Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combination of a wide base drop
center tire carrying rim mounted on a vehicle wheel by full tightening of
fastening assemblies.
A wide based tire is normally used as a substitute or replacement
for dual mounted tires on transport or heavy duty trucks, tractors or
trailers.
A wheel used according to the invention was originally designed
for the mounting of dual inner and outer rims. It has now been found that
such a wheel may also be used for the mounting of a wide base drop center
rim without significant modification. Therefore, the same basic wheel can
be used either as disclosed herein or for dual mounted rims. Such a wheel
has two series of alternating spoke members, each series having an axially
spaced-apart and staggered relation to the other series. Each of the spoke
members have a felloe comprising a radially directed surface.
A wide base drop center rim accordlng to the invention may have
two axially spaced-apart mounting flanges. A mounting flange may be
radially inwardly projecting and have a radially directed terminal portion
for mating engagement with the radially directed wheel felloe surfaces.
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The accurate mounting of tire carrying rims on the
felloe, felly or load-bearing portion of a wheel has long been a
problem in the art. Vehicle operators and industry regulations
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, including lateral and
radial balance. Consequently, it is being required that this
art provide elements, the wheels, the rims, and fastening
assemblies or means therefor, which do not deteriorate, hinder
or impair the pro]ected performance characteristics of the
tires.
Heretofore, the spoked wheel structure of a tire-rim-
wheel assembly has been regarded primarily as a load carrying
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, fasten-
ing assemblies or means 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 impair the performance char-
acteristics of the tires. However, environmental or extrinsic
factors such as warpage, deformation or damage to the rim and
spacer or wear of the fastening assemblies or means could lead
to relative displacement or non-alignment of the assembly
components 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.
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The concepts of the invention provide wheel spoke
members with proportioned or dimensioned felloe surfaces for
mating, seating or full surface engagement with coacting
surfaces on the dual rim mounting flanges by full tightening of
the fastenin~ assemblies.
A wide based drop center rim with two mounting flanges
and fastening assemblies therefor, when used with wheels adapted
thereto, positively controls and reduces lateral (axial) and
radial runout, resists rim warpage or deformation, restricts rim
rotation relative to the wheel and provides better balance for
the tire-rim-wheel assembly during vehicle operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an improved
combination of a wide based drop center tire carrying rim seated
and locked by fastening assemblies on a vehicle wheel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
combination of a wide base drop center tire carrying rim seated
and locked by fastening assemblies on a vehicle wheel which
positively controls and reduces lateral (axial) and radial
runout, resists rim warpage or deformation, restricts rim
rotation relative to the wheel and provides better balance for
the tire-rim-wheel assembly during vehicle operation.
In general, an improved wheel according to the
invention has two series of axially spaced-apart and staggered,
alternating inner and outer, spoke members. Each of the inner
spoke members has a felloe comprising a radially inclined outer
surface and an adjacent radially directed surface extending
inwardly substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of
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said wheel and providing a mounting location for an axially
projecting component of a fastening assembly. Each of the outer
spoke members has a felloe comprising radially outer spaced-
apart axially projecting wing portions providing outwardly
facing dual axially oriented surfaces and a radially directed
surface oriented transversely between the axially oriented
surfaces substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of
the wheel and providing a mounting location for an axially
projecting component of a fastening assembly.
In general, a tire carrying rim according to the
invention has bead flanges projecting radially outwardly from a
rim base comprising a well portion and a lateral portion between
the bead flanges. The rim has two axially spaced-apart inner
and outer radially inwardly projecting mounting flanges inte-
grally attached to the well portion and the lateral portion.
Each mounting flange preferably has a radially directed terminal
portion substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of
the rim with a series of bores therein for receiving an axially
projecting component of a fastening assembly.
In several embodiments, a rim according to the
invention has a mounting flange with a medial portion comprising
a radially inclined surface. The medial portion and terminal
portion are functionally connected by a transitional portion.
These mounting flanges are proportioned or dimensioned such that
during final tightening of a fastening assembly, the medial,
transitional and terminal portions will be placed under load and
thereby elastically stressed or minutely deformed relative to
the plane of a series of radially directed wheel felloe surfaces
in full surface engagement with the terminal portion of the
mounting flange. In another embodiment, the mounting flange
attached to a rim base well portion comprises an annular ring
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having the terminal portion at the axially outer end thereof.
In one embodiment, the inner mounting flange may be an annular
ring with a radially inclined surface and no terminal portion.
In general, each fastening assembly for an inner
mounting flange will have a threaded fastener for bearing
engagement against the flange terminal portion.
In several embodiments, each fastening assembly for an
outer mounting flange will have a threaded fastener and a clamp
element supported thereon. Each clamp element will have lateral
wing portions for mating engagement with the outwardly facing
felloe surfaces, an axially inwardly directed member for mating
engagement with the flange terminal portion, and a radially
outer portion with a radially inclined surface for mating
engagement with the radially inclined surface on the mounting
flange.
According to the invention, when an inner mounting
flange has a medial portion comprising a radially inclined
surface and a terminal portion functionally connected by a
transitional portion, the flange is seated on, and thereafter
locked on, the inner series of spoke members by initial and
final tightening of fastening assemblies against the flange
terminal portion. During initial tightening of the fastening
assemblies, the radially inclined mounting flange surface will
seat in concentric radial registry with the series of radially
inclined wheel felloe surfaces. Final tightening of the
fastening assemblies to apply a compression load will lock the
mounting flange on the wheel, in axial and radial alignment and
registry relative to the rotational axis of rim and wheel, by
the full surface engagement of the mounting flange terminal
portion with the series of radially directed wheel felloe
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surfaces and the elastic deformation of the mounting flange
medial, transitional and terminal portions relative to the
substantially perpendicular plane of the radially directed wheel
felloe surfaces.
According to the invention, when an outer mounting
flange has a medial portion comprising a radially inclined
surface and a terminal portion functionally connected by a
transitional portion, the flange is seated on, and thereafter
locked on, the outer series of spoke members by initial and
final tightening of fastening assemblies against the flange
medial and terminal portions. During initial tightening of the
fastening assemblies, the radially inclined mounting flange
surface will seat in concentric radial registry with the radi-
ally inclined surfaces on the radially outer clamp element
portions, the lateral wing clamp element portions being in
mating engagement with the outwardly facing dual axially
oriented wheel felloe surfaces. Final tightening of the
fastening assemblies to apply a tension load will lock the
mounting flange on the wheel, in axial and radial alignment and
registry relative to the rotational axis of rim and wheel, by
the full surface engagement of the mounting flange terminal
portion with the series of radially directed wheel felloe
surfaces and the elastic deformation of the mounting flange
medial, transitional and terminal portions relative to the
substantially perpendicular plane of the radially directed wheel
felloe surfaces.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN~S
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front or plan view of a
combination of a tire carrying rim seated and locked by fasten-
ing assemblies on a wheel according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially as
indicated on line 2-2 of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a companion view to Fig. 2, taken substan-
tially as indicated on line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of a combination
of another form of tire carrying rim seated and locked by
fastening assemblies on a wheel according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially as
indicated on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary companion view to Fig. 5,
taken substantially as indicated on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of still another form of
tire carrying rim seated and locked by a fastening assembly on a
wheel felloe according to the invention;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 3 or Fig.
2n 5, of still another form of tire carrying rim seated and locked
by fastening assemblies on a wheel felloe according to the
invention; and,
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to
Fig. 6, of the tire carrying rim of Fig. 8.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF T~E INVENTIO~
A wheel for use with a tire carrying rim acccrding to
the invention is referred to generally by the numeral 20. A tire
carrying rim according to the invention is referred to generally
by the numeral 21. The fastening assemblies which are tightened
for seating and locking of a rim 21 on a wheel 2~ are referred to
generally by the numeral 22.
A wheel 20 has two series of alternating inner and
outer spoke members referred to generally by the numeral 23.
The spoke members 23 extend radially from a conventional hub
area 24 adapted for attachment of the wheel 20 to a vehicle axle
(not shown). The inner series of spoke members, as indicated by
23(I), have an axially spaced-apart and staggered relation to
the outer series of spoke members, as indicated by 23(0).
Each spoke member 23 terminates in a felloe, felly or
load-bearing portion, referred to generally by the numeral 25.
The inner series of felloe portions are indicated by 25(I). The
outer series of felloe portions are indicated by 25(0).
Each wheel felloe 25 may have a predetermined mounting
location, indicated generally at 26, for the axially projecting
component of a fastening assembly 22.
As shown, the axially projecting component of each
fastening assembly 22 is a threaded stud 27 having an inner end
with peripheral threads 28 for mating engagement with bore
threads 29 and carrying a rotata~le nut 30. Alternatively, the
stud 27 may be attached to the felloe portions at the mounting
locations 26, as by conventional arc stud or capacitor-discharge
welds. Or, the axially projecting component of a fastening
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assembly 22 may be the shank of a conventional cap head bolt
having peripheral threads for mating engagement with the bore
threads 29.
The inner series of felloe portions 25(I) have an
axially oriented surface 35 intersecting a radially inclined
surface 36. An adjacent radially directed surface 37 extends
inwardly substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of
the wheel 20 and provides the mounting location 26 for an
axially projecting component of a fastening assembly 22.
The outer series of felloe portions 25(0) have axially
oriented surfaces 38 extending substantially parallel to the
rotational axis of the wheel 20. Each surface 38 intersects a
radially directed surface 39. A surface 39 is oriented trans-
versely between the surfaces, extends inwardly substantially
perpendicular to the rotational axis of the wheel 20 and
provides the mounting location 26 for an axially projecting
component of a fastening assembly 22. Each wheel felloe portion
25(0) has spaced-apart axially projecting wing portions 41
providing for outwardly facing dual axially oriented surfaces
38.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the inner and outer series
of spoke members 23(I) and 23(0) may be interconnected by inte-
grally formed web members 43 for strengthening the wheel 20 or
for asthetic and styling purposes. Also as shown, the dual
axially projecting wing portions 41 may be extended radially
inwardly along a spoke member 23(0) for strengthening the wheel
20 or for asthetic and styling purposes~ The inner series of
spoke members 23(I) also have bores 44 for attachment of a wheel
brake drum (not shown).
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A rim 21 has dual bead flanges 45 and 46 for seating
the beads of a wide tire (not shown~ in a conventional manner.
The bead flanges 45 and 46 project radially outwardly from a
conventional rim base havins a well or ~drop center" portion 47
and a lateral portion 48. The rim base portions 47 and 47 have
conforming annular surfaces ~or integral attachment thereto, as
by welds 49, of the radially outer ends or sides of two axially
spaced-apart radially inwardly projecting mounting flanges
referred to generally by the numeral 50. The inner mounting
flange is indicated by 5~(I). The outer mounting flange is
indicated by 50(0).
As shown, four embodiments of a mounting flange 50
have a radially outer end portion 51, a medial or body portion
with a radially inclined surface 52 and a terminal portion 53.
The terminal portion 53 is radially directed substantially
perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rim 21 and has a
series of bores 54 therein for receiving an axially projecting
component of a fastening assembly 22. The medial portion and
terminal portion are functionally connected by a transitional
portion, as indicated generally at 50(T).
The form of a mounting flange 50 as just described is
used as the outer flange 50(0) in Figs. 2 and 3 and Fig. 7,
integrally attached as by welds 49 to the rim base lateral
portion 48. In Figs. 5 and 6, this form of a mounting flange 50
is used as the inner flange 50(I), integrally attached as by
welds 4~ to the rim base lateral portion 48; and is also used as
the outer ~lange 50(0), integrally attached as by welds 49 to
the rim base well portion 47. In the Fig. 2 and 3 embodiments,
the outer flange 50(0) transitional portion 5n(T) has the
terminal portion 53 integrally attached thereto, as by welds 55.
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As shown, two embodiments of an inner flange 50(I)
have an annular ring 61 integrally attached as bv welds 49 to the
rim base well portion 47. In Figs. 2 and 3 and Fig. 7, the
annular ring 61 has a radially inclined surface 52. In Figs. 2
and 3, the axially outer side of the ring 61 has a terminal
portion 53 integrally attached thereto, as by welds 62. This
terminal portion 53 is also radially directed substan~ially
perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rim 21 and also has a
series of bores 54 therein for receiving an axially projecting
component of a fastening assembly 22.
~ eferring to Figs. 8 and 9, the inner mounting flange
50(I) has an axially directed radially outer portion 63 and a
radially directed terminal portion 53. The outer portion 63 is
integrally attached, as by welds 49, to the rim base well
portion 47. The outer mounting flange 50(0) has a radially
directed outer portion 64 and a terminal portion 53. The outer
portion 64 is integrally attached, as by welds 49, to the rim
base lateral portion 48. The terminal portions 53 of both the
inner flange 50(I) and outer flange 50(0) are also radially
directed substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of
the rim 21 and also have a series of bores 54 therein for
receiving an axially projecting component of a fastening
assembly 22.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, 5 and 6, and 8 and 9, the
terminal portion 53 of an inner mounting flang~ 50(I) is locked
into full surface engagement with a radially directed surface 37
on an inner wheel felloe 25(I) by final tightening of a nut 30
rotatably mounted on a stud 27.
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Referring to Fig. 8, the terminal portion 53 of an
inner mounting flange 50(0) is locked into full surface engage-
ment with a radially directed surface 39 on an outer wheel
felloe surface 25(0) by final tightening of a nut 30 rotatably
mounted on a stud 27.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, and 5 and 7, a fastening
assembly 22 for an outer mounting flange 50(0) may comprise an
elongated stud 27, a clamp element 65 and a rotatable nut 30
threaded on the stud 27. ~ clamp element 65 has a bore 66 for
receiving the stud 27. A clamp element 65 also has lateral wing
portions 67 providing downward facing dual axially oriented
surfaces 68 for seating on conforming wheel felloe surfaces 38.
A clamp element 65 also preferably has an axially inwardly
directed lower leg portion 69 for mating engagement against a
flange terminal portion 53. The radially outer portion of a
clamp element 65 has a radially inclined surface 70 for mating
engagement with conforming flange surface 52. The terminal
portion 53 of the inner mounting flange 50(0) is locked into
full surface engagement with a radially directed surface 39 on
an outer wheel felloe surface 25(0) by final tightening of a nut
30.
As shown in Fig. 7, the inner felloes 25(I) have no
stud 27 at the mounting location 26. In the event that a wheel
20 was made, used or sold for use with other inner mounting
flange 50(I) embodiments, or for use in mounting an inner dual
rim, each inner felloe 25(I) could be provided with a stud 27.
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In all embodiments wherein a mounting flange 50 has a
terminal portion 53, the bores 54 therein are preferably
radially elongate to facilitate initial mounting and placement
of a relatively heavy tire and rim combination in alignment with
the fastening assembly studs 27.
As shown, the inner and outer mounting flanges 50(I)
and 50(0) are circumferentially continuous or annular elements.
Alternatively, even though the cost of manufacture would be
higher because of dimensional tolerances, each mounting flange
50 could comprise a series of discrete elements, one for each
spoke member 23.
In those embodiments of a rim 21 as disclosed in Figs.
1-7, the radially inclined surface 52 on a mounting flange 50
has a suitable angle relative to the rotational axis of the rim
to provide a conical surface for mating engagement with either a
wheel felloe surface 36 or surface 70 on the clamp elements 65.
