US2811225A

US2811225A - Antiskid device

Info

Publication number: US2811225A
Application number: US380018A
Authority: US
Inventors: Truman B Van Norman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-09-14
Filing date: 1953-09-14
Publication date: 1957-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1957 ANTISKID DEVICE "3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1953 M N Tramah/B Z/czn/yarmm IN V EN TOR.

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l/anfl/afmm Oct. 29, 1957 T. B. VAN NORMAN ANTISKID DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 14, 1953 v INVENTOR.

INN T mmfl Van l/armn; BY 6 4 z ,60, M

2,81 l ,2 25 Patented Oct. 29, 1957 ANTISKID DEVICE Truman B. Van Norman, Naperville, Ill. Application September 14, 1953, Serial No. 380,018

6 Claims. (Cl. 1885) This invention relates to an antiskid device and more particularly to an antiskid device for use on vehicles.

It is the general object of the present invention to produce a new and improved antiskid device.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the provision of an antiskid device including a member mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft axis of a vehicle and movable from an elevated position downwardly into contact with the surface over which the vehicle is traveling, together with means for retarding the rotation of the member so as to apply a drag when the vehicle is skidding either to the right or left.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision in a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph of a surface on the member including means defining a plurality of grips so arranged as to dig into the surface to insure rotation of the member regardless of the direction of skid.

An additional feature of the present invention is the provision in a device of the character described in the preceding paragraph of remotely operable brake means for retarding rotation of the member.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an antiskid device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the antiskid device in raised position;

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 of the antiskid device in lowered position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the rotatable member portion of the antiskid device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view along line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view along line 77 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view along line 88 of Fig. 4.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

A number of various devices have heretofore been suggested for the prevention or reduction of vehicle skidding. One of the difiiculties previously encountered with devices of this nature was the tendency of such devices to break upon hitting an obstruction or rough spot in the surface over which the vehicle is traveling. Thus, for example, should the vehicle be traveling over an ice coated road and commence to skid, prior antiskid devices, when moved into engagement with the surface, were prone to snap off should a rough spot in the ice be encountered. Furthermore, previous antiskid devices, where rotatable members were employed, normally provided for rotation about an axis normal to the fore and aft line of the vehicle and were usually constructed and arranged as to apply the greatest counter-skid force when the skid was at its least, with the force being decreased with increasing magnitude of skid.

According to the present invention, however, there is provided an antiskid device including ribs or runners arranged to engage the surface over which the vehicle is traveling, with such ribs or runners being secured to a member mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft line of the vehicle. Thus, when the member is moved into contact with the surface, the resistance to the skid caused by engagement of the runners with the surface increases with the magnitude of the skid. Furthermore, inasmuch as the member is rotatable, breakage is prevented inasmuch as should a rough spot in the ice be encountered the member may rotate, thus relieving the strain on any runners or ribs engaging the surface. It will, of course, be understood that fore and aft line or axis coincides with the longitudinal axis.

The features and advantages previously referred 'to can be best understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a generally cylindrical member 10 mounted on a bracket 11 for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft line of the vehicle to which it is attached. The bracket is movable upwardly and downwardly in means, generally designated 12, forming a pair of parallel spaced webs'1 3 and 14. Linkage mechanism 16 interconnects the bracket 11 with a piston and cylinder device 17 for raising and lowering the bracket. 7

- The means 12 are rigidly secured to crosswise-extending frame members 20 of .the vehicle and the webs 13 and 14 include pairs of oppositely facing,

slanting slots

21 and 22. Slidable in the slots are

pins

23 and 24 secured to the top side 25 of the bracket 11.

A link 26 is pivotally connected at one end to a vertical side 27 of the bracket and at its other end to one end of a lever arm 28. The lever arm 28 is secured intermediate its ends to a rod 29 rotatably mounted in the webs 13 and 14 and at its other end is pivotally secured to a piston rod 30 secured to the piston in the device 17.

Preferably the piston and cylinder device is pneumatically operated and receives a supply of compressed air through a hose 31. Manually operable means may be provided for introducing compressed air under pressure into the hose 31 to operate the piston and cylinder device, thus to move, through the linkage system just described, the bracket 11 rearwardly (to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 2), thus causing the

pins

23 and 24 to travel downwardly in the

slots

21 and 22 lowering the bracket and hence the member 10 to a position wherein the member contacts the surface over which the vehicle is traveling.

Referring now to Figs. 5-8 inclusive, it will be seen that the member 10 includes a metal cylinder 40 closed at its ends by cup-like members 41 and 42 each journaled on a rod 43 secured at one end in the side plate 27 and at the other end to one side 44 of a U-shaped bracket 45, with the bracket 45 being secured to the underside of the bracket 11.

Secured to the exterior surface of' the cylinder 40 plurality of ribs 48 formed of material similar to the ribs 46.

It Wlll be noted that the first plurality of ribs 46 extends from the nose 47 only a part of the way toward the other end of the member 19 while the ribs 48 extend from the ends of the ribs 46 all the way to said other end of the member 19. It will also be noted from an examination of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, that the square rods forming the ribs 46 are not secured to the cylinder 40 so as to have a side tangent thereto, but rather are set on a slight angle, while the ribs48 are also angularly related to the cylinder 40 but are tilted in the opposite direction as the ribs 46. The purpose of this arrangement of the ribs is to insure that they will dig into the surface over which the vehicle is traveling when the vehicle is in a skid so as to apply. a definite rotative force to the member 10. Thus, the ribs 46', as shown in Fig. 6, will dig. into the surfaceStlover which the vehicle is traveling when the vehicle isskidding to the right as seen in that figure, thereby causing the member 10 to rotate. As the member rotates the next succeeding rib 46 is. brought into position: where it then will dig into the surface causing further rotation of. the member. Should the vehicle be skidding to'the. left, the ribs 46- would have a tendency merely to slide over the surface Withoutcausing the member 10 to rotate, but inasmuch as the ribs 48 are oppositely angulated relative to the member 10, they serve to rotate the member in a skid to the left in the samemanner as the ribs 46 operate when the vehicle isskidding'tothe right. i

It is clear that.if' the, member ltl'were perfectly free to rotate it would have very little tendency to reduce the amplitude of a skid, and therefore means are provided for retarding the rotation-of the member and thus to retard; the skid.

For this purpose there is provided. a brake means which includesan Hr-shaped member; (see Fig. having

sides

51 and 52 and a crosspiece- 53. Secured to the innerend; of the sides 5l and 52 is a brake disk 54 adapted to bear againsttheouter side of the cup-shaped member 42 upon movement of the H-shaped member to the left, as seen in Fig. 5. The

sides

51 and 52 are slidable in suitable slots formedjin the sides 44 and 44a of the bracket 45. A spring 55 is provided for constantly urging the H-shaped member to the right, that is in' a direction tending to separate. the disk 54 from the member 42, and means in the form of a cam 56 is provided. for urgingthe member in theopposite direction to bring the brake disk 54 into braking contactwith the. member 10. The cam 56 (see Figs. 4 and 5) is pivoted to a lug 57 secured to'the side 4400f. the bracket 4-5and is provided with an outwardly extending portion 58 pivotally secured to a rod 59 secured to the piston in a pneumatic piston and cylinder device 69. Air may be supplied to the piston and cylinder device 69 through a hose 61 from a source of air under pressure, which source may be the same as that supplying the piston and cylinderdevice' 17 and operated simultaneously therewith.

With the device of the present invention mounted on a, vehicle in the manner described,- should the vehicle begin to skid, the operator of the vehicle may actuate a manual lever sons to cause air under pressure to be introduced into the piston and cylinder devices 17 and 60. Actuation of the piston and cylinder device 17, through thelinkage system 16, causes thebracket 11 to move rearwardly and thus downwardly to bring the

ribs

46 and 48; of the member into contact with the surface over which the vehicle is traveling.

crates to move the rod 59 downwardly and thus move the.v H-shapedmember toward the member, 10 to bring the brake disk 54 into firm contact with the cup member' As theribs 46 and. 48' contact the surface over which of skid, thus exerting a retarding effect on the skid and tending to straighten the vehicle on its proper course. Should the runners or ribs meet with an obstruction which would otherwise tend to snap them off the member 10, the force of the meeting with the obstruction will be sufficient to overcome the resistance of the brake means described, thus permitting the member 10 to rotate, absorbing the shock and preventing damage to the device. Besides preventing damage to the device, the fact that the device may rotate tends to hold the car more firmly on the road inasmuch as the meeting with an obstruction merely causes the device to rotate without lifting the rear end of the car or lifting the device out of contact with the surface.

When the skid has been overcome reactuation of the manual valve means serves to introduce air under pressure into the opposite ends of the piston and cylinder devices 17 and 60 so as to release the brake and simultaneously raise the bracket 11 into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which position the device does not interfere with the normal operation of the vehicle. If desired, however, the device may be left in contact with the surface over which the vehicle is traveling, should such surface be dangerously icy, and if so operated acts to aid in preventing a skid from initiating and of course reacts immediately to reduce the magnitude of any skid.

I claim:

1. An antiskid device for vehicles comprising a bracket, means for securing said bracket to the frame of the vehicle for movement upwardly and downwardly relative thereto, a generally cylindrical member mounted on the rotationand said second-plurality of ribs each having edge portions arranged to dig into said surface when the vehicle is skidding in the other direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation, motor means mounted a 65 Simultaneously with 1 depression of the bracket 11 the piston and cylinder device 60, which is also attached to the bracket 11, op-- in an'elevatedposition on' the frame of the vehicle for lowering the bracket from an elevated position to bring said ribs into contact with said surface, and brake means for resisting rotation of the cylindrical member 2. An antiskid device for vehicles comprising a bracket,

means securedto the frame of the vehicle and forming.

a pair of parallel spaced webs having slanting slots there in, means for supporting the bracket between the webs including means engaging said slots, algenerally cylindrical member mounted on the bracket for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft line or the vehicle,

said memberhaving an outer portion formed of a first.

and a second plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the member, said first plurality of ribs each having.

tion to bring said ribs-into contact with said surface, and

brake means for resisting rotation-of themember.

cal member mounted on thebracketfor rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft line of the vehicle, said member having an outer portion formed of a first and a second plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the member, said first plurality of ribs each having edge portions arranged to dig into the surface over which the vehicle is traveling when the vehicle is skidding in one direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation and said second plurality of ribs each having edge portions arranged to dig into said surface when the vehicle is skidding in the other direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation, brake means for resisting rotation of the member, a piston and cylinder device, and means connecting the piston and cylinder device to the bracket and operable to move the bracket longitudinally of the webs upon actuation of said piston and cylinder device whereby said supporting means lowers the bracket from an elevated position to bring said ribs into contact with said surface.

4. An antiskid device for vehicles comprising a bracket, means secured to the frame of the vehicle and forming a pair of parallel spaced webs having slanting slots therein, means for supporting the bracket between the webs including means engaging said slots, a generally cylindrical member mounted on the bracket for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore and aft line of the vehicle, said member having an outer portion formed of a first and a second plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the member, said first plurality of ribs each having edge portions arranged to dig into the surface over which the vehicle is traveling when the vehicle is skidding in one direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation and said second plurality of ribs each having edge portions arranged to dig into said surface when the vehicle is skidding in the other direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation, brake means for resisting rotation of the member, a first piston and cylinder device for operating the brake means, a second piston and cylinder device, and means connecting said second piston and cylinder device to the bracket and operable to move the bracket longitudinally of the webs upon actuation of said second piston and cylinder device whereby said supporting means lowers the bracket from an elevated position to bring said ribs into contact with said surface.

5. An antiskid device for vehicles comprising a bracket, means for securing said bracket to the frame of the vehicle for movement upwardly and downwardly relative thereto, .a generally cylindrical member mounted on the bracket for rotation about an axis parallel to the fore" and aft line of the vehicle, said member having an outer portion formed of a first and a second plurality of ribs extending longitudinally of the member, said first plurality of ribs converging toward each other at one end of the member to form a pointed nose thereat, said first plurality of ribs extending from said end only a part of the distance toward the other end of the member with each of said first plurality of ribs having edge portions arranged to dig into the surface over which the vehicle is traveling when the vehicle is skidding in one direc- 'tion and thereby to urge the member toward rotation and said second plurality of ribs extending from the end of the ribs of the first plurality to said other end of the member and each having edge portions arranged to dig into said surface when the vehicle is skidding in the other direction and thereby to urge the member toward rotation, means for lowering the bracket from an elevated position to bring said ribs into contact with said surface, and brake means for resisting rotation of the member.

6. An antiskid device for vehicles comprising a bracket, means secured to the frame of the vehicle and forming a pair of parallel spaced webs having slanting slots therein, means for supporting the bracket between the webs including means engaging said slots, a generally cylindrical member mounted on the bracket for rotation about anaxis parallel to the fore and aft line of the vehicle, brake means for resisting rotation of the member, a piston and cylinder device, and means connecting the piston and cylinder device to the bracket and operable to move the bracket longitudinally of the webs upon actuation of said piston and cylinder device whereby said supporting means lowers the bracket from an elevated position to bring said ribs into contact with said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,63-1- Ballard June 15, 1937 2,650,679 Durkin Sept. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,687 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1908