Resilient tires and wheels – Tires – resilient – Anti-skid devices
Patent
1995-07-20
1998-01-13
Ball, Michael W.
Resilient tires and wheels
Tires, resilient
Anti-skid devices
152208, B60C 1116
Patent
active
057074631
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a movable tire stud system that allows adjustability of tire studs while a vehicle is either in motion or parked to quickly help solve the problems related to driving on slippery and icy roads.
2. Discussion of the Background
Many attempts have been made to solve these problems. Most systems do not function properly over long periods due to the considerable wear and tear the studding equipment must endure during the course of driving. Some adjustable studding systems require air pressure to move studs in and out. Unfortunately, such systems functional inefficiently. When the studs are pressed against road surfaces, the air tends to compress, thus the studs are forced back down into the tires. A similar effect of insufficient pressure is seen when air is entering vehicle brake system hoses. Other systems requires studs to penetrate the tire casing. This is considered by professionals to be quite unacceptable in the long run due to the heavy friction, wear, and tear leading to air leakage and humidity penetrating into the tire causing steel belt corrosion and thus tire separation within a short period of time. Other known systems of movable studs are useless because the studs are either too big, too complicated, expensive, or they consist of components that are vulnerable to sandy water, frost, shocks, etc. and consequently become easily damaged, jammed, or worn too quickly.
Norwegian patent application #861224 shows an arrangement of studs and consists of a movable wall which combined with the inner wall of the tire forms an air chamber. Consequently, the above mentioned problems are not solved in that system because it is based on air and requires penetration of the tire casing. German laid-open application #2602544 and #1680491 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,766,956, 3,340,921, and 3,095,918 are likewise either based on the use of air or penetration of the tire casing thus leaving the above mentioned problems unsolved. Besides, such movable stud types often need much space. Moreover, when placing movable studs under or in the tire tread, a considerable tread thickness is normally required. Thick tread tends to cause tire heating and consequently reduced driving quality.
Norwegian laid-open publication #131970 also shows a system of movable studs based on air pressure and has all the disadvantages mentioned above. Furthermore, such a system of hoses rotating inside the tire at a high speed increases the danger of explosion (flat tire). Moreover, a flat tire will probably also damage this studded system.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,566 uses fluid to move the studs, but requires penetration of the tire casing thus leaving the above mentioned problems unsolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Experiments confirm that the stud system mentioned herein has several advantages. First, it is more durable than the air systems of the cited publications because of the combination of stud jacks mounted in the shoulder of the unsiped tread blocks and the construction of the system being similar to a vehicle's brake system. When pressing the brake pedal, the piston in the brake cylinder is forced against the brake shoes. In the present invention, the tire studs are pressed against the road surface by an equivalent force. Another advantage is that thick hydraulic fluid or brake fluid is less likely to leak as compared to air systems. Hydraulic jacks were also considered when designing studs for varying conditions (FIGS. 20-28). The studs are in other words mini jacks which by the use of valves 12 (FIG. 3) may be pumped out and remain in a protruding position until a return valve 1 (FIG. 1) or O-switch 2 (FIG. 13) is operated from the dashboard. Adjustment of the studs can also be made possible in a simple, manual fashion via a handle 3 (FIG. 5).
Different from the above cited publications, the studs of the present invention are mounted in extra large, unsiped shoulder blocks 4 (FIG. 2) of the tread without penetrating the tire casing. Studs may also be moun
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Ball Michael W.
Lorin Francis J.
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