Device for increasing traction force between wheel and road surface

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of automobile transportation, in particular to equipment, which can more accurately convey grinding materials to a contact area between a driving wheel and a supporting surface under different driving conditions, increases traction force between the driving wheel and the supporting surface, is more reliable in design, reduces the consumption of the grinding materials and improves the production efficiency. And the requirement on the particle size distribution of the grinding material is low, and the usability is improved. The apparatus comprises: an abrasive storage tank (1); the abrasive supply device is designed to be capable of controlling the supply amount of the abrasive and is provided with a screw rod (2) and a discharge port (3) arranged at the lower part of the equipment; and the protective cover (4) covers the discharge port and can be opened or closed in response to an external signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of automobile transportation, in particular to a device for increasing the traction between a driving wheel and a supporting surface during driving or braking. Background Art

[0002] When a vehicle is traveling on a road or in the wild, it will encounter the problem of insufficient traction between the drive wheels and the supporting surface, which manifests as drive wheel slip (friction sliding) or side sliding. At present, various engineering solutions have been developed and used to increase the traction of the wheels. For this purpose, studded tires are widely used, and such vehicles are also equipped with self-locking differentials and anti-lock braking systems. However, the efficiency of these solutions may not be high enough.

[0003] Another method to solve the above problem is to provide abrasive to the contact area between the drive wheel and the support surface or directly to the surface of the drive wheel. For example, a known engineering solution is to provide an air-abrasive mixture to the contact area between the wheel and the support surface [RU2289514 filed on July 11, 2005: Device for preventing vehicle drive wheels from slipping; RU2289515 filed on July 11, 2005: Device for preventing vehicle drive wheels from slipping; RU107103 filed on April 7, 2011: Device for enhancing the traction performance of the wheels of a vehicle on the road surface]. Such devices include a hopper for storing abrasive and an air-abrasive mixture supply device.

[0004] The disadvantages of this type of engineering solution are as follows: the design is relatively complex; the installation of such a system after the vehicle starts to operate is relatively complex; the reliability is low, which means that under road conditions, the components of the air-abrasive mixture supply device may become blocked, thus failing to achieve the purpose of the engineering solution. In addition, due to certain blockages, excessive pressure in the system of the air-abrasive mixture supply device may cause the device to malfunction. It should be noted that the abrasive should meet the specifications of the air-abrasive mixture supply device, so the requirements for its particle size distribution are high.

[0005] In the prior art, there are methods for improving the traction and braking capacity of wheels based on the principle of passively (through gravity) providing abrasives to the contact area between the wheel and the supporting surface [RU2309054 filed on May 23, 2006: Device for preventing the rear drive wheel of a truck from slipping; RU2567471 filed on May 13, 2014: Front wheel anti-skid device]. These devices include: a hopper for storing and supplying granular abrasives, installed near the wheel of the vehicle, and having at least one discharge port; and an abrasive supply regulating device in the form of a gate designed to control the supply amount of the granular abrasives.

[0006] The main drawback of this type of equipment is its low reliability, which means that during driving, especially in winter, snow, ice and dirt form on the lower part of the vehicle, blocking the discharge port. Therefore, when the gate is opened (the opening process is also complicated by freezing), the granular abrasive does not enter the support surface. Secondly, the principle of feeding the abrasive by gravity and using the gate to control the flow of the material avoids fine-tuning the ingredients, which would cause excessive consumption of granular abrasive in a short time. It should also be noted that since the flow characteristics of the abrasive change with external influences, different volumes of abrasive may be supplied to the same position of the gate, which also makes it more complicated to adjust the supply accuracy of the abrasive.

[0007] Devices for improving the traction and braking capacity of the wheels of a vehicle based on the principle of electrically "forcing" the abrasive to the contact area between the drive wheel and the supporting surface do not have some of the above disadvantages. For example, a known vehicle sandbox includes a sand hopper and a sand supply device, wherein the sand supply device includes a screw placed in a housing with a discharge port and has a mechanical drive. [US571136 filed on March 18, 1896: Sand spreading device for automobiles]

[0008] The disadvantage of the device is that it cannot be used for vehicles traveling on roads or off-road. For example, when the vehicle is traveling on an uneven road, there is a high probability that the device components will contact the unevenness of the road surface, causing the device to malfunction. In addition, the deformable parts of the device may damage other vehicle parts connected to the frame (such as the fuel tank).

[0009] The closest similar solution is a device for preventing vehicle wheels from slipping, comprising: an abrasive storage tank; and an abrasive supply device, comprising at least one rotor impeller installed in a housing and at least one screw for supplying abrasive to a designated impeller, wherein the abrasive supply device is designed to control the supply amount of abrasive [RU2198100: Device for preventing vehicle drive wheels from slipping (multiple solutions) applied for on November 25, 1999].

[0010] The device has many disadvantages. Although the supply of abrasive can be adjusted, the efficiency of the device may be relatively low in high supply mode (high rotation frequency of the rotating impeller). For example, when emergency braking is required or when the vehicle is driving on an icy downhill section, it is necessary to increase the supply of abrasive. However, the device supplies the abrasive from an abrasive storage tank on the wheel tire, rather than supplying it in the friction sliding area. During the high-speed feeding process, the abrasive particles have a high kinetic energy and will rebound when colliding with the wheel surface. In other words, in fact, this leads to the fact that in the contact area between the wheel and the supporting surface, the amount of abrasive used not only does not increase, but decreases significantly.

[0011] Furthermore, it should be noted that the device is relatively complex due to the fact that it requires a screw in addition to at least one rotatable rotor wheel mounted in a housing. This reduces the reliability of the device, especially considering that it is exposed to harsh working conditions (exposure to water, sand, snow, ice, dirt) even when not in operation. For example, ice may form when a vehicle is driving on winter roads, and dirt may accumulate and freeze on the device components, in particular on the rotor wheel housing. This may lead to device malfunctions, overloads and ultimately failure.

[0012] The device has high requirements on the particle size distribution of the abrasive. The presence of coarse particles (e.g., stones in sand) can overload the rotor impeller and / or cause it to get stuck in the housing, which usually reduces the reliability of the device.

[0013] The presence of the rotor impeller in the design increases the overall dimensions of the device, since the design of the impeller requires the presence of blades whose size exceeds the diameter of the screw used to supply the abrasive to the designated impeller in order to ensure the throwing of the abrasive. It should also be considered that in order to reduce the requirements on the particle size distribution of the abrasive and improve the reliability of the device, it is necessary to increase the size of the impeller and thus the overall dimensions. Given that the device should be sized to fit on the frame of a vehicle, the overall dimensions of which are subject to strict legislative requirements, the increase in the size of the rotating impeller may require a reduction in the volume of the abrasive storage tank.

[0014] Furthermore, when the rotor impeller and the screw are located on the same shaft, it is difficult to ensure coordination between the amount of abrasive supplied and the amount of abrasive ejected at different rotational frequencies, that is, the device will be effective within a narrow range of the rotational frequency of the shaft on which the screw and the rotor impeller are mounted; in this case, the range may vary depending on the abrasive used (particle size distribution, material density, flow characteristics, etc.). In practice, this may lead to inefficient equipment or excessive consumption of abrasive with a limited supply. Placing the rotor impeller and the screw on different shafts leads to greater design complexity and lower reliability. Summary of the invention

[0015] The device includes: an abrasive storage tank; an abrasive supply device designed to control the supply amount of the abrasive, having a screw and a discharge port arranged at the lower part of the device; and a protective cover covering the discharge port, which can be opened or closed in response to an external signal. Technical issues

[0016] The project proposal aims to develop a device that can improve the traction and braking capabilities of a vehicle, which can keep the vehicle in a driving state when necessary (for example, when climbing a slope on a bright ice surface), and can keep the vehicle in an emergency braking state when starting or going downhill, thereby ensuring the reliability of the design, reducing the requirements for the particle size distribution of the abrasive used, and relatively increasing the volume of the abrasive storage tank while maintaining an acceptable overall size unchanged, providing a more efficient flow of abrasive and improving ease of use. Solution to the problem

[0017] In order to solve this problem and achieve the specified effect, the present invention provides a device for increasing the traction between the wheel and the road surface, including: an abrasive storage tank; an abrasive supply device, designed to control the supply amount of the abrasive, having a screw and a discharge port located at the lower part of the device; and a protective cover, covering the lower part of the device, which can be opened or closed in response to an external signal.

[0018] The special feature of the device is that the screw is arranged in a shell below the abrasive storage tank; the upper part of the shell has a feed port, which is located below the neck formed by the lower part of the abrasive storage tank; and the lower part of the shell has a discharge port, which is located above the discharge port.

[0019] Another feature of the apparatus is that the abrasive storage tank and the abrasive supply device are disposed in a liquid fuel storage tank.

[0020] Another feature of the device is that it has two discharge ports arranged at intervals; and the screw has different thread directions.

[0021] Another feature of the device is that the abrasive storage tank is in a heated state.

[0022] Finally, the device also has a feature that the screw has an adjustable pitch; the pitch gradually decreases toward the discharge port. Positive effects of the invention

[0023] The technical result of the device is improved operational reliability.

[0024] By relatively more efficiently adjusting (quantifying) the amount of abrasive supplied to the contact area between the drive wheel and the support surface, the present invention improves the vehicle's traction and braking capabilities, making it possible to keep the vehicle in a driving state when necessary and to keep the vehicle in an emergency braking state when starting or going downhill.

[0025] Furthermore, the design is more reliable due to its simplicity and the use of protective components. In particular, the device is designed to reduce the number of rotating parts to a minimum. The screw feed does not require a high rotation frequency. Furthermore, when using granular abrasives, it is practically difficult to damage or jam the screw. This also reduces the requirements on the particle size distribution of the abrasive used. Relatively coarse particles can be used. At the same time, the protective cover protects the discharge port from water, sand, snow, ice and dust, ensuring that the device functions properly even during long-term movement under winter conditions.

[0026] Furthermore, the device according to the invention is easier to operate since it requires less maintenance and repair work and is remotely operated via a control panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a device provided for a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a device provided for a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a device provided for a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a device provided in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 The layout of the equipment on the vehicle chassis is shown (side view).

[0033] Figure 6 The layout of the equipment on the vehicle chassis is shown (top view). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The device for increasing the traction between a wheel and a road surface according to a first embodiment of the present invention is as follows Figure 1 The device comprises: an abrasive storage tank 1; an abrasive supply device, which is designed to control the supply amount of the abrasive, and the device comprises a screw 2 equipped with an actuator, and at least one discharge port 3 located at the lower part of the device; and a protective cover 4, which covers the lower part of the device and can be opened or closed in response to an external signal.

[0035] The abrasive storage tank 1 can be made of the following materials: metal, plastic, metal-lined wood (e.g., stainless steel plate or galvanized steel plate), etc., especially composite materials that can provide the strength required for operating the equipment. The abrasive storage tank 1 has a loading port (not shown in the figure) covered by a rotating cover 5.

[0036] The following materials can be used as abrasives: sand, rock screenings, asphalt chips, fine gravel or crushed stone, and other granular materials that increase traction between the vehicle's drive wheels and the supporting surface.

[0037] The screw 2 is made of metal, and its driving device may be a gearbox 6 and an electric motor 7 driven by an onboard electrical system. The number of threads of the screw 2 is selected to ensure that the abrasive is supplied to the discharge port 3.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 As shown, the screw 2 is directly arranged in the abrasive storage tank 1. Such a design can loosen the abrasive and prevent it from agglomerating and freezing, that is, the screw 2 not only has the function of providing abrasive materials, but also has the function of a loosener. This design is very beneficial for fine-grained abrasives (for example, sand). Generally speaking, this can more accurately control the supply (quantity) of abrasives, so that the device can be used efficiently in various situations (road conditions), reduce the consumption of abrasives, and improve ease of use.

[0039] In one embodiment of the invention, the screw 2 may have an adjustable pitch; the pitch gradually decreases towards the discharge port 3. This allows the abrasive to be compacted and formed into a "ball" (batch) before feeding it into the support surface on which the vehicle travels. This allows for more precise control of the feeding (batching) of abrasive consisting of fine particles (a mixture of sand, fine gravel and sand).

[0040] The abrasive supply device can be adjusted by controlling the rotation frequency of the screw 2 (for example, increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the motor 7). The rotation frequency of the screw 2 can be controlled in the cab via wires 8 or wireless communication, wherein the cab is provided with a control panel 9 ( Figure 5 ).

[0041] The discharge port 3 may be a circular opening or an opening of other shapes (eg, an elliptical shape).

[0042] The protective cover 4 can be made of the following materials: metal, plastic, metal-lined wood (e.g., stainless steel plate or galvanized steel plate), etc., in particular composite materials. The protective cover 4 can be attached to the device by a hinge and can be opened and closed in response to an external signal. For example, in the simplest embodiment, it can be attached by installing an electromagnet (not shown in the figure) powered by the on-board electrical system; when the electromagnet is energized, the protective cover 4 is in an open state; when the electromagnet is de-energized, a spring (not shown in the figure) keeps the protective cover 4 in a closed state. The magnet can be controlled in the cab by wires 8 or wireless communication (e.g., by a control panel 9 arranged in the cab).

[0043] In some embodiments, the device may also be equipped with: a sensor for opening and closing the protective cover 4; a rotation frequency sensor of the screw 2; and a material level sensor of the abrasive storage tank 1. The control panel 9 may receive signals from the sensors via wires 8 or wireless communication.

[0044] Wireless control can be achieved by installing a WiFi data module and a circuit board with a controller on the device. In this case, the control panel can be a mobile phone.

[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the abrasive storage tank 1 can be heated to prevent the abrasive from freezing and to dry the abrasive. One or more plates with heating elements can be used for heating. One or more plates will be installed on the external and / or internal walls of the abrasive storage tank 1. The power required for heating is provided by the on-board electrical system. The control panel 9 turns the heating on or off via the wire 8 or wireless communication. The control panel 9 can be equipped with an inductor for turning the heating on or off. In another embodiment, the heating or drying of the abrasive is provided automatically; and the device is also equipped with a temperature and / or humidity sensor.

[0046] The device may be electrically connected to an automatic slip adjustment system. In this embodiment, the protective cover 4 is automatically opened and the screw 2 is rotated according to a signal sent by the automatic slip adjustment system of the vehicle.

[0047] The device is mounted on the vehicle chassis near the wheels. Figure 5 and Figure 6 )

[0048] In another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 As shown, the screw 2 is disposed in a housing 10 below the abrasive storage tank 1, wherein the upper portion of the housing 10 has a feed port 11, which is located below a neck 12 formed at the lower portion of the abrasive storage tank 1; and the lower portion of the housing has a discharge port 13, which is located above the discharge port 3. The housing 10 may be a pipe or other structure that separates the screw 2 from the abrasive storage tank 1.

[0049] Since the abrasive between the thread turns of the screw 2 is completely isolated in batches from the abrasive volume of the abrasive storage tank 1 , this embodiment can ensure that the supply (quantity) of the abrasive is more accurately adjusted.

[0050] also, Figure 2 Schematic diagram of an embodiment of an engineering solution, in which a modular approach is adopted. The first module is an abrasive storage tank 1; the second module 14 is an abrasive supply device, in which a screw 2 and a screw actuator 2 in a housing 10 are provided. The first module is connected to the second module 14 by bolting or the like. Therefore, by providing universal fasteners, the device can be assembled into different specifications (for example, changing the size of the abrasive storage tank 1, changing the characteristics of the abrasive supply device). In this way, the specifications of the device can be flexibly selected for specific vehicle models and operating conditions, thereby further improving ease of use. It should also be noted that with this design, the device has a protected space ("clean space") separated from the abrasive, in which a motor, a gearbox and an "electronic filler" (WiFi data module, circuit board with controller) can be arranged. In view of this, the reliability of the operation of the device is improved and its service life is also extended.

[0051] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive storage tank 1 and the abrasive supply device are arranged in the liquid fuel storage tank 15 (such as Figure 3 The device is mounted on the vehicle chassis by standard fasteners used to mount liquid fuel storage tanks on the vehicle frame. This embodiment also has the function of connecting the device to the vehicle electrical system. Preferred Embodiments

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are two discharge ports 16 and 17 spaced apart; the screw 2 has different thread directions ( Figure 4 When the device is implemented according to the embodiment with the housing 10, outlet holes 18 and 19 are respectively provided at the lower part thereof, above the discharge ports 16 and 17. Figure 4 As shown, the screw 2 has different thread directions, so it can simultaneously supply abrasive to two discharge ports 16, 17. The preferred embodiment of the screw 2 with different thread directions is intended for use in dual tire wheels ( Figure 6 ).

[0053] The operation of the device is as follows.

[0054] Before driving the vehicle, the rotating cover 5 is opened, and the abrasive storage tank 1 is filled with abrasive through the loading port to use the device.

[0055] When the vehicle is traveling on a supporting surface (road or field), the driver starts the actuator (motor 7) of the screw 2 and opens the protective cover 4 through the control panel 9 to increase the traction between the drive wheel and the supporting surface. The screw 2 rotates to feed the abrasive into the discharge port 3. The abrasive particles passing through the discharge port 3 fall on the protective cover 4 and are guided to the drive wheel by the protective cover. The abrasive particles roll over the protective cover 4 and fall onto the supporting surface under the action of gravity. Then, the particles enter the contact area between the supporting surface and the surface of the drive wheel, thereby increasing the friction coefficient, that is, increasing the traction between the drive wheel and the supporting surface. If there is no need to increase the traction, the driver turns off the actuator (stops the rotation of the screw 2) and closes the protective cover 4 through the control panel 9.

[0056] When the screw 2 is directly disposed in the abrasive storage tank 1 , the abrasive is loosened while being supplied to the discharge port 3 .

[0057] When the screw 2 is installed in the housing 10 , the abrasive from the abrasive storage tank 1 enters the housing 10 through the neck 12 and the feed port 11 , and is sent to the discharge port 13 by the screw 2 , and then sent to the protective cover 4 through the discharge port 3 .

[0058] If a double-tire wheel is used, the screws 2 with different thread directions respectively deliver the abrasive in the abrasive storage tank 1 to the discharge ports 16 and 17 set at a certain distance through the discharge ports 18 and 19 of the housing 10.

[0059] The driver adjusts the supply of abrasive by changing the rotation frequency of the screw 2 through the control panel 9. For example, when climbing a slope on a bright ice surface, if the vehicle speed is fast enough, it is enough to just keep driving. In this case, the driver will set a moderate rotation frequency for the screw 2. In another case, in particular, when emergency braking is required or when the vehicle is driving on an icy downhill section, it is necessary to increase the supply of abrasive to the drive wheel. For this purpose, the driver will increase the rotation frequency of the screw 2.

[0060] If the device is equipped with a sensor for opening and closing the protective cover 4, a rotation frequency sensor of the screw 2, and a material level sensor of the abrasive storage tank 1, the driver can monitor the main indications of the device on the control panel 9: whether the protective cover 4 is open, whether the screw is rotating, and the material level of the abrasive storage tank 1.

[0061] Therefore, by relatively more efficiently adjusting (quantifying) the amount of abrasive supplied in the contact area between the drive wheel and the support surface, the present invention more significantly improves the traction and braking capabilities of the vehicle, making it possible to keep the vehicle in a driving state when necessary, and to keep the vehicle in an emergency braking state when starting or going downhill. By combining screw feeding with gravity feeding, a predictable quantitative supply of abrasive can be provided in the contact area between the drive wheel and the support surface within a wide range of the rotation frequency of the screw 2 (the higher the frequency, the more abrasive in the contact area), thereby effectively controlling the supply of (quantifying) abrasive. This also makes the consumption of abrasive more efficient.

[0062] Furthermore, the simplicity and the use of protective components ensure a high reliability of the design. In particular, the device is designed to reduce the number of rotating parts to a minimum. The screw feed does not require a high rotation frequency. Furthermore, when using granular abrasives, it is practically difficult to damage or jam the screw 2. This also reduces the requirements on the particle size distribution of the abrasive used. Relatively coarse particles can be used. At the same time, the protective cover 4 protects the discharge port 3 (or the discharge ports 16, 17 in the embodiment of dual-tire wheels) from water, sand, snow, ice and dust, ensuring that the device functions properly even during long-term movement under winter conditions.

[0063] Furthermore, the design of the device allows the volume of the abrasive storage tank 1 to be relatively increased while maintaining acceptable overall dimensions. In summary, the combination of all these features improves the ease of use of the device, since it requires less maintenance and repair work and is remotely operated through a control panel.

[0064] The invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modification possibilities exist for a person skilled in the art without departing from the basic idea of ​​the engineering solution described in the claims. Industrial Applicability

[0065] The present invention aims to increase the traction between the wheels of a vehicle (especially a truck) and the road surface when the vehicle is moving or braking. References

[0066] References cited herein are as follows. Patent Literature

[0067] Patent Citation 1: RU2289514 published on December 20, 2006: Device for preventing the drive wheels of a vehicle from slipping

[0068] Patent Citation 2: RU2289515 published on December 20, 2006: Device for preventing the drive wheels of a vehicle from slipping

[0069] Patent Citation 3: RU107103 published on August 7, 2011: Device for increasing the traction of a wheel of a vehicle on a road surface

[0070] Patent Citation 4: RU2309054 published on October 27, 2007: Device for preventing rear drive wheels of trucks from slipping

[0071] Patent Citation 5: RU2567471 published on November 10, 2015: Front wheel anti-skid device

[0072] Patent Citation 6: US571136, published on November 10, 1896: Sand Spreading Device for Automobile

[0073] Patent Citation 7: RU2198100 published on February 10, 2003: Device for preventing vehicle drive wheels from slipping (multiple solutions)

Claims

1. A device for increasing the traction between a wheel and a road surface, comprising: Abrasive storage tanks; an abrasive supply device, designed to control the supply amount of the abrasive, having a screw and a discharge port disposed at the lower part of the device; and a protective cover covering the lower portion of the device, designed to be opened or closed in response to an external signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The screw is arranged in a shell below the abrasive storage tank; the upper part of the shell has a feed port, which is located below the neck formed by the lower part of the abrasive storage tank; the lower part of the shell has a discharge port, which is located above the discharge port.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The abrasive storage tank and the abrasive supply device are disposed in the liquid fuel storage tank.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: The two discharge ports are arranged at intervals; and the screw has different thread directions.

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The screw has an adjustable pitch; the pitch gradually decreases toward the discharge port.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The abrasive storage tank is in a heated state.

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