WO1992018372A1

WO1992018372A1 - Anti-slip device and vehicles including the same

Info

Publication number: WO1992018372A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/000648
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Francis Mcallister
Original assignee: James Francis Mcallister
Priority date: 1991-04-11
Filing date: 1992-04-10
Publication date: 1992-10-29
Also published as: AU1584992A; GB9107682D0

Abstract

An anti-slip device is removably attachable to a motor vehicle and comprises an endless belt (3) in driven rotation with a driving wheel of the vehicle and having an outer surface which contacts the ground and an assembly of rollers (4) about which the endless belt passes. In use, the device is acted upon by the weight of the vehicle and driven rotation of the driving wheel causes a corresponding movement of the belt about the rollers.

Description

Anti-Slip Device and Vehicles Including the Same

The present invention relates to devices to improve the traction of motor vehicles in adverse situations wherein the friction between the wheels of the vehicle and the surface over which the vehicle is to travel is low because of adverse ground -conditions such as, for example, loose gravel, shale or sand or ice or snow.

Such devices are required to be used only when necessary due to the adverse ground conditions and it is thus desirable that the devices are not permanently attached to the vehicle. Furthermore, such devices must be easily attached to and removed from the vehicle as and when required, must be easily portable, lightweight and preferably sufficiently small to be stored when not in use within the vehicle, for example in the luggage compartment of a motor car, without inconvenience to the vehicle operator.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an anti-slip device for a motor vehicle characterised in that the device comprises an endless belt an outer surface of which is operative to contact the surface over which the vehicle is to travel and which belt is operatively in driven relation to a driving wheel of the vehicle, an assembly of rollers which rollers are mounted to allow free rotation about their axes and about which rollers the belt passes, and means for detachably mounting the vehicle on the device wherein in use the device is acted upon by the weight of the vehicle and wherein driven rotation of the driving wheel causes a corresponding movement of the belt about the rollers. Desirably, at least one of the rollers in the assembly is adjustable to vary the tension in the belt. The invention further provides a motor vehicle when mounted on such a device. In an embodiment of the invention, the rollers are arranged in a substantially linear array. Where the driving wheel rests directly on an upper portion of the outer surface of the belt, above the rollers, engaging a reverse gear of the vehicle results in forward motion of the vehicle. Advantageously, the rollers in the array are mounted to allow limited vertical movement of the rollers.

In another embodiment, the rollers are arranged in a substantially linear array and in use, the inner surface of the belt passes over an upper portion of the driving wheel. Preferably, the driving wheel is supported in use by first additional rollers mounted parallel to the rollers of the assembly. The device may further include second additional rollers operative to adjust the tension in the belt.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the device includes third additional rollers and a second endless belt passing around the third additional rollers, wherein the outer surface of the endless belt is in contact with the outer surface of the second endless belt and wherein in use, the driving wheel rests on an upper portion of the outer surface of the second endless belt. In a still further embodiment of the invention, the belt has a toothed inner surface and can be driven by sprocket means mounted on the hub of the driving wheel.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the following drawings in which

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic end view of the device of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a variation of a device according to the preferred embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a device according to the second embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a device according to the third embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a wheel 1 including a tyre 2 rests on an endless belt 3. The belt 3 is supported by a plurality of freely rotating rollers 4 and passes around the assembly of rollers. In the Figures the rollers 4 are fixedly located, for example in a rigid frame (not shown). It is, however, possible for the rollers 4 to be allowed to have some motion, preferably vertical motion, with respect to their longitudinal axes. The endmost roller 4a is preferably adjustable, preferably in a direction substantially parallel to the plane including the axes of the rollers and perpendicular to the axes of the rollers, in order to facilitate adjustment or replacement of the belt 3. The rollers 4 preferably comprise a strong lightweight material, for example a nylon material, although the choice of material is limited only by functional and cost constraints. Similarly, the choice of material for the belt 3 is not limited, but a rubber-based material is preferred. It is particularly preferred that the belt 3 is rough or embossed, in order to improve its grip on the surface over which the vehicle travels. In use of the device of Figure 1, rotation of the wheel 1 in a direction indicated by arrow 6 causes the tread 5 of the tyre 2 to act on the belt 3, causing the belt to move in a direction indicated by arrow 7. The vehicle thus moves in a direction indicated by arrow 8. In Figure 3, further rollers 9 and a further endless belt 21 are interposed between the vehicle tyre and the belt 3. Thus when the wheel moves in the direction indicated by arrow 6, the vehicle moves in a direction indicated by arrow 20.

As means for retaining the device of Figures 1 to 3 in proper relation to the wheel 1, additional rollers 10, 11 are provided, which rollers contact the tyre 2. It is preferred that the rollers 4 are sufficiently small for the vehicle to be mounted on the device simply by driving over the rollers 4 and belt 3. For this purpose, the roller 10 can be moveable between a first position (not shown) wherein the mounting of the vehicle on the device is not obstructed and a second position wherein the wheel 1 is retained by the roller 10. A locking means can be provided to retain the roller 10 in the second position. It will be appreciated that where it is not possible to provide rollers 4 which are sufficiently small for the vehicle to drive over them, the vehicle jack can be used to lift the wheel so that the device can be inserted thereunder. As is particularly illustrated in Figure 2, rollers 19 can be provided, in order to retain the device on the wheel in a lateral direction.

Referring to Figure 4, a belt 13 passes over an upper portion of the tyre 2. The tyre 2 rests on freely rotating rollers 14 and the belt passes around the assembly of rollers 4. Adjustable rollers 12 are provided to ensure that the belt 13 is in tension so that drive can be efficiently transmitted from the wheel 1. In Figures 1 and 3 to 5, rollers 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 19 are retained in a rigid frame or the like, which frame has been omitted from the Figures for reasons of clarity. In Figure 2 the frame is shown schematically as 22. In Figure 5, a toothed belt 23 is provided. Rollers 4 rest in a frame (not shown) which is adjustable by means of adjustment means 15, to ensure that a sufficient tension is applied to the belt. Drive is applied to the belt from the wheel by means of a specially adapted toothed hub part 16, the teeth 17 of which engage with the teeth 18 of the belt. The toothed hub part may be detachably mounted.on the hub of the wheel 1 by means, for example, of a sprocket arrangement.

It is particularly preferred that a device according to the invention is applied to each driving wheel of the vehicle.

A further advantage of the device of the present invention is that the device can easily be adapted for use as a wheel-clamp in order to immobilise the vehicle when parked, and thus prevent its theft.

Claims

Claims ;

1. An anti-slip device for a motor vehicle characterised in that the device comprises an endless belt an outer surface of which is operative to contact the surface over which the vehicle is to travel and which belt is operatively in driven relation to a driving wheel of the vehicle, an assembly of rollers which rollers are mounted to allow free rotation about their axes and about which rollers the belt passes, and means for detachably mounting the vehicle on the device wherein in use the device is acted upon by the weight of the vehicle and wherein driven rotation of the driving wheel causes a corresponding movement of the belt about the rollers.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the rollers in the assembly is adjustable to vary the tension in the-belt.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein at least some of the rollers of the assembly are mounted in a substantially linear array, which array extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the driving wheel.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rollers in the array are mounted to allow limited vertical movement of the rollers.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein in use the driving wheel rests on an upper portion of the outer surface of the belt.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the inner surface of the belt passes in use over an upper portion of the driving wheel.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 including first additional rollers, mounted parallel to the rollers of the assembly on which additional rollers, in use, the driving wheel is supported.

8. A device as claimed in claims 7 or 8 including second additional rollers mounted parallel to the rollers of the assembly which additional rollers are operative to contact the inner or outer surface of the belt and whose disposition may be adjusted to vary the tension in the belt.

9. A device as claimed in any on of. claims 1 to 4 including a third additional rollers, and a second endless belt passing around the third additional rollers, wherein the outer surface of the endless belt is in contact with the outer surface of the second endless belt and wherein, in use the driving wheel rests on an upper portion of the outer surface of the second endless belt.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the endless belt has a toothed inner surface and wherein, in use, the teeth cooperate with sprocket means mounted on the hub of the driving wheel.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim including further additional rollers operative to retain the driving wheel on the device.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the further additional rollers are mounted parallel to the rollers of the assembly.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the axes of the further additional rollers are substantially radial with respect of the driving wheel.

14. A device as claimed in claims 11, 12 or 13 wherein as least one of the further additional rollers is operatively releasable to allow the driving wheel to be mounted on the device.

15. A motor vehicle when mounted on the device of any preceding claim.