Traction assist system and method for mobile heavy equipment

Abstract

A traction assist system and method for heavy equipment on an incline or in other situations with poor or limited traction. In particular, a traction assist system for heavy equipment having an accessory such as a blade, the system including: a tether; an adaptation to the accessory allowing the tether to be placed to allow the accessory to function without disrupting the tether, such as through-holes in the blade; and an attachment point on the heavy equipment for attaching the tether to the heavy equipment. The adaptation will depend on the particular accessory involved but may generally be an adaptation allowing the tether to pass through the accessory.

1 . A traction assist system for heavy equipment having an accessory, the system comprising:
 a tether having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end is attached to an object external to the heavy equipment, the accessory, and any part thereof;   a through-hole in the accessory, through which the tether passes, the through-hole configured to allow the accessory to function without being disrupted by the tether; and   an attachment point on the heavy equipment for attaching a second end of the tether to provide traction assistance to the heavy equipment.   
     
     
         2 . A traction assist system according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment point is positioned on the heavy equipment at a point between drive axles. 
     
     
         3 . A traction assist system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tether comprises a plurality of branches, the through-hole comprises a plurality of through-holes, one for each of the plurality of branches, and the attachment point comprises a plurality of attachment points, one for each of the branches. 
     
     
         4 . A traction assist system according to  claim 1 , wherein the accessory is a bulldozer blade. 
     
     
         5 . A traction assist system according to  claim 4 , wherein the through-hole is configured as an oblong shape to allow the bulldozer blade to move up and down without being disrupted by the tether. 
     
     
         6 . A traction assist system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heavy equipment is forestry equipment. 
     
     
         7 . A traction assist system according to  claim 5 , wherein the forestry equipment is a skidder. 
     
     
         8 . A method for traction assist for heavy equipment having an accessory, the method comprising:
 providing a tether having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end is attached to an object external to the heavy equipment, the accessory, and any part thereof;   
       adapting the accessory to have a through-hole, through which the tether passes, the through-hole configured to allow the accessory to function without being disrupted by the tether; and attaching the second end of the tether to an attachment point on the heavy equipment such that the tether provides traction assistance to the heavy equipment as a whole. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the tether comprises a plurality of branches, the through-hole comprises a plurality of through-holes, one for each of the plurality of branches, and the attachment point comprises a plurality of attachment, points, one for each of the branches. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the accessory is a bulldozer blade. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the through-hole is configured as an oblong shape to allow the bulldozer blade to move up and down without being disrupted by the tether. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the heavy equipment is forestry equipment. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the forestry equipment is a skidder.