WO2001008907A1

WO2001008907A1 - All year traction tire stud system

Info

Publication number: WO2001008907A1
Application number: PCT/NO2000/000240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Iver Hansen
Original assignee: Iver Hansen
Priority date: 1998-03-09
Filing date: 2000-07-13
Publication date: 2001-02-08
Also published as: AU7324600A; KR20020063156A; CN1373716A; CA2416143A1

Abstract

All year traction tire stud system having leak proof transmission means like metal wires for moving studs in and out of stud holes on the tire shoulders. Said means also movable on the tire sides outside the tire casing. Optionally operated by wireless remote control from the driver's seat when driving on ice, snow, mud, wet grass, slippery terrain and roads.

Description

ALL YSAR^' TRACTION TIΩS STUD 5YST3M. Background of the invention .

1 . Field of tliE invention,.

The present lπverit on elates to a mio"wa- le tire stud system! that- allows adjustability o tire stud's while a vehicle is eithsr in mo ion' o partae quickly help solve the problems related to driving, on slippery and icy roads .

2. Discussion of the background . 'aπy attempts have been, made to solve these problems . Most systems do not function, properly over long; periodls due to the consider able wear and tear the studding, equipment ππus endure d ing the course of driving,. Some adjustable studding systems equi e air pressure to move studs im and out, Un ortunately , suc systems function;

studs are pressed against, road surfaxiea', the air tends to comtpress . Thus the studs are forced hack: down, into the tires . A similar ef ect of insuf icient pressure is seen when.' air- is entering τehicle ^" raias system! hoses . Other systems require studs to penetrate the tire cas ng. This is considered by pro ssionals to he σuxte unacceptable in¹ ttoe long run due to the heavy friction, wear and tear- leading to air* leakage and. humidity penetrating into the tire caujsiπg" steel helt corrosion and thus t _re separation witlri n a short period of time . Other known systems of movable s uds- are useless because the studs are either too big, too complicated , expensive , or they consist of components that are -vulnerable to sandy water, frost, shocks etc . and' consequently become easily damaged , jamme ' or worn too quickly.

Norwegian pa en application #8^'6ul224 shows an arrangement; of studs and consists of a movable wall which combined with the inner' wall of the tare forms an air chamber. Consequently , the above mentione problems are not solved in that system because it is ha-sed on. ail" and

penetration of the tire casing. German laid-open application #250254-4 and #1650491 and U .S .Pat.ITos .3 ,766 , 956 , 3 ,340 , 921 . and 3 ,095 , 910" are likewise either based on the use of ai or penetration of e tire c si g thus leaving the- above mentioned problems unsolved , besides , such movable stud types often need much- space . Moreover, when placing movable studs und.er or in the tire tread , a considerable? tread thictat ss- is normally required . Thick tread tends to cause tire heating and consequently reduced! i ng quality.

Icelandic laid-open publication) #131970 also shows a system; of movable stud's based on air pressurre and' has all the disadvantages mentioned above . Furthermore , such a system of hoses rotating, inside the tire, ,a-t a high speed increases the danger of explosion (flat tire) . Moreover , a flat tire will probably also dawage this studded system).

U .S . Pat. mo .2 , 41.566 uses fluid to- move the studs , but requires penetration of the tire casing thus leaving, the above* merationed problems unsolved .

Summary of the invention!.

Experiments conf rm: that the stud s stem -mentioned herein has several advantages . First-, it is

.tiιe air systems and hydraulic systems of the cited publications because of the combination of stud jacks mounted iπc the shoulder of the unsiped tread blocks and the coastructioni of the system being similar¹ to a vehicle:' s brake system. When pressing, the brak pedal , the piston in the brake cylinder is forced against the brake shoes . In- he present iraveπt oti, the tire stud's are pressed a-gaiπsst the road surface by an equivalent orce . Anothe advantage is that wires will not leak like fluids or air- systems and are more durable on buimpy roads . Ad τustmte.πrtfc -of the stud's cam lso¹ ,tee made possible im a simple manual fashion via a handle .

Different from the above cited! publications , the studs of the present invention are mounitedl in extra large , unsiped shoulder blocks of the tread without perpetrating the tire casing. Studs may also be mounted elsewhere o the tire tread if allowed by the tire dimensions , or instance on truck tires . Regarding this system for smaller" vehicles , ew tires have shoulder blocks of the tread of. the necessary dimension. However , it is possible to produce such, tires . Some r gged ^■fcerraixu tires have sufficient tread thickness for- mounting small movable studs without enetration of the tire casing. Adaptability of the stu system may be improved throug further development.

Eractι.cally speaking-, a functioning, syst-emi of .movable studs is. required infre ueunftly. Th s system, gives vehicle owners the convenience of not having: to change tires e-v7βr autumn and spring or use chains , While traditional studding systems are in use the whole winter seasom and? are- quickly worm outγ movable studs will stay sharper 'bec use- they are ot us-edl as oftem. Sharper- studs .seams hee ter traffic safety. Stud's being' us-ed continuously throughout the winter seaaoni also means enormous extra expenses or road maintenance as well as increas ed air pollution. Because stationary studs are used! throughout the winter s eason-, they must he smaller- tham movable studs to reduce wear* on roads . Consequentl , prof essionals point out that- movable studs may protrude more than: traditional stationary stud's , thereby reducing' the breaking distance on icy roads considerably, especially compared to tires without studs . There is generally no better alternative than) using tires with good s-tuds when drivdmg oun. newly fallen snow om icy roads .

Cons equently, there is an obvious meed for* t e movable studi systerm as prese ited h-e e n . The need is me by mak g available a stud system of the type precis ely defined irr the appended patent claims .

Description' of the drawings .

The stud system in accordance with the present inden io is hereby described more closely by referring, to exemplary embodiments thereof and' wit ref ereπtce to the enclosed drawings wherein: F g.l shows a cross sectioni of the wheel and! the- st dldled¹ tire wire systerm.

Fig.2 shows the wheel seen from the outsidle/the side of the wheel acing outwa dte .

Fig. shows the same side of the wheel εs in f g.2, but with the huh cap OJX.

Fig. shows a cross section of the wheel whem using a more simple manual tire studl sys ena.

Fig.5 shows the same as fig..4, but with so iewhat less straight studs , designed more accordling to the shape-- of the tire.

Fig.S shows details by the shoulder block for- the manual stud, system seen from the sidle- f c ng outwards „

Fig,.7 show details by the shoulder block for the best system of ering; drivers remote aontteol traction; from; the driver's seat.

Claims

. System- of movable vehicle tire studs , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t said system has leak proof tr smission means like mietal wires for moving studs in and out of stud holes on the tire shoulders, said leak proof means like wires also movable on the tire sides outside the t re casing and may he easily replaced, by being- threaded! in and out of protruding; portions? of

. Systran as claimed¹ in claimi 1, wherein the length of ea±-d' etuds is not limited by the tire tread³ thickness because the studs (fig.l) may *- mounted into the tire blocks am a more tilted- position in relation to road, surface than normal for tire studs and mounted in. extra large unsipedl portions of the tire shoulder blocks and requires less space than hydraulic: system studs having pressure chambers for liquids, p .sto:tts, gaskets , valves etc .

. System, as claimed in claim 2, wherein, said¹ wire, end a.n a tire stud by the tire tread, said, stud preferably a ing a frustoconical or frusto- pyrarαidal st di tup (39) which is thickest at the ery end of the stud to improve roadl grip. . System, as claimed in claimi 2, wherein the tire shoulder blocks, aving extra large unsiped portions, is thereby protruding and thus making the tire tread^", distinctively wider than the average tire tread of the same size tire casing.

. System as claimed in claimi 4 , wherein, sa-id studs may be moved manually by a small handle (fig.5, 40) to a protruding; or retracted position e.g. by havih/g a pin (42) enter into notches (41). ,. System) as claimed! in claim 1, wherein, the eross section drawing of the stud (8) and sleeve (44) shows an oblong/ovalrectεngu3ar shape thereby raking it irroossible for¹ the stud to twist too much when being, used.

7 . System, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, a stud mov ng source (1) positioned in the wheel rim may be' operated either manually by a hκodl& ( 2) or by an electromotor (3 ) .

8 . System, as claimed! in claim 7 , whereim said electromotor may be activate L by the d'river- hy touching a switch button on the dashboar , t er b tra.πismi .ttjng e .g. radio signals to a receiver in the wheel. rim, said receiver connected to the electromotor and thus making the -motor' s axle shaft ( 4) spin clockwise or- anticlockwise-. By having threads on the axle , axle rotation will mak e .g.. metal arm (5 ) move- wire distributor* ( 6) and wires (16) and studs (8.) .

9'. System as elainued. iru claim 8 , erei ' said stud -mov ng compone s in the wheel centre are under normal circumstances leak proof and? balanced / counterbalanced to counteract wheel imbalance when drivi.nig.

10 . System as claimed in claim 8 , wherein a display (9) on the dashboard gives the driver information_' (30) about stud protrusion.

11 . System as claimed in claim 10 , wherein: said display may e. adjusted] by a regulator (10) according to tire thickness and stud protrusion.

12. System as claimed in claim 10 , wherein there iB a timer- (11) available for- programmi ng. how many minutes studs are to protrude before automatic retraction.

13 . System as claimed in claim 1 , whereiπi said', system is energized, by e .g. solar cells- (12) , induction, slip ring, pendulum, dyiiamo , plug-in chargi g when parked .

14 . System as claimed' in claim 1 , wherein the tire sides have a protruding portion (13 ) .