US1232866A - Gripping device for tractor-wheels. - Google Patents

Description

D. S. & A. STEWART.

GRiPPlNG DEVICE FOR TRACTOR WHEELS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 24,196.

l ,%2,fi. Emma July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. S. & A. STEWART.

GRIPPINC DEVICE FOR TRACTOR WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1916.

1,28%,8560 Patented July 10, 1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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DAVID s. srnwartr, or 'anrieo, Ann ALEXANDER STEWART, or ciinv'roivvrrtn,

. WISCONSIN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed July 24, 191'6. Serra liv d. 110l8'84.

To all whom itmay concern.

Be it known that we, DAVI S. STEWART and ALEXANDER STEWART, both citizens of the United States, and residents of An'tigo, in the county of Langlade and State of Wisconsin, and of Clintonville, in the county of lVaupa-ca and State of l/Visconsin, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gripping Devices for Tractor-VVheels; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in gripping devices for wheels and is more particularly directed to the provision of a device adapted to be used in connection with types of wheels having transversely fiat tread 'portionssuch as are found on most types of tractors.

Flat-tread tractor wheels are usually provided with transverse ribs or calks to procure a gripping engagement with the ground and inasmuch as these ribs or calks are rigidly attached, accumulations of mud or other matter accumulate and pack about the ribs or calks to such an extent as to effectively lessen their gripping function.

To overcome this disadvantage it is the object of the present invention to provide a gripping means which may be secured on the tread of a wheel in a loose manner so as to have longitudinal sliding movement .on the wheel whereby upon propulsion oi the vehicle the device will be moved or will creep on the tread of the wheel to dislodge mud or ice or other matter which might be come associated therewith, wherehy clogging of the gripping means to possibly pre vent its eflicient operation is prevented.

It is further an object to provide a gripping means of this nature which is of an exceedingly simple structure and which may be readily attached to or detached from a wheel.

A still further object is to provide such a gripping means having certain of its parts relatively adjustable whereby the gripping means may be associated with the wheel in a manner whereby a variation of numbers and arrangement of gripping elements may be procured to thus adapt the gripping means for use under differing conditions.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, ar-

rangementand formation of parts more particularly hereinafter described and more shoiving another rorm'orthe improved gripping device wherein a variation of the ar i-arn'genent of the gripping elements upon the wheel tread may be procured.

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view on the line i i of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5 is a plan ,view showing another form of our improved gripping device, with parts breken away 'to illustrate the details of construction more clearly.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. land 2 of the accompanying drawings, 5 designates the tread portion of a tractor or similar wheel wherein the tread portion is transversely hat and is provided with side edge portions which may slic ably engage with a hook member formingpart oi the present structure. The improved gripping device comprises aseriesof U-shaped p ates 6 the arms of which. are spaced apart a distancegreaterthah the width of the tread rim of the wheel and these plates are each provided the free end of one arm with a pair of openings 7 which are engaged the end links of chain 'sections 8, the U- s'haped plates comprising substantially hooks carried by the chain sections whereby the structure may be described as 'comprising a flexible member having oppositely disposed hook portlons at spaced intervals.

Figs. 3 and i illustrate a somewhat differ ent form of the invention wherein a single chain is utilized and wherein the hook members are detachably engageable with the chain to thus provide for adjustment of the relation of the elements when disposed on a wheel.

In this structure Ll-shaped hook plates 6 similar to the plates 6, are provided and one side of each plate is provided with a longitudinally elongated button 9, having its shank disposed at the free end of the sideof the plate. Associated with these hook members is a chain comprising alternate cir- 7 chain and upon hooking the plates at the sides of the tread, their detachment is prevented.

In applying either form of the device, it is placed on a wheel with the hook plates 6 or 6 engaging respective side edges of the tread in staggered relation, as shown, the length of the device being sufficient to extend about the periphery of the wheel and the device is secured in place by connecting end chain sections in any desired manner and inasmuch as any connecting means may be employed with the present invention, no specific means is shown for that purpose. The device is thus-secured on the wheel so that it may slide or creep thereabout, and thus in propulsion of the wheel, the device moves or creeps thereon and this creeping movement serves to free the chain sections and hooks fromthe lodgment of mud or snow or other matter which would tend to clog the same and impair their gripping efiiciency.

Reverting now to the structure of Figs. 3 and 4 it is noted that inasmuch as the hook plates 6 may be selectively engaged with desired links 10, a variation of the angles, at which the strips of chain between the hook members extend with respect to the tread may be procured, and consequently a variation of the amount or the length of chain and of the number of hook members provided on the wheel may be varied, to provide a variation of the gripping action exerted by the present device to meet difi'ering conditions. Also in connection with this structure it is noted that the heads of the button 9 project to form additional calk members.

An exceedingly simple device has thus its creeping movement. shoe also serves to incase the master link 10 5, the U-shaped hook-plate 6 is provided with a head having a rear overhang 9 and a forwardly and downwardly extended foot 12, which foot is adapted to have sliding contact with the surface of the wheel rim and thus prevent the hook from cramping in Furthermore, this whereby it is impossible to cause the same to become disconnected.

We claim:

1. The combination with a wheel rim of a plurality of securing members freely slidable along opposite edges of the rim, a chain laced backward and forward from the securing means on one side to the opposite side 1 and around the periphery of the wheel, and

means for adjusta'bly securing the chain to the securing means whereby the length of stretches of chain between the adjacent securing means may be varied .to thus vary the circumferential distance between the securing means.

2. The combination with a wheel rim of a plurality of U -shaped hooks adapted to loosely embrace the opposite edges of the rim and slidable therealong, buttons on the ends of the outer legs of the hooks including head portions extending inwardly of the hooks with respect to the rim and a chain for connecting said hooks having links adapted to engage onsaid buttons upon insertion of the body of the hooks therethrough whereby when said hooks are disposed on the rim said chain is held from possible'displacement from the buttons.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at Clintonville, in the county of Waupaca and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

' D. S. STEWART.

ALEX STEWART. Witnesses: V

R. .T. DAvrsoN, A. W. SCHMIEDEKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. r

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