US 4,355,451 A · Retractable device and method for providing traction

Abstract

Device and method utilizing a fixed assembly attachable to a vehicle wheel back support plate, and a journaled, rotatable assembly carrying a track which may be deployed to engage and rotate with the wheel, or retracted for stable storage. The track is supported by leading and trailing arms carried on the rotatable assembly of the device, which arms in turn are movable concentrically to the device journal to expand the track around the tire and move inwardly upon completion of the track expansion to encircle the tire. Tracks utilizing linkages and rigid traction bars, or resilient members may be employed. Deployment and retraction power may be manual or provided by springs preloadable utilizing the rotational energy of the wheel, by fluid means, i.e. hydraulic vacuum and pneumatic, or by electric power, with the deployment and retraction being powered by a common means, or with the two movements or portions thereof being powered by a combination of power means.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims43

Dependent claims

A traction apparatus for a vehicle wheel, comprising:

mounting means adapted to be fixedly supported adjacent a rotatable vehicle wheel;
an outer assembly rotatably carried by the mounting means at a journal positioned substantially concentric to the rotation of the vehicle wheel;
a pair of deployment arms mounted on the outer assembly for concentric movement around the center of rotation of the journal and extending radially from the outer assembly;
an expandable and retractable track supported by the traction apparatus substantially by suspension between the ends of the two deployment arms;
means positioned substantially internally of the rotatable outer assembly to selectively drive the deployment arms in opposite rotational directions from a retracted to a deployed position and back to the retracted position;
and
means to radially extend and retract the deployment arms as a function of the position thereof relative to the rotatable outer assembly, whereby the track may be encircled around the wheel by driving the deployment arms in one direction, and secured to the wheel by moving the deployment arms radially inward at such position, or, alternatively, the track may be retracted and stored by moving the track away from the wheel by radially extending the deployment arms and rotating the deployment arms to store the track in a retracted position.

4 more elements

A traction apparatus for a wheeled vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

mounting means adapted to be secured adjacent a vehicle wheel;
an outer rotating assembly surrounding the mounting means and journaled thereto at a position substantially concentric to the center of rotation of the vehicle wheel;
two grooves each in the form of at least a partial circular configuration defined in the rotating assembly;
a pair of arcuate slider members positioned one each for movement within the grooves;
a pair of deployment arms mounted one each upon the slider members and extending radially outward therefrom;
a pair of arcuate gear members positioned one each within the grooves with the gear teeth defined thereon facing together;
a pair of deployment springs positioned one each in the grooves and abutting against the corresponding arcuate gear member and the rotating assembly;
a pair of compliance springs positioned one each in the grooves and abutting the slider member and the arcuate gear in such groove;
a spur gear rotatably mounted to the rotating assembly and engaging the teeth of both arcuate gears;
a length of extendable and retractable track connected at each end to one of the deployment arms;
means to radially extend and retract the deployment arms as a function of the position thereof relative to the rotating assembly;
a pair of latches pivotally mounted to the mounting means in mirror image fashion therefrom and movable to retract and deployment orientations;
a pair of latch members extending one each from the deployment arms and adapted to engage the corresponding latch when the latch is in a retract orientation;
and
means to selectively move the latches to retract and deployment orientations.

12 more elements

A method of operating a traction device for a wheeled vehicle comprising:

mounting a fixed support adjacent a rotatable vehicle wheel,
rotating an outer assembly concentrically with the rotation of the vehicle wheel around a journal between the outer assembly and the mounting means;
extending a length of track to encircle the vehicle wheel by moving a pair of deployment arms in opposite rotational directions around circular paths substantially concentric to the rotation of the outer assembly, the arms being moved by spring means bearing thereon;
moving the deployment arms radially inward to engage the attached track to the rotating wheel upon substantial completion of the encirclement thereof by the track;
and
retracting the length of track by first moving the deployment arms radially outward and then in opposite rotational directions to compress and position the track at a position radially spaced from the rotating wheel, the spring means being compressed by latching one of the deployment arms to the fixed support and causing the rotating wheel to at least partially retract the track and compress the spring means.

3 more elements

A method of operating a traction device for a wheeled vehicle comprising:

mounting a fixed support adjacent a rotatable vehicle wheel,
rotating an outer assembly concentrically with the rotation of the vehicle wheel around a journal between the outer assembly and the mounting means;
extending a length of track to encircle the vehicle wheel by moving a pair of deployment arms in opposite rotational directions around circular paths substantially concentric to the rotation of the outer assembly;
moving the deployment arms radially inward to engage the attached track to the rotating wheel upon substantial completion of the encirclement thereof by the track;
and
retracting the length of track by first moving the deployment arms radially outward and then in opposite rotational directions to compress and position the track at a position radially spaced from the rotating wheel, at least one of the movements of the deployment arms around the circular path to extend or retract the track being moved by at least one piston operably connected to the deployment arms and positioned in a cylinder defined within the outer assembly, and by fluid means selectively connectable to the interior of the cylinder to urge the piston in the desired path of travel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,478 words

Summary724 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for selectively providing traction to a wheeled vehicle, and, more particularly, to a device and method utilizing various power sources, including fluid means, i.e. air, vacuum and liquid, rotational energy of the wheel, electric motors, or manual means, to deploy a traction track positionable adjacent to the wheel by a pair of arms mounted for rotational movement concentrically with the wheel such that the track is spaced from the tire adjacent the arms until the arms are substantially entirely through the deployment movement, whereupon the arms move radially inward and contact the track securely onto the wheel, the device being supported to the wheel by a fixed assembly and carrying the extension and retraction means on an assembly journaled to the fixed assembly.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#In the Drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a rear view of a traction device in accord with the instant invention illustrating in partially ghosted manner the partially retracted and fully retracted configuration;

#FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a ball locating member in accord with the instant invention;

Detailed description4,390 words

#Turning now to the Drawings, wherein like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various FIGURES, a traction enhancing device in accord with the instant invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally designated by reference numeral 10. Traction device 10 includes a fixed center assembly 12, which is attached to a stationary portion of a vehicle wheel, such as a brake backing plate carried by bearing retainer 14, or to other conventional wheel configurations. A rotatable outer assembly 15 is journaled to fixed center assembly 12, and protected by dynamic seal 17. Symmetrical actuation cylinders 19 and 19' (the traction device is essentially symmetrical about a vertical axis and mirror image parts will be hereafter referred to by a numeral and the corresponding numeral prime) are attached to fixed center assembly 12, and each are connected to deployment line 21 and retraction line 22, which may be hydraulic or pneumatic lines and are adapted to extend and retract linkage 24 and 24' of actuation cylinders 19 and 19'. Latches 25 and 25', rotatably carried on pivots 26 and 26', respectively, are movable in response to extension or retraction of linkage 24 and 24'.

#Spring loaded balls 28 and 28' position latches 25 and 25', but may be overcome by motion of actuating cylinder 19 and 19' thereby obviating the need to maintain power or pressure in lines 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 3, ball 28' is positioned to extend through but be confined by opening 29 in rotating outer assembly 15. Spring arm 30 bears upon ball 28' but serves to permit passage of latch 25' by distending spring arm 30. Retainer 31, secured by screws 32 maintains spring arm 30 in place.

#Deployment arm 35 and 35' are slidably carried in rotatable outer assembly 15 for movement concentrically about the center of the journal between fixed center assembly 12 and rotatable outer assembly 15. Extendable track 38, illustrated as a metal linkage arrangement but operably of various configurations, is supported at the ends thereof by deployment arms 35 and 35'. Deployment arms 35 and 35' comprise middle links 40 and 40', and sliding members 42 and 42', which are articulated at pivots 44 and 44', 45 and 45', and 47 and 47', shown in more detail in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Facts

Application

06/148,874Filed 12 May 1980

Granted

26 Oct 1982

Term ended

12 May 2000

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

B25B 27/22
For assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same: positioning sprocket chains, endless tracks, antiskid chains
Y10T 29/49824
By applying force: to elastically deform work part or connector
Y10T 29/4987
With prestressing of part: elastic joining of parts
B25B
Tools or bench devices not otherwise provided for, for fastening, connecting, disengaging

Retractable device and method for providing traction

Life of this patent

Retractable device and method for providing traction

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims43

Description5,478 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,478 words