The Snow Chain , or tire chain , is a device mounted on vehicle tires to provide maximum traction while driving through snow and ice.
The snow chains are attached to the vehicle's drive wheel or a special system spreading the chain that swings under the tire automatically. Though named after the steel chain, snow chains can be made from other materials and in different patterns and forces. Chains are usually sold in pairs and often have to be purchased to match the size of a particular tire (tire diameter and tread width), although some designs can be adjusted to fit different tire sizes. Driving with the chain reduces fuel efficiency, and can reduce the allowable speed of the car to around 50 km/h (30 mph), but increases traction and braking on snow or ice surfaces. Some areas require chains to be used under some weather conditions, but other areas prohibit the use of chains, as they may damage the road surface.
Video Snow chains
History
The snow chains were discovered in 1904 by Harry D. Weed in Canastota, New York. Weed received US Patent Number 768495 for "Grip-Tread for Pneumatic Tyres" on August 23, 1904. Weed's grandson, James Weed, said that Harry got the idea to make a chain for tires when he saw the racer wrapping the rope, or even wine, around their tires to increase traction on muddy or snowy roads, which is very common at the turn of the 20th century (although today, most people in the north countryside will not bother driving in winter at all, since roads are usually rolled up for use with horse drawn sleeves instead of being hijacked, so cars are generally not winter vehicles, for various reasons, this is true until the 1930s or 40s in some areas.Only in urban areas it is feasible to remove snow from the streets. ). He's trying to make the traction device more durable and will work with snow and mud.
In July 1935, Canadian Auguste Trudeau obtained patents for its network and anti-skidding.
Maps Snow chains
Implementation
In snowy conditions, transport authorities may require snow chains or other traction aids to be installed on vehicles, or at least provided for them. This may apply to all vehicles, or only those without other traction aids, such as four wheel drive or special tires. Local requirements may apply at checkpoints or by other types of checks. The snow chains should be mounted on one or more vehicle axles, with varying requirements for multi-wheeled or multi-driven vehicles that range from 'a pair of tires on a driven shaft' to 'all tires on all movable shafts', possibly either both steering wheels (front), need a snow chains whenever needed by a sign or condition.
United States
Tires come with standard tire size information, found on the tire sidewall. The first letter (s), indicating the type of vehicle (P for passenger, LT for light truck). The next three digits show the width of the tire in millimeters. The middle two-digit number indicates the ratio of the height-to-width of the tire. The next character is the letter 'R', which shows the radial ply tire (not the radius). followed by the last two digits indicating the size of the rim for the wheels of the vehicle.
In addition, the correct Class of Automotive Engineers (SAE) class from the snow chains should be installed, subject to the permission of the vehicle wheels.
Clearance SAE Class "S" is a common requirement for new cars, especially if wider after-market, low-profile, or larger tires and/or wheels are installed.
The classes are defined as follows:
- SAE Class S - Regular tire (no reinforced) passenger traction tool for vehicles with limited clearances.
- SAE Class U - Regular unrengthened and reinforced regular passenger tire tractor for vehicles with regular wheelbase (unrestricted).
- SAE Class W - Passenger tire traction device using light truck components, as well as some light truck traction devices.
Common chain breakage
- Drive too fast with a chain. Recommended maximum speed in owner manual chains - generally 30 to 50 km/h (20 to 30 mph) - maximum.
- Driving on a dry road with a chain for a long time.
- Driving on a dry road with a chain can cause a vehicle to slip during braking.
- Not securing the chain strong enough. The chain owner's manual recommends tightening for a second time after driving a short distance and checking the tightness over time. If the chain is released, it must be smoothed or removed before wrapping the drive shaft of the vehicle.
- Tensioner or adjuster may be required. (Some chains have automatic tensioner and can be damaged if tensioner is used.)
- Attach a chain to the non-drive wheel.
- Speeding up too quickly causes tires to spin and hit chains
- If the chain is damaged, it can cause damage to the vehicle by patting well in the steering wheel, perhaps wrapping around the shaft and breaking the brake path
Varieties and alternatives
Tire chains are available in various types that have cost advantages, smoothness, traction, durability, easy installation, and recommended travel speeds.
Materials include steel (in the form of links or cables), polyurethane, rubber, and fabric. Original style chain steel chains are also available in a variety of carbon steel and alloy steel and link form. Link forms include standard, twisted, square, and reinforced. Link form changes flexibility, grip, and chain strength. Links can also add buttons or V-bars for more aggressive traction. The use of hardened alloy and steel increases durability. Traction cables (cable chains, snow cables) stick like chains but are made of cables rather than chains.
Chain patterns include the type of ladder, diagonal, or pattern. The ladder type chain has a crosslink that is perpendicular to the road and looks like a ladder when carefully placed on the ground. With a diagonal chain, the cross-chain diagonally to the road. Pattern types form "nets" on tires like diamonds or many diamond patterns. Some types of industrial patterns also include studded, metal rings attached to chains and thus are called ring ring.
Most of the tire chains wrapped around the circumference of the tire and held with a chain of rim , which may be chains or cables, elastic or adjustable tensioner . The automatic chains do not wrap the tires but swing under the tires of the devices permanently installed under the vehicles used through the electronic solenoid that is activated inside the cab. Spikes-Spider (registered trademark) climbs to the tire from one side. FlexTrax uses ratcheting system for easier installation.
Alternatives include studded tires, which are snow tires with individual metal buttons fitted to holes in the tread; an emergency traction device that may resemble a tire chain but ride around the tire through a hole at the edge; and snow socks, which are fabric, not chains or cables. This allows higher operating speeds and does not require operators to install them (buttons), but chains generally provide the best traction in severe conditions.
Mud Chain is similar to snow chains but to off-road applications, four-wheel drive, and generally they are larger than snow chains; they are often seen on off-road heavy equipment such as log skidders, which must operate on extremely rough and muddy terrain.
Track wheel is a heavy-duty assembly similar to a chain but with a rigid cross link such as sometimes used on logging equipment.
Legality of use
Laws vary widely with regard to the legality of the use of snow chains. Some countries require them to be in certain snow conditions or during certain months of the year, while other countries prohibit their use altogether to preserve road surfaces.
See also
- Snow sock
References
External links
- Yosemite National Park Page Ban Page
- European snow chain rule
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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