Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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The present invention relates to a combination of at
least one tire carrying rim seated and locked by fastening
assemblies on a vehicle wheel. A combination of dual inner and
outer tire carrying rims may be mounted on a vehicle wheel
without using a separating means, such as an annular spacer.
The accurate mounting of tire carrying rims on the
felloe, elly or load-bearing portion of a wheel has long been
a problem in the art. Vehicle operators and industry regula-
tions seek longer tire life and complete safety in operation,
even under the most severe of vehicle operating conditions. The
tire manufacturers are endeavoring to provide tires which have
optimum performance characteristics, includincj lateral and ra-
dial balance. Consequently, it is being required that this art
provide elements, the wheels, the rims, and fastening assem-
blies therefor, which do not deteriorate, hinder or impair the
projected performance characteristics of the tires.
Heretofore, the spoked wheel structure of a tire-rim-
wheel assembly has been regarded primarily as a load carrying
2~ element attached to an axle of the vehicle and carrying the rim.
The periphery of the wheel had felly surfaces to pilot or guide
the rim into approximate mounting position. Thereafter, fas-
tening assemblies were torqued down or tightened in such a
manner that the tire carrying rim would not come loose from the
wheel during use. If done correctly, as by an expert and
conscientious mechanic, the prior art rim mounting techniques
would not deteriorate, hinder or impaif the performance char-
acteristics of the tires. However, environmental or extrinsic
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factors such as warpage, deformation or damage to the rim and
spacer or wear of the fastening assemblies could lead to
relative displacement or non-alignment of the assembly com-
ponents during fastening, creating conditions of what are now
commonly referred to as excessive lateral (axial) or radial
runout or an imbalance of the tire-rim-wheel assembly during
vehicle operation.
This application provides the art with various em-
bodiments of base flanged rims and fastening assemblies there-
for which, when used with the wheel adapted thereto, positivelycontrol and reduce lateral (axial) and radial runout, resist
rim warpage and deformation, restrict or lock out the possibil-
ity of rim rotation relative to the wheel and provide better
balance for the tire-rim-wheel assembly during vehicle opera-
tion.
This application also provides the art with completeinterchangeability of a particular rim embodiment with either
a single or dual wheel adapted thereto. So long as the wheels
and a particular rim embodiment are matched according to the
subject matter disclosure, a rim can be used as either a single
or inner or outer dual.
It has now been found that improved results can be
achieved without the use of radially inclined wheel felloe
surfaces- while maintaining the advantages of complete rim
interchangeability, for use as either a single or inner or outer
dual. This improved subject matter concept permits the use of
a lighter weight, less expensive wheel and is thought to be
particularly efficient or effective when relatively light
mounting flanges attached to the rim base edge portion are
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piloted by axially oriented wheel felloe surfaces or axially
oriented fastening assembly surfaces during tightening of the
fastening assemblies and mating engagement with mounting sur-
faces. As a result, this application discloses various embodi-
ments of middle range tire-rim-wheel assemblies useful in light
or medium duty vehicle applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an improved
combination of at least one tire carrying rim seated and locked
by fastening assemblies on a vehicle wheel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
tire carrying rims, interchangeable for use as a single or inner
or outer dual, having base attached mounting flanges or adap-
tors seated or locked on wheels adapted thereto having dimen-
sioned felloe surfaces and by coacting fastening assemblies.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
interchangeable base flanged tire carrying rims which can be
seated and locked by fastening assemblies on a vehicle wheel
without the use of radially inclined wheel felloe surfaces.
These and other objects of the invention, as well as
the advantages thereof, will be apparent in view of the detailed
description thereof as set forth below.
The wheel spoke members have felloes comprising a
radially inwardly directed surface substantially perpendicular
to the rotational axis of the wheel and providing a mounting
location for an axially projecting component of the fastening
assemblies. The outer dual spoke members may also have felloes
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with a radially inner axially oriented lateral surface for
piloting of conforming fastening assembly clamp element sur-
faces.
The tire carrying rims have radially outwardly pro-
jecting bead flanges and radially inwardly projecting mounting
flanges. Each mounting flange has a radially outer portion
integrally attached to a conforming annular surface on a base
portion of the rim between the bead flanges. Each mounting
flange further has a medial portion comprising a radially in-
clined axially inner surface intersecting an axially orientedradially inner surface. Each mounting flange still further has
a radially inwardly directed terminal or leg portion adjacent
.,
an axially oriented surface and oriented substantially perpen-
dicular to the rotational axis of the rim having a bore therein
;-` for receiving the axially projecting component of the fastening
,; assemblies.
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Each mounting flange leg portion has a bore with an
effective diameter greater than the effective diameter of the
axially projecting component of the fastening assemblies.
The fastening assemblies for use in mounting a tire
carrying rim comprise an axially projecting component and a
clamp element and a rotatable nut carried thereon. Each clamp
element has a bore therein for receiving the axially projecting
component of the fastening assemblies. The clamp element bore
may have an effective diameter greater than the effective
diameter of the axially projecting component. Alternatively,
the clamp element bore has an effective diameter coincident
with the effective diameter of a medial portion on the axially
projecting component.
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The clamp element may have dual segmental axially
movable surfaces; a radially outer radially inclined surface
and a radially inner axially oriented surface; and, parallel
axially movable radially directed surfaces.
-In general, the tire carrying rims are seated on, and
thereafter locked on, a wheel by initial and final tightening
of the fastening assemblies against each clamp lug leg portion.
Initial tightening of the fastening assemblies will
~-seat the radially inclined mounting flange surfaces in con-
centric registry with conforming radially inclined clamp ele-
ment surfaces.
Final tightening of the fastening assemblies to apply
a load will lock the rim on the wheel, in la.eral (axial) and
radial alignment and registry relative to the rotational axis
of rim and wheel, by the full surface engagement of the clamp
lug leg portions with the radially directed wheel felloe
surfaces.
DBSCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a
combination of a tire carrying rim seated and locked by fasten-
ing assemblies on a vehicle wheel; and,
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of
a combination or a tire carrying rim seated and locked by
fastening assemblies on a vehicle wheel.
DETAILED_DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. I Embodiment
In the Fig. 1 embodiment, the wheel is indicated
generally by the numeral 120, the outer tire carrying rim is
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indicated generaliy by the numeral 21, and the outer rim
fastening assemblies are indicated generally by the numeral
422.
As shown, a wheel 120 has a plurality of spoke members
123(0) extending radially from a conventional hub area (not
shown), and terminating in a felloe 125(0). Each felloe 125(0)
comprises a radially inwardly directed surface 137 and an
adjacent radially inner axially oriented lateral surface 138.
Each surface 137 has a mounting location 26 for the axially
projecting component of a fastening assembly 422 and is sub-
: 10 stantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of a wheel 120.
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Each lateral surface 138 is substantially parallel to therotational axis of a wheel 120.
As shown, a tire carrying rim 121 has dual bead
flanges 45 and 46 for seating the beads (not shown) of a tire
in a conventional manner. The bead flanges are radially
outwardly directed from an annular rim base or medial portion
47. The medial rim base portion has a conforming annular
surface 48 for integral attachment thereto, as by welds 49, of
the radially outer or end portion of a plurality of radially
inwardly projecting mounting or adaptor flanges referred to
generally by the numeral 150.
Each mounting flange 150 has a medial or body portion
comprising a radially inclined axially inner surface 151 in-
tersecting an axially oriented radially inner surface 152.
Each mounting flange 150 also has a radially inwardly
directed terminal or leg portion 153 adjacent an axially
oriented surface 152. Each flange portion 153 is oriented
substantially perpendicular to ~he rotational axis of a rim 121
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:
and has a bore 154 therein for receiving the axially projecting
component of a fastening assembly 22 or 122. Each bore 154 has
an effective diameter greater or larger than the effective
diameter of the axially projectiny component of a fastening
assembly 22 or 122.
The fastening assemblies 422 have a rotatable nut 59
and an axially movable clamp element, referred to generally by
the numeral 460, carried on the stud 27 for use in mounting a
rim 121 on the wheel felloes 125(0). A clamp element 460 has
a bore 461 for receiving the stud 27. ~ach bore 461 has an
effective diameter greater or larger than the effective dia-
meter of the stud 27.
A clamp element 460 has dual segmental axially mov-
able surfaces; a radially outer radially inclined surface 463
and a radially inner a~ially oriented surface 464. Surface 463
has a suitable angle relative to the rotational axis of a rim
121 to provide a conical surface for mating engagement with a
mounting flange surface 151. Surface 464 is substantially
: parallel to the rotational axis of a wheel 120 or a rîm 121. A
clamp element 460 also has dual and parallel axially movable
surfaces; an axially inner radially directed surface ~65 and an
; axially outer radially directed surface 466. Both surfaces 465
and 466 are substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis
of a wheel 120 or rim 121.
. When the mounting flanges 150 are seated and locked
on the felloes 125(0), after tightening of the rotatable nuts
59 against the clamp element surfaces 466, the clamp element
surfaces 465 will be in mating engagement with the leg portions
153, the clamp element surfaces 464 will be in mating engagement
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with the wheel felloe surfaces 138, and the clamp element
surfaces 463 will be in mating engagement with the radially
inclined mounting flange surfaces 151.
Fig. 2 Embodiment
In the Fig. 2 embodiment, the wheel is referred to
generally by the numeral 320, the outer tire carrying rim is
referred to generally by the numeral 21, and the outer rim
fastening assemblies are indicated generally by the numeral
522.
As shown, a wheel 120 has a plurality of spoke members
323(0) extending radially from a conventional hub area (not
shown), and terminating in a felloe 325(0). Each felloe 325(0)
comprises a radially inwardly directed surface 337. Each
surface 337 has a mounting location 26 for the axially project-
ing component of a fastening assembly 522 and is substantially
perpendicular to the rotational axis of a wheel 320.
Fig. 2 shows a rim 21, as more fully described,supra,
with reference to Fig. 1.
The fastening assemblies 522 have a rotatable nut 59
and an axially movable clamp element, referred to generally by
the numeral 560, carried on the stud 27 for use in mounting a
rim 21 on the wheel felloes 325(0). The stud 27 is provided with
a medial portion 527 having an effective diameter coincident
with, substantially the same as, the effective diameter of a
clamp element bore 561 so that during tightening of the rotat-
able nut 59, the clamp element 560 will be in sliding and
radially registered engagement with the shank portion 527.
A clamp element 560 has a segmental axially movable
- radially outer radially inclined surface 563. Surface 563 has
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- a suitable angle relative to the rotational axis of a rim 21 to
provide a conical surface for mating engagement with a rim base
surface 39. A clamp element 560 also has dual and parallel
axially movable surfaces; an axially inner radially directed
surface 565 and an axially outer radially directed surface 566.
Both surfaces 565 and 566 are substantially perpendicular to
the rotational axis of a wheel 320 or rim 21.
When the mounting flanges 150 are seated and locked
on the felloes 325(0), after tightening o~ the rotatable nuts
59 against the clamp element surfaces 566, the clamp element
surfaces 565 will be in mating engagement wi h the leg portions
153 and the clamp element surfaces 563 will be in mating
engagement with the radially inclined mounting flange surfaces
151 .
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