Tire chain

Abstract

To form a structure which enables removal of a cross chain from a side chain and is suitable for large vehicles.SOLUTION: A tire chain 1 is attached to a tire T of a vehicle and includes: a side chain 10 disposed at the side surface side of the tire T; a cross chain 11 disposed at the peripheral surface side of the tire T; and a connection part 2 which detachably connects the cross chain 11 to the side chain 10. The connection part 2 includes: a body 20 having a gap part 20a through which the cross chain 11 may pass; and a nut part 21 which moves along the body 20 and may open or close the gap part 20a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tire chain that is mounted so that the tire does not slip when snow or ice accumulates on the road surface.

Background Art

[0002] In the case of large vehicles such as snowplows, since the tires are also very large together with the vehicle body, the tire chain that is mounted so that the tire does not slip is also made of large metal and is very heavy. The tire chain is composed of a side chain disposed on the side surface side of the tire and a cross chain disposed on the circumferential surface side of the tire, and the cross chain is in contact with the road surface.

[0003] In the case of large vehicles, since the weight of the vehicle body and the tires is very heavy, the cross chain in contact with the road surface is likely to wear. As a result, it is necessary to replace the tire chain so that the cross chain does not wear and break, but since the weight of the tire chain is very heavy, the replacement work is very dangerous and time-consuming.

[0004] Also, there is a tire chain that can remove and replace only the cross chain with the tire chain mounted on the tire without replacing the entire tire chain (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, the connecting portion for detaching and attaching the cross chain of this tire chain is not configured to be suitable for large vehicles, and as a result, there is a risk of breakage when used for large vehicles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a tire chain suitable for large vehicles while being able to remove the cross chain from the side chain.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, the tire chain according to the present invention includes: a side chain disposed on the side surface side of a tire of a vehicle; a cross chain disposed on the circumferential surface side of the tire; a connecting portion that detachably connects the cross chain to the side chain, and the connecting portion includes: a main body portion having a gap portion through which the cross chain can pass; a nut portion disposed on the main body portion and capable of opening and closing the gap portion.

[0008] Since the tire chain according to the present invention is configured such that the connecting portion opens and closes the gap portion of the main body portion via the nut portion, a very strong configuration can be realized. As a result, it will not be damaged even when used on large vehicles.

[0009] Preferably, the connecting portion includes a pair of nut portions and a bolt portion that can be screwed into the nut portions. The gap portion is configured to close when the pair of nut portions are screwed onto the bolt portion with the bolt portion disposed in the gap portion.

[0010] Accordingly, by forming the gap portion in the main body portion of the connecting portion with a cutter or the like and separately manufacturing and preparing the nut portion and the bolt portion, it is not necessary to perform threading or the like on the main body portion of the connecting portion, and the manufacturing labor and cost are low, and it can be easily manufactured.

[0011] In addition, the tire chain repair method according to the present invention includes: a side chain disposed on the side surface side of a tire of a vehicle; A cross chain disposed on the circumferential surface side of the tire, A method for repairing a tire chain, comprising a connecting portion that detachably connects the cross chain to the side chain, Removing the cross chain from the side chain while the tire chain is mounted on the tire; Reversing the removed cross chain; And attaching the reversed cross chain to the side chain.

[0012] When the tire chain is used for a long time, the portion of the cross chain that contacts the road surface wears and becomes slippery. However, in the tire chain repair method according to the present invention, the cross chain can be easily removed and reversed through the connecting portion, and the unworn portion can be disposed on the road surface side.

[0013] In addition, the tire chain repair method according to the present invention A side chain disposed on the side surface side of the tire of the vehicle, A cross chain disposed on the circumferential surface side of the tire, A method for repairing a tire chain, comprising a connecting portion that detachably connects the cross chain to the side chain, Removing the cross chain from the side chain while the tire chain is mounted on the tire; Build-up welding the worn portion of the removed cross chain; And attaching the cross chain to the side chain such that the build-up welded portion faces the road surface side.

[0014] When the tire chain is used for a long time, the portion of the cross chain that contacts the road surface wears and becomes slippery. However, in the tire chain repair method according to the present invention, the cross chain can be easily removed through the connecting portion and the worn portion can be build-up welded, and by making the build-up welded portion face the road surface side, the build-up welded portion can function as a spike to make it difficult to slip.

[0015] Preferably, a frame is disposed on the worn portion of the cross chain, and build-up welding is performed inside the frame.

[0016] By performing build-up welding inside the frame, even if the operator is not a skilled worker, the welding metal can be surely build-up welded to the worn portion without dropping from the cross chain.

[0017] Preferably, the frame includes a wall portion disposed so as to protrude from the cross chain, and a concave portion formed along the ring portion of the cross chain.

[0018] By arranging the concave portion of the frame along the ring portion of the cross chain, the frame can be arranged without shifting from the worn portion, and the metal can be surely welded to the worn portion.

Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the tire chain and the tire chain repair method according to the present invention, the cross chain can be removed from the side chain, and since it has a configuration suitable for large vehicles, there is no risk of damage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, based on the drawings, an embodiment of a tire chain and a tire chain repair method according to the present invention will be described.

[0022] <Configuration of Tire Chain> The configuration of the tire chain will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the tire chain 1 is configured to be mounted on the tire T of a vehicle. When the road surface is covered with snow or frozen, the tire chain 1 is mounted on the tire T so that the tire T does not slip during vehicle travel. In the present embodiment, the tire chain 1 is made of metal so as to be suitable for the tire T of a large vehicle.

[0023] The tire chain 1 includes a side chain 10 disposed on the side surface side of the tire T and a cross chain 11 disposed on the circumferential surface side of the tire T. The side chain 10 and the cross chain 11 are configured by connecting a plurality of metal ring portions 100, 110.

[0024] Further, the tire chain 1 includes a ring-shaped spring band 12 disposed on the side surface side of the tire T, and the spring band 12 is connected to the side chain 10 via a plurality of hooks 13.

[0025] The tire chain 1 is configured such that the side chain 10 is attracted to the center of the side surface of the tire T by the elastic force of the spring band 12, and the cross chain 11 reliably contacts the circumferential surface of the tire T.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the tire chain 1 includes two side chains 10, and each side chain 10 is disposed on both side surfaces of the tire T. A plurality of cross chains 11 are disposed and connected between the two parallel side chains 10. A connector 14 is attached to the end of the side chain 10, and by connecting both ends of the side chain 10 with the connector 14, as shown in FIG. 1, the ring-shaped side chain 10 can be disposed on the side surface side of the tire T.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tire chain 1 includes a connecting portion 2 for detachably connecting the cross chain 11 to the side chain 10. The connecting portion 2 is configured to connect both ends of each cross chain 11 to the side chain 10.

[0028] <First Embodiment of the Connecting Portion> The first embodiment of the connecting portion 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 2 includes a metal main body portion 20, similar to the ring portions 100 and 110 of the side chain 10 and the cross chain 11. The main body portion 20 has a gap portion 20a through which the ring portion 110 of the cross chain 11 can pass. Therefore, the main body portion 20 is configured in a discontinuous shape by the gap portion 20a.

[0029] Further, the connecting portion 2 includes a metal nut portion 21 fitted into the main body portion 20. The nut portion 21 is configured to be movable along the main body portion 20. The nut portion 21 has a screw portion 210 on the inside, and the main body portion 20 has a screw portion 200 at an end adjacent to the gap portion 20a.

[0030] By placing and rotating the nut portion 21 in the gap portion 20a and tightening each screw portion 200, 210, the gap portion 20a can be closed. Also, by rotating the nut portion 21 disposed in the gap portion 20a and loosening each screw portion 200, 210, the gap portion 20a can be opened. By opening the gap portion 20a and making it possible for the ring portion 110 of the cross chain 11 to pass through the gap portion 20a, the cross chain 11 can be removed from the connecting portion 2.

[0031] <Second Embodiment of the Connecting Portion> The second embodiment of the connecting portion 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body portion 20 of the connecting portion 2 has a gap portion 20a, similar to the first embodiment. And the connecting portion 2 includes a pair of metal nut portions 22 fitted into the main body portion 20, and the pair of nut portions 22 are fitted into the main body portion 20 so as to be disposed on both sides of the gap portion 20a. The nut portion 22 is provided with a screw portion 22a on the inner side.

[0032] Also, the connecting portion 2 has a metal bolt portion 23. The bolt portion 23 is provided with a screw portion 23a on the outer side and is configured to be screwed into the screw portion 22a of the nut portion 22. And the length of the bolt portion 23 is shorter than the gap portion 20a so as to be disposed in the gap portion 20a. Further, when the pair of nut portions 22 are screwed onto the bolt portion 23 disposed in the gap portion 20a, the nut portions 22 are configured to be held in the gap portion 20a by the main body portion 20 and the bolt portion 23 of the connecting portion 2 to close the gap portion 20a.

[0033] <First Embodiment of the Tire Chain Repair Method> The first embodiment of the tire chain repair method will be described. As shown in Fig. 6, when the tire chain 1 is used for a long time, the portion of the cross-chain 11 that contacts the road surface wears out and becomes slippery. Therefore, with the tire chain 1 mounted on the tire T, the gap 20a of the connecting portion 2 is opened, and the worn cross-chain 11 is removed from the connecting portion 2 (step S10). Then, the removed cross-chain 11 is reversed (step S11). Then, the reversed cross-chain 11 is disposed inside the main body portion 20 of the connecting portion 2, and the gap 20a is closed (step S12).

[0034] This enables the cross-chain 11 to be easily removed and reversed via the connecting portion 2 without removing and reversing the entire extremely heavy tire chain 1 from the tire T, and the unworn portion can be disposed on the road surface side.

[0035] <Second Embodiment of Tire Chain Repair Method> The second embodiment of the tire chain repair method will be described. As shown in Fig. 7, with the tire chain 1 mounted on the tire T, the gap 20a of the connecting portion 2 is opened, and the worn cross-chain 11 is removed from the connecting portion 2 (step S20). Then, the worn portion 11a of the removed cross-chain 11 is repaired by build-up welding (step S21). Then, the cross-chain 11 is disposed in the connecting portion 2 so that the build-up welded portion faces the road surface side, and the gap 20a is closed (step S22).

[0036] This enables the cross-chain 11 to be easily removed via the connecting portion 20 without removing and reversing the entire extremely heavy tire chain 1 from the tire T, and the worn portion 11a can be repaired by build-up welding. By disposing the build-up welded portion to face the road surface side, the build-up welded portion can function as a spike to make it difficult to slip.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 5, when build-up welding the cross chain 11, the metal frame 3 can be arranged on the worn part 11a of the cross chain 11 and build-up welded inside the frame 3 (step S21’). In build-up welding, by arranging the tip of the rod, which is the welding material, inside the frame 3, the welded metal is formed inside the frame 3 and does not drip, and the worn part 11a can be surely build-up welded.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 5(B), the frame 3 includes a wall portion 30 arranged to protrude upward from the cross chain 11, and a pair of recesses 31, 31 formed in the wall portion 30 along the peripheral surface of the cross chain 11. Each of the recesses 31, 31 faces each other inside the frame 3. By fitting 31, 31 into the ring portion 110 of the cross chain 11 respectively, the frame 3 can be surely build-up welded to the worn part 11a without shifting from the worn part 11a.

[0039] Also, as shown in Fig. 5(C), it is desirable that the width W of the frame 3 is substantially the same as the diameter φ of the ring portion 110 of the cross chain 11. Thereby, when build-up welding inside the frame 3, the welded metal is formed inside the frame 3 and does not drip, and the worn part 11a can be surely build-up welded. Also, it is desirable that the length L of the frame 3 is larger than the worn part 11a so that the entire range of the worn part 11a can be build-up welded. Since the sizes of the worn parts 11a vary, it is desirable to prepare a plurality of frames 3 with different lengths L.

[0040] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the configuration of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0041] T tire 1 tire chain 10 side chain 11 cross chain 100, 110 ring portion 2 connecting portion 20a clearance part 20 main body part 21 nut part 11a worn part 3 frame body 30 wall part 31 recess

Claims

【Claim 1】 A tire chain to be mounted on a tire of a vehicle, The tire chain includes: A side chain disposed on a side surface side of a tire of the vehicle; A cross chain disposed on a circumferential surface side of the tire; And a connecting portion for detachably connecting the cross chain to the side chain. The connecting portion includes: A main body portion having a gap through which the cross chain can pass; A pair of nut portions disposed on the main body portion and capable of opening and closing the gap; And a bolt portion threadably engageable with the nut portions. The main body portion is configured in a discontinuous shape by the gap. The bolt portion is shorter than the gap so as to be disposed in the gap, and the pair of nut portions are threadably engaged with the bolt portion in a state of facing an end portion of the main body portion that is the gap, so that each nut portion is disposed across the bolt portion and the main body portion and the gap is closed. A tire chain characterized by the above.

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