Abstract: Wheels adapted to roll on and across surfaces of fields, for example, as part of irrigation systems of types used in agricultural applications. Such a wheel has an axis of rotation, a center portion comprising a central hub concentrically disposed on the axis of the wheel and multiple spokes radiating from the central hub, and a tread portion circumscribing the center portion. A radially outermost extent of each spoke terminates at a spade that is oriented parallel to the axis of the wheel. The tread portion includes tread plates, each located between and attached to adjacent pairs of the spokes. The spades protrude radially outward between and beyond adjacent pairs of the tread plates.

Abstract: An apparatus (102; 202; 302) for preventing the skidding or sliding of a wheeled vehicle on a road surface (164), and the apparatus comprises an annular element (106; 206; 306) defining a first central axis (a-a, a3-a3) and having an outer wall (108; 308), the outer wall extending around the first central axis and facing away from the first central axis and being provided with friction means (110; 310) arranged to engage the road surface, and mounting means (116; 216; 316) for mounting the element to one of the rotatable wheels (116; 216; 316) of the vehicle and around a second central axis (b-b, b3-b3) defined by the mounting means, the mounting means being arranged to be attached to the wheel so that the second central axis is substantially collinear with an axis of rotation (c-c; c3-c3) defined by the wheel and so that the mounting means and the element are rotatable, and the element is movable in a direction about the first central axis in relation to the mounting means, wherein the mounting means and the

Abstract: A traction device for a vehicle wheel can include a first locking segment and a second locking segment adapted to receive the first locking segment in a first direction. The second locking segment can be adapted to stop movement of the first locking segment through the second locking segment in a second direction opposite to the first direction. At least one traction element can be located between the first locking segment and the second locking segment. A method of attaching a traction device to a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire is also described.

Abstract: An anti-skid device for a vehicle for positioning a traction member beneath a vehicle wheel includes a support member that is attached to the vehicle, a pivoting swing arm with a traction wheel with traction members thereon, and a drive assembly attached to the support member and to the swing arm so as to extend and retract the swing arm. The drive assembly includes a gear-reduced electric motor that is coupled to a worm that meshes with a worm gear that is attached to the swing arm shaft. As the motor moves in a first direction, the gear mesh causes the arm to deploy and, in a reverse direction, the swing arm retracts. Spring-biasing is provided so as to maintain pressure of the traction wheel against the vehicle wheel and limit switches are provided so as to turn the drive motor on and off.

Abstract: The problem of damage sustained to a traction device and the extendable traction elements thereof due to tire-roadway interaction forces exerted on the traction elements while extended over the tire tread area is solved by resiliently coupling a traction assembly within a tire rim to permit movement and repositioning of the traction assembly relative to the rim and biasing back to the original position. Preferably the traction assembly is mounted to a traction hub through a resilient coupling, and with the traction hub permitted to rotate relative to the rim. Also preferably, the invention provides for full retraction of the curved traction elements. This inventive device delivers increased traction in slippery conditions while protecting the traction device and surrounding mechanics from damage due to the impact of various roadway forces, and the devise is effectively stowed within the rim when not in use.

Abstract: A vehicle that uses a steel lug wheel assembly while in the field and has retractable rubber tires for transport on paved roads. The vehicle is capable of simultaneously performing multiple farm operations in a field. The multiple farm operations include shredding, chiseling, tilling, as well as pulling any farm implement device such as a planter or a fertilizer.

Abstract: An all-terrain bicycle is comprised of a bicycle frame having a front and a rear fork to which is removably secured a front and a rear wheel. Each wheel has a circular rim which is interconnected to the hub by spokes. The rear wheel has sprockets secured to the central hub and which is interconnected to a driving sprocket by a chain or other such belt-like drive connector. Each of the rims is provided with a surface engaging support shoes assembly to provide support of the bicycle on a surface. Such bicycles are particularly useful for riding on soft and also irregular surfaces which are deformable such as sand, snow or the like.