ambulance and chains
Gsst98
10-15-2007, 10:21 PM
Does anybody know why ambulances have chains hanging off the bottom? This is kinda a dumb question but ive always wondered why
l_eclipse_l
10-15-2007, 11:56 PM
Never realized they had them...
Thor06
10-16-2007, 12:02 AM
What are you talking about?
steviek
10-16-2007, 02:51 AM
thats where they hook up people without health insurance.
Gsst98
10-16-2007, 07:44 AM
in ohio all the ambulances and fire trucks have a row of chains dangling down off the frame width wise scraping the ground. I dont understand why they would put them on.
SilvrEclipse
10-16-2007, 08:15 AM
Maybe in case they have to pull a car out of a ditch or something
Gsst98
10-16-2007, 11:05 AM
Maybe in case they have to pull a car out of a ditch or something
i dont think thatd be it there only each a foot in length ill try and get a pic so everyone has a better idea.
i dont think thatd be it there only each a foot in length ill try and get a pic so everyone has a better idea.
david-b
10-16-2007, 11:35 AM
Holds the spare tire and stops people from steeling them? lol.
SilvrEclipse
10-16-2007, 11:36 AM
If they are draging the ground they may be used as grounding straps. They have a lot of electrical equipment in there.
EDMUND65
10-16-2007, 11:36 AM
to get pulled out if they get stuck... ambulences have to go into places sometimes that arent safe.
david-b
10-16-2007, 11:39 AM
to get pulled out if they get stuck... ambulences have to go into places sometimes that arent safe.
The Ghetto?
The Ghetto?
Blackcrow64
10-16-2007, 12:42 PM
I've never noticed this before and I see a zillion ambulances a day at the hospital... I think Mike could be on to something with the getting pulled out idea since they do sometimes go off road and can get stuck... Of course I wouldn't think you would want them dragging to hook onto something that would make them get stuck...
Shpyder
10-16-2007, 04:21 PM
If they are draging the ground they may be used as grounding straps. They have a lot of electrical equipment in there.
I think thats plausable. That's the only explanation that makes sense right now.
I think thats plausable. That's the only explanation that makes sense right now.
defiancy
10-16-2007, 04:46 PM
Found this on google Answers:
"I have another comment about your question. I was a paramedic for 12
years and have been a ham radio operator for 30 years, don't recall
ever having chains on any of my ambulances for improved radio
communications. What you may be seeing are automatic tire chains for
ice and snow. They're very common on emergency vehicles in colder
areas of the country. When they are not in operation you can see them
hanging near the rear axle. From one manufacturers website, here's how
they work:
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.
Do a Google search for automatic tire chains and you can find some
pics that will illustrate better how these work. Just from the
description it's kind of hard to visualize."
Which would make sense since the OP is from Ohio and it snows in Ohio.
"I have another comment about your question. I was a paramedic for 12
years and have been a ham radio operator for 30 years, don't recall
ever having chains on any of my ambulances for improved radio
communications. What you may be seeing are automatic tire chains for
ice and snow. They're very common on emergency vehicles in colder
areas of the country. When they are not in operation you can see them
hanging near the rear axle. From one manufacturers website, here's how
they work:
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.
Do a Google search for automatic tire chains and you can find some
pics that will illustrate better how these work. Just from the
description it's kind of hard to visualize."
Which would make sense since the OP is from Ohio and it snows in Ohio.
Gsst98
10-16-2007, 04:53 PM
yea that makes alot of sense because the chains are close to the rear wheels
Blackcrow64
10-17-2007, 07:29 AM
Interesting...
alfonso2501
11-01-2007, 03:45 AM
Like these (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEsSCcnSoiY)!
SilvrEclipse
11-01-2007, 08:58 AM
Thats pretty sweet
MazdaX
11-04-2007, 10:02 PM
just about all service , transport , school , police vehicles in AK have them. Auto chains are great and all..but nothing beats AWD + studs =D ( buying a wrx wagon this winter , trading my mazda 6 i 2004 in for it )
Next time you are behind a school bus , you can see them dangling from there , fire trucks , ambulances , some newer 18 wheelers use them as well.
Next time you are behind a school bus , you can see them dangling from there , fire trucks , ambulances , some newer 18 wheelers use them as well.
vanilla gorilla
11-04-2007, 10:59 PM
Hmm. Never seen anything like that around here. Guess thats cause it never snows in kack-a-lacki
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