Multifunctional system for the self-recovery of wheeled vehicles

A multi-functional system for the self-recovery of a wheeled vehicle comprising:

• a shallow, dished adaptor plate permanently fixed to a driven wheel of a wheeled vehicle by the dished adaptor plate being captured beneath the wheel retaining bolts or nuts;
• a driven plate driven in rotation by said adaptor plate and a drum plate supported from and driven in rotation by said driven plate via a torque transmitting mechanism situated between said driven plate and said drum plate;
• provision for the joining together of said driven plate and said drum plate such that said driven plate and said drum plate function as a single element;
• complementary attachment elements provided on said adaptor plate and said driven plate permitting rapid attachment of said driven plate to said adaptor plate or removal of said driven plate from said adaptor plate;
• a drum incorporating at least an outer flange and fixed to said drum plate;
• a tow cable fixed to and wound around said drum;
• and a tow cable guide supported from a vehicle wheel not fitted with said drum to maintain said tow cable clear of said wheel;
• wherein when a free end of the tow cable is secured to an anchor point, subsequent driving rotation of said wheel results in the application of tension to said tow cable, thereby assisting in recovery of said vehicle, and axes of rotation of said wheel, adaptor plate, driven plate, drum plate and drum are colinear.