Studded fabric tire chains

Abstract

To provide a new tire chain capable of solving the problem of freezing of absorbed water, which is a drawback of chemical slip prevention function, by using a physical slip prevention function. [Solution] In order to ensure that the peeling force acting on the cylindrical body 10 when the spike belt 20 of the physical slip prevention function part bites into the frozen road surface is approximately uniform, the spike belt is attached in the center of the width of the road contact part 11 in the case of a cylindrical body with openings on both sides, or on the other hand, in the case of a bag-shaped body with openings on one side, it is attached closer to the outer side where the stripes are crossed.This ensures that the peeling force acting on the side net 12 when the spike pins 22 bite into the frozen road surface is approximately uniform, allowing the chemical slip prevention function to function, while the loosening of the road contact part of the cylindrical body that occurs when driving due to the given loosening of the road contact part will cause the spike pins to swing, and the tensile strength is increased in the circumferential direction to tighten the spike pins at the road contact part so that the biting function on the frozen road surface is not hindered.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a new studded tire chain with excellent functionality, which combines the chemical slip prevention function part (A) of a so-called cloth tire chain, which is fitted to a vehicle tire from the outside like a sock through an opening and prevents slippage by absorbing water from the frozen road surface at the contact point with the road, with the physical slip prevention function part (B) of a studded tire chain, which consists of at least one spike belt (20) wrapped circumferentially around at least the contact point of the vehicle tire with the road surface, by the studs biting into the tire. [Background technology]

[0002] Tire chains can be broadly divided into metal tire chains, which have a physical slip prevention function due to the metal chain including studs biting into the frozen road surface, and cloth tire chains, which have a chemical slip prevention function by absorbing the water film on the frozen road surface. These cloth tire chains are also known as "cloth chains" or "tire socks." Also called "snow socks," they were developed in Norway in 1998 and are characterized by being lighter than metal or studded tire chains, being easy to remove, and being compact enough to store in the trunk. Therefore, cloth tire chains such as those shown in Figures 6 and 7 have become widely used for short-term use or as a backup for emergencies (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special table number 2002-541007 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, cloth tire chains are less durable than metal tire chains and are not suitable for long-distance driving or regular use. Their greatest drawback is that they work by absorbing and dispersing the water film on frozen surfaces that causes slippage. Therefore, when the ambient temperature drops below freezing, their performance may be inadequate on icy roads. Furthermore, when parked for long periods, the absorbent fabric freezes the absorbed water, causing the chain to separate from the tire. Furthermore, the longer the vehicle is parked, the more the absorbed water freezes, impairing its functionality. The inventors, considering that the problem of fabric tire chains' functionality being impaired by the frozen water absorption is due to the chemical method used, conducted extensive research and found that applying a physical method, such as studs like spikes that bite into the frozen road surface, to the chemical method of fabric tire chains' slip prevention function does not fully combine the two functions (prototype experiment shown in Figure 5). Specifically, we found that even if a cloth tire chain is equipped with a row of spikes spaced at regular intervals across the tire tread like a metal chain (Fig. 4(a)), or even if multiple spikes are spaced directly around the circumferential edge of the fabric tire chain, the fabric tire chain is designed with slack in the road contact area to facilitate easy installation. As the tire rotates, this loosens, causing the spikes to roll or swing during driving, as shown in Figs. 5(a) to 5(c), impairing their physical function of penetrating the frozen road surface. Because cloth tire chains are fitted over the tire like a sock, even when studs are attached to the tire chain's road contact area, there is some play around the circumference. If this looseness occurs during driving, the studs may not be able to fully penetrate the frozen surface. Furthermore, we found that even if studs are provided across the circumference covering the tire tread, as shown in Figure 4(a), the spike belt does not sufficiently bite into the frozen road surface, as shown in Figures 5(a) to (c), and it wobbles, resulting in no anti-slip effect.Therefore, as shown in Figure 4(c), we discovered that if the circumferential portion of the tire chain covering the tire tread is reinforced with a belt that runs all the way around and is tightened to prevent the studs from rolling when they bite into the frozen road surface, even if there is some play when attaching the cloth tire chain.Based on this new finding, the objective of this invention is to provide a new tire chain that does not impede the chemical slip prevention function of cloth tire chains, which is their advantage of being easy to attach, but solves the problem of the chemical slip prevention function, which is caused by the frozen water absorbed, by using the physical slip prevention function of spike belts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention was made based on the above findings, and as shown in Figure 1, in order to make the peeling force acting on the cylindrical body (10) when the spike belt (20) of the physical slip prevention function bites into the frozen road surface approximately uniform, the spike belt is attached at the center of the width direction of the road contact part (11) in the case of a cylindrical body with openings on both sides, while in the case of a bag-shaped body (10') with openings on one side, it is attached near the outer side where the stripes are attached crosswise, so that the peeling force acting on the side nets (12, 12), (12, 14) when the spike pins (22) bite into the frozen road surface is approximately uniform. The chemical slip prevention function part (A) functions by making the tension almost uniform, while the loosening of the road contact part of the cylindrical body that occurs when the body is put on and taken off causes the spike pins (22) to swing and the tensile strength is increased in the circumferential direction so that the spike pins (22) are tightened to the road contact part (11) so that the biting function on the frozen road surface is not hindered, thereby integrating the water-absorbing slip prevention function of the chemical slip prevention function part (A) on frozen surfaces and the biting-type slip prevention function of the studs on frozen surfaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this device, as shown in Figure 1, the peeling force acting on the road contact area when the spike belt engages the road is uniformly distributed across the road contact area. This is because the spike belt (20) is positioned at the widthwise center of the road contact area in the case of a double-sided opening (Figure 2), and at the outer side of the widthwise center in the case of a single-sided opening (Figure 3). This allows the chemical slip-preventing function (A) to function evenly. While the chemical slip-preventing function, which is often affected by play when worn like a sock (Figure 5), is easily affected by play (Figure 5), the narrow, water-absorbent fabric belt increases the tensile strength by, for example, two times or more, to tension the road contact area. This prevents the spikes from swinging due to looseness in the road contact area and allows them to engage the frozen road. Therefore, the chemical slip-preventing function (A) and the physical slip-preventing function (B) can be seamlessly integrated. This allows the drawbacks of the chemical slip-preventing function of fabric tire chains to be overcome by the physical slip-preventing function of metal tire chains, thereby integrating the two functions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram to explain the function of this device, and compares it with the function of a conventional commercially available cloth tire chain (manufactured by Autosox, Norway) shown in (b). [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a spike belt (20) is stretched circumferentially around the width center of the road contact portion (11) of a cloth tire chain that is a cylindrical body with openings on both sides, and shows an enlarged view of the fixation of the spike pins (22) to the cloth belt (21). [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a spike belt (20) is stretched circumferentially around the outer width of the road contact portion (11) of a cloth tire chain that is a bag-shaped body with an opening on one side, and shows an enlarged view of the fixation of the spike pins (22) to the cloth belt (21). [Figure 4]The tire chain is made of a tread pattern that is made of a tread material, and is made of a tread material that is made of a tread material. The tire chain is made of a tread material ... [Figure 5] 4(a) and 4(b) are explanatory diagrams illustrating the process in which the spike pins (22) of FIG. 4(a) and (b) roll or swing due to looseness of the cloth contact portion with the road surface during driving, resulting in poor engagement with the road surface. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are an outer perspective view and an inner perspective view, respectively, of a cylindrical cloth tire chain disclosed in Patent Document 1. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are an outer perspective view and an inner perspective view, respectively, of a bag-shaped cloth tire chain disclosed in Patent Document 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Conventional fabric tire chains are roughly divided into cylindrical types (Fig. 6) and bag-shaped types (Fig. 7), so this invention has been improved by dividing them into cylindrical types (Fig. 6) and bag-shaped types (Fig. 7). In Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, 1 is the tire, 2 is the fabric tire chain, 3 is the road contact part, 5 is the side net, 7 is the elastic member, 8 is the full net, and 9 is the stripe.

[0009] Cloth tire chains are typically of two types: a cylindrical type with openings on both ends of the road contact portion (11) of the cloth tire chain, and a bag-shaped type with an opening on one side. Both types have a chemical slip prevention function part (A) that prevents slippage by absorbing water from the frozen road surface at the road contact portion, and a physical slip prevention function part (B) consisting of at least one spike belt (20) wrapped circumferentially around at least the road contact portion of the vehicle tire.

[0010] In FIG. 2, the fabric cylindrical body (10) forming the chemical slip function portion (A) covers the circumferential tread (1A) of the vehicle tire (1), and includes an annular road contact portion (11) made of fabric having water absorption properties that extends in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire, and a tightening band (13A) that extends from both peripheries of the fabric annular road contact portion (11) to the inner and outer sides (1B, 1C) of the vehicle tire and fastens the road contact portion (11) to the tire circumferential tread (1A) with a central opening (13). The device is equipped with a side net (12) that tightens and fixes the tire, while the spike belt (20) that forms the physical slip prevention function part (B) is made of a narrow, water-absorbent fabric belt (21) that does not impede the chemical slip prevention function and increases the circumferential tensile strength of the annular road surface contact part (11), and spike pins (22) that can bite into frozen road surfaces and are fixed to the fabric belt (21) at intervals of 50 mm to 150 mm.

[0011] The spike belt (20) is fixed to the annular road contact portion (11) of the cylindrical body (10) extending around the entire circumference at approximately the center in the width direction, making the centrifugal force (peeling force) in the diameter direction when the spike pins (22) bite into the frozen road surface approximately uniform, allowing the chemical slip prevention function (A) to function. On the other hand, the road contact portion of the cylindrical body is loosened due to contact with the road surface during wearing and removal, causing slack when the spike pins (22) come into contact with the road surface during driving, which can cause the spike pins (22) to roll as shown in Figure 5. Therefore, the tensile strength is increased in the circumferential direction to tighten the spike pins (22) to the road contact portion (11) so that the biting function of the spike pins (22) into the frozen road surface is not affected, and the water-absorbing slip prevention function of the chemical slip prevention function (A) on frozen surfaces is integrated with the biting-type slip prevention function of the studs on frozen surfaces.

[0012] In Figure 3, the fabric bag (10') forming the chemical slip functional portion (A) covers the circumferential tread (4) of the vehicle tire (1), and includes an annular road contact portion (11) made of fabric having water absorption properties that extends in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire, a side net (12) extending from the outer periphery of the fabric annular road contact portion (11) to the vehicle tire outer side surface (11C), a full-surface net (14) extending crosswise from the outer periphery in the diameter direction, and the side net (12) extending from the inner periphery of the fabric annular road contact portion (11) to the vehicle tire inner and outer sides (1C) and fastening bands (13A) provided at the central opening (13) to fasten and fix the road contact portion (11) to the tire circumferential tread (1A), thereby fastening and fixing the road contact portion (11) to the tire circumferential tread (1A).

[0013] The spike belt (20) forming the physical slip prevention function part (B) is made of a narrow, water-absorbent fabric belt (21) that does not impair the chemical slip prevention function and increases the tensile strength in the circumferential direction of the annular road surface contact part (11), and a plurality of spike pins (22) that are fixed to the fabric belt (21) at intervals of 50 mm to 150 mm and can bite into frozen road surfaces, The spike belt (20) is fixed to the annular road contact portion (11) of the bag body (10') extending around the entire circumference toward the outside in the width direction, and the centrifugal force in the diameter direction when the spike pins (22) bite into the frozen road surface is alleviated by the outer strap extending in the diameter direction, while the tensile strength is increased in the circumferential direction to tighten the spike pins (22) to the road contact portion (11) so that the looseness caused by contact with the road surface during driving due to the given looseness of the road contact portion of the cylindrical body is not affected by the biting function of the spike pins (22) into the frozen road surface, and the water-absorbing slip-preventing function of the chemical slip-preventing functional portion (A) on frozen surfaces and the biting-type slip-preventing function of the studs on frozen surfaces are integrated.

[0014] The spike pin (22) has an annular spike 22a made of super steel, stainless steel or carbon steel with an outer diameter of 3 to 8 mm, with the head exposed and the leg embedded in a tip recess 22b.

[0015] (Performance comparison) When comparing the specific example of the present invention shown in Figure 2 (Figure 4(c)) with the case where the spike belt 20 is stretched across the width of the road contact part of the cloth tire chain at regular intervals in the circumferential direction (Figure 4(a)), and the case where the spike belt is directly attached at regular intervals in the circumferential direction to the road contact part without using a cloth belt (Figure 4(b)), it was found that the spike pins (22) in Figures 4(a) and (b) roll or swing during driving due to loosening of the cloth road contact part, resulting in poor bite into the road surface (see Figure 5).

[0016] In this device, we have explained two types of tire chains, one with a bag-like opening and the other with a cylindrical opening on both sides. However, even if the openings are on both sides, if the openings are striped in a diametrical direction, they are treated as bag-like. Also, while this device uses spike belts to securely fasten the spikes to the road contact part of the fabric tire chain, it is also possible to fasten the spikes directly to the road contact part of the fabric tire chain and reinforce the tensile strength with a belt extending in the circumferential direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0017] 10. Cloth tire chains 11...Road contact part 12 Side net 13...Aperture 14. Full net 15 Stripes 20. Spiked belt 22. Spike pins

Claims

1. A tire chain with slip prevention function on frozen road surfaces (including snowy surfaces, the same applies hereinafter), comprising a cloth tubular body (10) with openings on both sides that is fitted to a vehicle tire from the outside of the tire through the openings in the form of a sock, and comprising a chemical slip prevention function part (A) that prevents slipping by absorbing water on the frozen road surface at the part that contacts the road surface, and a physical slip prevention function part (B) that comprises at least one spike belt (20) wound circumferentially around at least the circumferential surface of the vehicle tire, and that prevents slipping by biting into the frozen road surface. The fabric tubular body (10) forming the chemical slip functional portion (A) covers the circumferential tread (1A) of the vehicle tire (1), and is provided with an annular road contact portion (11) made of a woven fabric having water absorption properties, extending in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire circumferential tread (1A), and side nets (12), (12) extending in the radial direction from both circumferential edges of the annular road contact portion (11) on the inner and outer sides (1B, 1C) of the vehicle tire, and fastening and fixing the road contact portion (11) to the tire circumferential tread (1A) with fastening bands (13A) provided at a central opening (13); The spike belt (20) forming the physical slip prevention function part (B) is made of a narrow, water-absorbent fabric that does not inhibit the chemical slip prevention function exhibited by the road contact part (11), and comprises a belt (21) that increases the tensile strength in the circumferential direction of the annular road contact part (11), and spike pins (22), (22) that are fixed to the belt (21) at intervals of 50 mm to 150 mm and can bite into frozen road surfaces, The spike belt (20) is tensioned around the entire circumference of the annular road contact portion (11) of the cylindrical body (10) at approximately the center in the width direction, and the chemical slip prevention function portion (A) functions by uniformly distributing the peeling force applied to the side nets (12), (12) when the spike pins (22) bite into the frozen road surface, while loosening of the road contact portion (11) of the cylindrical body (10) when it is put on or taken off causes the spike pins (22) to swing, increasing the tensile strength in the circumferential direction so as not to impair their biting function into the frozen road surface, and tightening the spike pins (22) against the road contact portion (11), thereby integrating the water-absorbing slip prevention function of the chemical slip prevention function portion (A) on frozen surfaces and the biting-type slip prevention function of the studs on frozen surfaces.

2. A tire chain having a slip prevention function on frozen road surfaces, comprising a cloth bag body (10') with an opening on one side that is put on from the outside of the tire in the form of a sock through the opening, and comprising a chemical slip prevention function part (A) that prevents slipping by absorbing water on the frozen road surface at the part that contacts the road surface, and a physical slip prevention function part (B) that comprises at least one spike belt (20) wound in the circumferential direction at least around the part that contacts the road surface of the vehicle tire, and that prevents slipping by biting into the frozen road surface. The fabric bag (10') forming the chemical slip functional portion (A) covers the circumferential tread (1A) of the vehicle tire (1), and comprises an annular road contact portion (11) extending in the circumferential direction of the vehicle tire circumferential tread (1A) and made of a woven fabric having water absorption properties, an outer full-surface net (14) extending from the outer periphery of the annular road contact portion (11) to the vehicle tire outer side surface (11C), straps (15) extending from the outer periphery in a cross direction in the diameter direction, and an inner side net (12) extending from the inner periphery of the annular road contact portion (11) in the radial direction of the vehicle tire inner and outer sides (1B) and fastening and fixing the road contact portion (11) to the tire circumferential tread (1A) with fastening bands (13A) provided in a central opening (13), and the road contact portion (11) is fastened and fixed to the tire circumferential tread (1A), The spike belt (20) forming the physical slip prevention function part (B) is made of a narrow, water-absorbent fabric that does not inhibit the chemical slip prevention function exhibited by the road contact part (11), and comprises a belt (21) that increases the tensile strength in the circumferential direction of the annular road contact part (11), and spike pins (22) (22) that are fixed to the fabric belt (21) at intervals of 50 mm to 150 mm and can bite into frozen road surfaces, The spike belt (20) is tensioned around the annular road contact portion (11) of the cylindrical body (10), extending from the center in the width direction toward the outside and around the entire circumference, and the chemical slip prevention function portion (A) is enabled to function by uniformly distributing the peeling force applied to the side nets (12), (14) when the spike pins (22) bite into the frozen road surface, while the tensile strength is increased in the circumferential direction to tighten the spike pins (22) against the road contact portion (11) so that loosening of the road contact portion of the cylindrical body that occurs during wearing and removing does not cause the spike pins (22) to swing and impede their biting function on the frozen road surface, thereby integrating the water-absorbing slip prevention function of the chemical slip prevention function portion (A) on frozen surfaces and the biting-type slip prevention function of the studs on frozen surfaces.

3. A studded cloth tire chain as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spike pin (22) is a circular spike 22a made of super steel, stainless steel or carbon steel with a diameter of 3 to 8 mm, with the head exposed and the leg embedded in the tip recess 22b.

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