. For example, nylon ropes having a diameter of about 8 mm are used as the ropes 6 and 7, and nylon ropes having a diameter of about 5.5 mm are used as the short length ropes 12 and 14.

The two divided chain outer members are not limited to fiber material ropes, and may be made of steel wire similar to the chain inner member 1, but mainly for weight reduction and transportability and work. In order to improve the property, it is preferable to use the rope as in this embodiment.

A large number of chain grounding members 3 are connected between the chain inner member 1 and the chain outer members (ropes) 6 and 7 at a required interval. Although the chain grounding members 3 arranged in a ladder shape are shown in the present embodiment, they may be arranged in a hexagonal shape or other arrangement state.

The method of mounting the tire chain configured as described above will be described below. First, the tire chain is turned inside the tire 20 (FIG. 2) to be mounted. Since the chain inner member 1 is formed of a steel wire having a certain shape-retaining property, it retains its original shape, that is, a shape close to a ring even in the deployed state. Since the two ropes 6 and 7 constituting the chain outer member can be freely bent and bent, the arrangement state of the tire chain as a whole at this stage depends on the shape or arrangement state of the chain inner member. That is, the tire chain is in a state in which the lower side of the axle (not shown) of the wheel is apex and both sides thereof are deployed in a substantially semicircular shape toward the outside of the wheel. Therefore, in this state, both ends of the chain inner member 1 are located laterally (in the forward or backward direction of the vehicle) of the tire 20 or on the outer side thereof, so that the portions near both ends of the chain inner member 1 can be easily moved upward with both hands. Can be lifted to. Then, by utilizing the required flexibility of the steel wire of the chain inner member 1, the portions near both ends of the lifted chain inner member 1 are passed through the gap between the tire 20 and the tire house (not shown). , Pulling the tire 20 outward. At this time, the substantially central portion of the chain inner member 1 located below the tire 20 abuts the axle of the wheel, but due to its flexibility, it easily bends into an elliptical shape. Can be positioned substantially above the tire 20, and the hooking work can be easily performed while visually checking.

After hooking the hooks 4 and 5 at both ends of the chain inner member 1 in this manner, the chain outer member is connected. First, above the tire 20, the hook 8 at one end of the rope 6 and the hook 11 at one end of the rope 7 are connected using the short rope 12 tied to the hook 8. For details, hook the short rope 12 on the hook 11 on the opposite side, hook it on the hook 8 to which it is tied, and repeat this several times as many times as necessary to wind it between the hooks 8 and 11. 13 is passed through either one of these hooks 8 and 11 to be hooked. The same work is performed below the tire 20 between the hook 9 at the other end of the rope 6 and the hook 10 at the other end of the rope 7 by winding the short rope 14 and hooking the annular tip 15 thereof. ..

The above completes the mounting of the tire chain. FIG. 2 shows a mounted state. When the short ropes 12 and 14 are normally wound, it is sufficient to make a few turns between the hooks. According to the experiment, even a person who has never worn a tire chain in the past can wear the tire for about 10 to 20 seconds, which is extremely short compared to the conventional metal tire chain. It was confirmed that it could be worn in time. Further, in the case of the tire chain of the present invention, by using the short length ropes 12 and 14, it is possible to give a sufficient tightening force even with a comparatively small force, so that another means (for example, a rubber band) is used after the attachment. There is almost no need to further tighten the tightening force, or tighten the tightening after running a certain distance. Furthermore, since the inner member of the chain is made of a material that has some shape retention and some flexibility, it is extremely easy to connect both ends of it, but the inner diameter is sufficiently large compared to the tire diameter. Since it can be mounted on the side, it does not touch the road surface while driving, improving durability.

The tire chain of the present invention is easy to remove. That is, contrary to the case of the above attachment, first, the short length ropes 12 and 14 are detached from the hooks 8, 11 and 9, 10 to release the connected state of the ropes 6 and 7, which are the outer members of the chain, and then the inner side of the chain. It suffices to lift the member 1 as a whole upward so that the connecting portions of the hooks 4 and 5 at both ends thereof are located above the tire, and the hooked state between the hooks 4 and 5 is released. It is advisable to use the short length rope 12 of a prominent color such as red or yellow, or to premark it appropriately. In this way, when the automobile is stopped at a position where the short rope 12 is substantially above the tire and the tire chain is removed, when the outer ropes 6 and 7 are removed, the hook connecting portion of the chain inner member is removed. Is located substantially above the tire, which makes it easier to remove the hooks 4 and 5.

Further, in the present invention, the two wires are connected by the connecting means 19 such as a hook to form the chain inner member 1, so that the storage and portability of the tire chain are significantly improved. .. That is, since the chain inner member 1 is formed of a material having the required shape-retaining property as described above, there are some difficulties in the storability and portability thereof, and therefore the chain inner member 1 is divided into two parts and connected. By connecting via the means 19 in a disengageable or non-disengageable state, it is possible to fold and store in a semicircular shape when not in use.

Further, when various tire chains including the one of the above-mentioned prior application by the applicant were subjected to durability test, the portion where the disconnection first occurs after running for a long time with the chain attached is the engagement of the chain inner member. It was found that the hooks (4, 5) were concentrated almost at the opposite positions, and metal fatigue was concentrated at these points. In the tire chain of the present invention, the chain inner member 1 is divided into two wires of substantially equal length, which are used by connecting means 19 at substantially opposite positions of the hooks 4 and 5. Therefore, the concentration of metal fatigue can be suppressed by the relatively free movement of the connecting means 19, and as a result, the durability of the chain inner member 1 can be significantly improved.

In this embodiment, a new structure is also adopted for the grounding member 3 of the chain. The grounding members of conventional metal tire chains are generally made by connecting iron chains in series.However, such chain grounding members are extremely uncomfortable due to the vibration and noise when running on a snow-free road surface. However, not only was the road surface damaged significantly, but when running on a snow-free road surface at a speed of, for example, about 50 km / hour, it was cut off at several tens of kilometers, resulting in poor durability. Further, metal fatigue occurs at the connecting portion of the chain grounding member, and there is a problem in durability also in this respect. The structure of the chain grounding member proposed in this embodiment solves these problems all at once, and as shown in FIG. 3, each grounding member 3 has one core member having a relatively small diameter. 16 is surrounded by a protection spring 17, and a large number of ring members 18 are arranged on the outer side of the protection spring 17 in a substantially close contact state.

The core material 16 is made of, for example, a steel wire having a diameter of about 3 mm. The protection spring 17 is capable of expanding and contracting in the length direction and is excellent in flexibility, so that as shown in FIG. 2, a good contact state is secured along the radial circumferential surface of the tire and unevenness of the road surface is ensured. Also exhibits excellent followability. In the illustrated example, a coil spring made of round steel is used as the protective spring 17, but the protective spring 17 is preferably a flat steel having a width of about 2 to 3 mm and a thickness of about 0.5 to 1 mm. It is obtained by spirally winding so that the diameter is about 5 to 6 mm. By using flat steel, a substantially flat outer peripheral surface can be provided, and unwanted friction with the ring member 18 during traveling is avoided. The ring member 18 can be easily obtained by cutting a coil spring wound with a round steel wire for each turn, but preferably, the joints of the ring members 18 are solidly joined without any discrepancy and are substantially seamless. The perfect ring shape provides a good friction relationship with the protective spring 17. The outer diameter of the ring member 18 is about 10 mm, and a gap of about 0.2 to 0.5 mm exists between the ring member 18 and the protection spring 17.

When the chain grounding member 3 having such a structure is used, as a result of an experimental run, practical use is not impaired even when running on a snow-free road surface for 600 km or more at a speed of about 60 km / hour, and extremely durable. It was confirmed to be excellent. This is because the members that are in direct contact with the road surface are composed of a large number of ring members 18 that can move independently and are arranged in a non-connected state. Metal fatigue does not accumulate. In addition, in the chain grounding member 3, since the elasticity and flexibility of the intermediate coil spring 17 allows the individual ring members 18 to have a large degree of freedom of movement and follow irregularities on the road surface, Even when traveling on a snowy road surface, the road surface is hardly damaged. Further, even when traveling on an icy road surface, the individual ring members 18 independently move while exhibiting the road surface condition and exert a grip force, so that the same performance as or better than a conventional metal chain is exhibited. ..

[0026]

[Effect of the device]

 The tire chain of the present invention is extremely easy to install, yet has excellent grip performance on ice and snow roads, improved durability, and is lightweight and easy to handle. Further, since it is easy to replace each assembly that constitutes the tire chain, the life can be further extended by replacing the damaged assembly, which is extremely excellent in practical effects. Furthermore, since the chain inner member is divided into two parts and these are connected and used at a location that is substantially opposite to the hooks, the storability and portability are greatly improved, and the durability is further improved. Can also contribute.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a developed state of a tire chain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state where the tire chain is attached to a tire.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a configuration of a grounding member of this tire chain.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Chain inner member 2 Protective tube 3 Grounding member 4 Hook 5 Hook 6 Chain outer member (rope) 7 Chain outer member (rope) 8 Hook 9 Hook 10 Hook 11 Hook 12 Short rope 13 Loop end 14 Short rope 15 Ring tip 16 core Material 17 Protective spring 18 Ring member 19 Connecting means 20 Tire

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A chain inner member to be annularly mounted on the inside of a tire, a chain outer member to be annularly mounted on the outside of a tire, and a required space between the chain inner member and the chain outer member. A tire chain composed of a plurality of metal grounding members arranged and connected to each other, (1) The inner member of the chain comprises two inner members made of a material having a certain shape retention and a certain flexibility. The inner hook members are attached to both ends of the chain, and the both ends of the chain inner member that has been turned into the inside of the tire to be mounted are lifted from the outside of the tire and above the tire. It is configured to connect the inner hooking members to each other so as to mount the chain inner member, and (2) the chain outer member is divided into approximately half halves. The outer member is formed of outer members, and the first and second outer retaining members are attached to both ends of one outer member, and the first and second outer retaining members are opposite to both ends of the other outer member, respectively. 3rd and 4th outer side locking members to be attached are attached, and the tip is respectively attached to either of said 1st and 3rd outer side locking members or said 2nd and 4th outer side locking members. Is attached to the first and third outer hooking members and the second and fourth outer hooking members several times, and then the tip end is ring-shaped. A tire chain, characterized in that the chain outer member is mounted by hooking a portion on one outer hook member.