| The
Onspot Automatic Tire chain offers the traction of a single
set of conventional snow chains at the flip of a switch,
without having to stop the vehicle.
An electric switch mounted in the
cab provides 12 volts to an air solenoid mounted on the
vehicle's frame rail. Compressed air to the solenoid is
supplied from either the vehicle's onboard air system or a
12-volt compressed air kit.
When the dashboard switch is
activated, the solenoid opens allowing compressed air to enter
the air chamber and lower the chainwheel so it contacts the
inside of the tire. The friction between the tire and the
rubber-covered chainwheel causes the chainwheel to rotate,
creating enough centrifugal force to flail the chains out in
front of the tire. (The principle of the system is similar to
a small generator driven by a bicycle tire to operate a
headlight.)
Six lengths of chain spaced at
60-degree intervals on the chainwheel ensure that there are
always two (2) chains between the tire and road surface
whether you are accelerating, braking or are in a wheel lockup
condition. The traction from the chainwheel is obtained in
forward OR reverse.
When the dashboard switch is
turned off, the solenoid exhausts the air provided to the
chain units and return springs in the air chambers bring the
chainwheels back to their resting position. |
