Patent Application
20160221389
The present invention relates to mounting wheels on vehicles and, more particularly, to a wheel and adapter that effectively decreases the distance between tires of the vehicle to facilitate the use of the vehicle on a railroad track.
The concept of using a wheel adapter is not new. A typical purpose of a wheel adapter is to install a wheel that is a different size than the original equipment manufacturer's wheel for a particular vehicle. To accommodate a different wheel size, wheel adapters may be used. The wheel adaptor allows installation of a wheel that has a different bolt pattern, that has a different tire size, that increases the tire track (center to center of tire), or that converts a single rear wheel to a dual rear wheel. In each of these applications, the final position of the wheel and associated tire is moved outwardly of the original position.
In situations where it is desired to decrease the tire track, such as for use on a railroad track, the reduction in the tire track typically has an undesirable affect on the riding and handling characteristics of the vehicle. When the wheel and tire sets of the front end suspension are moved inwardly, the turning radius of the vehicle is restricted due to interference between the tire and the frame and/or the brake calipers of the vehicle. In certain vehicles, it is required that the tire track be reduced to allow the tires of the vehicle to be properly positioned on a railroad track.
For a railroad application, the tire size is typically increased from 16 inches to 19.5 inches, which is the maximum size allowable to ensure for adequate clearances between the tire and the fenders of the vehicle. The normal offset of the 16-inch wheel is 0.50 inches. To allow the tire to ride on a railroad track, a special wheel is required that has enough clearance to clear a brake caliper or use a deep offset rim such as, for example; a five-inch offset, and use an adapter to bring the rim and tire to the final desired position.
A prior art different-sized wheel that allows a single rear wheel track, such as a one-half-ton, three-quarter-ton, or single rear wheel one ton truck, that will interchange with the given wheel mounted on a wheel hub and allow the tire to be positioned on railroad track, requires a wheel adapter. The prior art wheel adapter provides the option of mounting a wheel of a different size and wheel track than the wheel originally supplied with the vehicle. Typically these prior art wheels and wheel adapters include a wheel hub with eight mounting studs and an adapter plate with eight mounting studs. The adapter plate is secured to the wheel hub by eight lug nuts received by the eight wheel hub mounting studs. The wheel is then secured to the adapter plate by eight tug nuts received by the eight adapter plate mounting studs. The additional weight of the wheel, wheel hub, mounting studs and lug nuts contribute to vibrations, excessive/uneven tire wear, poor handling, and maintenance issues. Further, the wheel hub lug nuts are typically smaller than the adapter plate lug nuts, requiring two wrench sizes for installation and removal of the wheel.
The present invention provides a hi-rail wheel that may be mounted on the OEM lugs. The present invention provides a smooth ride at highway speeds, better handling and improved tire wear and life. The wheel is mourned to the OEM lugs using the OEM lug nuts eliminating 32 extra lug nuts and requiring only one wrench size for removal and mounting. Additionally, the wheel may be 40-80 pounds lighter per wheel than the prior art hi-rail wheels and adapters.
The above, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about”(0 in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred.
Referring initially to
The barrel 16 extends in a generally frusto-conical shape to an outer web 24, a wheel face 26 and terminates at a center bore 28 for receiving an axle hub (not shown). Wheel face 26 lies in a first plane at the outer extent of the wheel 10, which is parallel to a second plane in which outer flange 14 lies, inside of the first plane, and a third plane at the inner extent of the wheel 10 in which inner flange 18 lies. The first plane may be spaced 0.5 to 2.0 inches from the second plane, for example. On the inside surface of wheel face 26 is a back pad 30.
Referring to
It is to be understood that while certain now preferred forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of co-pending application Ser. No. 62/111,456 filed Feb. 3, 2015, entitled HI-RAIL WHEEL.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62111456 | Feb 2015 | US |
