Traction Mat With Serrated Edges For Snow Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traction mats for vehicles are either complex, costly, or not suitable for providing increased traction on poor surfaces like mud and snow, and they lack simplicity and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A traction mat design featuring a flexible base with serrated short side portions and a top cover with traction blocks, affixed together using nuts and bolts, U-bolts, and an endless chain for enhanced flexibility and grip on icy and snowy surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex traction devices with multiple components are used, then traction performance on poor surfaces is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traction mat is divided into a base layer and a top cover layer, where the base provides structural support and the top cover with serrated edges provides enhanced traction. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function while keeping the overall device simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The serrated edges are applied only to the short side portions of the top cover, concentrating the traction-enhancing feature exactly where it is most needed for vehicle extraction, rather than complicating the entire mat structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional traction mats are used, then some level of traction is provided, but they lack flexibility and adaptability for different surface conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The top cover is made as a separate flexible component that can be affixed to the base, allowing the mat to adapt its shape and conform to different surface conditions including ice, snow, and mud, while maintaining secure attachment through the fastening mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple mat designs are used, then manufacturing is easy and cost-effective, but they do not provide sufficient traction on mud and snow surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the mat into a simple base and a separate top cover with serrated edges, each component can be manufactured independently using simple processes, then assembled together to achieve enhanced traction performance without complex manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex traction features (serrated edges) are localized to only the portions of the mat that contact the tire, allowing the majority of the mat structure to remain simple and easy to manufacture.
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 design provides increased traction on mud and snow surfaces while being simple to manufacture and use, with the flexibility and additional fastening mechanisms enhancing grip on ice.
Implementation Method 1
The pair of short side portions of the base are serrated to facilitate engaging under the tire
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of traction blocks of the base are affixed to the base and increase traction of the tire on the poor tractional surface when the poor traction surface is at least one of mud and snow
Implementation Method 3
The pair of short side portions of the base are separate from the main portion of the base to increase flexibility of the top cover
Data Source
AI summary
A traction device that provides increased traction of a tire on a poor tractional surface. The traction device includes a base and a top cover. The base has a main portion, a pair of short side portions, and a plurality of traction blocks. The top cover is affixed to the base. The pair of short side portions of the base are serrated to facilitate engaging under the tire and are separate from the main portion of the base to increase flexibility of the top cover. The plurality of traction blocks of the base are affixed to the base and increase traction of the tire on the poor tractional surface when the poor traction surface is at least one of mud and snow.