Customer Driven Features
CHAIN WHEEL - Large or Small
The Large Chain
Wheel is 7.5 inches in diameter, and is constructed of a one-piece cast aluminum disc
with a rubber tread on the outside. The rubber tread is attached to the aluminum wheel by
the rubber being vulcanized to the wheel for maximum adhesion. In addition, the rubber
extends around the edge of the wheel and extends under the chain plates for better
strength. The chain wheel has two sealed roller bearings and a grease zerk, which is
located on the back side of the wheel and serves as a point of lubrication for the chain
wheel bearings. The chain wheel has a recessed continuous cavity in the wheel where the
six Patent Pending interlocking chain plates are bolted.
The Small Chain Wheel is 6.5 inches in
diameter, constructed of a one-piece cast aluminum disc with a rubber tread on the
outside. The rubber tread is attached to the aluminum wheel by the rubber being vulcanized
to the wheel for maximum adhesion. In addition, the rubber extends around the edge of the
wheel and extends under the chain plates for better strength. The chain wheel has two
sealed roller bearings and a grease zerk, which is located on the back side of the wheel
and serves as a point of lubrication for the chain wheel bearings. The chain wheel has a
recessed continuous cavity in the wheel where the six Patented interlocking chain
plates are bolted. The chain plates are evenly spaced around the perimeter of the wheel.
Grease Zerk-Chain Wheel
The chain
wheel has two sealed roller bearings and a grease zerk, which is located on the back of
the wheel and serves as a point of lubrication for the chain wheel bearings. The ability
to grease the hub of the wheel makes the wheel bearings last longer.
REPLACEABLE CHAINS
The 6
and 12 strand chains are attached to the chain wheel by the six Patented interlocking chain plates spaced evenly around the perimeter of the wheel. Each chain
strand is approximately 12" long. The chain is a carbon manganese steel alloy, case
hardened to a Rockwell 63, for maximum wear. The chains are connected to the chain
wheel by Patented, interlocking steel plates. The chain plate is
bolted to the wheel with a grade 8 bolt, locking steel nut.
ARM BEARING
The arm rotates on a 100% grease-able needle bearing, which
allow for a much longer life than the standard ball bearings or self lubricating journal
bearing. The ability to have the bearings constantly lubricated makes the arm bearings
last substantially longer.
DUST SEAL
The dust
seal is an air cylinder protector. It is shaped like a gear shift boot and is mounted
inside the air cylinder housing and protrudes approximately 3�" through the bottom
of the air cylinder. It fits snugly around the push rod, thus protecting the inside of the
air cylinder housing from rocks, dirt, ice and other debris.
AIR CYLINDERS
Two air cylinders are made of aluminum approximately 5" in diameter,
with a 6 mm wall thickness. The air cylinder lid has a recessed area for the diaphragm
which fits tightly over the upper lip of the air cylinder housing for a maximum seal. Each
chamber is capable of holding 62.5 cubic inches, resulting in a total of 125 cubic inches
of air per application. This is roughly 4 percent of a typical 12 CFM engine-driven air
compressor in a very brief period. The air is supplied by the vehicle’s air system or
an electric 12 volt air compressor and an air reservoir tank 1100 cubic inch (see Aux. Air
System).
ARM
Each arm is constructed of 3/4" thick A-36 steel approximately
12"-16" in length, depending on the model number of the chain unit. A bolt
attaches the arm to the cylinder bracket. Each arm rotates on Teflon coated bushing
bearings mounted in the arm. The cylinder bracket is also made of A-36 plate steel.
MOUNTING BRACKETS
There
are two mounting brackets constructed from _"A-36 steel, one for the right and one
for the left side of the vehicle. INSTA-Chain has three styles of mounting brackets. The
first style, which is used on most applications, has five holes. The bracket is attached
to the U-Bolts by way of six coupling nuts (three on each side of the vehicle). The other
two holes on the mounting brackets are to attach the chain unit to the bracket. The second
style, used for ambulances and smaller vehicles, is a bracket that is attached to the axle
with its own set of U-Bolts. The third style, which is used the least, has six holes, four
holes to mount the brackets to the U-Bolt suspension between the saddle plate and the
U-Bolt nuts. The other two holes are to mount to the chain unit cylinder bracket. The
third style bracket is designed to mount directly underneath the U-Bolt plate of the
truck. The bracket has six holes, four for the U-bolts and two for the chain unit.
AUXILIARY AIR SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE WITHOUT ONBOARD AIR SYSTEMS
The auxiliary air system includes the following components:
One 12 volt air compressor, Thomas model # 315 CDC 50/12. The Thomas air compressor will maintain constant pressure from 90 to 120 lbs. of air pressure. It has a recovery time of approximately 3 minutes.
One 1100 or 1422 cubic inch air tank.
One automatic pressure switch to maintain the air pressure in the air tank between 90 psi and 120 psi.
Second option, if required, is a Thomas model# 405 ADC38-12 continuous duty air compressor, or a 1100 cu. in. air tank.
5/98
More INSTA-Chain Features
- Unique patented replacement chain segments allow for quick, easy, and low-cost maintenance.
- Greasable wheel and wheel bearings for easy maintenance.
- Dust seal that protects the inside of the air cylinder housing from rocks, dirt, ice and other debris.
- Activated at the flip of a switch between 3 mph and 30 mph.
- Works in forward or reverse without problems.
- Engages in 1 1/2 seconds at speeds ranging from 3mph to 30mph plus
- Chain wheel is interchangeable with some other automatic ice chains.
- Excellent for braking, cornering and acceleration on ice.
- Effective on tractors as well as trailers.
- Available for vehicles � ton or larger.
- Operates on your existing air system (auxiliary air systems are available from INSTA-Chain for vehicles without air.)
- Provides traction on ice and snow on highways or around town.
- Easy to maintain & remove for summer months.
- INSTA-Chains last longer than conventional chains (INSTA-Chain may be retracted instantly for dry roads, without stopping.)
- Light weight - 125 lbs. installed (6-strand)
- Sold in pairs. Prices quoted by the axle.
- Manufactured in the USA.
- Full one-year parts warranty.
- VISA, MasterCard, American Express, & Discover accepted.
Copyright � 1998 INSTA-Chain, Inc. All Rights Reserved