Lateral Fixation Traction Device for Snowy Tire Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traction assistance devices for vehicles are cumbersome to assemble and disassemble, offer limited traction efficiency, and are not adaptable to all types of tires, especially on snowy ground, and recent vehicles with limited wheel well space.

Innovation Solution

A traction assistance device featuring a traction strip with polyurethane chain support blocks and lateral fixing modules, including sculpted grooves and saw teeth for enhanced traction and stability, allowing easy installation and removal by lateral attachment to the rim, which simplifies assembly and disassembly and improves traction performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional snow chains are used to improve traction efficiency, then traction performance is improved, but assembly and disassembly operations become tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction efficiencyVSAvoidassembly and disassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The traction device is divided into modular components: a flexible support element that can wrap around the tire and separate chain sections that can be independently positioned and attached. This segmentation allows for easier assembly and disassembly while maintaining effective traction coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support element is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing it to dynamically conform to different tire sizes and shapes. This dynamic characteristic simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need for precise fitting adjustments, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable traction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If reinforced elastic fabric or textile wiring devices are used to simplify assembly and disassembly operations, then ease of operation is improved, but traction efficiency remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassembly easeVSAvoidtraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device combines a flexible support element (providing ease of operation) with rigid chain sections (providing high traction efficiency). This composite structure integrates the advantages of both materials: the flexibility and ease of installation from the fabric-like support and the superior grip from the metal chains, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and traction efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If lateral attachment to the rim is implemented to improve ease of operation, then assembly and disassembly become easier, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and disassembly easeVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral attachment mechanism is extracted as a separate, simple component that attaches to the rim independently from the main chain structure. This extraction simplifies the overall device complexity by creating a distinct, easy-to-install attachment system that does not complicate the chain assembly itself, thereby maintaining ease of operation without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3894242B1Traction device having chain portions and a lateral fixation
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 MICHELIN & CO (CIE GEN DES ESTAB MICHELIN)
  • EP3894242B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3894242B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP3894242B1 patent drawingFigure 3d

AI summary

Traction assistance device for arrangement on the periphery of a tyre tread mounted on a rim, comprising a traction belt intended for winding around the tyre tread, a module for lateral attachment to the rim, the traction belt comprising a plurality of blocks (3) for supporting polyurethane chains arranged one after the other and on which at least two circumferential chains are attached, at least one portion of the support blocks (3) comprising an arrangement (20) of tread patterns provided with at least one groove (21) and at least one sipe (22) transverse to the traction axis T-T and arranged on an outer face (8) the support blocks (3) and integrally formed with the chain support block (3).