US 5,079,976 A · Tire chain installation tool for dual wheels

Abstract

A tool is provided for installation of tire chains on the dual drive wheel assemblies having wheels with openings therein. The tool comprises a central elongate projection having a tool restraint opening at its inner extremity which is adapted for registry with two of the wheel rim openings and receives an impement extended through the wheel rim openings for establishing an interlocked relation between the wheel rims and the tool. A pair of generally U-shaped side projections are formed integrally with the central projection and extend in diverging relation and in opposed aligned directions. Each of the side projections are provided with chain positioner elements adapted to extend radially inwardly along the side wall of the respective tire. The tool is provided with a central chain connector and said side chain connectors to which the central and side chain rails of the tire chain are attached respectively. The chain connector elements cause the tire chain to be wrapped about the dual wheel drive upon one revolution of wheel movement after which the tool is removed and the ends of the tire chain rails are locked in assembly for use.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A tool for installation of dual wheel tire chains having a pair of side chain rails and a central chain rail being interconnected by tread chain rails on the dual drive wheels of trucks or tractors having wheel rims formed with openings therein, said tool comprising:

(a) a central projection forming an inner end and adapted to extend into the space between the dual tires and rims of a dual drive wheel and forming a tool restraint opening at said inner end for registry with at least one of said openings in said wheel and for receiving an implement extended through said openings for temporarily locking said central projection to said wheels, said central projection having a chain connector thereon for releasable connection of said central chain rail thereto;
and
(b) a pair of side projections extending in opposed directions from said central projection and adapted to extend over the treads of respective ones of the tires of said dual wheel assembly, each of said side projections having chain connectors thereon for releasable connection of said side chain rails respectively thereto.

A tool for installation on dual drive wheels and dual trailer wheels having rims with openings therein and tires thereon, dual wheel tire chain assemblies having at least a pair of outer circumferential chain rails each having connector links at the ends thereof and being interconnected by a plurality of transverse chain rails, said tool comprising:

(a) an elongate, generally rigid central projection forming an inner free end and an outer end and adapted to extend into the space between the dual tires and rims of a dual drive wheel assembly and forming a tool restraint opening at said free end for registry with both of said openings in said rims and for receiving an implement extended through said opening in said rims for temporarily locking said central projection to said rims, said central projection having a central chain connector thereon for receiving the connector link of said central circumferential chain rail;
(b) a pair of side projections disposed in rigid integral assembly with said central projection, each of said side projections forming connector elements being integral with said outer end of said central projection, each of said side projections also forming a tread section adapted to engage the respective treads of the tires of said dual drive wheel assembly, each of said side projections further defining chain positioner elements adapted to project along the outer side walls of said tires and to be oriented generally radially toward the axis of rotation of said dual wheel assembly;
and
(c) a pair of side chain connectors each being located at the respective free extremities of said chain positioner elements for positioning of said outer circumferential chain rails to define an outer chain rail periphery of less dimension than the outer periphery of said tires of said dual drive wheels and trailers.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tire chain installation tool for dual wheels

Life of this patent

Tire chain installation tool for dual wheels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18