Winding Wheel with Segmented Ring Gear for Anti-Skid Chain Tensioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tensioning devices for anti-skid chains can cause damage to vehicle tires due to excessive tightness, leading to chafing and tire damage, especially in heavy vehicles, and fail to provide sufficient play during tensioning.
Innovation Solution
A tensioning device with a winding wheel featuring toothed and tooth-free sections on its circumference, allowing the winding wheel to yield and providing increased play during tensioning, along with a pawl mechanism for blocking and unblocking the tensioning direction, and a damping device to prevent excessive speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the anti-skid chain is mounted tightly on the wheel, then the chain sits well on the wheel and cannot slip sideways, but the chain movement at higher speeds causes chafing and tire damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ring gear is designed with alternating toothed and tooth-free sections, changing the mechanical engagement parameter from continuous engagement to intermittent engagement. This allows the winding wheel to yield by amounts corresponding to the tooth-free section lengths, providing controlled play that prevents excessive chain tightness while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The pawl mechanism transitions from a static blocking state to a dynamic yielding state during chain tensioning. The pawl engages with toothed sections to block reverse movement while allowing forward movement during yielding phases, creating a dynamic system that adapts to chain movement requirements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the chain is mounted with sufficient play to prevent tire damage, then tire damage is avoided, but the chain may slip sideways and not sit well on the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The alternating toothed and tooth-free sections create a controlled play parameter that allows minimal chain movement for self-cleaning and position adjustment while preventing excessive movement that would cause tire damage. The tooth-free section length determines the amount of play available
Solution Approach 2:
The chain's slight sagging movement enabled by the tooth-free sections creates a self-cleaning effect where the chain naturally moves to shed dirt, mud, and snow accumulation, maintaining its functional position and stability without external intervention
3Measurement precision
If the winding wheel has continuous toothing for precise blocking, then blocking precision is improved, but the chain tensioning cannot accommodate larger steps and play requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The ring gear circumference is segmented into alternating toothed and tooth-free sections. The toothed sections provide precise blocking when engaged by the pawl, while the tooth-free sections provide yielding capacity for larger tensioning steps. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both precision and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the ring gear have different local qualities: toothed sections provide rigid blocking precision, while tooth-free sections provide flexible yielding capacity. This local differentiation allows the same component to serve multiple functional requirements in different spatial locations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for tighter chain installation without damaging tires, ensuring the chain is sufficiently loose and self-cleaning, while preventing over-tightening and providing a controlled tensioning process.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (4) arranged in the housing, which prestresses the cable pulley (32) in the winding direction
Implementation Method 2
the pawl (6) blocking a turning movement of the winding wheel in the tensioning direction in a first position by engaging the pawl in the toothing of the ring gear
Implementation Method 3
a damping device can be provided which has a wheel element which is geared to the winding wheel and counteracts its rotation with a braking effect
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6~8b
Figure 9~13
AI summary
The clamping device has housing, a winding wheel (3) and a pawl (6), arrange in a winding wheel. The winding wheel is rotatably supported within the housing around its axis and is boased in the winding direction. The winding wheel has a ring gear (31) with a toothing (33) arranged along its periphery. An area is formed on a circumference of the ring gear of the winding wheel, which is free from toothing and is located between adjoining teeth. An independent claim is also included for an anti-skid chain with holding elements, particularly hooks.