Patent Application
20140265537
This disclosure concerns wheels for rough terrain industrial vehicles. More particularly, this disclosure concerns a multi-piece wheel rim for all terrain, rough terrain and utility vehicles.
Tires for vehicles designed for rough terrains are typically mounted on metal wheel rims that are essentially a one piece construction. Even if a multi-piece construction they are not designed for a vehicle operator to change a flat tire experienced while out in rough terrain. There is a need, therefore, for a wheel rim design that allows an operator of a vehicle designed for rough terrains to readily and easily change a flat tire while out in the rough terrain.
The present disclosure addresses the problems associated with wheel rims mounted on vehicles designed for rough terrains. In particular, the present design provides a multi-piece wheel rim assembly that permits an operator of an industrial vehicle for rough terrains to be able to readily and easily change a flat tire while out in the rough terrain.
Briefly described, the present disclosure provides a multi-piece wheel rim designed to allow easy replacement of a tire for such a vehicle. In various non-limiting aspects, the wheel rim is a multi-piece lock ring design for vehicles for rough terrains. It may be used for pneumatic, tubeless tires. The vehicle may be an industrial vehicle such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a rough terrain vehicle (RTV) or a utility vehicle (UTV).
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure for a wheel rim will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Described below are various embodiments of the present systems and methods for a wheel rim. Although particular embodiments are described, those embodiments are mere exemplary implementations of the system and method. One skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments are possible. All such embodiments are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover, all references cited herein are intended to be and are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure as if fully set forth herein. While the disclosure will now be described in reference to the above drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,
A back side lock ring 70 is telescopically mounted about rim base 22 and is positioned adjacent the first rim back flange 24. Recess 32 is configured to receive the inner edge 74 of back side lock ring 70 within the recess 32. Recess 32 may be, but need not be, generally U-shaped. In one or more aspects the first rim back flange 24 may form on a first annular edge or flange 44 of said rim base 22 and recess 32 having a five degree bearing surface adjacent said first rim back flange.
A non-limiting embodiment of a cross-sectional view of one side of the bead seat 50 is illustrated in
Illustrated in
If desired the amount of friction experienced from relative movement between the bead seat ring 50, the lock ring 70 and the rim base 22 can be controlled by the texture of the surfaces of the U-shaped bearing surface 33, the inside surface 74 of lock ring 70, and/or the opposed surfaces of rim base 22 and support element 62.
A locking mechanism 80 may be provided to secure locking ring 70 in place within recess 32 adjacent bead seat 50 as depicted in
Further, with reference to
The present wheel rim assembly may be used with, for example, a pneumatic, tubeless tire. In various aspects, the wheel rim base 22 including the first rim back flange 24 and the bead seat 50 including the second rim back flange 52 may be made of an aluminum composition, for example aluminum. The lock ring 70 may be made of a steel composition.
It will be noted that the present disclosure has been described as being incorporated in a five piece wheel rim assembly (including rim base 22, bead seat 50, lock ring 70, O-ring 54 and locking mechanism 80), but it should be understood that the invention can comprise other multiple piece wheel rims that have more than or less than five pieces.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
