Tire Track Attachments With Lateral Blades for Soft Terrain Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction devices for wheels or tires face challenges such as limited adjustability, difficulty in secure coupling, inadequate traction in loose terrain, and poor lateral traction, which restrict their effectiveness, especially in soft or loose terrain like sand, snow, or mud.
Innovation Solution
A track attachment system for wheels, comprising a track body with a convex and concave surface, and at least one blade connected to the track body, designed to improve traction and handling by providing enhanced lateral traction and a floating effect, allowing the wheel to float on top of soft terrain without sinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tire chains or traction devices are installed about a complete circumference of a tire, then traction is provided, but the device complexity and difficulty of installation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traction device is divided into multiple individual traction elements (blades) that can be independently attached to the tire at different locations around the circumference. Each blade is a separate component that can be secured independently, allowing for simplified installation and removal compared to traditional complete-circumference chains.
2Ease of operation
If individual transverse traction elements are used for easier installation, then ease of operation improves, but the elements are prone to move or rotate out of effective position
Solution Approach 1:
Each traction blade is designed with specific geometric features including a longitudinal axis, transverse axis, and angled surface that creates a self-aligning mechanism. The blade's shape and attachment geometry provide localized stability at each attachment point, preventing rotation and movement while maintaining ease of installation.
3Force
If traction devices are designed to dig into the surface during forward rotation, then forward traction improves, but lateral traction and ability to negotiate turns deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The traction blades are designed with asymmetric geometry featuring angled surfaces relative to the tire's rotational axis. This asymmetric configuration provides digging action for forward traction while the angled orientation also creates lateral contact surfaces that improve side traction and turn negotiation capability.
4Reliability
If tire chains enclose the complete tire circumference, then secure positioning is achieved, but the profile and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential traction function from traditional complete-circumference chains by using individual blades attached at strategic locations around the tire. This eliminates the need for continuous encirclement, reducing weight while maintaining secure positioning and effective traction through properly spaced individual elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A track attachment includes a track body forming a convex surface for facing a driving terrain and a concave surface for facing a wheel or tire, with at least one blade extending from the convex surface for increasing lateral traction of the wheel or tire. The at least one blade may be defined as an elongated shape extending in the direction of rotation of the wheel or tire to generate and increase in lateral traction. The track body and at least two blades may define a channel at the convex surface to generate a floating effect on soft and loose terrain. The track attachment may be provided with supporting ribs and openings for facilitating attachment to the wheel or tire. A traction system includes a plurality of track attachments secured to a wheel or tire.