Self-aligning traction assembly for vehicles

Abstract

This product is a traction assembly designed primarily for heavy-duty vehicles, and comprises a chain assembly of unidirectionally distorted links in combination with rings connecting the same, and side chains holding the assembly securely upon the vehicle tire; the links of the traction portion having projecting lugs upon the outward face thereof, wherein the interaction of the rings and chains maintains the assembly in position for maximum contact of the lugs with the surface of the terrain.

The invention having been thus disclosed, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a traction assembly for mounting upon the tire of a self-powered vehicle, a succession of rings connected together by lengths of chain having links unidirectionally distorted in the longitudinal plane thereof; said lengths of chain being so connected as to form a succession of polygonal patterns across the width of the tire, in such manner that tension exerted upon any part of such assembly creates reacting tension upon the remainder thereof, said assembly being susceptible of expansion either laterally or linearly and thus effecting a snug emplacement of said assembly upon the said vehicle tire. 
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each link of said chain has integrally connected upon the surface thereof distantmost from the tread of said tire, at least one projecting lug extending perpendicularly from the plane of said link and said tire tread. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 2, wherein each link thus distorted to provide diagonally disposed elevated segments thereof is provided with a lug on each of said diagonally disposed elevated segments. 
     
     
       4. A flexible traction assembly, expansible in either lateral or linear direction and adapted to be mounted upon the tire of a vehicle, comprising lug-bearing chain links interconnected between rings, said chains defining a succession of polygonal patterns across the width of the tire, and the outermost ring on each side of said assembly being connected by non-lugged chains of like distortion constituting side chains for the secure retention of said assembly upon said tire. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 2 wherein each link interconnected with a ring is so disposed that the lug on the end thereof contiguous to said ring is directly above the portion of said link so interconnected, thus combining the traction effects of the weight of said vehicle wheel on said ring, and the pressure of said ring on the end of said link. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 2 wherein the lugged chains interconnected with the rings outermost on the sides of the assembly interact with non-lugged chains constituting the side chains, creating a linear pull on said ring by said side chains and counterbalancing opposed diagonal pulls by said lugged chains on said ring. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 2 wherein the rings, resting upon the outermost portions of the tire cleats, maintain the interconnecting chains in a plane above said cleats, thereby preventing said chains from slipping into the valleys between said cleats, to assure full traction effectiveness of all parts of the assembly. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 5 wherein each end link of said chains has at least one lug projecting from the plane of said link, and the intermediate links of said chains are without lugs. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the center link of each piece of chain is provided with a protective member thereacross, to increase the distance between the tire and the ground, thus protecting said tire from excessive wear. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said protective member is made of bar stock and the ends thereof are flattened to conform to the slant of the side rails of said center link, at the points of attachment. .Iadd. 11. An assembly of elements for mounting on the tire of a vehicle comprising, a succession of rings spaced at intervals over the tread surface of the tire,   a plurality of short lengths of chain connected to each ring, at least some of said lengths interconnecting a pair of said rings,   each of said short lengths of chain which interconnects a pair of said rings extending in a direction which forms an acute angle with the tire circumference,   whereby said assembly of elements is extensible laterally or linearly to facilitate a snug emplacement on the tire. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein at least some of the links of said short lengths of chain support studs extending outwardly from the tread of the tire. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The combination of claim 11 wherein the links in said short lengths of chain which interconnect a pair of said rings are unidirectionally distorted in the plane of the links. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein each distorted chain link provides diagonally disposed portions elevated above the tire tread, each such elevated portion supporting a stud extending outwardly from the tread of the tire. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. An assembly of elements for mounting on the tire of a vehicle comprising:   a plurality of rings spaced over the tread surface of the tire,   said rings being disposed in staggered relation over the tire tread,   a plurality of chain segments interconnecting said rings and each lying in a direction having a component parallel to the tire circumference and also a component crosswise of the tire tread,   at least some of said chain segments comprising links which are unidirectionally distorted in the plane of the link and supporting studs which project outwardly away from the tire tread. .Iaddend.